About Cormac, W7JHS

     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.

      W7JHS circa 1959

        (When Boatachors were all we had)

  My dad,  W7ACA (SK), got me started in ham radio.  I introduced my son Cory to ham radio and he holds the call KA7QNE and lives in Colorado.

            Ham radio was kind of hit or 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.

            Amateur radio led me into the broadcast industry in 1961 when I was offered a job as a part-time disc jockey at the local AM radio station.  That prompted by dad to apply for a construction permit with the FCC 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 U.S.

            Following a stint in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in the early 70s, I returned home to full time work in broadcasting holding every position in the business from janitor to owner and 31 years of "on-air" experience. 

            In 1975 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 pilot certificate, instrument rating and certified flight instructor certification.  For many years I worked both businesses full-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 it due to excessive insurance costs.

            My interest in vintage AM operation and association with the 3870 gang began in the winter/spring of 1992-93 after getting out of broadcasting.  The ensuing years have bee punctuated with a passion to collect and operate dozens of different vintage rigs, primarily from the 40s through the 60s lineage. 

            After a brief detour into weak signal VHF for a couple of years, I have returned to my roots on 3870, although I do indulge some QRP operation and enjoy taking the equipment out in the field while enjoying the latest RV.

            I've been married to one of the world's most tolerant women, Linda, since August 1968 and we have two children, Cory and Alicia.