[ADXA] Hello group

[HamOP]

Great history George.. Sure brings back memories for me too, the effort, taking General Class exam in Little Rock driving over and back as a 14 year old kid since Stuttgart was too close to take a Conditional Class exam from my mentor, W5FUW.
And I had an ARRL code proficiency award of 20 words a minute as an SWL before getting the Novice license, later went to 30 WPM for heck of it.

I too was in radio broadcasting too, first at KWAK in Stuttgart in 1959-61 as a part timer with Scooter Segraves who now lives in Diamond City. Later worked a few months as associate announcer for the Rock and Roll show on WQXI radio when I was at Georgia Tech, usually on Saturday night unless playing Freshman FB for Ga. Tech. That was late 62 to early 63 timeframe. Got 75 cents an hour! Then for a crazy reason I spent some spare time (FREE) behind the mike at KDEW for Ed Moory at Dewitt, AR, who was a good friend whom I bought a lot of ham gear from, especially Collins and my first SSB radios!!  Did this while I was in practice in Stuttgart and not on call on a weekend. Usually did Saturday Rock and Roll songs with a young gal whose name I have forgotten. I have a lower and more gravely voice now and actually better to easily get into that low toned voice mode. Gotta remember to pronounce the “Ts” and say “you” and not say “Chew for YOU” hi hi… Don’t chew know? HI HI

Glad to have you as an ADXA member, and you will be stimulated to chase and work DX. We have an increasing membership list, and many are slowly working for full membership from the associate notation. Again, nice to know more complete ham radio history of our members, starting from day one as a ham. I got started in late 1957 but was an SWL from age 10 until 13 or so when I lived in Memphis. Once got a horribly working, heavy receiver (forgot name) in 1956 from Elvis’ good friend and best man at his wedding, George Kline, who later tried to keep the Rock and Roll Dance show going @ WHBQ after Wink Martindale left in about 1958. Danced on that Saturday morning R and R Dance Party last 6 months of 1956 and was at Elvis’ place twice. One nervous 13 year old while at the Audubon Drive house but soothed by my best friend who was 17. Elvis was 21 years old. DJ Fontana was a nice guy. THEN, my mom said “We are moving to Stuttgart Jan 1st 1957”.. I was SO depressed. HI  Life goes on and it did!  At one time I had one of Elvis’ first record from Sun Records, “That’s All right” ( no Mama at end ), done about July 5th, 1954 and put out on air the next day by WHBQ night announcer, Dewey Phillips, no kin to Sam. 

CU hopefully at our annual ADXA in Springdale. Joel is doing a good job, along with his Directors and officers, in getting us back to the old days of trying to involve as many Arkansas DXers as possible.  We have an established name on the DX club scene again, like years ago. 73,
San K5YY

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: WB5JJJ
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2019 1:40 PM
To: adxa at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [ADXA] Hello group

Thanks Joel for all the kind words.  But when we first met, both of us were a LOT younger back in my Little Rock days of 1973 when I was a starving new coded Technician Class with an Regency HR-2A, battery and mag mount antenna in the projection booth of the old Arkansas Theater in downtown LR where I worked.  

John (WB5BHS) started hammering me to upgrade to General many years ago and then about 5 years ago, he started his relentless harassment again for me to upgrade to Extra.  Since our club administers the exams before each monthly meeting, I had no viable excuse any more.  So, I started studying (and studying, and studying).  Gradually I got old, long stagnate brain cells to comprehend the "new" theory again.  Brought back some scary thoughts.  I also took an 8 week class that was taught here in town as well.  BRAIN OVERLOAD.  I finally got the courage to take the exam a little over a year ago and got 88%, which for me was like 110%.  Forgot to unlock the Extra part of the band on my IC-7610 and went there to work a DX a couple months later and I was locked out.  Fixed that easily.  

Now, John was hammering me yet again to join ADXA.  I did so.  What's next John?  

BTW, John and I tested Rick's (AI5P) FT8 FOX mode setup before he left on his vacation DXPedition and then caught him on 20m FT8 the other night as FO/AI5P and I busted his JA pileup.  John worked him a bit later after I totally ruined his dinner he was at instead telling about working Rick.  

And yes, Joel is correct.  My call is not a vanity one, and I get ask that at least once a month.  Had it since April 1973.  And later also had WR5AIR for the first Nebo 146.82 repeater I built in the early 1980's.  And then WB5LED at my parents QTH in Heber Springs back in the day.  Of course, I had to give them up years later by decree from the FCC.  Had a hard time deciding if to keep JJJ or give it up and adopt LED.  Figured LED's might not be around for long and WB5JJJ had a sweet rhythm on CW.  Boy was I wrong about LED's, but not JJJ as it does help in pileups, on occasion.  Have to be careful though, as many non-English speaking stations just don't comprehend a triple letter call too well and I get all kinds of wrong letters since J can sound like K, A and so on in my southern accent.  Persistence pays off.  

This email confirms Joel's assertion of my Rag Chewers Award for sure.  Too much time in commercial broadcast radio, voice over on television and PA gigs all over in past years.  I guess I like the sound of my voice, as I read this out loud for proofing.  I retired in July 2011 after 22 years at Arkansas Tech as Chief Engineer for the Broadcast Productions department and working hard at radio on a daily basis since then. 

73's and thanks for the add.

George - WB5JJJ

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