My first introduction to amateur radio occurred when I was about 6 years old. My dad was not a ham but one of his best friends and fishing buddy (W5FBJ) Richard (Dick) Murray (SK) was a very active ham in my home town of Beaumont, Texas. Our families visited regularly during the mid-50s.
I was fascinated and curious seeing all of that radio equipment in his ham shack. I didn’t know what it was or how it worked but during each visit I would ask many questions. Mr. Murray was a great person and would patiently try to answer my many questions. He also provided me with his older QSTs and books pertaining to amateur radio. I became very interested in radio electronics and becoming a licensed ham.
However, when I was about 16 I lost some of my Interest in radios and slectronics and became more interested in cars, boats, fishing, hunting and, of course, girls. I didn’t get back into thinking about ham radio again until after I finished school, started working, got married and had a family.
In 1971 I joined the Houston Amateur Radio Club and got my Novice License (WN5HOW) in 1972. My first of many Heathkit projects were the HR-10B receiver and the DX 60 transmitter. They were AM and CW rigs only and I made a few CW contacts with those rigs, most of them with club members. I kept going to the club and working on my CW. I didn’t have an interest in CW at the time just wanted to get to 13 wpm and get on SSB phone. On my first trip to the FCC office for my General I did well on the theory but missed the requirement of one minute solid copy without errors. They issued me the Technician License. I got on 2 meter FM working direct and through some excellent new 2 meter repeaters, here in Houston. That was fun for a while but not HF. In 1975 I studied up on the code and passed the 13 wpm code requirement. About a year later I passed the Advanced and have kept it since that time. I would have to write a multi-page book in order to detail all the fun and all of the many friends and lifelong relationships that resulted from my ham radio hobby. I officially retired in 2013 and became interested in CW again. I joined SKCC (7999T). I had a lot of fun making contacts with straight key and progressed to using the keyer and paddles.
My working career of 42 years was all related to mechanical systems equipment, including boilers, chillers, cooling towers, steam turbines, direct gas fired turbines and electrical generators. My final 15 years of working was with a mechanical contractor in sales that provided, installed and serviced this type of equipment.
I am married and we have a son and daughter, 4 grandkids and one great great granddaughter.
I consider it an honor and privilege to be a member of CWops and look forward to numerous QSOs.Special thanks to W6SX for listing me and all of the other sponsors. I truly appreciate it.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.