Many years ago during the 1960's as a Jr. high and high school student, it was my goal (dream) to get the highest radio telephone license. This would require many months of study and preparation. In high school I obtained my 3rd Class RT FCC license needed to operate a commercial radio station at the time. To move closer to this goal I attended Snow College and studied Electronics Technology and even attended on Electronics and Radio scholarships. These were very instructional and formative days in a great electronics program that has since gone away. I got a job working in commercial broadcasting at a regional radio station and was able to employ some of the skills learned from my early college work as it often became necessary to rebuild portions of the transmitter that were burned out by static electricity hits during stormy weather, and other things. I took the Cleveland Institute 1st Class FCC License course by correspondence course but got stalled out, without a way to get the help I needed. When it became clear that commercial broadcasting was not the professional activity I was prepared to lead out in, I had to face the decision to go back to college for more education and leave my fun with radio behind, translated into go and get a real job, all things considered this was a tough decision but one that was made not looking back but only forward to greater opportunities.
So what was going to happen to my goal of getting the highest FCC Electronics and radio license? What happened over the next decade was unpredictable to me at the time. I earned my BS degree in education and taught public school. later returned to graduate school and earned two higher degrees in Instructional Technology. I found that blending hardware and software in a meaningful way to make learning systems was what I loved to do.
After graduating with an advanced degree and a terminal degree in Instructional Technology, and a move across the country to north Alabama, it may have seemed that the dream to obtain the highest FCC license was out of reach. In my work the radio aspect was gone but inside I knew that it was still something that was important. It had now been about 20 years since I started working to reach the highest FCC license goal.
Enter KK4AI better known as Bart, a new aquaintance in Alabama, a seasoned amateur radio operator who invited me to study for the Novice Exam, something that was interesting but was unsure about the possibility for success since a 5 wpm morse code test was part of the test. At the last minute I went to the class and took the test, to my astonishment I passed, that was a real boost.
In the next few years other tests were taken with upgrades to technician and having passed code translated into tech plus, then general came a few years later. HF operations were now possible to go along with the 2Meter operations that Technician made possible. By now the FCC had realigned the class structure, and Novice and Advanced classes were eliminated but grandfathered. So to upgrade from General the only option was Extra Class, this was the highest FCC license you could get.
I determined to 'geterdone', here was the opportunity to get the highest FCC license again, repackaged in a different way, but just as difficult in my mind to obtain. Much of the electronics and radio theory from my college days was in my head but covered with rust it seemed. Having had success with Gordan West study guides in my previous Technicial and General upgrades, I decided to let 'Gordo' help again in upgrading to Extra Class, using his manual and audio tape set. I purchased a good portable audio cassette player and scheduled my study. Also began taking the online tests on QRZ.com. After a couple of months the formulas, procedures and thoery was really fitting together well.
On the 2nd of October in 2007 I successfully passed my Extra Class exam, talk about excitement. No longer was I going to be at the level just below the top, but rise to the very top class. This was a very exciting and ecellerating accomplishment, after notifying Gordon West of the successful completion a certificate was sent in the mail commending the achievement, something that I was very pleased about.
Then to may great delight, The following year at the Huntsville Hamfest who should be present but 'Gordo' himself. After learning that 'Gordo' was coming, I put my completion certificate in my bag and headed off to the great Huntsville Hamfest. There I had an opportunity to thank Gordan West personnaly for his assistance in successfully completing my Extra Class training by obtaining my license. The accompanying photo was taken at the hamfest with myself and Gordan West with the congratulatory certificate he had sent, it was the fullfilment of a wish that had been carried for over 30 years but finally fulfilled.
There is great meaning to everyone from this experience, and I guess that is what this post is all about. When you are working at making your dreams come true, just keep praying and working at it, sooner or later you will achieve what you desire, and usually in ways that you never dreamed possible.
Thrilling Opportunity to personally meet and thank Gordon West
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