I was first licensed in 1959 as KØUJJ. I held that callsign until 1977 when I received KØCF. 2009 marks my 50th year of ham radio, and my 40th as an extra-class licensee.

In January 2004, I retired as Director of Bioengineering for the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine after a 35-year career as an electronics & biomedical design engineer. Medical research equipment that I designed is in use in research labs in 38 countries and 42 of the 50 states. I am also a veteran of the US Air Force (1964-1968) and served with the 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (5 FIS) at Minot AFB, North Dakota.

My operating activities are primarily chasing DX on CW, with some SSB and RTTY as well. I especially enjoy CW and RTTY contesting. Although I make no claim to being a great CW operator, I enjoy that mode the most.

Member of: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), ARRL (Diamond Club), Quarter-Century Wireless Association (QCWA #17935), Eastern Iowa DX Association (EIDXA) and the Iowa City Amateur Radio Club (ICARC - see our web site at www.icarc.org).

Awards: DXCC (332 countries confirmed), WAZ, WAS, WPX Honor Roll and Geratol #692.

Station Equipment: Icom IC-7600, Idiom Press CMOS Super Keyer 3, K1EL WinKeyer 2, Begali Signature Edition paddles, Heil PR-781 microphone, Heil Pro-Set Plus headset, and a GAP Titan DX all-band vertical antenna. I am also on 2-meter FM using an Icom IC-V8000 and a Kenwood TH-K2AT 5-watt HT.

Computer(s): Dell XPS-410 with Core 2 Duo CPU at 2.4 GHz, running Windows Vista and interfaced to the Icom IC-7600 with a US Interface Navigator. I also use a Dell XPS-M1330 notebook computer. Software includes DX4Win for general logging, QSLing and award tracking, and W5XD's WriteLog for contesting.

QSL: I reply promptly via the same route to all QSLs received, no return postage required (although an SASE is always welcome). I also use ARRL's Logbook of the World (LotW), and upload my log every few weeks.

Other hobbies: I have had a life-long fascination with astronomy, and I own a Meade LX90 8 inch computer-controlled Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. I also do a little woodworking, and have a fairly well-equipped wood shop.