N2FF Francis J. Fallon East Williston, NY QCWA # 22027 Chapter 81

I have been a licensed amateur for fifty years. I was the ARRL Hudson Division Director from 1997 to January 2011. It was a big honor to hold that title for almost 14 years. My thanks to those in the Hudson Division who supported me or voted for me. I continue to support ARRL's efforts as a Life Member and a Diamond Club member.

I retired in 1995 after 33 years teaching in New York City schools. For the last 27 I taught English at Forest Hills High School. My first assignment was at JHS 22 on the Lower East Side where I had a ham radio club. A year after I transferred in came WB2JKJ and the rest is history.

I was first licensed in 1962 as WV2YVK (Novice). Later that year I went into the Army Reserve - Company B, 77th SIG BN - and was trained as a Field Radio Repairman at Ft. Gordon, GA. Later I was a Crypto Repairman with the 309 Signal Detachment at Ft. Tildon, NY. By late 1975 I finally made it up to EXTRA and a year later received my present call, N2FF. During 1974-1975 I was a Fulbright Exchange teacher at St. Catherine's Girls School in Blackpool, England and operated as G5BJM in my spare time. It was my second chance to operate as DX and I also had the opportunity of having tea with the late Queen Mother. That was quite an honor and a story in itself. In 1972 I visited Ireland and operated as EI3VFP. I have made many visits to Ireland and England since I have more first cousins there than in the US. My daughter, Megan Belmont, is married and lived in Littlehampton, West Sussex, England with our two grandaughters, Georgia and Delilah. They came to the US in August 2006 and now live a mile away. My son, Sean was KD6ZSK and lives in LA. On visits there I opearte as M/N2FF. My wife, Kathleen, a charming red head, is a very tolerant non-ham who has accompanied me on contest operations in Grenada where I was part of the YCCC J3A operation in 2000. She loved the beaches. In September 2009 I operated as 6Y6 and was 6Y0FF in the CQWW RTTY Contest. QSL via LoTW for that operation.

My favorite mode has always been RTTY. I started back in 1965 with an old model 15 that I acquired from the Army and still have a number of old machines in my basement. Those were fun years working RTTY contests and hunting DX. I now have 325/316 on RTTY. For four years I moderated the RTTY Forum at Dayton. I am on Honor Roll (mixed) at 351/339 and also have 5BDXCC, plus DXCC on 30, 17, and 12 meters;and the DXCC Challenge Award - 1729. I have the Triple Play Award # 43. I need North Korea and Crozet to have them all. DX rag chewing on 10 or 17 meters with British and Irish stations is my favorite activity when the band is open. I enter most ARRL and CQ contests on all modes each year. I use LoTW for QSLing and love it.

I spent a great deal of time on ARRL's Grassroots legislative agenda with particular interest in antenna rights issues. I helped form RADIO in the early 1990's and have gathered a team of expert witnesses that have testified at nearly fifty zoning board hearings in the Long Island area.

I am a member of ARRL (Life), RSGB, IRTS, QCWA (Life), Radio Club of America, INDEXA (Life), YCCC, LIDXA, NJDXA, LIMARC and the Order of Boiled Owls.

My station is an FT-1000MP and an AL 1200 linear with a six band three element quad at 50 feet and a number of dipoles.

I am also and avid vegetable gardener and fly fisherman/fly tyer and a life member of both the Theodore Gordon Fly Fishers and Trout Unlimited.

January 4, 2015