Don Gray, WD7A

Don is a native of the Rochester, New York area. He was first licensed while living in Ohio as WN8GYP in 1970 and upgraded to Advanced Class in 1973 with the call WB8OWG. At the 1978 Dayton Hamvention he completed requirements for the Amateur Extra Class and received the call sign AA8R. Don moved to Washington State in 1987 and received his present call WD7A.

Don’s radio interests have included HF rag chew and contests, SSTV and ATV. He has been active in radio clubs in Ohio, Washington and Florida.

Don graduated from Syracuse University in 1958. He worked for the Air Force as an officer and civilian mechanical engineer. Assignments included Tyndall AFB, Florida, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and the Defense Plant Representative Office (DPRO) at Boeing, Seattle, Washington. At retirement in 1991, he was the Boeing Seattle DPRO chief of E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) programs. Since retirement he has traveled and lived in Marco Island & Palm Coast, Florida, and Bellefontaine, Ohio. He moved to the Venice area in 2003 and is a part time employee of DMK Associates, Inc. of Venice.