Greetings to all.

Note my23 year old companion BooBoo in the upper right corner. Sadly we had to end his suffering on September 13, 2009 after many years of always being near me where ever I went.

For those needing membership numbers here are several: OMISS 6958, 10-10 76098, M&M #268

I got into active ham radio in April of 1992 and got a Tech License. After I permanently retired I decided I needed to get upgraded. I got my General license in September of 2008 and then Extra in November of 2008. Got my ARRL VE Certificate in April of 2009, W5YI VE Certificate in January of 2010, and CAVEC VE in June of 2010. My first call was N8TCZ (which I actually didn't like because it was hard to understand unless you used phonics) and then I went to AF4MW and now to KT4W which I will keep. Any KT4W QSL's prior to 8/4/09 should be sent to NM2O for Rays old call.

During my working years I was a tech service engineer for NCR, then into Regional Sales Management for several different manufacturers of special hydraulic operated truck bodies, then as president of a manufacturers rep agency selling for a radar/microwave equipment manufacturer and a specialized IFR emitter and detector manufacturer heavily involved with military R&D. Worked for a two years sellling Piezo sensors for traffic count and weigh-in-motion to all the DOT's in North and South America and then for a major manufacturer of changeable message signs for DOTs. So technical product sales helped with the ham radio studies. I am now retired and slowed things down a little.

I have been active on the airway with 6 Meters, at the urging of my wife's brother, W0LGQ. My wife's father (SK W0LGQ) was first licensed in 1947 so ham radio wasn't new to me. I was going to get a license back in 1960. Learned code and had worked up to being able to practice send about 25wpm and could copy about 15wpm. Studied the handbook and could draw the schematics and knew most of what was required for a license back then but because of being a newly wed and working on making a living I lost interest. I was active in RC Airplanes (still am after 50 years) so that occupied my spare time.

I'm using a Yaesu FT-450 to a LDG AT-200Pro tuner and a 20M dipole up 50' in the pine trees behind my house, a 6M 3 element yagi and also added a G5RV Jr. to the mix. So, look for me on 20M at least until the next 6M opening. Having fun. With my wife growing up with ham radio I have no problems with the hobby. Have aquired a AL-811H amp and a MFJ 989 tuner to handle the load which I plan to put on the air this summer and put up a tri-band beam, I hope to have my tower up by spring of 2012.

I don't know how many of you remember World Radio Labs in Council Bluffs, Iowa. My father-in-law (W0LGQ/SK) was a good friend of the chief engineer for WRL, his name was Lee Treft and his call at that time was W0GG. This was the AM days of radio and my father-in-law had a Globe King 300 transmitter and a Hammerlund Super Pro receiver. My wife worked at WRL while in high school during summer break and assembled Globe Scout transceivers. I went to high school with Leo Meyersons son, Larry. He was a year older than me and my wife graduated with Leo's daughter, Darlynn. Leo passed away April 13, 2011 at the age of 100 years and one month after suffering a stroke.

Both of my sons are licensed, KG7OF and hisXYL N7WQM, other son KD4NKG and my brother-in-law, W0LGQ who has his fathers old call.