Hoss History

posted 2/11

During our visit with Hoss and Margareth as we were preparing to make our trip to Yuma for the hamfest, Hoss brought out some great photos of him from a number of years ago.  As we reminisced, we all felt that we really ought to share some of the photos with the IOOK.

 To start things off with a fact that few of you probably know, Hoss came to this country on December 27th, 1949 and headed to Texas to attend Texas Tech.

This photo was taken in March of 1951 when Hoss and his friend went to New York to pick up Hoss's mother.

This shot was taken in April of 1951.  Hoss, Mom and some friends...

April, 1951 - Hoss, Mom and some friends...

This shot was probably taken in May of 1951 - Hoss, Mom and unknown fellow looking out the window.

This is Hoss - probably June of 1951

May of 1952

This is from Hoss's graduation picture from Texas Tech with degrees in French and Chemistry.

Hoss's graduation picture...

Hoss worked for six years in the petro chemical industry.

This is Hoss with the kids in the mid 60's.

Hoss went back to school in 1960 to work on his master's degree and graduated from Texas Tech in June of '62.

At that time he moved to Waco and went to work for the General Tire and Rubber Company.

In June of 1969 Hoss got his ham radio license, WN5ZAI.

He went to work for the United States Air Force in 1967 and was transferred to Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio in January of 1970.

This shack shot was taken in November of 1970.

Hoss, Mom and Sis - this shot taken in 1972

This shot was taken in the mid 1970's...

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The following was added on July 25, 2012

Thank you both for sharing some of your past and thank you for being our friends!

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Bob, N0BIX has submitted his

"Hoss Collection" of photos

added 1/26/2014

These have been accumulated over many years.

Here's Hoss during a Volksmarch in May of 1980

This is from Field Day 1980

This is also from Field Day 1980 - Bob and Hoss

This is from Field Day 1981

This photo was taken July 1, 1983

This was taken during HamVention of 1983

HamVention 1984 - Keith and Hoss

Hoss with a beard taken in October of 1984

HamVention 1985

October of 1985

HamVention 1986

September of 1986

HamVention 1987

HamVention 1988

ThanksGathering November of 1988

ThanksGathering November of 1989

HamVention 1990

HamVention 1990 - with son Ron and daughter Tina

Taken in Mount Vernon in August 1990

HamVention 1991

HamVention 1991

HamVention 1992

HamVention 1995

HamVention 1997

HamVention 1997

Hoss - WA5ZAI, Lou - N8KXM and Keith - WA8ZWJ during HamVention 2002

Tina, Hoss and Shila during HamVention 2003

SALUTE!  During HamVention 2004

Hoss and Tina during HamVention 2004

during HamVention 2004

Yuma February of 2006

Son Ron, his XYL Kristen and Hoss - Yuma February of 2006

during HamVention 2007

during HamVention 2007

during HamVention 2007

Tina is giving Hoss a neck message during HamVention 2007

during HamVention 2008

during HamVention 2008

Margareth and Hoss during HamVention 2009

In the back of Keith's van during HamVention 2009

during HamVention 2010

during HamVention 2011

during HamVention 2011

during HamVention 2012

during HamVention 2012

Hoss and Tina during HamVention 2012

during HamVention 2012

A rare moment with Hoss on his cell phone during HamVention 2012

What a great smile!  Taken during HamVention 2012

Can you tell that N0BIXie prefers vertical format photos to horizontal?

Many thanks to Bob for sharing these great photos of Hoss with the IOOK!

Best 73,

Keith

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After seeing the letters and pictures about Hoss, I also wish to add my tribute to this long-time friend and great American.

My first encounter with Hoss was at the Pentagon Amateur Radio Club in 1985.  He was working for Air Force Logistics and his office was located on the fifth floor, B-ring between corridors 2 and 3.  Just across from his office was the small room where the Air Force had the radio club.  It was truly ironic that in this big building where space was at an absolute premium – we had a whole room full of radios to ourselves.  This was no-doubt due to the influence of a few senior people like Hoss.  That area is now all closed off and part of a secure area where access is strictly limited.  No doubt the radio room is long gone but the memories remain.

Lunch was the gathering time for Pentagon hams to get away from the hustle and bustle of Air Force life and meet to talk radio.  I don’t remember much operating going on but we solved many of the world’s problems and there was always an expert to tell you how to fix a ham radio related problem.  Hoss was always present for lunch, dressed in cowboy boots and smoking a cigar.  It was Hoss that helped me get my first HF rig a Kenwood 930 which I still have.  He saw an ad posted somewhere and linked me with the Air Force sergeant selling the system.  He also facilitated me getting my first 2-meter rig from another member of the Pentagon radio club.

Hoss often spoke of the International Order of Krazies and the annual trek to Dayton.  I never made it to the HamVention till I moved to the area in 1992 but he certainly provided the stimulus to continue my activities in Ham radio and make many additional radio friends.

Hoss was a great Elmer to me in Ham Radio and remains a faithful, long-time friend.

Skip Pratt, N2FOE

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Tom - W5KUB sent along this information in December of 2017:

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