Bill Shadid, W9MXQ

I trace my radio interests back to my Uncle William Shadid, my namesake, from perhaps 1950 when I had the opportunity to be beside him and his many experiences in radio and receiver building. Willy, as we knew him, never did have a ham radio license – that was left to me to accomplish. Willy’s major gift to me was to teach me the love of the glow of vacuum tubes, the smell of hot electronics and solder, and all the nuances we collectors of vintage radios take for granted. We all had to learn it sometime and somewhere.  

I was licensed as Amateur Radio Station WA9MXQ in September 1964. My first license was a Conditional General. At that time, Novice, Technician, and General Class amateur radio operators who were more than 125 miles from a Federal Communications Commission Test Site could take their test from an Advanced or Amateur Extra Class licensee. After moving to Wisconsin in the late 1990’s, I applied for and received Vanity Call, W9MXQ.

Some years later – the exact schedule escapes me – three friends and I took the train from the Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, area (my home at the time) to Chicago, IL, to take the Advanced Class Amateur Radio License Test. In those days, amateur radio tests were conducted at the Dirksen Federal Building – right in the Loop. The Federal Communications Commission had their offices there. I take great pride in having a ham license taken from a Federal Communications Commission Officer.   

I am a retired Materials and Logistics Vice President, having worked for 3M Company, Emerson Electric, and Bradley Corporation. I own a Manufacturer’s Representative business in retirement with business connections in Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and India.

Please enjoy my collection of classic old radios. This website is a work in process.