Notable people who are also licensed hams

[dave524]

Ronnie Milsap WB4KCG, heard a few times back around 1990 on with the Gator Net crew on 3898.

 

[Ref-Jazzy]

Sorry to necro-post.

I wish I could have had the chance to talk to the late King of Jordan. A true ham. He even hosted Israeli hams not long before he passed away. I truly believe he was the kind of ham we all should want to be like.

One of the clients at my work, met him once.

He was at the Dayton hamvention, my client was standing at a table looking at some equipment, when a fellow happen to step up to the table next to him. They struck up a conversation in regards to a particular radio. It was a very nice chat, and my client bid him good day and walked away to meet up with his friend. When he approached his friend the friend chuckled and said "So, hows the king of Jordan?" to which my client responded "How would I know that?" His friend laughed again and pointed at the gentlemen at the table and said, "Hell, you were just talking to him"

 

[kayn1n32008]

He was truly a humble person. The world is worse with him gone

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

 

[KC0KM]

Here is one that I found out awhile back. General Curtis LeMay, the former head of USAS Strategic Air Command, was also an Amateur Radio Operator. He held the calls K0GRL (NE), K4FRA (MDC), and W6EZV (CA). Evidently he was famous for being on the air -- on amateur bands -- while flying on bombers. He also was instrumental for establishing SSB instead of AM as the standard in bombers in 1957 (with help from Heath and Collins).

 

[djpaulino]

Leo Laporte "The Tech Guy" W6TWT

 

[clumsythief]

Bit of a newer name--

Mike Judge. Creator of Beavis and Butthead, Office Space, Idiocracy, and helped create the show Silicon Valley, currently on HBO.

He talked about being a former ham for a bit on an episode of The Nerdist awhile back, when he was working in the actual Silicon Valley, and before his television/movie career took off.

 

[spongella]

As for SK's, Jean Shepherd who had a great radio show on WOR radio was a ham too. There's a Christmas movie that he narrated, the one where the poor kid gets his tongue to a frozen metal pole hi hi.

 

[royldean]

There's a Christmas movie that he narrated, the one where the poor kid gets his tongue to a frozen metal pole hi hi.

"A Christmas Story"

 

[W6SAE]

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, SP3RN

I just stumbled upon this fact at K3QNT's QRZ.com page:

Fr. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, SP3RN, was a Franciscan priest who gave his life for another prisoner at Auschwitz concentration camp on 14 August 1941. He is believed to be the only person to hold an amateur callsign to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.

 

[N4GIX]

I've long considered St. Maximillian Kolbe as the Patron Saint of Amateur radio operators.

 

[W6SAE]

I've long considered St. Maximillian Kolbe as the Patron Saint of Amateur radio operators.

I like that!

 

[N4GIX]

I like that!

He actually is the official "Patron Saint of Amateur Radio Operators". Check out his qrz.com profile page. It's really interesting.

Actually, a google.com search will turn up 1,980,000 results.

 

[W6SAE]

He actually is the official "Patron Saint of Amateur Radio Operators". Check out his qrz.com profile page. It's really interesting.

Actually, a google.com search will turn up 1,980,000 results.

It doesn't surprise me. It seems like there's a patron saint for just about everything.

 

[dmoore12345]

found a list

Famous Hams and ex-Hams

Bad format on paste but you can see the names

Callsign Name Claim to Fame Notes
W0ORE Tony England Astronaut see Ham Radios in Space
W1GBE Percy L. Spencer Inventor of the Microwave Oven (Silent Key) Former Senior Vice President of Raytheon Co.
K1JT Joe Taylor Scientist Nobel Prize in Physics
K1OKI Mickey Schulhof Heads SONY US
KB2GSD Walter Cronkite TV Journalist
K2HEP John Sculley former CEO of Apple Computer lapsed callsign
WA2MKI Larry Ferrari Musician/TV personality Silent Key
K2ORS Jean Shepard Author/Actor "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" + "A Christmas Story"
NE2Q Jay Kolinsky Invented & manufactured the Electronic Sirens used on most burglar and fire alarm systems Submitted by Alexander Cohen (W1FXQ)
W2TQ Joel Miller IEEE attorney
K2ZCZ George Pataki Governor of New York 1994- lapsed callsign, now re-issued
WN30QW Jim Croce Singer/Songwriter Jim Croce's QSL Card
W4CGP (Ex-WA4CZD) Chet Atkins Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Silent Key
(June 30th, 2001)
WB4KCG Ronnie Milsap Singer/Songwriter Spoke at Dayton Hamvention, 5/98
N4KET David French TV Journalist on CNN?
K4LIB Arthur Godfrey TV personality (Silent Key) Arthur Godfrey K4LIB Fan Club
KC4OCA Gordon Barnes Meteorologist
N4RH Ralph Haller former FCC PRB chief
WA4SIR Ron Parise Astronaut see Ham Radios in Space
WD4LZC Larnelle Harris Country Music Singer 7 time Grammy winner
WD4SKT Donnie Osmond NOT the TV personality! Has same name...
KD4WUJ Patty Loveless Country Music Singer sang "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" w/George Jones at 1997 CMA Awards telecast
W4ZG Worth Gruelle Author Raggedy Ann/Andy
K4ZVZ Paul W. Tibbets War Hero (via AA7OA) Pilot of Enola Gay
W5LFL Owen Garriot Astronaut see Ham Radios in Space
N5QWL Jay Apt Astronaut see Ham Radios in Space
KA6HVA Burl Ives American actor, writer and folk music singer Silent Key-Submitted by N9VVS
KG6FZX Dennis Tito Earth's first space tourist also a multi-millionaire
WB6ACU Joe Walsh Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter Eagles
KD6BUP James Treybig, Jr. reportedly son of Tandem Computer CEO father W6JKV?
K6DUE Roy Neal TV personality produces/stars in ham radio videos
W6EZV Gen. Curtis LeMay Military legend Silent Key
N6FUP Stu Cooks Baseball player
N6GGM Laura Cooks XYL of N6FUP
W6JKV James Treybig reportedly CEO of Tandem Computers see KD6BUP
N6KGB Stewart Granger Actor born James Stewart!
KB6LQR Jeana Yeager Pilot/Adventurer Voyager 'round the world flight 1986
KB6LQS Dick Rutan Pilot/Adventurer Voyager 'round the world flight 1986
AI6M Barry Friedman 2-time World Champion Juggler Raspyni Brothers
W6OBB Art Bell Syndicated radio personality Art Bell
KB6OLJ Paul J. Cohen Mathematician
KD6OY Garry Shandling TV Personality
W6QYI Cardinal Roger Mahony Cleric Los Angeles Roman Catholic Cardinal
WB6RER Andy Devine Actor Silent Key
N6YOS Priscilla Presley Actress (wife of Elvis) Her private name was "Lou Lou Beaulieu"
W6ZH Herbert Hoover, Jr. Son of U.S. President Silent Key
W7DUK Nolan Bushnell Inventor, Computer Pioneer, Founded Atari ex-ham, 1958 Callbook
KG7JF Jeff Duntemann Author
K7TA Clifford Stoll Scientist/Author/Actor "A Cuckoo's Egg"
NK7U Joe Rudi Baseball player
K7UGA Barry Goldwater late US Senator/SK 1998 vociferous friend of amateur radio
W8JK John Kraus Astronomer
K9QVL Robert Hannsen Convicted Russian Spy (Ham license Revoked) Submitted by Ron Smith (K9QAM)
9K2CS Prince Yousuf Al-Sabah Royalty
9N1MM Fr. Marshall Moran Renowned Missionary Silent Key
EA0JC Juan Carlos King of Spain
FO5GJ Marlon Brando Actor aka Martin Brandeaux
GB1MIR Helen Sharman Astronaut see Ham Radios in Space
G2DQU Sir Brian Rix Actor/Philanthropist
G3TZH Tony Dolby brother invented Dolby Noise Reduction System
G3YLA Jim Bacon TV Meteorologist
HS1A Bhumiphol Adulayadej King of Thailand
HS1YC Khun M.G. Titipan Yukon Royal Prince of Thailand-SK Submitted by John S. Vajo (W2ZWW/HS0ZAA)
I0FCG Francesco Cossiga former President of Italy (via XE1MN)
J3BB Masaru Ibuka Founder of SONY Silent Key, Tnx to JL1EEE (Hack)
JA5FHB Katsutsugu Sekiya Minister of Construction and Minister of State for the National Land Agency (via Takehiko Hiyoshi JH6MHO)
JI1KIT Keizo Obuchi Prime Minister of Japan via Sylvain Angers, VE2SAA and JH6MHO
JK1SIU Norio Ohga Chairman of SONY Tnx to JL1EEE (Hack)
JP1DPJ Akio Morita Founder of SONY Silent Key, Tnx to JL1EEE (Hack)
JY1 King Hussein King of Jordan Very active ham before becoming SK 07-FEB-1999
JY1NH Queen Noor Queen of Jordan American-born Lisa Halaby
JY2HT former Crown Prince Hassan King Hussein's brother
JY2RZ King Hussein's cousin Prince Raad Chairman of the Royal Jordan Radio Amateur Society
LU1SM Carlos Saul Menem President of Argentina
SU1VN Prince Talal Saudi Arabian royalty
TJ1BC Cardinal Paul-Emile Leger Missionnary at Hyaounday, Cameroon Was also former Archibishop of Montreal, Canada

UA1LO Yuri Gagarin First Cosmonaut Silent Key
U2MIR/UV3AM Musa Manarov Cosmonaut see Ham Radios in Space
VK2KB Sir Allan Fairhall Statesman
VK4HA Harry Angel Was Australia's oldest radio amateur (SK) 106 on 12/14/1997
VU2RG Rajiv Ghandi late Prime Minister of India Silent Key
VU2SON Sonia Ghandi XYL of VU2RG
XE1K Walter Cross Buchanan ex-Minister of Communications and Public Works (SCOP) Silent Key (info via XE1MN)
XE1N Manuel Medina Built first spark transmitter in Mexico Silent Key (info via XE1MN)

 

[N4GIX]

That is a very interesting list. Unfortunately the "Patron Saint of Amateur Radio" is omitted.

SP3RN St. Maximillian Kolbe SK: Auschwitz Concentration Camp 14 August 1941

 

[KK4JUG]

And Patty Loveless' husband is also an amateur operator Emory Gordy, Jr. (W4KUT) played in EmmyLou's original Hot Band, backed Elvis, Tom Petty, Vince Gill, Neil Diamond, John Denver and many, many more.

 

[W6SAE]

That is a very interesting list. Unfortunately the "Patron Saint of Amateur Radio" is omitted.

SP3RN St. Maximillian Kolbe SK: Auschwitz Concentration Camp 14 August 194

Look up about three or four posts above this one...