Cormac Thompson, W7JHS, was first licensed June 1, 1957 as WN7JHS. I've been active in ham radio throughout the years and my interests have included everything from contesting to traffic nets to QRP and weak signal VHF operation.
My dad, W7ACA (SK), got me started in ham radio. I introduced my son Cory to it. He holds the call KA7QNE and lives in Colorado.
Ham radio was kind of hit and miss during the school years. I was graduated from Prosser High School in 1963, Columbia Basin College in 1965 with an AAS in Electronics Technology and Washington State University in 1969 with a BA degree in Broadcast Journalism and a commission as a 2Lt. in the U.S. Army.
Amateur radio led me into broadcasting in 1961 when I was offered a part-time job as a disc jockey at the local AM station. That prompted by dad to apply for a construction permit for a commercial FM broadcast station.
In September 1962 our radio station signed on as the 13th commercial FM station in Washington state and the 864th in the country.
Following a stint in the Army Signal Corps in the early '70's, I returned home to work full time in broadcasting holding every position in the business from janitor to owner in 31 years of "on air" experience.
In 1974 we got into the aviation business when my dad re-opened a flight school and maintenance facility at the Prosser airport. I went on to get my commercial, instrument and flight instructor ratings and for many years worked in both business at the same time.
We sold the radio station at the end of 1992 and in 1995 my son and I assumed control of the aviation business when my dad retired. We operated it until the spring of 2000 when we closed the doors due to rising insurance costs.
My interest in vintage AM operation and association with the 3870 gang began February of 1996. The ensuing years have been punctuated with a passion to collect and operate dozens of different vintage rigs, primarily from the 40's through the 60's lineage.
I have been married to one of the world's most tolerant women, Linda, since August 1968 and we have two children, Cory and Alicia.
