East Florence in Lauderdale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Robert E. "Bob" Bruninga

City of Florence Walk of Honor

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, March 29, 2023

1. Robert E. "Bob" Bruninga Marker

Inscription.

Robert Bruninga's invention of the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRL) for amateur radio in 1993 was adopted worldwide. He was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in 2002 and received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Award in 2014.

Inducted 2019
City of Florence Walk of Honor

Erected 2019.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. A significant historical year for this entry is 1993.

Location. 34° 48.38′ N, 87° 37.883′ W. Marker is in Florence, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. It is in East Florence. It is on Hightower Place. Beginning with marker one, this marker is on pole 12 front side. It is one of 18 poles each has four sides that is located behind the Marriott Hotel in River Heritage Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Hightower Pl, Florence AL 35630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Shoals.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of

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Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William "Bill" Yoast (here, next to this marker); LTC Allen D. ("Skip") Butler (here, next to this marker); Charles Lee Moore (here, next to this marker); Rear Admiral Mary Alice Hall (here, next to this marker); Almeda Fowler (here, next to this marker); Edward Asbury O'Neal, III (here, next to this marker); Dr. Ethelbert Brinkley Norton (here, next to this marker); Clay Bennett (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Also see . . . Robert E. "Bob" Bruninga. WB4APR - Robert Bruninga - Glen Burnie - USA

The creator of the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, Glen Burnie, Maryland, passed away on February 7. Bruninga, a member of ARRL Life, was 73 years old. According to her daughter, Bruninga has given up to cancer and the
Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, May 29, 2025

2. Robert E. "Bob" Bruninga Marker
effects of COVID-19. Bruninga had announced her cancer diagnosis in 2020. Over the years, he has quickly shared his extensive knowledge and experience with APRS, among other topics in the fields of radio amateurs and electronics.

(Submitted on March 31, 2023, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2023, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 413 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 31, 2023, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.

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