W8FR, Frederick C. "Fred" Race, born 9/20/42 in Toledo, Ohio has been a Ham for over 50 years. He first listened to Hams at age 7 on his grandfather's old Philco radio of 1930's vintage, and at age 13 while workingin a radio-tv shop as an assistant, heheard local Hams on 160 (all A3/AM then) using a car radio that covered up to about 1900 KHz (bad local oscillator!).

He met one of the 160 group, Pete, W8WRO, by listening to him describe his neighborhood, which was only two blocks away! This led to a novice license in 1957, a general in 1958, and almost exclusive 160 operation until 1970. His first call was K8IUA, then KL7HEE, followed by W8KWN, W8FR, AL7JO, and finally, W8FR (reclaimed). He has had several overseas calls including GM5BFQ while in Scotland, TA2F and TF1TB (both "bootleg" calls), DL4IU, and many MM1, 2, and 3 operations at sea.

While serving 29 years of military service in the Army Reserves, Regular Army, then Navy, he earned two degrees: BSET and BA (History & Government). And, after retiring from the Navy in 1990, he earned a Post-Baccalaureate K-8 Teaching Certificate from the University of Alaska in 1991. This led to teaching for Fairbanks, Alaska School District (1993), and then 5th and 6th grades in Mohave Valley Elementary School, Arizona (1994-96).

During the interim (1991 to 1993), Fred taught members of Air Force Space Command in Spacecraft Communications and Tracking Systems, while working for LORAL Space & Range Systems in Sunnyvale, CA. Then, he moved to the Seattle area to teach for the Boeing Company in September, 1996.

Fred worked for Boeing in the the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, Instructional Systems Design (ISD) until July, 1999. Prior to this last assignment, he was Lead Training Specialist for the "DarkStar" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program. Before that promotion, he was initially assigned to AWACS Training Services in Kent, WA as Lead Communications Maintenance Course Developer and Instructor for USAF E3, and Japanese E767 AWACS platforms.

He retired (again) to Laughlin, NV in July 1999, and in the Spring of 2000, he agreed to independently-contract to design and teach the DEMC maintenance course for the "Predator" UAV program at Indian Springs, NV USAF-AF. Then, he contracted as a Senior Technical Writer (Robotics) for Asyst Technologies, Inc. of Fremont, CA. This became a "Telecommute" job (March, 2001), and on completion Fred again returned to retirement (September, 2001).

Fred, and Linda, his wife of 45 years, moved to Blue Mountain, MS (March, 2002), and he declares this the "best retirement and Ham radio location ever!" The wire began to go up almost immediately.

Fred operates 160-6M, 144.2/222.1 and 70cM + 1.2961 GHz from a small town lot at the top of Bald Knob, elevation 611, using various rigs (primary: TS-2000X & AL-80A with a TS-480SAT as backup/mobile), Wire Zepps & Collinear Arrays, and Yagi antennas. VHF/UHF Contesting and 40 Meter contesting are side interests.

After turning 62 in September, 2004, he started Social Security retirement on October 1st initiating a "full retirement environment," and now it's Mr. Mom, a few odd assignments in Antenna Design (MFJ 61, 62, & 64xx series), Tech Writing, Educational Consulting, Ham Radio operation, and gourmet cooking at the front of his daily routine.

He is still active in the United Methodist Church, American Legion, Republican Party (A Staunch Conservative; anti-liberal), a volunteer tutor for a Christian School teaching English grammar and writing skills, Science, and Math, and finds used computers for needy and/or Gifted-Talented (GT) kids in the area.

Rev: W8FR - 05/28/2011