Rememberance: Madeline Fockens, KB6IS.

When my son Colman was in Ted Ryan's class, he became interested in Ham Radio.  I thought there might be something dangerous about it so I checkeked it out.  Indeed there can be danger if you do not understand some aspects of radio...expecially if you work on your own equipment or try to build a radio.  But there can also be a lot of fun to it.  Mr. Ryan administered the novice test to me.  My novice call was WA6AGC. 

In those days hams used to haunt Henry Radio.   I saw a poster announcing Murphy's Radio Class.  So I started attending those classes.  I practiced code twice a day every day and also studied the theory.  Before long I went to the FCC in Long Beach and passed the code and theory test for the General class.  My call was N6AJE.  

Then I worked on Advanced theory and kept speeding up my code until I got to about 22 words per minute.  Early one morning I drove to the Long Beach FCC office and signed in for the Advanced and Extra tests.  I passed the Advanced class.  Tha license did not require a code test.  I was now eligible to take the Extra class code.  I passsed it just fine and was now eligible to take the Extra class theory.  I took one look at it and said Oh my God!  I gave it my best shot and didn't make it the first time.  ut the Extra cide was good for one year and I stretched my brain as far as it would go and passed within the year.  My Advanced call came in the mail as KB6IS.  I kept the call when I passed the Extra because I like the way it sounds in Morse code. 

I volunteered to serve in the radio room on the Queen Mary.  Once a month for two years I checked to be sure the antennas were hooked up to the correct radios, turned on th electricity and worked 40 meters and explained Ham radio to visitors who dropped by. 

I used to participate in Field Day each year. 

I check into the LAUSDARA net each week.

I'm glad Ted Ryan introduced Colman and me to Ham Radio!

Madeline, KB6IS

Editor's Note - Henry Radio was a ham radio retail store in LA.  The Advanced class license required passage of all the requirements of the earlier licenses, including 13 words per minute Morse code.  LAUSDARA is the LA Unified School District Amateur Radio Assn.  This club has an on-the-air network check-in weekly.