(formerly WN5AIA, 1969) I’m very surprised, after reading quite a few of these novice stories, how so many of us parallel in our path to ham radio. I, like many others, learned the code for my first class requirement in Boy Scouts. I had an old transistor radio my mom…

(formerly WN2MFW, 1969) My Dad was Radioman Third Class in the Coast Guard during WWII. Although he never got a ham radio license, I don’t know why, he’s the reason I became interested in ham radio back in 1969. He even had an US Navy straight key that I still…

(Formerly WN4IIF, 1969) [Editor's Note: Normally the Novice Historical Society publishes stories hams have written about their novice year(s). The idea is to let hams speak in their own voice. Of course, it is not possible for a silent key to speak in their own voice. We normally do not…

(Formerly WN2MAM, 1969) I became interested in shortwave, CB & ham radio in 1962. I started Canisius HS, Buffalo, NY in Sept 67. I joined the radio club, K2AVS, run by Father John Sturm, SJ, who was the 'Prefect of Discipline' at the school. At the time, I was mostly…

(Formerly WN6NIA, 1969; WA6NIA) It all started in 1964 with the Alaska earthquake.  My next door neighbor was Bob, W6QJU. Bob was handling emergency traffic out of Anchorage.  He was on a break from his efforts and saw my father and I out in the yard.  He motioned us over…

(Formerly WN6MBZ,1969; WB6MBZ, WA6MBZ) I got my novice in 1969 while I was studying for a Masters Degree at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. I wrote to the SCM of New Mexico (now called the SM) about getting someone to give me a novice test, and he…

(Formerly WN4OAA, 1969) I was first licensed at age 15 in Orlando, Florida in the summer of 1969. Having been an avid shortwave listener from age 11 onward, I first heard of amateur radio by listening to 160 and 80 meter AM Phone. Soon, I had my scout master teaching…