Kentucky's youngest amateur also youngest Extra

June 2, 2004 -- ARRL Kentucky Section Manager John Meyers, NB4K, says League member Christopher Lee Castle, KI4BOQ, of West Van Lear, Kentucky, not only is the youngest radio amateur in the Blue Grass State, he's its youngest Amateur Extra class licensee. Castle got his Technician ticket last July at age 11. After upgrading to General in January, he passed the Extra examination on St Valentine's Day--less than 10 days before his 12th birthday. The youngster hails from a family of hams, taking not only after his father, Ron Castle, KI4NM, and grandfather, Donald Castle, KI4NL, and grandmother, Deloris Castle, N4OKP, but his late great-grandfather Clyde Castle Jr, N4KJQ. He says his biggest thrill in Amateur Radio was getting his Extra before his granddad did. Castle enjoys DXing. He's a member of the Big Sandy Amateur Radio Club and Johnson County ARES. In addition to his ham radio activities, Castle is a musician. He plays the drums, steel guitar and a little piano, and he's won drum and steel guitar competitions. He also is a member of the Porter Elementary/Johnson County Middle School Academic/Future Problem Solving team, part of the Future Problem Solving Program. He and his team members will represent the state of Kentucky during the 2004 FPSP International Conference at the University of Kentucky June 3-6.--John Meyers, NB4K; Ron Castle, KI4NM

Previous: "It Seems to Us . . ." Omnibus

Next: ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up To Lately?