picture taken at the
Queen Mary Grand Ball Room
December 2000
J O H N C O R W I N R O G E R S
K F 6 T T R
A Profile by Lonnie Bingham
| John was born Jan. 10, 1940 in Salt Lake City Utah. As time went on, he was blessed by two younger sisters to make a family of five. John’s dad (John Albert Rogers, family from England) was a printer by trade and his mom (Lillian Virginia Rogers, family from Scotland and Wales) was a homemaker. Life at home was not always great, according to John. John learned from his Mom, Dad and Church to do the best that you can. You cannot change the past, but you can change yourself and make a better future. |
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While growing up, John was active in Scouting and playing with chemistry. He describes his basement as a virtual laboratory—lots of chemicals and experiments. He even tried making gunpowder and nitroglycerin. Fortunately he was never able to make a “lethal batch of stuff”. It’s a wonder he survived. When he got tired playing the mad scientist, he would spend some time with his pets—a couple of dogs, some chickens, rabbits and lizards. He became a little more serious in Junior High and High School by joining the Chess Club and the Track and Field Club. Somehow Astronomy got some of his attention and he spent a lot of time grinding a 7” mirror for a Newtonian Reflector Telescope. The mirror never got passed the final step however. Archery and chess were great pastimes as well. During those years in Junior High school John also says he got interested in radio. He built two crystal sets and then a two-tube radio. He learned Morse code at that time, but never had an Elmer to push him over the top. John was quick to say, “we need more Elmers”. During his senior year at South High School, his parents moved to Downey, Ca., so he finished his senior year at Downey High in 1958. Later he moved to Whittier and got a job with General Telephone. In 1957 John joined The Air Force National Guard and went to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, for basic training. John was trained as a Jet Engine Mechanic and later as an Inventory Management Specialist. He later met a girl named Phyllis and married her in the Los Angeles Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. John was blessed with seven children (John, you should have been a Catholic) that includes five sons and two daughters ranging from 20 to 34 years of age. John now has four grandsons and one granddaughter. John was proud to say he has been active in church all his life and learned much about leadership there. He spent two years as a Little League Coach, about eight years as a Soccer Coach and Team Manager and 35 years in The Boy Scouts of America in mostly leadership positions and now has over 40 years with GTE. John is now one of the Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Coordinators for the 4 Long Distant Tandem switches that handle all GTE’S long distance calls in southern California. Starting in the mid ‘70s, John was an avid CB nut KLX5738. He owned many different makes of CB sets, but always stayed within most legal limits. And when it comes to antennas, he has tried most of them, even a two-element quad. He got busy on ham radio a little latter and earned Novice License WD6BHZ. The needs of a large family, however, prevented any further advancement at that time. When his youngest turned 18, the radio bug hit again. John upgraded to Tech Plus in Nov. 1998 and got a new call—KF6TTR. And that’s when John joined the ARALB. His talent was quickly recognized by Nate, K6OSC, and was appointed Assistant Station Manager for W6RO on the Queen Mary. John served as Vice President of ARALB in 1999 and is now President for 2000. John Will test for General Class License in April. John is doing a lot for the ARALB by being a volunteer operator on the QM and by working with all the work parties that put up antennas and install the new gear as it arrives at W6RO. Currently, he is putting together the club paper until he can find a permanent editor. John says he desperately needs an editor—any takers? It should be noted also that John headed up the Registration Committee for Hamcon ’99 and that was no small task. I think John likes to be busy. When asked about his philosophies, he offered several mottos: “when you fall down, get up and keep going…never give up, no matter how many times you fall—endure to the end”; “forgive and forget” and “if it is to be, it is up to me”. John, you sound like just what the ARALB needs right now. Keep up the good work.
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