>

Jim's 1970 Navy MARS Shack

Jim's 2005 Shack

Jim's 2017 Shack and Office

Jim has been involved with electronics and communications since 1955. He noticed that the console radio in the front room could be switched to radio stations other than the broadcast stations. As he tuned the radio on the other bands, he heard people who seemed to be carrying on a conversation with each other. When he asked his dad about them, his dad explained that he was listening to amateur radio operators. Jim's dad introduced him to Maynard Holt W9GJC who gave him the Novice exam.

After receiving his Novice license (no longer available), he made his first contact as KN9EOH on September 23, 1956 with KN8CML.

He became a General Class licensee and while in the Navy in 1960 reached the pinnacle of Amateur Radio Licenses, the Extra Class. In addition he passed his Radio Telephone First Class and Radio Telegraph Second Class with Ships Radar endorsement commercial licenses.

Winnie

While still in the Navy, Jim married his favorite wife, Winnie, in 1962. In fact, she has been his only wife.

Jim and his wife were once stranded in Princeton Illinois due to the great January 1967 snow storm. He had a portable transceiver with him, tossed a wire out the window of the motel and contacted a local ham who drove them around the city to pick up needed items.Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Serivce Since that experience, and although she has never gotten her license, Winnie insists that they always travel with amateur radio.

Since that time, Jim has been a member of Navy MARS as Indiana Training Director, District Training Director and Area Coordinator.

He as been a member the Central Indiana VHF UHF radio club and a member of Marion County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service as well as Operations Officer for the Marion County Emergency Management Agency.

November 30, 2008 Jim retired from his workplace and returned to his southern estate. Expect some changes.