I was first licensed as WN5SAP in New Orleans, LA.  I remember the times of sitting in the big green room at the FCC office to upgrade your license.  If you never had this experience count your blessings.  I was a MARS operator in the U.S. Air Force for over six years. 

Being in corporate life for major manufacturers around the country, and later owning four businesses in New Orleans, I was out of radio for 32 years.  After retiring at the age of 49, I decided to get my ham ticket back.  Morse Code was never a problem for me, in two weeks I was back up to speed.  I love CW, always will.  My FISTS # is 11731 and my SKCC # is 287.

The day after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, I passed a message from President George W. Bush to the Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin.  A local TV crew was in my radio room doing a news story on how hams were helping after the storm and all this was caught on video.  Since then, I have eight TV news stories all on DVD, and numerous newspaper articles. 

I am also the Chief Radio Operator for the Convoy of Hope, a faith based group that helps during disasters.  We have converted an 18 wheeler trailer into the communication center.  Also I am one of the NCS for the Texas Traders Net every Sunday morning on 7.245 at 10:30 AM CST and 3.922 at 7:00 PM.

Yes, everyone calls me “SAP”, and I prefer that on and off the air.  The FCC knew my sense of humor long ago.  Everything I build or own has “SAP” incorporated in the name.  My Jeep is the “SAP”mobile.  I co-built the “Sapallo” telegraph keyer while at Dayton 2007 with Al Gallo, WØERE, which was published in the FISTS and World Radio Magazines. 

I recently moved to this QTH that is ham friendly.  Currently have a Tri-Ex 70 foot electric tower with a Mosley Pro 67 and Cushcraft six meter beam on top.  Three sixty foot telephone poles are placed along the fence line for a 160 meter dipole.  A 60 foot Glen Martin tower with Hazer and a three element homebrew 30 meter beam is planned for the Spring of ’09 along with a 80 meter Delta Loop.

73 to all.