I began my life long journey with ham radio as a sophomore in high school in 1971. I was introduce to a ham operator, Jack Traub W1ER, in my hometown, Newtown, CT. Jack was a great Elmer, passing my Novice exam and getting my first ticket in 1972 WN1QBW, I continued to study with Jack and passed my General Class ticket, WA1QBW. I joined the Navy’s electronics program right out of high school and have been involved with electronics/electricity ever since. In 1982 I upgraded to Extra Class. RTTY/CW were my main interest in ham radio, the crowning glory of my RTTY station was a Model 28ASR. Then things changed with computers and I purchased a HAL CT-2200 and things got a lot quieter in the shack and a lot less crowded. Like many, I have seen a lot of changes in ham radio in almost 50 years in the hobby but one things that remains dear to me is CW. I was disappointed when CW was dropped as a requirement for a ticket, but that’s life. Today only those who really want it will learn and they seem to me to carry on the tradition of what it means to be a ham.
Over the years, I have used the skills I learned in ham radio and the Navy to always find employment and it was that background the opened the doors for me to a small electric cooperative in central Indiana. I my first assignment with them was to read meters and through the years I have progress through the ranks to become a general manager with three different cooperatives from Upstate NY to NW Oregon. And through all that I’ve always kept a ham station going and on the air almost everyday. It has been a great hobby, I’ve meet a lot great men and women because of it and have had a lot of fond memories. I intend to make some new friends here and hope to have an eyeball QSO with some and maybe a cold 807 or two.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.