About NRARC
Bill Gremillion Memorial Radio Club (BGMRC), d.b.a. Newnan Regional Amateur Radio Club (NRARC)
Located in Newnan, Georgia the Bill Gremillion Memorial Radio Club (BGMRC) has a long history of community service in Coweta County. Organized in 1972, the BGMRC was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2016. In 2022, the club established a "Doing Business As" under a more geographically-defined name of Newnan Regional Amateur Radio Club (NRARC).
It will be our purpose to assist members and prospective amateurs in achieving fraternalism and high standards of conduct, to conduct club programs and activities in such a manner as to advance the general interest and welfare of amateur radio in the community, and support public safety when called upon to do so. We strive to provide through our membership, amateur radio operators for the dissemination and communication of both official and unofficial information in the public interest, when determined desirable by club officers, when called upon by any official agency of Coweta County or the State of Georgia. To raise money, funds, and valuable services for the furtherance of activities of the club, to conduct educational classes, individually or in association with other organizations, promote subjects relating to amateur radio, and assist those interested in obtaining or upgrading their Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Amateur Radio License. These activities may increase the pool of amateur radio operators and provide a source of new members for the BGMRC. In addition, these activities will provide a general benefit to the amateur radio community. To provide a forum for research, experimentation, and scientific purpose for all who have an interest and seek such knowledge.
The Bill Gremillion Memorial Radio Club, Inc. is organized in accordance with Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code, as amended, and referred to commonly as the Newnan Regional Amateur Radio Club (NRARC).
It will be our purpose to assist members and prospective amateurs in achieving fraternalism and high standards of conduct, to conduct club programs and activities in such a manner as to advance the general interest and welfare of amateur radio in the community, and support public safety when called upon to do so. We strive to provide through our membership, amateur radio operators for the dissemination and communication of both official and unofficial information in the public interest, when determined desirable by club officers, when called upon by any official agency of Coweta County or the State of Georgia. To raise money, funds, and valuable services for the furtherance of activities of the club, to conduct educational classes, individually or in association with other organizations, promote subjects relating to amateur radio, and assist those interested in obtaining or upgrading their Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Amateur Radio License. These activities may increase the pool of amateur radio operators and provide a source of new members for the BGMRC. In addition, these activities will provide a general benefit to the amateur radio community. To provide a forum for research, experimentation, and scientific purpose for all who have an interest and seek such knowledge.
The Bill Gremillion Memorial Radio Club, Inc. is organized in accordance with Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code, as amended, and referred to commonly as the Newnan Regional Amateur Radio Club (NRARC).
NRARC Affiliations
ARRL
ARRL is the national association for amateur radio in the US. Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim as The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization of radio amateurs
Coweta Fayette ARES
Fayette-Coweta ARES is a group of amateur radio operators who voluntarily provide communications services to our local community during emergencies and time of need.
North Georgia GMRS
Our coverage area includes most of the State of Georgia, as well as parts of southeast Tennessee and areas in North Carolina, and into Florida.
Coweta Skywarn
The Coweta County SKYWARN organization is a group of individuals who are avid weather followers. Our goal is to assist agencies with real-time weather reports. We work directly with the NWS in Peachtree city and the Coweta County Emergency management agency.
NRARC Leadership Team
President
Carl Bellamy KN4RNO
Carl Bellamy
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Carl Bellamy KN4RNO
Vice-President
Frank Kimble KK4YTM
Carl Bellamy
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Frank Kimble KK4YTM
Secretary
Al Robertson N7CAR
Treasurer
Larry Chappell WX4LEC
Carl Bellamy
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Larry Chappell WX4LEC
Member-at-Large
Carl Bellamy
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Ed Henderson W4CMK
Committees & Coordinators
Repeater Maintenance Committee
Carl Bellamy KN4RNO
Carl Bellamy KN4RNO
Skywarn Coordinator
Scott Marlowe WX4SKY
Scott Marlowe WX4SKY
Coweta County ARES
Scott Marlowe WX4SKY
Public Service Coordinator
Scott Marlowe WX4SKY
Scott Marlowe WX4SKY
Membership Growth & Recruitment
Vacant
Vacant
Chaplain
Larry Chappell WX4LEC
Larry Chappell WX4LEC
Fundraising Coordinator
Phyllis Chappell WX4PVC
Phyllis Chappell WX4PVC
Sunday Night Net Coordinator
Carl Bellamy KN4RNO
Carl Bellamy KN4RNO
Christmas Party Coordinator
Vacant
Vacant
Program Manager
Walter Jones Sr. KN4OUL
Walter Jones Sr. KN4OUL
Field Day Coordinator
Gator Stevens - KO4TBH
Gator Stevens - KO4TBH
Outreach/Education/Licensing
Vacant
Vacant
VE Testing Coordinator
Rod Bailey KQ4KQW
Rod Bailey KQ4KQW
Hospitality & Public Relations
Gator Stevens KO4TBH
Gator Stevens KO4TBH
Website Coordinator
Brant Kelsey N3NG
Brant Kelsey N3NG
About Bill Gremillion
Bill Gremillion (Grem-e-yon) 1921-1970, was a resident of Newnan, Georgia, and responsible for raising awareness of Amateur Radio in the Coweta County area. Serving as a mentor or "Elmer," many new radio enthusiasts earned their HAM license thanks to Bill's time and the effort invested in them.
Bill, or "Gremie," as he was also known, was a native of Bunkie, Louisiana, and enlisted in the Army National Guard at age 18. During World War II, Bill served in the European Theatre as a driver for General George Patton, using the French language he grew up speaking in Louisiana to assist General Patton while in France. Bill also spent many years working with the Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS). MARS was a civilian auxiliary consisting primarily of licensed amateur radio operators who were interested in assisting the military with communications on a regional and national level when access to traditional forms of communication may not have been available. The MARS program also included active duty, reserve, and National Guard units; and Navy and Marine Corps units, but was closed in 2015 and no longer exists.
Bill was an electrician by trade. He obtained his HAM license in the 1950s and was assigned the call sign K4SEX. This call sign was assigned in the standard sequential order that the FCC uses and was not a Vanity Call Sign. For obvious reasons, Bill's wife, Cornelia, asked Bill to request a new call sign, which was assigned in the 1960s. K4SEX remains active as a Special Event Station with the club and you may hear it on the air from time to time.
Unfortunately, Bill passed away in 1970 at only 49 years old. While there are only a few remaining club members who knew him, the Bill Gremillion Memorial Radio Club exists to carry on Bill's legacy. The club dedicates itself to raising awareness of Amateur Radio and encouraging and mentoring all who express an interest in learning about the hobby and obtaining their HAM license.
Bill, or "Gremie," as he was also known, was a native of Bunkie, Louisiana, and enlisted in the Army National Guard at age 18. During World War II, Bill served in the European Theatre as a driver for General George Patton, using the French language he grew up speaking in Louisiana to assist General Patton while in France. Bill also spent many years working with the Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS). MARS was a civilian auxiliary consisting primarily of licensed amateur radio operators who were interested in assisting the military with communications on a regional and national level when access to traditional forms of communication may not have been available. The MARS program also included active duty, reserve, and National Guard units; and Navy and Marine Corps units, but was closed in 2015 and no longer exists.
Bill was an electrician by trade. He obtained his HAM license in the 1950s and was assigned the call sign K4SEX. This call sign was assigned in the standard sequential order that the FCC uses and was not a Vanity Call Sign. For obvious reasons, Bill's wife, Cornelia, asked Bill to request a new call sign, which was assigned in the 1960s. K4SEX remains active as a Special Event Station with the club and you may hear it on the air from time to time.
Unfortunately, Bill passed away in 1970 at only 49 years old. While there are only a few remaining club members who knew him, the Bill Gremillion Memorial Radio Club exists to carry on Bill's legacy. The club dedicates itself to raising awareness of Amateur Radio and encouraging and mentoring all who express an interest in learning about the hobby and obtaining their HAM license.