Photo 1984
Mark Mandelkern, K5AM, was issued his first ham license, W9ECV, in 1948, at age 14. (At that time, the exam for a first ham license required copying Morse code at 13 words per minute and drawing schematic diagrams.) Mark's main ham operating activity is 6 meter DX, with 147 countries worked (using only CW and SSB). He also enjoys HF DXing, with DXCC confirmed on 10 bands; and contesting, with several top-ten contest awards. Mandelkern is a professor of mathematics emeritus at New Mexico State University.