As a teenager in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I received a 1949 ARRL Handbook from my uncle. While reading the handbook I became fascinated with the magic of radio. In the late 1950's, with the help of my Elmer, Bob W8AXI, I received my Novice license, KN8OLS. and soon thereafter qualified for my Conditional ticket and the callsign K8OLS.

In the early 1960's with the demands of family, education and career I did not renew my license and gave up amateur radio.

After retiring I began looking for something to keep me busy. I thought about amateur radio and remembered the fascination and wonder I experienced as a kid. I studied for and passed my General exam in May of 2006. Within a few months I discovered my original callsign was available and obtained the callsign K8OLS via the vanity callsign program.

My HF station is a Kenwood TS-570S, a Yaesu FL-2100 Linear Amp and an MFJ-986 tuner into an Ultra-Lite Senior dipole about 20 feet above ground. Station backup and mobile rig is an FT-857D with an AT-100 Pro tuner.

For a base station on 2 meter operation I use an ICOM T90A(HT), a Mirage B-34-G 35 watt amplifier into a Hustler G3-144 vertical antenna. My portable 2 meter HT rig is a Yaesu VX-150.

As I now have my original callsign I also go by my old nickname, Butch, which was the only name I was known by until graduating from high school.

73, Butch