All the fun stuff!

This months’ Cheers To You centers around the life and times of Alan Gil and the amazing Ham Radio…

Alan was born in Bakersfield California some 84 years ago and enjoyed what most would consider a

normal childhood.

During his High School years, Alan had a chance opportunity to help a neighbor study and pass HIS

license exam as an amateur ham radio operator. It was at that time that Alan thought “Well, if I can do

this for him… why don’t I do it for myself?” So, Alan took (and passed) the Ham radio operator exam and

with that grew an appreciation for Electronics in general.

Alan began picking up Spanish speaking stations on his Ham radio throughout his High School years and

found them educational. He started teaching himself Spanish, and found that he liked the Spanish

language and was fascinated with the culture.

When college came, Alan majored in Electronic Engineering (Thank you –Ham Radio!) at Cal Poly San

Louis Obispo, married his lovely, college sweetheart and went directly to work for Goodyear Aerospace.

His first job at Goodyear was developing the side-looking radar-(which looked into enemy territory up to

200 miles from the side view). It was a great job until he heard about another opportunity….

On 6/6/66 (an interesting date engraved in his head…) Alan moved his employment to General Electric

(G.E.) in San Jose … with an interesting method to his employment “switch madness”….

Alan had heard that G.E. was investing in a nuclear division in Mexico and the (CFE) Mexican utility.

There was a desire to build a nuclear plant in Mexico, and Alan wanted to be part of it.

Needless to say, Alan and his wife and 2 children (my how time flies…) were able to live in Mexico for

two and one-half years on CFE utility owned property built homes, right on the beach. Alan, ( the only

Spanish speaker) (Thanks to his High school Ham Radio Days!!!) would translate for his boss along with

his other electronic skills.*** Now THAT is taking a hobby to a full fledge skill set!

Alan loves his electronics, Ham radio and family, and when retirement came, a friend introduced him to

our lovely, mountain region… and he brought everything he could with him.

You can find Alan every morning at 7:00am as he gets out and uses his repeater to transmit on his

handle Call # W6LSU *** which stands for “loose-saggy- underwear” (yep… you heard it here first…

obviously describing the guy next to him … I’m sure… ) The messages go out to the top of Deadwood

Mtn. to most of the state (of California) and can be picked up even as far as to one old friend in Alabama

each morning! Who needs a Coffee club when you have a mug of hot-Joe and a Ham Radio at your

disposal???

Alan has enjoyed and benefited from the use of the mighty Ham radio. Hikers and lost or injured people

have benefited by requesting assistance through these less used airwaves.

The Mountain Amateur radio Club meets the 4 th Thursday of each month 7pm (check SSC calendar) at

the Oakhurst Senior Center and welcomes anyone interested in Ham radio to come visit and/or join in

on the fun.

If you know of any senior that you feel would be interesting to interview, please give me a call…

Lori Howard- (559) 683-7650

Welcome to Sierra Senior Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of senior citizens in the Eastern Madera County area. Our mission is to organize and promote education, nutrition, health, and overall well-being for our cherished community of seniors.

We go beyond just fostering well-being; we strive to create bonds of friendship, goodwill, and mutual understanding among our members, extending these values to all seniors in the region. At the heart of our mission is the commitment to open communication and the sharing of experiences.

As active community contributors, we take a keen interest in the civic, cultural, and social welfare of our area. Sierra Senior Center serves as a platform for open discussions on matters of public interest, creating an inclusive space for voices to be heard.

Join us in our journey to build a thriving community where every senior citizen can flourish, connect, and enjoy the richness of life. Welcome to Sierra Senior Center – where every moment matters!

 Navigating to Sierra Senior Center is a breeze! Once you spot the Oakhurst Community Center, head left at their entrance onto Cinder Lane. Follow the road along the parking lot and a dirt parking area. As you continue, a Baseball Field will appear on your right, and voila – our entrance is right in front of you. No need for detours; just follow these simple directions, and you'll be with us in no time! And, to make things even easier, we've included a map for you. See you soon!