Topic: Jeremy "Jerry" Muller, K0TV, formerly WA1TZV, (SK) and "KMIT"

[W1RC]

Jerry departed this "mortal coil" on Monday, October 26th, 2015 at the age of 64.  He leaves behind his beloved wife Karen and many many friends.

https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/jeremy-jerry-muller-k0tv-former-wa1tzv-sk.498494/

This is how we shall remember our beloved Jerry.  Here is my favorite Jerry Muller story:

NEAR-Fest XV, Deerfield NH Fairgrounds Gate "G" 0600 Friday, May 2nd, 2014

"KMIT" was the vanity licence plate that Mel Blanc had on his car in California for many years.  In case you don't know who Mel Blanc was, he was the most prolific voice actor in history; the voice of many Warner Brothers cartoon characters we all surely remember from our childhood; Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester the Cat, Barney Rubble and a whole lot more.

When vanity license plates first came out in California in the early 1960s Blanc had applied to the DMV for a plate reading "KMIT" for his car.  The DMV officials in charge of vanity plates thought it might be the call letters of a radio station which would have been prohibited because it was commercial.  Blanc told them:  "No it wasn't a radio station;  it was an old Jewish expression: "Know Me In Truth".  They bought it and a California vanity license plate reading"KMIT" was issued to him.

In honor of "the man of a 1000 voices" in 2013 Jerry, K0TV (SK), was able to obtain "KMIT" on his New Hampshire car vanity license plates. 

What did Mel Blanc actually have in mind when he chose "KMIT" for his car's vanity license plate?  Mel confided in friends that it really stood for "Kush Mir im Tuchis" which is Yiddish for "kiss me in the behind" or more graphically, "Kiss My Ass".  The CA DMV never caught on and Blanc had the KMIT license plate on his car until his death in 1989.

This is a true story.  From Blanc's biography on imdb.com:

"His license plate read "KMIT". A representative at the California Department of Motor Vehicles asked him if it stood for a radio station, since it is illegal to advertise on a plate. He replied, "No, it's actually an old Jewish expression, 'know me in truth.'" What it actually stood for was "kush mir im Tuchis," a Yiddish phrase meaning "Kiss my ass.".

This is our beloved Jerry.  May you rest in peace.

MisterMike, W1RC
NEAR-Fest enevolent Dictator,

[Airstream Analog]

Yes, I do know Jerry. One great guy!

[W1RC]

While Jerry was in Mass General last winter we wondered if there was a real radio station somewhere with the call letters "KMIT".  A quick Google search revealed that KMIT 105.9 FM is located in Mitchell SD.

http://kmit.com

I emailed the station manage, Tim Smith (not OUR Tim Smith!) the story of Mel Blanc's "KMIT" with the admonition that he should not to take it the wromg way.   Here is his reply:

Michael ?
 
That is a great story.  Thanks for sharing.

It?s a lot more simple when it comes to our call letters.  The MIT are the first letters in our city of license.  Mitchell, South Dakota.

Not nearly as interesting and funny as your meaning.
 
I will certainly share it,  and keep it in mind when dealing with hard to work with customers.
 
Thanks
 
Tim Smith
General Manager
KMIT/KUQL Radio
Mitchell, SD
605-996-9667



 

[w1es]

Yup - that was Jerry, alright.

He liked to regale us with all sorts of jokes.  That photo is how I also want to remember him.

[W1RC]

This memorable photo was taken at the Burlington Amateur Radio Club's great International Field Day summer hamfest, circa 1981 or 1982, at the Old Lantern Campground in Charlotte Vermont.

Left to right: Henry, VE2EGZ; Jerry (at the time WA1TZV) and Marty, VE2GBE.

You can tell they were having a grand old time.......
 
Sadly they are all silent keys.......