Richard H. Mertz, N3QJF, of North Bethesda, Maryland, a noted broadcast engineer, died October 30 after a lengthy illness. He was 65. Mertz was well known in radio broadcasting circles, and he was a regular writer for WorldRadio. He also presented technical papers at the NAB and IBC conventions. In 1994, Mertz joined the firm that became Cavell Mertz and Associates and served as its vice president. He spent more than 40 years in broadcast television and radio, cable television, and communications. He was a leading authority on TV re-banding and earlier had assisted television clients in making the transition from analog to digital. Mertz oversaw the installation of the South’s first AM stereo facility at WBT. A graduate of Oglethorpe University, he was past chairman of Chapter 37 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers in Washington, DC. Services were November 3. — Thanks to N7UR/The Nevada Amateur Radio Newswire