K7YZD

David W. 'Dave' Rhodes
Richland, WA

QCWA # 28341
K7YZD - David W. 'Dave' Rhodes

I was born in Yakima,Washington on January 3,1934, My parents were Charles and Ruth(Old)Rhodes.I graduated from Renton High School,Renton,Washington June of 1952.

I went to work for the SP&S Railway Co, in June of 1952 and was there until I joined the US Air Force in January Of 1954. I had bascic training at Lackland AFB,San Antonio.Texas and then went To Keesler AFB Biloxi,Mississippi for electronics school. I graduated on December 10 1954 and was top in my class.

I was then stationed at Harlingen AFB in Harlingen,Texas until my discharge in January 1958 with the rank of S/Sgt. My job was to test,repair and install airborne radio communication and radio navigation equipment.

Many of the civilians who worked in our shop were hams and I would often times go to the home of Fred Sappington,K5HOC (now deceased). He is the person who really got me interested as he would run phone patches with a ham in Portland,Oregon for me to talk to my grandparents once a week.

When I was discharged I returned to work for the railroad. In March of 1958 the SP&S merg4ed with the Northern Pacific costing many of us our jobs. In 1959 I attended Yakima Junior College and then on to Central Washington University in Ellensburg,Washington. I got my BA in Education in 1962 and my MA in Education there in 1970. I spent 39 years as a Teacher in the public schools of Washington retiring in 2003.

While living in Yakima I joine the Ham Radio Club there and learned all I could and got my license and going through the ranks,novice,general, advanced and extra class with the same call I have today

I am active on the traffic nets and enjoy doing some Dxing. I am married to Alice and have 2 sons and 1 stepson. I also have 2 granddaughters and 1 grandson.

73, Dave

K7YZD - David W. 'Dave' Rhodes

October 28, 2012