"Today I Am a Ham"

That was the title of the little paperback book (written by Ethelyn M. Parkinson) I bought in one of my Scholastic Book orders in early-1973. I was 12 going on 13, and had been in love with radio--in all its forms--since I could remember. I was born in Fresno, California and grew up in the great San Joaquin Valley.

It took 37 years, but I finally got my Technician ticket (and original call sign KF5JCT) on 29 Nov. 2010. I applied for (and got) vanity call sign N5ASH on 8 Feb. 2011 (see below for the story behind"N5ASH").Upgraded to General class at the Lawrence County (Arkansas) Amateur Radio Club's annual WinterFest in Hoxie, AR on 19 Feb. 2011!

As soon as I was licensed, I joined the Northeast Arkansas Radio Club, and with barely 2 months as a member under my belt, the members elected me to be President of the club for the 2011 year! I look forward to helping my club--as well as the hobby and service of Amateur Radio--to grow in the coming year! I am also a member of RESPOND of Arkansas club, our local RACES group, and the ARRL. [Update 6 Feb. 2012: I have been re-elected to another term as President of the NEARC.]

I've been a broadcast radio personality for 30+ years, and currently work under the "air name" Skeeter Nash (hence, the N5ASH vanity call!). Beginning in September of 2003, I've been the afternoon drive personality on Country-formatted KDXY-FM (104.9 The Fox), as well as voice-tracking the 7pm-midnight show on our Classic Hits sister station, KEGI-FM (100.5 The Eagle). I am also Program Director for KDXY-HD3 (True Oldies 92.7).My bride Geri (aka "Sweetie Nash") and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary on 2 Feb. 2012.

UPDATE: my wife took and passed her Technician Class license exam, and was issued the call sign KF5KRN!

The love of my life, Geri (aka "Sweetie Nash"), KF5KRN

Left: my first Country band, The Sierra Mountain Playboys (1977). Right: The (Original) Boy Howdy Band (1980).

I've also been a performing musician (drums, vocals) for more than 30 years, and have dabbled some in songwriting as well. I've lived in Bakersfield, CA (where I worked at a radio station owned by the late, great Buck Owens), Nashville, TN (where I worked at WSIX-FM and WSM-AM, home of the Grand Ole Opry), before coming to Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Left: On the stage of the Grand Ole Opry with my fellow WSM-AM air personalities (I'm 3rd from the left) in 2002.

I enjoy chatting with my fellow local hams on the local repeaters and simplex frequencies. I have also been exploring the world of HF since getting my General upgrade. I am working toward getting my WAS certificates on the Old Man International Sideband Society OMISS Net. I also enjoy checking into the Old Freewheelers Amateur Radio Transmitter Society (OFARTS) and the Tailgaters on 3.916 MHz.

EQUIPMENT UPDATE:

For HF operation: An ICOM IC-718 with an LDG IT-100 Autotuner into a wire dipole antenna cut for 80m. I have replaced the stock ICOM hand mic with a Heil ICM microphone.

For local repeater and simplex operation: a Wouxun UV-2D dual-band (2 m/440) HT; Kenwood TMV-71A dual-band (set up for Echolink sysop mode) into a Jetstream JTB3 dual-band ground plane vertical at approximately 40 feet above the ground. I now also have a KenwoodTMV-71A installed in my pickup truck for mobile operation.

I am hoping to build up my station, one piece at a time. You can also find me on Echolink; look for my call sign, or join us on the K5NEA-R repeater node!

You can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/skeeter.nash

And, "Today.I AM a Ham!"

73!--Tim Goodrich (aka Skeeter Nash)

OFARTS (Old Freewheelers Amateur Radio Transmitter Society)Member (#1123)

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