First Licensed as WN9EKA in 1961 at age 12, I got my start in Amateur Radio at an early age by affiliation with the Lawndale Boys Club of Chicago, near where I was born and raised. The Boys Club had a donated remote building, about a block away from the main Boys Club facility. The Club callsign was K9YHB and used the phonetics "Young Healthy Boys" when operating one of four complete stations set up in that building, called the WhiteHouse Wing, because the building was painted all white in color. I met many hams there and learned all about Ham Radio and operating procedures with the many "elmers" that frequented the Club. Interested in DX'ing, it was not long for me to upgrade to General and get WA9EKA issued as a permanent callsign, which I held for >35 years. I continued upgrading until achieving Amateur Extra status in 1979. This allowed me the privledges necessary to become active in serious contesting. I've been active on all HF bands DX'ing and contesting. I placed first in the CQ WPX CW contest of 1980 on 15m. and also the same year place first in the CQWW CW DX Contest on 40m. and repeated again in 1988, with an even better score due to better conditions, more skill, and a three element 40m. yagi antenna working for me. I achieved my ultimate goal in 1993, making the #1 DXCC Honor Roll spot on Mixed Category, as well as Phone and CW categories! I presently have 351 country/entities confirmed. In 1996 I elected to chance the opportunity to obtain my initials in my callsign, as K9RB was listed as an available callsign under the newly created vanity callsign program. My application was there on the opening day and I was fortunate enough to have my desire fulfilled, a dream come true for me as it was the only callsign that I ever wanted! In '97 my wife and I relocated to a home on a hill in NE Florida, yes, a hill in Florida. The average terrain here is 2 ft. above sea level and I'm at 73 ft. which has proven to be an excellant DX'ing location. Lately my interests have been RTTY, PSK31, as well as 160 meter band operations, plus keeping up my #1 DXCC Honor Roll status. I still need P5 on CW, like most everyone else, but did work Ed on SSB and RTTY. I've been active on all HF bands and most available modes. My antennas now are a TH11DX at 72 ft. up the tower. A HyGain 18HT modified for 160 by the addition of about 16 ft. in height, making it a quarter wavelength on 80 meters. I also use it to support an inverted "L" on 160 meters with an overall length of 165 ft. that works very well (when it stays up!) I''ve got various wires and shunt feeds on the tower using the TH11DX as top loading. I'm an Honorary member and past trustee of the Hamfesters Radio Club - W9AA, an Honorary Charter Member of the Metro DX Club, a past member of the Northern Illinois DX Assn., a past member of the Suburban Technical Amateur Radio Society, and have been a pilot station for many of the Florida DXPedition Group Trips and provided for phone patches for Bill-N2WB on many of his DXpeditions including 3Y0X, TX5C, ZL7C, 5J0X, VP2MWB, ZL3/N2WB, HH4/N2WB, V25WB, J75J and numerous others I fail to recall. I also hold the callsign KG4RB for my use on Guantanamo Bay, which may never happen as my health has taken a turn for the worse over the past few years. Long term diabetes has taken its toll and I had a quad bypass in '05, lost some toes on both feet in '06, lost my right leg in '07, and have been fighting a MRSA Staph infection that was cause for reopening my chest again in '08. The infection returned 3 weeks after that surgery and I've been taking Zyvox and Laviquin, which carry some pretty extreme side effects, in hopes of killing this bug before it kills me. Thank You for taking the time to read my amateur radio and life biography. 73 and good DX'ing. -=Rog-K9RB=- (updated 8/7/'09)