The Western Illinois ARC was chartered in the summer of 1940 in Quincy, Illinois by a group of thirteen local area amateur radio operators. The list below is as complete as is known at this time. The list of names of the Charter Members is in the same order as the members appear (left to right) in the Members 1940 Photo which can be viewed via the link on this page. One of the charter members remains unidentified. Anyone knowing the identity of this individual or his callsign, or anyone having callsign information for Robert Schutte or John Anderson is asked to email the club with that information (email info@w9awe.org).

1. W9OAB, John C. Fisher
2. W9DRT, Wane F. Lovely
3. Unknown (possibly nicknamed 'Froggie')
4. W9WPX, Don Hyre
5. W9BIQ, Ralph W. Hagerbaumer
6. W9AEX, Francis W. Wentura
7. W9LHU, Wadsworth H. Wachenheim
8. W9BIG, Emmett J. Griep
9. W9GQK, Maurice L. Butts
10. Robert Schutte
11. W9WWO, Wally Freye
12. W9ZWN, Clinton L. Carter
13. John Anderson