Wendell R. Benson received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement, "to honor a U.S. Merchant Marine Radio Officer and his technical operations ashore..." Mr. Benson's career included service in the Naval Armed Guard in World War 2. He later served as a Navy radioman and, for many years, a shipboard radio officer aboard merchant ships. He served ashore in the airline industry as well as a marine coastal station operator and supervisor, most notably with the well-known New York harbor station, WSF. Al Gross received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement "to honor his important work in Radio Communications and engineering." Mr. Gross can rightly be called the father of personal communications. Prior to World War 2, he developed a hand-held, high-frequency transceiver--possibly the world's first "walkie-talkie." In World War 2 he developed miniature radios for the Office of Strategic Services as well as the earliest military walkie-talkies. After the war he went on to develop many other personal communications devices including the world's first pocket-pager ("beeper"). Walter H. Prang received the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement, to "honor a U.S. Merchant Marine Radio Officer and his technical operations ashore..." Mr. Prang began his seagoing career in the engine room, before becoming a Radio Officer. After serving at sea as a Radio Officer, he came ashore to spend the rest of his career training countless Radio and Electronics Officers in the increasingly complex world of communications and navigation equipment. Along with fellow VWOA member Paul Anselmo, he helped establish and expand the training operations of the American Radio Association.   Henry Paulisen (SK) received the David Kintzer Memorial Award Plaque in recognition of his many years of service to the VWOA. Mr. Paulisen had been honored with the Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement in 1969 in recognition of his service as FCC Engineer in Charge of New York.