Like many future hams in the 1960s, my interest in radio began as an AM broadcast band and shortwave listener. I still have my Popular Electronics "Monitor Station" certificate with the identifier, WPE9IGS. Remember those? It is really sad that most of my favorite shortwave stations from that era have gone QRT. Later, many of my friends and I got interested in CB radios. Since I was under 18, my father dutifully mailed in the form to get our FCC license, KLK-1543. My friends and I had a lot of fun with those radios. Two of them later became Novices at the same time I did.

Amateur radio officially began for me in Dec. 1967 when the FCC issued my Novice call, WN9WNQ. Novices could only operate CW with no more than 75 watts of power in those days. Six months later I upgraded to General at the Chicago FCC office and became WA9WNQ. Finally, I upgraded to Extra in the fall of 1981. I still operate mostly CW and love to chase DX, but I also enjoy Phone, RTTY and PSK31. Field Day is one of my favorite ham radio events and in late July you will find me operating portable from Washington Island, WI. I am a member of the North Shore Radio Club and the Northern Illinois DX Assn. I also belong to QCWA, GERITOL, CWops, 10-10 and the ARRL. I currently have 328 DXCC entities confirmed along with 5BDXC, WAZ and 6M VUCC.

My station consists of an Icom IC-7800 and IC-PW1 amp connected to either a HyGain AV-640 vertical, 130 ft. Inverted-L or a 6M 3-el yagi. For VHF/UHF I use either a Kenwood TM-V71A dual bander or a Motorola XPR-4550 MotoTRBO. When operating portable I use an Elecraft K3 and a PAR End-Fedz 40/20 or 6M Moxon.

I am married and have two adult children. Professionally, I am a financial consultant and registered investment advisor. In 1997 I was elected Village President (mayor) of my home town and served in that capacity for eight years. That was one of the most interesting volunteer things I have ever done. Currently I am serving as a trustee of my town's Police pension fund. I have a BA in economics from the University of the South (Sewanee) and an MBA in finance from the Owen School at Vanderbilt University. My other interests include golf, fishing, skeet, trap and WW2 history.

73, Don