My Novice class station license, KNØLHE, was issued August 6, 1957.  In 1957 a Novice licensee was authorized to operate a crystal controlled transmitter with an input power up to 75 watts. The transmitter was normally a homebrew rig.  No VFOs were allowed for a Novice.  My first homebrew rig was a single tube 6146 oscillator/amplifier.  It worked on 40 meters as well as on most of the local TV channels causing TVI to near by neighbors, some of whom were less than enthusiastic about my new hobby.   Later versions of the transmitter included a 6AG7 oscillator tube with a 2E26 amplifier tube and circuit improvements for reducing TVI.
     A Novice class license was good for 12 months and non-renewable.  It was necessary to upgrade or lose your license. I passed the Conditional class test in March of 1958 and my call sign became  KØLHE.  The conditional class licensee had the same privileges as a General.  The difference was that if you lived more that 75 air miles from a regular examining point, which was Kansas City, MO,  you could take the exam by mail under the watchful eye of a volunteer examiner.  Following the exam; test papers were mailed to the FCC for grading.  If you were successful; the FCC issued a Conditional class license.  My examiner was Mr. Carol Parks WØBO.  In those days you actually had to draw schematics of radio circuits on the exams!  As a Conditional Class licensee you could be called at any time to re-take the exam at the FCC office! 
     In 1975 I decided to upgrade to the Advanced class license as a step to obtaining an Extra class license. Because I held the conditional class license I was required to test for the General Class license at the FCC office in KC before I could take the Advanced class exam. On April 17, 1975 Kent, KØWRY , also a conditional, and I drove to the Kansas City, Missouri FCC office to take the exams.  We were both successful in passing the 13WPM sending and receiving CW exam along with the  General and Advanced written exams.  It was a happy ride back home to Hutchinson. We received our Advanced licenses in the mail June 12, 1975. Yes, it took 2 months to get those new privileges.  No instant gratification in those days.
     I passed the Extra class examination in Wichita, KS September 23, 1976.  That exam came complete with FCC examiners pacing the isles while we took the written exam and a 20 WPM code test!  Before the Internet you could not use new privileges until the upgrade license was in hand.  My new license allowing the use of Extra class privileges did not arrive in the mail until December 13, 1976!  Wow, a 3 month wait for the lower 25 kHz of the CW bands. 
     I traded in my 1x3 call sign, KØLHE, for the  1x2 call sign, WØUY  on December 15, 1977.  WØUY is not a vanity call sign.  It was issued during a time period when Extra Class license holders could request any available 1x2 call sign from the call sign area where the operator lived.  I submitted a list of 12 different calls to be considered because I didn't know what call signs had been issued since the paper list of available call signs had been prepared and mailed to me.  My primary interest was the CW rhythm of the call.  WØUY was not my first choice but WØUA had been issued a short time before my application was processed.
     In the 50 years of holding a ham radio license I've never gotten away from ham radio.  I've always had a station on the air.  Radio because it's radio.  Radio, especially HF, is as interesting to me today as it was in 1957 when I was 13 years old. 
     I've had some great Elmers along the way but none was greater than the first one, KØCCM, Thanks Mike! 

73 To All
Tom WØUY