[Elecraft] OT: 50 years

[k4zm]

Vic:

Congratulations on your 50th year in this wonderful hobby.  Your email got 
me to checking and I also will celebrate the completion of 50 years on the 
27th of this month.  On November 27, 1956, at the ripe age of 16, I received 
the callsign KN4LXU.  In March 1957 I removed the "N" from the call when I 
passed my General class license and in January 1967 I passed the exam for my 
"Extra Class" and was issued Amateur Extral Class Radio Operators License 
Certificate number AE-8M-31.  The 31th to be issued in the Mobile, Alabama 
FCC office.  I don't remember the exact date that I changed my callsign to 
K4ZM but it was during the first chance the FCC offered to Extras and in the 
early 1970's.  Also note that all exams except for the Novice were taken in 
front of an FCC Engineer and involved drawing diagrams and coping CW.

I have been active all 50 years and still have a passion for the hobby.  My 
interest in amateur radio provided me with the first step into my fantastic 
career in the electronics industry that spanned from Aviation Electronics in 
the US Navy to Technical Assistance Agent for a local electronics 
manunfacture and included a short time in electronic sales, service of 
medical electronics equipment, service of communications equipment and a 
stent of 21 years as the director of a biomedical department in a local 
hospital.  I retired from the hospital 7 years ago and in August of this 
year a local electronics manufacture asked me to come out of retirement and 
provide technical support for its customers.  So at 66 I am back in the 
working world.  LOL

I hope I have at least 30 more years in amateur radio....LOL   Thanks for 
the reminder and the trip down memory lane.

73
Jim Younce  K4ZM