Radios Open The World to Instant Communication - Even in Cedar Hill

J. Mark Lowe 

It is Sunday morning December 22nd 2024. Today like many mornings tuned my SWR computer radio to 3980 kHz at 7 AM to hear the Tennessee ARRL amateur radio net. My memories of listening to ‘ham’ radio go back many, many years but today I was thinking about the years starting in 1960 when my parents lived in Cedar Hill TN and there was a small radio receiver attached to an antenna that sat on the counter in my mom's kitchen. It was a regular routine in the morning to turn on that radio and listen for the Tennessee radio net to begin. As the moderator would go through the counties of Tennessee in alphabetical order, my parents would listen diligently until they said Putnam County and they heard the call sign K4FHA checking in. The moderator would say “Good Morning Joe.” as he would move on to the next person who was checking in from that county. That was my reassurance to my parents that my oldest brother, Joe, who was off at college at Tennessee Tech (in Cookeville, TN) was doing well and that all was good in the world that morning for Joe. My brother, Joe, had been interested in radios and electronics as a young boy. He passed his Amateur Radio Operators license at 12 years old, and had studied with Bill Smith,(K4RCO) a amateur radio operator from Greenbrier I’m sure that my Dad encouraged and assisted my brother with his interests since Dad was a Naval Radioman during WW2, and trained his sons to learn and know Morse Code. There was always a CW or Morse Code key around for practice and learning. Joe always had an antenna strung up for good receipt of the signals, and once he became an operator – tried to have an appropriate antenna for transmitting as well. 

Even when posing for pictures, Joe was listening to some radio with his headphones. 

We often discuss the house in Cedar Hill, where we lived in those days. It was a house owned by Dr. Robert H. Elder, which was adjacent to the Feed Mill property. We moved to the house on Highway 41 in 1960 shortly after Joe graduated from Jo Byrns High School. It was the red brick house where the small black receiver was located in the kitchen on the counter. There was a very large receiver located in garage, where Joe participated in CW (morse code) conversation and actual conversations with other amateur around the World. He exchanged QSL cards which documented their conversation, and indicated the location of their “stations or ham shack” which was the city and state, along with the type of radio, type and time of communications. I still remember a sign he had posted above the radio to warn the hands of eager, young folks who might want to adjust those dials. “Keep Your Pea-Picking Hands Off – That Means You!” After the morning net, my parents would finish up their coffee and breakfast, and head out for the day. As we all grew older, Joe would graduate from Tennessee Tech, and move to other cities across the South. 

Wherever he lived, there would be a radio station where my family could hear him check into the net from that location. My Dad decided to get his amateur radio license so he could talk to Joe and other hams, so he setup his station as WB4QZY. Later, Joe moved to Texas, and changed his sign to W5SAN, which he retains still today. Several other Lowe’s got licenses over the years, but Wayne, Brett, and Joe maintain their calls today. When my Dad’s had a few health problems, he had some troubles hearing Joe on the radio. It might have been sunspots or general interference, but he would come into the living room and tell my Mom he just couldn’t make good contact, so he might just give Joe a call to see if he heard him. We all have enjoyed the communications shared throughout the years, and appreciate the service that amateur radio operators provide when hazardous weather conditions knock out traditional communications. It is something that gets into your blood. 

While in college, Joe worked as a disc jockey for WPTN radio in Cookeville.  Our uncle, Hank Brosche, worked for a radio station in Bowling Green. He took Joe into the station and showed him how things worked and encouraged his interest.

A gentleman who worked with Uncle Hank earlier was the Station Manager for the station in Cookeville - so Joe got a job.  He was a popular DJ for the college crowd, and enjoyed his musical connection.   Radios, Electronics, and DJ. 

 Because an intelligent, young boy decided to learn more about radios and electronics, our family was blessed with an early form of text - a way to let his family know he was okay – today.  Today, Joe lives in Coffee County, and Wayne lives in Robertson County.  They both check-in to the net regularly. 

 Tennessee ARRL - https://tnarrl.org/ 

ARRL – Amateur Radio Relay League - https://www.arrl.org/home