Anchor Desk, Reporter
"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, and I was re-elected for 2012. I also became a member of RESPOND of Arkansas club, our local RACES group, and the ARRL. Due to relocating to Texas, I had to resign from office in the NEARC at the end of June, 2012. But the many friendships I made while a member will be treasured for the rest of my life!
I've been a broadcast radio personality for 30+ years, and beginning in September of 2003, worked under the "air name" Skeeter Nash (hence, the N5ASH vanity call!).From September 1, 2003 until June 21, 2012, I was 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 also became Program Director for KDXY-HD3 (True Oldies 92.7).
In September of 2014, I relocated to Kansas, and am working on the air in Morning Drive (weekdays 5:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Central time) on KTPK-FM Country Legends 106.9 in Topeka. I am also the station's Program Director. Due to a competing station owned by Cumulus Media in the market billing itself as "Nash," I have (reluctantly) dropped the "Nash" from my on-air moniker, and am therefore simply "Skeeter" to my listeners in northeast Kansas. At this time, however, I have no plans to change my vanity call sign from N5ASH!
My bride Geri (aka "Sweetie Nash") and I were married in Nashville, TN on 2 Feb. 2001. She has her Technician ticket, and her call sign is KF5KRN.
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 where I lived for almost nine years.
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.
Recently, I have been able to combine my love of amateur radio and my years of on-air experience on broadcast radio by contributing--as a reporter and occasional anchor--to the Amateur Radio Newsline reports. Check out this video I produced, showing how I put together a typical Newsline anchor audio track:
This video was featured in the November 6, 2013 episode of Ham Nation on TWIT.tv
