Carman R. Runyon Jr., a pioneer in the development of FM radio, died yesterday. He was 80 years old and lived at 130 East End Avenue.

In 1934 Mr. Runyon helped his long time associate and friend, Maj. Howard Armstrong, the inventor of frequency modulation reception, by building the first operating FM station in his home at 544 North Broadway, Yonkers.

From this station, which was known as W2AG, Mr. Runyon beamed the first public FM signals to a meeting of the Institute of Radio Engineers at the Engineers Building on 39th Street in New York on the evening of Nov. 5, 1935, the day Major Armstrong revealed his discovery to the world.

Mr. Runyon was the founder and president of Radio and Engineering Laboratories, the first concern to be licensed to manufacture FM equipment under the Armstrong patent.

He was one of the earliest amateur radio operators, licensed in 1909, and a founding member of the Radio Club of America. He was also a member of the Institute of Radio Engineers, which awarded him the Armstrong Medal in 1948 for contributing to the development of radio.

Mr. Runyon served as a Navy officer in both World Wars and resigned his commission as a commander in 1945. He was well known in sailing circles and was champion of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Associatibn in 1923 and 1924.

He leaves his wife, the former Mabel Russel; a son, Carman R. Runyon III; a daughter, Mrs. William H. Paul, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

The funeral service will be private.

Amateur Station W2AG Log, Yonkers, New York, 1937-1938


Amateur Station W2AG Log - interior, 1937-1938