My Brother

A Word Portrait of Leroy

LeRoy Farland was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa on 23 May 1900, he was the first born of Carl Jerry Bremmer and Lucy Methesmith Sharpe. He was named LeRoy, the middle name of my dad’s youngest brother. Farland was the name of the family that mother lived with while attending Ellsworth College. LeRoy was a three pounder, so from his very first day, he was well care for and pampered.

My first memories of LeRoy bean just before World War I. He was an intellectual genius and a pioneer in early wireless communications. He built a “wireless shack” at the top of the stairs, a room with the door always closed and woe be to anyone who opened the door of this sacred room! He kept the family informed everyday of the War’s process in Europe. We knew of events taking place “over there” before they were published in the newspaper. He was comparable to the kid of today who cracks the secret code of the computers and has unlimited power. LeRoy had decoded the security code used to transmit government secrets between the United States and the Allies in Europe. This was hush hush at our home since we all knew the government would confiscated his equipment if they discovered his talent.

He was not accepted for military service, but he joined the Merchant Marines (as a Wireless operator) escorting ships across the Atlantic Ocean after the United States entered the war. He went through many perilous exciting experiences.

After World War I, he continued his service with the Merchant Marine. On one of his trips across the North Sea, he was stricken with appendicitis, and taken off the ship to the treated at a Germany Hospital. During his recovery, the defeated, bitter surgeons informed him that beside removing his appendix, they had also sterilized him. This was his punishment because he had a German name and did not fight for the Fatherland, but rather against his so called heritage.

When he returned to the U.S., he entered and later graduated from the Radio Engineering Instute at Valparaiso, Indiana. While there he me his first wife Martha.

LeRoy was a loner, at times cranky, unresponsive and spoiled, always expecting to be waited on, it was no wonder that his marriage ended in divorce. Yet in spite of these traits (similar to the moods of sister Lucille)he could be charming.

LeRoy continued with his communications work, in fact, he was associated with Dr. Lee DeForest in the development of the radio. They were close friends. For about a year LeRoy had adapted his radios with push buttons, yet neglected to file for a patent. When he did file, he discovered that others were also asking for patents on the push button. The courts ruled that the push button was a naturalevolution in the development of radio He was the inventor of the automatic system of tuning used in broadcasting.

During this time, he married Jean, a strange and moody girl. This marriage soon ended in divorce. Jean was many years younger than LeRoy and his settled ways just did not fit in with her life style.

For years, during the summer months, LeRoy would go to Alaska to operate the radio station at Bristol Bay. This was the system that broadcasted the control for the salmon fishing and the canning fishiers. He also operated stations in Eureka, California, Seattle, Washington, Kermit, Texas and at the United Nations in New York.

During World War II, he served as Commander with the U.S. Maritime Service and graduated from their Radar and Electronics School. He played a significant role in the historic Battle of the Coral Seas for which he received Service Citations.

In the 50’s he married Dorothy and they moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where they were granted an operating license. Here they built and operated Radio Station WLDB in 1955. These years were the happiest of his life. He was highly regarded in the radio broadcasting industry. He and I were probably closet during those years.

We would have hour long telephone conversations. Just after the February 1971, San Fernando earthquake, I gave (via phone) an eye witness account broadcasted “live” over his station in Atlantic City.

A few months later, LeRoy finished giving the 12 o’clock noon news broadcast, signed off, walked into his office and suffered a stroke. From a small boy to a man of seventy-one, he lived his life starting with a hobby and making it his life work, he literally died with his boots on.

His death certificate, dated 14 June 1971, states cause of death, Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage. He is buried in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Written by Winnifred Jones

Leroy Farland Bremmer