Robert G. "Bob" Heil

Many years ago husband John and I were in need of a replacement for
our large satellite dish that turned out to be a complete misfit. In just a few days, Bob replaced everything and it was perfect. With Bob´s many talents and gifts, it seemed like Bob was from another planet. What a wonderful man Bob was. RIP

Kathy A. Lonsdale
I was fortunate to take organ lessons from Bob when he was 18 and I was 13. I was in awe of his knowledge. Hope at least a little rubbed off on me. Thanks Bob

Anthony Bono, Friendship Broadcasting, I discovered Heil mics in 2016, ordered one for broadcast...an hour after plugging in the PR30 I ordered 5 more. I thought I'd call the Heil company and ask a few questions and tell them I am using the PR30 for broadcast FM production. Just for fun I asked to talk to Bob Heil...he answered the phone! We talked about large diaphragm dynamics and Joe Walsh...he said call back anytime. I told him I am buying more mics and that I am so impressed with the PR30. What I nice guy so smart. He really understands sound.

I only learned about this now. I never met Bob, but he apparently travelled with, and provided sound for, some of my favorite rock bands and musicians. A truly amazing history and career. I'm sorry to hear about his passing.

As a St. Louis native, I heard Bob play the wonderful Wurlitzer Organ at the Fabulous Fox Theater when I was a child in the 1950's. A wonderful memory. And just in the last few years I had the pleasure of meeting Bob at the Pacificon Hamfest and he gave a presentation to our HAM club, Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club, in December of 2022. He is a true professional and loved by everyone who met him. We will all miss his warm smile, wisdom and quick wit. Marilyn and I pray that his family and friends be blessed knowing he is playing the Golden Wurlitzer and the Angels are singing into Heil mics. Rest in Peace Bob!

Bob was my guest on the QSO Today Podcast, an oral history of amateur radio, in Episode 72 on December 19, 2015. He told his story there at : https://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/k9eid

I never met Bob in person. But I´ve admired him for many years! Ik that he will be sorely missed! Not only was he the ICON of sound and sound engineering, he was also an ICON for Amateur Radio. Rest in peace Dr.Bob. And `73

I talked with Bob for about a half hour at Dayton a few years ago. What a great man to talk with. I bought his parametric speaker system and he even signed the box.

Before my satellite presentation, we honored Dr. Bob at the WARA ham club meeting last night in Fullerton, CA.

The Summer of 72... My family relocated from Dallas to a small town Red Bud, Ill. I was a HS freshman in need of new guitar strings.
I found an ad in the local newspaper for Ye Olde Music Shoppe. My mother drove me to Marissa where I had a near out of body experience.
In a town of 2000 I walked into an oasis of Hammond, Martin, Fender, Gibson, Marshall, Ampeg, Hi-Watt, Sunn...(no master volumes in 1972)!!
The Who, Humble Pie, & Rolling Stones memorabilia sealed the deal.
Bob said "come back when you have more time, you can try out as many guitars as you like". Once I obtained a drivers license I frequented the "Shoppe" a lot. In time I picked up part time work sweeping up, stringing guitars & later speaker re-coning (JBLs, EVs easy, CTS & Jensen not so much). Attending Engineering school in fall & spring then summer work in Marissa, part time in the Factory, then eventually full time at the music Shoppe under new management.

Bob´s vast knowledge & practical real world applications helped so many of us. Quite often outpacing the University textbook theory stuff.
Bob's encouragement and mentoring were major influences in shaping my career. Thanks in part to Bob I built a successful Production company. Bob, always keen to offer advice and guidance. Before the advent of texting, Bob & I might go a year or two then pick right back up where we left off. That´s Bob!
Around 2011-12 boarding a flight to Las Vegas InfoComm I hear "Hello Stanley". To my surprise sitting across the aisle I see Sarah & Bob. Sarah looking elegant as always & Bob decked out in purple paisley button down shirt & purple "Heil" converse sneakers. After spending the majority of the flight "catching up" Bob asks if I would join him on a live streaming podcast with Leo Laportec at InfoComm. I asked "what is the topic I´m not a radio buff"? In typical Bob fashion he says we will talk about the "Marissa days". Well 10 minutes into the podcast Bob (as host of the party) excuses himself leveraging me & Leo to finish the 30 minute segment. That´s Bob!
So many experiences & stories flood back into my mind...
Mississippi River Festival Days, Fox & Lincoln Theatres, his T-Bird collection, Joe Walsh, Sound system designs for The Grateful Dead & The Who Quadraphenia, The Crown Amplifier quest, on & on.

Last year Bob spoke of his battle with cancer. I remained faithful that his recovery would come. He was brave with optimism during text & phone conversations. Saying we would go to his favorite BBQ spot for lunch real soon....
A friendship spanning over 50 years. I am blessed.
Bob Heil: Visionary, Innovator, Mentor, Friend, Father, Grandfather, & Loving Husband.
We are all blessed to have known this kind, loving, gentle, larger than life giant of a man. Godspeed, I love you Bob.

I enjoyed listening to Bob Heil on Ham Nation. I lived close to Bob's Belleville residence, but I never got to meet him or join him in a rag chew. I first used a Heil mixer in a sound gig from the early 1980's. Bob left a positive impression everywhere. He loved music, audio, and amateur radio. Thank you Heil family for sharing this delightful human being with us. We are going to miss Bob. Rest in peace Dr. Heil.

I first met Bob in the '60's at Ye Olde Music Shop, that place was a mecca for St Louis Musicians, going there was a real pilgrimage. More recently I worked with Bob on organ projects, he had unlimited energy and enthusiasm, I will miss him.

We remember all The Times we had pizza together and especially the time we came to your house to listen to you play the organ. Glad to be able to call you a friend. N0RMB & N0YBP
GARRY & KAREN AVERY

Spoke with Bob at the Dayton Hamvention. Own several Heil Mics, speakers and Mic-Headphones. Thanks Bob for supplying these quality items for my station. We'll miss you! 73 Wayne W8GXB

Rest in peace, Bob. Thanks for all the great memories and fun!

I met Bob through Ham Radio in the late 70's, or it could have been the early 80's. I was a member of the Egyptian Radio Club at the time and he was working on a Ham Radio convention project for St. Louis that was to take place during the month of March. He invited representatives from all the St. Louis area radio clubs to help with the convention. He was fun to work with and good person to boot. I know others will miss him as much as the Ham Radio community does already. 73 Bob, may you rest in peace. KB9KY

Bob was a great friend to all. I got to know him when he lived in Missouri near
Springfield. It was great talking to him on the MOKAN net, on 3885 on AM. Bob loved talking to you on his Vintage Eico equipment for transmitt, and using
his Mosley CM-1 for a receiver. It was a great privilege to have know Dr. Bob.
Don Moore W5FFK

Bob, a great friend his kindness, energy, and charm, is legendary! We are so blessed to have know Bob. Jim Shideler, W5JCS

Many years ago I wanted a Heil amateur radio headset. I ended up calling Heil Sound. A gentleman answered the phone and "Heil Sound, this is Bob". Not knowing him or his voice, and a little stunned, I asked "Bob Heil?" "Yes it is", he replied. I almost dropped the phone!! He liked to give personal service, so he felt he should talk to his customers. He made sure I received the correct adapter for my radio, and it worked great! When I mentioned this at our radio club meeting today, another ham said the exact same thing happened to him. We both shared some fond memories of Bob answering his own phone, and getting things right. RIP Bob. The world is a better place because of you
Steve Roderick - KA1C.

Love to see Gog's face at the Hamfest and seminar there .... He was always a good friend to everyone =) Keep that music playing up there =) Pat N5VMO

From: Bill Sepulveda, K5LN

Wow, where do I start. Bob and I first met on the air back in July 2011 and had many chats on the air since then.

But the time when we really got to know each other and became close friends, was when Bob started Ham Nation on the TWIT (This Week in Tech) network. We were on 20 meters chatting about life and projects, like so many ham´s do, when Bob out of no where mentions that he is looking to get involved with the TWIT network to start a Ham radio show where people can learn about the hobby. We discussed the makeup of the program and what his plans were to put it together. I don´t remember who came up with the idea, but one of us mentioned that it would be great to have an on air net after the show. This would give hams who watched the show an opportunity to talk about what they liked and disliked, and that they would also be able to talk with the member of the show.

I am not one to be in front of the camera, so I volunteered to host the net, and we agreed to call it "The Ham Nation after show Net". We started that net on 20 meters after the first broad cast of "Ham Nation" back on May 24, 2011. WOW how time flies by.

The show started off with a big success, and I couldn´t believe how many hams watched the show and checked into the after show net.

There are people in this world who naturally attract people, and Bob Heil was one of those people.

I wound up running the 20 meter net for many years, and we found Mike Ferreira (WT6H), Al Matthews (K1LTJ), and Dale Puckett (K0HYD) who start and managed the 40 meter net which also went on for many years. I trained and Steve Szombathy (W7UDI) to take my place as Net control after I left the program. Steve managed to keep everything running like a clock on 20 meters for a long time until the change in the program.

Bob and I kept in touch mostly by email from that point on because of terrible band conditions and he was busy with his latest "Pine Board Project" which got him another ARRL Cover Page award. Bob was always inventing and making something either for his company or ham radio. It was always fun to hear the excitement he had for this hobby.

2013 was an exciting year at the Dayton ham fest as this was the first time we were all able to attend the event and meet everyone personally. I still have pictures hanging on my ham shack wall of that event and all of us together.

But the most important time for me was when I heard through the ham radio network that Bob was having trouble walking. I immediately sent him an email and because of our friendship, I just couldn´t sit back and not send him an email and not ask him the big questions? I recall I was shaking when I wrote that email because it was important to me to know if Bob had accepted Christ as his savior or not? I didn´t want to destroy our relationship by asking him that question because he was such a dear friend to me. So I went on and on and explained I have to do this and ask Bob directly in the email if he had ever accepted Jesus Christ as his savior? Not knowing for sure, I included the step to accept Christ as his savior. After a few days of rereading the email to make sure I didn´t offend him, I finally sent it.

To my surprise and the very next day, I received an email from Bob with his personnel phone number, asking me to call him because what he had to tell me would take too long write in an email.

So the next day I called. Well, I didn´t get through, so I send him another email letting him know I called but couldn´t get through. So this time I left him my phone number in the email. I figured he was bombarded with messages and phone calls from people who cared for him and wanted to check up on him.

Well the next morning I get a phone call, Hello Bill this is Bob Heil, I just want to thank you for the great email you sent me and I have to tell you a story how I came to accept Christ as my Savior. Right there tears ran down my face knowing I have another Brother in Christ that I´ll have an opportunity to spend eternity with.

If you were close to Bob you knew he was a great story teller. You know one of those special people that could pull you in with just a few words.

He started telling me the story about one weekend when Billy Gram came to spread the Gospel in Bob´s home town. Sorry my memory is so bad I just can´t remember the date or the name of the place. But he told me Sarah went to see Billy Gram the first night they were in town, and when Sarah came home, she said to Bob as she came in the door, you need to go and help Billy Gram! The audio system was terrible! He told me the next day he went to the event center. By that time in Bobs carrier he was already well known by people in the industry, and when he got there and was walking around, the Audio guy recognized him and ran over to him and introduced himself as the audio director and because he had this audio problem from the night before, he asked Bob if he would help them fix their audio equipment. Well, you know Bob, of course he said, sure. At that time the audio director ask Bob if he would like to meet Mr. Gram? Bob agreed and they went to meet him. When they got there, the director introduced Bob to Mr. Gram and said this man he is going to fix our audio problems. At that time Mr. Gram did not say hello, I´m Billy Gram and it nice to meet you, and thank you for helping us. No, Bob said he looked him sternly in the eye and said you don´t use remote microphones do you? Which Bob said in his usual way, no sir, we use wired microphones, and I just happen to have this new GE designed lapel microphone that they sent to me to test before they go into production? This microphone just clips to you coat collar so you´ll be able to walk around the stage with no problems. The wire goes down your coat, down your paints leg and out at the bottom of your paint leg. Mr. Gram sternly stated, how am I going to walk around without tripping on the wires? Bob told me, he said in a calmly reply, we´ll have a man behind the curtain managing the wire so you won´t trip. We have done this many time before. Then Mr. Gram said, Hi I´m Billy Gram and I´m pleases to me you. Thank you for helping us and shook Bobs hand.

Bob went on to tell me that they got everything set up that day with his equipment, and Bob worked the sound board during the program. At the end of the program Mr. Gram always gives an invitation for people to come down front to accept Christ as their savior. This is where Bob told me that he told his assistant to take over the audio board but don´t touch anything, because he´s going down front to accepted Christ as his savior.

Again tear of Joy ran down my face. What a great story Bob, Praise the LORD! I yelled again praise the LORD! We will have more fun in the future. Because for us, our journey continues.

We kept in touch for the next few months by emails, where he told me that he was able to walk again and it was because of some of the meds he was taking that caused the problem. He was also able to do some of his beloved Organ playing again and sounded happy.

So when I received the news of his passing, it came as a shock to me, but in my heart, I know we will be able to continue with a perfect body, doing the things GOD has in store for us to do.

Thank you Sarah for taking such good care of my brother Bob over the years, GOD Bless you.

Looking forward to seeing you again Brother

Bill Sepulveda, K5LN

So, one time my chili won first place at a cook-off. Sorry to 1-up you Bob... Rest in Peace

Our deepest condolences. Bob was such a kind soul. Hugs!

My Condolences go out to the Heil Family, may God bless you.
Bob made Great Contributions to the Music and Amateur Radio industry.
His Talents will be missed by all.
73's our Radio Friend.
Sincerely Chet R. (W0CCR)

I was fortunate enough to have Bob on my podcast two years ago where he played the organ from his home in Illinois while I sat in St. Louis at a studio he helped to equip with all Heil gear. I would like to remember Bob on an upcoming show by playing some of the sound bites and video from that organ filled podcast, as well as reach out to his friend Joe Walsh, to share some of his stories about Bob. I texted Bob a few weeks ago when Joe was in town for the Eagles concert, but never heard back from him which now makes sense. Is there anyone who might be able to help me get in touch with Joe to see if he would be open to join my new podcast in St. Louis? Very appreciatively, Frank Van Bree 314.504.0182

I was blessed to call Bob my friend. His loss is heartbreaking. I met him in Marrisa, at Ye Olde Music Shoppe, and he became my mentor for a lifetime. Always a smile on his face, and a story to tell. Love him like a brother.....owe him so much for his generosity and guidance.
My heartfelt sympathy for Sarah, his family, and the thousands of people whose lives he touched in many ways.
Sail on my friend.......love you

Our deepest sympathy to Bob's family! He was truly one of the most gracious men I have ever known. Bob is having an impact globally through the use of Heil microphones in the ministry of TWR International. Thank you to the Heil family for sharing him with us. Lauren Libby, W0LD

Thanks Bob for coming into my life. I am a better man for it. RIP Bob you will never be forgotten!

My deepest sympathies to all of Bob´s family and friends. He was small town proud but full of big ideas.
Sincerely Sharon Edgar Litteken

May God grant peace and comfort to the family of Bob Heil in their time of grief. Bob was a friend and my ham radio "Elmer". I was his guest at the Dayton Hamfest back in 1992 and had a wonderful time. I helped Bob unload the vehicle and set up his display booth. I was just a poor young street cop in Marissa, IL at the time and was only able to make my first Dayton Hamfest pilgrimage through Bob's kindness and generosity.

Bob also invited me to go along with him one evening when he did the "Hi-Tech Heil" show on KMOX with the "Big Bumper" Jim White. I sat in the control booth with the producer, Elaine, and watched the magic of an AM radio show unfold first hand. Bob was an outstanding ambassador for Ham Radio and will be greatly missed by all. Rest in Peace my Friend.

God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

RIP Bob Heil from Shaun Stapleton VK4NSP, thank you for everything you did for amateur radio, we will miss you. All the best wishes to the family.

Will miss Bob. But will always remember him every time I am communicating with his name in my ham shack.

Condolences to Mr.Heil and his family. He definitely left his mark on music business and changed the sound forever!

RIP Bob Heil K9EID SK from Greg McCulkin VK2TEQ Sydney Australia.
Loved HAM NATION. Thankyou.

Thank you, Bob, for making the world sound a little better than yesterday. 73

Condolences to the HEIL family. K9EID will be missed among the ham radio community as he truly was a helpful and willing participant in promoting the hobby. I will cherish the knowledge I gained from him by reading his books and watching him when he was a host on HAM NATION.

Julie and family So very sorry for your loss. I worked at Ye Olde but after Ed bought it. Still Bob would pop in. He was always friendly to me. I also enjoyed hearing him play at the Lincoln theater a few years back. He was a nice guy and very talented. He is one of a kind. A rare fellow indeed.

God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.He will greatly be missed.He was one amazing man.

What a blessing this man was, in so many ways. His impact on music and amateur radio is immeasurable. His kindness and humility was something I was able to experience in person, at the Dayton Hamvention, some years ago. My deepest condolences to Bob's family and to the ham radio and music community.

I´ve known Bob for many years, meeting him shortly after moving to the St. Louis area in 1983. Many late nights you´d catch Bob on VHF/220/UHF messing with something he´d want your opinion on. Bob did so much to bring unique electronic gadgets to both the professional music industry, as well as Amateur Radio. His legacy will live on for centuries among countless folks. He was a very accomplished man who will be missed by many. My condolences to Sarah and the entire family.

I only had one contact with him over the radio . I have a lot of his products (always go with the best)
I will call his call sign today over the air . 73 Bob
Terry NE7TS

Bob was a pioneer. Like many pioneers, he had a few arrows in his back, but was a gentleman with the best in applied imagination. He was inspirational to many. May his memory be a blessing.

Condolences to his family.His book on sound is like a bible.I was fortunate to work in the sound crew at Kickapoo Creek Festival and his factory in Marisa.I still use my talk box.Love that Bob forever

God bless this gentle man

Bob was a wonderful ham radio operator, and a gentleman. He is one of those who inspired me to get my "ticket" once again and stay involved with this wonderful hobby. I was in the Microphone business for years, often competing with Bob. He was tough competition, that's for sure. No one does business the way that Bob did business -- it was pure class.

What a innovator and a truly nice guy