Bruce C. Vaughan

Bruce C. Vaughan of Springdale, the son of Bruce Vaughan and Hazel Gibson Vaughan, was born Feb. 6, 1922, in Spring Valley, Ark. He died Jan. 6, 2013, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. Bruce was a graduate of Springdale High School, class of 1939. He attended the University of Arkansas until enlisting in the Air Force in 1942. He served with the 9th Air Force, 440 Troop Carrier Command in the European Theatre of Operations during 1944 and 1945. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and seven Battle Stars. He married Mary Frances Maestri on Dec. 15, 1947. He is survived by his wife, Mary; two sons, Michael and wife, Kathleen Lukken and Patrick and wife, Miyuki; and daughter, Sandy Simmons and husband, Tom. He is also survived by granddaughter Ashley Carlson and husband, Jess; granddaughter, Katelyn Simmons; grandson, Andrew Simmons; granddaughter, Tabitha Vaughan; grandson, Harvey Vaughan; and great-grandson Clay Carlson. In 1946, he opened Bruce's Radio later Bruce's Radio and TV. Bruce pioneered television sales and installations in Arkansas. His first location was in the old Cozy Café building west of Late Chevrolet. He sold the first television retailed in Arkansas. The buyer was WJB "Bryan" Work. In 1955, he moved into his own building on Highway 71. In the early '70s, he bought the old Lichlyter building on Emma and, with his wife, Mary, opened Image One Studio, which they operated as an art gallery, frame shop, and studio until they retired in the mid-1980s. Bruce had many interests, including photography, amateur radio, and writing. He was the first photographer in Arkansas to be elected a Fellow of the Photographic Society of America. He exhibited pictorial photographs throughout the world, winning many honors. He was in demand as a speaker and judge for international salons. He presented programs to countless regional and national photographic conventions and judged international exhibitions. Over a period of years, he collected and restored a vast collection of photographic equipment and images. He and Dr. Stanley Applegate presented the collection to the Shiloh Museum. A number of Bruce's photographs reside in permanent collections throughout the world. In 1993, the Photographic Society of India requested that Bruce prepare a paper on pictorialism and mount an exhibit of 12 silver prints to be presented at the Centennial celebration of Pictorial Photographers in New Delhi. Bruce wrote technical articles and fiction aimed at specific publications, such as the PSA Journal, QST, CQ, Modern Electronics and other magazines. He has had over a hundred articles published, one of which won an award as the best story of the year. He has written five books, Surviving Technology, Growing Up Rich Though Dirt Poor, 23 Skidoo, Emma We Love You and Shiloh Reflections, the latter two were published by the Shiloh Museum. At the time of his heart attack, he was receiving orders for his most recently published book, Surviving Technology, and was starting work on another book, Screw the Grimm Reaper. He was first licensed as an amateur radio operator in 1938, and he is a member of the American Radio Relay League, the Quarter Century Wireless Association, the Old Timers Club, the DX Century Club and the Northwest Arkansas Amateur Radio Club. Bruce built much of his own equipment and communicated with "Hams" by radio in 300 different countries. During his entire career as a "Ham" he preferred to communicate with CW (code). He felt that sending and receiving code was a disappearing art form. Bruce has built and restored a large number of radios and historical radio items and many are housed in private collections and museums. Services will be held Wednesday, January 9 at 2 p.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel. Visitation will also be available at Sisco's from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bruce's name to the Shiloh Museum and Circle of Life Hospice.