First licensed as KN8NXZ, later K8NXZ (terrible CW call), in 1958, at age 15 in Ohio. Obtained a much better call, K4CUE, upon moving to Lynchburg, VA, to join General Electric Mobile Radio Department as a design engineer in 1968.
First station consisted of a Heathkit DX-40 and a National NC-100XA Receiver. First key was a Speed-X straight key, followed by a built-from-scratch tube-type keyer; as a high school student, I could not afford the Hallicrafters TO Keyer, so I purchased the manual (for 25 cents by mail) and built one. It still works! A “paddle” was a new item in the ham radio arsenal; Vibroplex had just announced one made from the front half of their “bug.” With a dipole on my father’s TV tower, I obtained WAS, DXCC, collected many paper QSL Cards, etc.
After GE Mobile Radio, I worked as a technical sales manager, selling quartz crystals, oscillators and filters throughout the US and North America. Met a lot of hams in this endeavor and have stayed in touch with several.
After more than fifty years as a Commissioned Lay Presbyterian Pastor, I recently completed an on-line Master of Divinity Curriculum and am now an ordained minister, which led to a mission trip to Malawi (Africa), serving as the chaplain in a group installing water wells in Malawi. Note the photograph of a young student proudly displaying his school workbook. Much of my service in Malawi consisted of ministering at the Embangwini Medical Hospital there. I also operated 7Q7WW, CW and FT8, at the hospital. A prominent member of the well work team who coordinated much of the trip activities is Bill, KC4D, CWops #419.
I have been pounding brass for more than 66 years and am now proud to have been accepted into CWops.
73 and God’s Blessings to all.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.