In mid-June 2024, Tom Taormina K5RC will celebrate 65 years as a licensed amateur radio operator. Over the decades, Tom has built and rebuilt stations at the cutting edge of performance. He was a competitive contester who earned the top spot in the ARRL Sweepstakes. Tom and his buddy K5LZO innovated a lockout "octopus" that enabled them to operate two radios at once until the ARRL banned the process. He was instrumental in creating the North American QSO Party (NAQP), achieved #1 DXCC Honor Roll with 374 countries logged, and was inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame. Along with his friend Grady W5FU, Tom built the Nevada superstation W7RN and hosted a long list of elite, competitive operators. Join me in this conversation with Tom as he recounts his extraordinary ham radio career and achievements.
Congratulations on 65 years. I'm bad with names and good with callsigns, and this guy is one of the few I recognize by name and not callsign!
61 years on the air for me this July. Thanks for letting Tom rekindle so many memories from that time long ago in a place far away! I enjoy your interviewing style, nicely done.
Nice job on the interview. Tom brought back many memories from many years ago. Great to see and hear Toms voice again.
Nice article. Well done and covering many topics I can relate to. I turned 64 years in the hobby April of this year, 2024. Lots of memories, lots of modes, technology changes and lots of hours with the rigs. For the fun of it, I decided it was time for my Extra class so I crammed for 2 weeks and got over the hurdle. I like the extra bandspace in "no man's land" as I used to call it but as far as a vanity call, K3LUE has been with me since 1960..(with a few months as KN3LUE of course at age 12). Enjoy hearing from other old guys in the hobby. Wouldn't change a thing as I bet Tom would feel the same. 73 and GL...Ron K3LUE
Well deserved kudos... from Bob W5RF (ex WA5CLA - in the Rio Grande Valley - 1962-1969).. I am following your lead... this year is number 60 for me as a ham...My high school elmers were K5TSR Beau May - electrocuted.. thus the radio club memorial station.. KenQuin K5TSQ, passed, Billy Parry W5VX, recently passed... We are the survivors so far..73s brother...
Congrats, Tom! 69 years for me; still enjoying the heavy-duty mast you sold me for a new station in Tucson; that was about 22 years ago. All Best, Ken , K6HPX
I am especially grateful to T0m for making it possible for W1YL to remain active via W7RN during her final years. Ellen White was one of the most wonderful people I ever met during my 67 years in this marvelous hobby and It was fun saying hello to her on 40 meters in the mornings when she was not working JA after JA from her small apartment in FL thanks to Tom.
Congrats, Tom. I'm at 50 years this month. Also, I was in Taormina Sicily last week.... beautiful place!!! de WA3YDC.
