Public Relations

It all started one 1960 Ohio winter evening when my Dad, WA8CYD (sk), took me to a local ham’s shack complete with the pot belly stove cooking away and the faint sound of CW coming from his HQ160. I was about 14, and the ozone smell of the old tube type gear, and the faint green glow of the dial of the DX100 on the desk captivated me (and still does). One thing led to another, all the way to my General License and my own HQ 129X and Globe Scout Deluxe. Had a blast during my high school years, always reaching for the west coast on 40 on those winter nights and loading that old 40m folded dipole on 15m to chase some DX…

I was first introduced to contesting by K8QWY, another Elmer who loved to work QSO Parties and chase counties. My first contest, as with many other avid contesters, was a Novice Roundup. 

I wasn’t long before I headed off to college… the rig with me… but school distractions as well as the lady of my life entered big time and Ham Radio took a back burner, (but not entirely out of my life).  It always was a part of me, but could not be a priority during those years as I pursued my career(s) and raised my family through the late 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. But, I always seemed to set up a rig somewhere…and CW never left me.

It wasn’t until the early 90’s that radio really started happening again. I started building a more quality station, even though I was in a HOA environment, with mostly vertical antennas hidden somehow and somewhere. I joined CADXA, INDEXA, NCDXF, etc., and really got involved.  I contested, like many other DXers, to build my country totals; but, the contesting bug hit me, and I haven’t recovered.  An invitation to join the XZ1N team in 1996 really clinched the contesting thing for me, as I worked CQWW CW from Burma, and still hold that zone record for 40m. Then, the invitation to join the VooDoo Contest Group in Mali for the 2005 (TZ5A) CQWW CW was an all time opportunity and privilege -- it did me in for contesting. I’m hooked for as long as I can keep going.

It has been a great pleasure to be involved in the formation of the Arizona Outlaws with K8IA, N7RQ, KC7V and AB7E -- great friends and super operators. It is amazing to see how far we have come in such a short time. Congrats to all the Outlaws!

Currently, I’m on a ½ acre lot in Tempe, AZ  (DM32AI) and working condx are:

FT1000MP
FT897 for 6m and HF backup
AL811H
Nye Viking Tuner
70’ Triex w/ Force 12 6BA
30’ Rohn 25 w/ Mosley Classic 33 and M2 6M5X
Sloper fed at 70’ for 160/80 w/ 30 60’ plus radials from tower base

I am a retired executive from a large national tire retailer, and like to volunteer my time at our church and spend time with my 2 kids and 7 grandkids. Betty (KC7SKO), the love of my life for the last 43 years, is my inspiration and totally supports my radio activities, for which I am grateful (knowing how crazy I can get)!

© Arizona Outlaws Contest Club 2009