Bob Heil grew up in Marissa and lived in Belleville. He is best known as the inventor of the Heil Talk Box used by rock musicians Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, and others. He was a student of famed St. Louis organist Stan Kann, became a theater organ musician, performing on the Fox Theatre’s Wurlitzer when he was 15. Parallel to his commercial and artistic success in live music, was his passion for amateur radio.

Stan Kann (December 9, 1924 – September 29, 2008) grew up in St. Louis and majored in classical organ at Washington University. While there, he persuaded the owners of the Fox Theater, the Aruther Brothers, to refurbish its 4-36 Fox Special Wurlitzer, which had been unused for twenty years, and became the official house organist in 1952. In 1956, Kann installed a Wurlitzer in the famous St. Louis restaurant “Ruggeri’s On The Hill“and played there regularly until 1974.