The information contained on this page has been collected from several different sources. Callsigns of some famous hams and ex-hams may have changed recently due to the vanity call program. If you know of any other famous hams or ex-hams that should be posted here, please e-mail me at [email protected].
| Callsign | Name | Claim to Fame | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W0ORE | Tony England | Astronaut | see Ham Radios in Space | |
| W1GBE | Percy L. Spencer | Inventor of the Microwave Oven (Silent Key) | Former Senior Vice President of Raytheon Co. | |
| K1JT | Joe Taylor | Scientist | Nobel Prize in Physics | |
| K1OKI | Mickey Schulhof | Heads SONY US | ||
| KB2GSD | Walter Cronkite | TV Journalist | ||
| K2HEP | John Sculley | former CEO of Apple Computer | lapsed callsign | |
| WA2MKI | Larry Ferrari | Musician/TV personality | Silent Key | |
| K2ORS | Jean Shepard | Author/Actor | "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" + "A Christmas Story" | |
| NE2Q | Jay Kolinsky | Invented & manufactured the Electronic Sirens used on most burglar and fire alarm systems | Submitted by Alexander Cohen (W1FXQ) | |
| W2TQ | Joel Miller | IEEE attorney | ||
| K2ZCZ | George Pataki | Governor of New York 1994- | lapsed callsign, now re-issued | |
| WN30QW | Jim Croce | Singer/Songwriter | Jim Croce's QSL Card | |
| W4CGP (Ex-WA4CZD) | Chet Atkins | Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist | Silent Key (June 30th, 2001) |
|
| WB4KCG | Ronnie Milsap | Singer/Songwriter | Spoke at Dayton Hamvention, 5/98 | |
| N4KET | David French | TV Journalist | on CNN? | |
| K4LIB | Arthur Godfrey | TV personality (Silent Key) | Arthur Godfrey K4LIB Fan Club | |
| KC4OCA | Gordon Barnes | Meteorologist | ||
| N4RH | Ralph Haller | former FCC PRB chief | ||
| WA4SIR | Ron Parise | Astronaut | see Ham Radios in Space | |
| WD4LZC | Larnelle Harris | Country Music Singer | 7 time Grammy winner | |
| WD4SKT | Donnie Osmond | NOT the TV personality! Has same name... | ||
| KD4WUJ | Patty Loveless | Country Music Singer | sang "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" w/George Jones at 1997 CMA Awards telecast | |
| W4ZG | Worth Gruelle | Author | Raggedy Ann/Andy | |
| K4ZVZ | Paul W. Tibbets | War Hero | (via AA7OA) Pilot of Enola Gay | |
| W5LFL | Owen Garriot | Astronaut | see Ham Radios in Space | |
| N5QWL | Jay Apt | Astronaut | see Ham Radios in Space | |
| KA6HVA | Burl Ives | American actor, writer and folk music singer | Silent Key-Submitted by N9VVS | |
| KG6FZX | Dennis Tito | Earth's first space tourist | also a multi-millionaire | |
| WB6ACU | Joe Walsh | Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter | Eagles | |
| KD6BUP | James Treybig, Jr. | reportedly son of Tandem Computer CEO | father W6JKV? | |
| K6DUE | Roy Neal | TV personality | produces/stars in ham radio videos | |
| W6EZV | Gen. Curtis LeMay | Military legend | Silent Key | |
| N6FUP | Stu Cooks | Baseball player | ||
| N6GGM | Laura Cooks | XYL of N6FUP | ||
| W6JKV | James Treybig | reportedly CEO of Tandem Computers | see KD6BUP | |
| N6KGB | Stewart Granger | Actor | born James Stewart! | |
| KB6LQR | Jeana Yeager | Pilot/Adventurer | Voyager 'round the world flight 1986 | |
| KB6LQS | Dick Rutan | Pilot/Adventurer | Voyager 'round the world flight 1986 | |
| AI6M | Barry Friedman | 2-time World Champion Juggler | Raspyni Brothers | |
| W6OBB | Art Bell | Syndicated radio personality | Art Bell | |
| KB6OLJ | Paul J. Cohen | Mathematician | ||
| KD6OY | Garry Shandling | TV Personality | ||
| W6QYI | Cardinal Roger Mahony | Cleric | Los Angeles Roman Catholic Cardinal | |
| WB6RER | Andy Devine | Actor | Silent Key | |
| N6YOS | Priscilla Presley | Actress (wife of Elvis) | Her private name was "Lou Lou Beaulieu" | |
| W6ZH | Herbert Hoover, Jr. | Son of U.S. President | Silent Key | |
| W7DUK | Nolan Bushnell | Inventor, Computer Pioneer, Founded Atari | ex-ham, 1958 Callbook | |
| KG7JF | Jeff Duntemann | Author | ||
| K7TA | Clifford Stoll | Scientist/Author/Actor | "A Cuckoo's Egg" | |
| NK7U | Joe Rudi | Baseball player | ||
| K7UGA | Barry Goldwater | late US Senator/SK 1998 | vociferous friend of amateur radio | |
| W8JK | John Kraus | Astronomer | ||
| K9QVL | Robert Hannsen | Convicted Russian Spy (Ham license Revoked) | Submitted by Ron Smith (K9QAM) | |
| 9K2CS | Prince Yousuf Al-Sabah | Royalty | ||
| 9N1MM | Fr. Marshall Moran | Renowned Missionary | Silent Key | |
| EA0JC | Juan Carlos | King of Spain | ||
| FO5GJ | Marlon Brando | Actor | aka Martin Brandeaux | |
| GB1MIR | Helen Sharman | Astronaut | see Ham Radios in Space | |
| G2DQU | Sir Brian Rix | Actor/Philanthropist | ||
| G3TZH | Tony Dolby | brother invented Dolby Noise Reduction System | ||
| G3YLA | Jim Bacon | TV Meteorologist | ||
| HS1A | Bhumiphol Adulayadej | King of Thailand | ||
| HS1YC | Khun M.G. Titipan Yukon | Royal Prince of Thailand-SK | Submitted by John S. Vajo (W2ZWW/HS0ZAA) | |
| I0FCG | Francesco Cossiga | former President of Italy | (via XE1MN) | |
| J3BB | Masaru Ibuka | Founder of SONY | Silent Key, Tnx to JL1EEE (Hack) | |
| JA5FHB | Katsutsugu Sekiya | Minister of Construction and Minister of State for the National Land Agency | (via Takehiko Hiyoshi JH6MHO) | |
| JI1KIT | Keizo Obuchi | Prime Minister of Japan | via Sylvain Angers, VE2SAA and JH6MHO | |
| JK1SIU | Norio Ohga | Chairman of SONY | Tnx to JL1EEE (Hack) | |
| JP1DPJ | Akio Morita | Founder of SONY | Silent Key, Tnx to JL1EEE (Hack) | |
| JY1 | King Hussein | King of Jordan | Very active ham before becoming SK 07-FEB-1999 | |
| JY1NH | Queen Noor | Queen of Jordan | American-born Lisa Halaby | |
| JY2HT | former Crown Prince Hassan | King Hussein's brother | ||
| JY2RZ | King Hussein's cousin Prince Raad | Chairman of the Royal Jordan Radio Amateur Society | ||
| LU1SM | Carlos Saul Menem | President of Argentina | ||
| SU1VN | Prince Talal | Saudi Arabian royalty | ||
| TJ1BC | Cardinal Paul-Emile Leger | Missionnary at Hyaounday, Cameroon | Was also former Archibishop of Montreal, Canada | |
| UA1LO | Yuri Gagarin | First Cosmonaut | Silent Key | |
| U2MIR/UV3AM | Musa Manarov | Cosmonaut | see Ham Radios in Space | |
| VK2KB | Sir Allan Fairhall | Statesman | ||
| VK4HA | Harry Angel | Was Australia's oldest radio amateur | (SK) 106 on 12/14/1997 | |
| VU2RG | Rajiv Ghandi | late Prime Minister of India | Silent Key | |
| VU2SON | Sonia Ghandi | XYL of VU2RG | ||
| XE1K | Walter Cross Buchanan | ex-Minister of Communications and Public Works (SCOP) | Silent Key (info via XE1MN) | |
| XE1N | Manuel Medina | Built first spark transmitter in Mexico | Silent Key (info via XE1MN) |
Other folks, many of whom are now Silent Keys, who have been listed as possible ham radio operators: