I grew up in Elk Grove Village and was a ham during the BEAR repeater days. Even was a member of that club for awhile as a prospective student engineer could be an associate member of the club. I was in high school at the time. (ex-KA9VAW) I was steered in that direction when the Elk Grove club (which my father helped form in the 60s) drove me out due to only being a technician at the time. They were a DX club at the time. Never really got their attitude. Put me off of contesting and DXing for many years.

Met Hap several times, did some recorded announcements for him, got caught up in the BEAR drama at the end, then and unfortunately or fortunately I only stuck around for about four years before moving to Cedar Rapids, IA for just shy of 20 years to work for Rockwell International Collins Avionics and Communications Division and then Rockwell Collins. Now Raytheon Collins Aerospace.

Moved to cross country with 4 kids to Tucson five years ago to work for Raytheon and now I work for the same company again. Only I could pull that off. Almost 25 years now. I digress.

Except for seeing Hap at Dayton just about every time I went, I think he interviewed me once too, I have not heard much about him or from him since the TV show aired. Good to see he is still at it.

It looks as if you are local to Hap and the Chicago suburbs. If so and you are in contact with Hap, tell him hello. I am still an engineer (though I am trying to retire) and the hams in Chicago, especially him, had a lot to do with that.

The move to Raytheon Missiles and Defense puts me a lot closer to his native California. Tucson. Only maybe 800 miles away. The American West is big.

I have to go to Chicago as soon as I can to settle my mom's estate. I will try to see if I can at least talk to him on a repeater when I go.

No doubt Hap is a character.

Thanks mentioning Hap. I will need to search out the hamfest segment. I just mentioned on my own blog that I wondered what they were like in the 60s and early 70s compared to now. But maybe I already knew because many hams are still trying to sell the same stuff.

Fred Spinner W0FMS/7

On May 19, 2022 1:48:54 AM MST, KA9QJG [email protected] wrote:

I have been going to Ham Fest for over 50 Yrs and I have made and heard a lot of observations. I have known Hap Holly KC9RP for Over 40 yrs and He is still promoting Ham Radio

https://www.arnewsline.org/hap-holly

He did this Interview with a Ham about Ham Fest I Laughed so hard when I listened to it while I was playing after a Tech-Net. Please listen to the words and descriptions it's all true LOL I make comments about the ham having to wear suspenders to hold his pants up because he is wearing 6 HT.If they are all Motorola that's OK Lol I also said if I was worried about any Virus I would have worn a mask at all hamfest

Enjoy I am sure a lot of you can relate to this Too LOL

PS The ones going to the Big Hamfest in Ohio Please Stay Safe and Healthy I was only able to go over 45 yrs ago Spark Gap and Dynamotors Guess what they are probably still being sold now LOL

73 Don KA9QJG

https://www.therainreport.com/sound/classicrain.mp3

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