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KI8GW Frank J. Piper Pickerington, OH QCWA # 38275 Chapter(s) 212 & 71 |
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I began my Amateur Radio hobby in May of 1995, taking my No-code Tech exams at a vocational school in Newark, Ohio. I became interested in the hobby after attending the Dayton Hamvention for 10 years prior, looking for computer parts. One year I attended the Hamvention with my friend Steve, N8JYV, and his friend, Mike, KB8ESU, who introduced me to Two Meter mobile communications. The idea of using Ham Radio to access local repeaters, auto phone patches, and club pizza parties intrigued me. My Brother-In-Law, Don, WB8TXW had also been edging me to get my ticket. My first call sign was KB8ZUF.
In late 1995, I was invited by a friend of my local computer club, Dick Martin, WA8GPC, to come help with communications for the Columbus Marathon. There I became friends with Bill, AA8EY, who was the Emergency Coordinator for Franklin County. Bill and I became great friends, who I consider my Adopted Father, and over the years he mentored me in Emergency Communications, while pushing me to expand my passion into positions within the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), as well as the ARRL. After taking over the local ARES newsletter, I took appointments of ARRL Official Emergency Station, and Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Franklin County, Ohio. I was still studying to get HF privileges, passing 5 and 13 WPM CW exams, and obtaining my General Class ticket in April of 1998, and my Advanced Class in September of 1998, when I changed my callsign to KI8GW. In June of 1999 I obtained Extra Class, with the passing of the 20 WPM CW exam.
In May of 2002, I was appointed the ARES Emergency Coordinator of Franklin County, Ohio, due to Bill, AA8EY retiring from the position. I held the EC position until 2003, when I was promoted to District EC (Ohio ARES District 7). In 2006, I was promoted to Section Emergency Coordinator, a position I held until 2008, when I .retired. from ARES to focus on my Family and career.
In June of 2009, then ARRL Ohio Section Manager, Joe Phillips, K8QOE, passed away suddenly. In July, I was approached by the ARRL Field Services department to stand in as acting Section Manager, for the remainder of Joe.s term. In September of 2010, I won my first elected position as Section Manager, and held the Section Manager job until January 2014, when I officially retired.
I spend my Amateur Radio time conducting VE test sessions for the ARRL-VEC and making many contacts on HF using both SSB and Digital Modes. I obtained my Worked All Stated for both Mixed and Digital modes in early 2019.
Also, I currently sit on the Board of Directors as Chair of .The Friends of W8LT., a 501C (3) corporation, supporting the Amateur Radio Station of The Ohio State University (W8LT), and the University.s Amateur Radio Club.
In my civilian life, I have spent my career as both a mechanical and electrical designer for companies of Babcock & Wilcox (Diamond Power Specialty), Diamond Electronics, and The Frick-Gallagher Manufacturing Company. After retiring from Babcock & Wilcox, I am currently employed by American Electric Power, in their Transmission company, located in New Albany, Ohio, as a Designer Principal, working on Protection and Control standards. I will be celebrating my 33rd year of marriage to my beautiful Wife, Jackie (KC8ESO), in June, and we are seeing our Daughter, Hanna, into her Junior Year as a Music and Business major at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio.
May 26, 2020