{"id":65297,"date":"2026-02-09T08:49:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T12:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=65297"},"modified":"2026-02-09T08:49:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T12:49:21","slug":"the-remarkable-life-of-dr-leslie-radnay-w1pl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/02\/the-remarkable-life-of-dr-leslie-radnay-w1pl\/","title":{"rendered":"The Remarkable Life of Dr. Leslie Radnay, W1PL"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor Dan Greenall, who writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I know many of your readers are amateur radio operators and have a passion for all things radio. A couple of years ago, I was sorting through some of my old ham QSL’s and this one from W1PL caught my eye. A quick internet check confirmed he was indeed a silent key, however, I also uncovered his incredible story which I thought I would share here. Truly a remarkable individual.<\/p>\n

Dr. Leslie (Laci) Radnay, W1PL<\/h1>\n

Dr. Leslie (Laci) Radnay, W1PL (1912-2008), is a story of how perseverance, determination, and the love of radio got him through the most challenging of circumstances imaginable, time and time again. In fact, it is truly the stuff that Hollywood movies are made of.<\/p>\n

In spite of all of this, he was never too busy to help others. Certainly someone to look up to and admire for what he was able to accomplish, and I feel privileged to have had even just a brief contest-style QSO with him. He was instrumental in helping to start the Hungarian Radio Amateur Association and got on the air with a self-assigned callsign in 1928.<\/p>\n

Click on this PDF file link<\/a> to read his incredible story.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Attached are images of a number of QSL cards he issued over the years.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank you, Dan, for sharing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reading through Laci Radnay\u2019s life story, I\u2019m struck not only by the sheer scale of what he endured, but by how completely<\/em> radio remained a constant thread throughout it all. Time and again, regimes changed, borders closed, equipment was confiscated, and lives were upended\u2014yet radio, and the community surrounding it, always found a way back into his life. <\/strong><\/p>\n

W1PL\u2019s story is a powerful reminder that amateur radio is far more than a technical pursuit; it is a human one. It builds resilience, forges lifelong friendships across borders, and, in Laci\u2019s case, provided continuity, purpose, and connection through some of the darkest chapters of the 20th century. <\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m deeply grateful to Dan for sharing this remarkable story, and honored to help preserve the memory of an operator whose life so beautifully embodied the very best of our radio community. -Thomas<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes: I know many of your readers are amateur radio operators and have a passion for all things radio. A couple of years ago, I was sorting through some of my old ham QSL’s and this one from W1PL caught my eye. A quick internet check […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[545,3,288,43],"tags":[389,10271,11034,4091],"class_list":["post-65297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-radio-history","category-shortwave-radio","tag-amateur-radio","tag-dan-greenall","tag-dr-leslie-laci-radnay-w1pl","tag-radio-history"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-gZb","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61626,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/bridging-two-worlds-shortwave-listening-meets-amateur-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":65297,"position":0},"title":"Bridging Two Worlds: Shortwave Listening Meets Amateur Radio","author":"Thomas","date":"January 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"When the SWL and Amateur Radio hobbies meet by\u00a0 Dan Greenall Many of us who are also amateur radio operators, got their start in the hobby through simply listening to shortwave radio, or perhaps, to stations in the AM or FM broadcast bands.\u00a0 I suppose it is then inevitable that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/YN1Z-Nicaragua-1978.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58440,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/back-when-you-had-to-pay-radio-receiving-licences-in-canada\/","url_meta":{"origin":65297,"position":1},"title":"Back When You Had to Pay: Radio Receiving Licences in Canada","author":"Thomas","date":"December 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post and SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following guest post: THE DAY YOU HAD TO PAY: Radio Receiving Licences in Canada by Dan Greenall MANY of us who are licensed [Canadian] amateurs can appreciate the fact that we are no longer subject to an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image1-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image1-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64988,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/some-holiday-reading-for-shortwave-listeners\/","url_meta":{"origin":65297,"position":2},"title":"Some holiday reading for shortwave listeners","author":"Thomas","date":"December 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Dan Greenall Attention all SWL\u2019s! \u00a0 For those of you with a little extra free time over the holiday season, I would highly recommend having a look at two books that were written by a couple of very respected DXer\u2019s from the past.\u00a0 They are both available on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/the-world-in-my-ears-cover.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/the-world-in-my-ears-cover.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/the-world-in-my-ears-cover.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/the-world-in-my-ears-cover.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/the-world-in-my-ears-cover.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64114,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/10\/vatican-radio-then-and-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":65297,"position":3},"title":"Vatican Radio – Then and Now","author":"Thomas","date":"October 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor\u00a0Dan Greenall, who shares the following post: When I began shortwave listening back in 1969, Vatican Radio was one of the first stations I came across. That same year, the late Dr. Richard E. Wood authored a book called \u201cShortwave Voices of the World\u201d in which he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-01-at-06.38.21.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-01-at-06.38.21.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-01-at-06.38.21.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-01-at-06.38.21.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-10-01-at-06.38.21.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57327,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/07\/radio-botswana-barnyard-sounds-mystery\/","url_meta":{"origin":65297,"position":4},"title":"Radio Botswana barnyard sounds mystery","author":"Thomas","date":"July 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post and SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following off-air shortwave radio recording and writes: In all of the recordings of Radio Botswana\u2019s famous barnyard interval signal I can find, the barnyard sounds are accompanied by the sound of cowbells. There is usually a rooster\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63154,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/ktwr-guam-dan-suggests-you-log-a-piece-of-radio-history-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":65297,"position":5},"title":"KTWR Guam: Dan suggests you log a piece of radio history…today!","author":"Thomas","date":"June 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas Regarding your recent post on June 5: https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/twr-guam-to-end-broadcasting\/ KTWR, Trans World Radio has recently announced they will be ending their shortwave broadcasts from Agana, Guam by October 31, 2025. However, unlike some stations that have vanished somewhat abruptly,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65297"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65305,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65297\/revisions\/65305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}