Pictured above is Dave Schmidt, a friend of many years. I have known Dave since he was a child, livingon North Jackson St., in Palestine, Texas. I first became aware of his interest in electronics when he was a teenager, working after school and weekends at a local Radio/TV shop, and I assisted in repairs on Saturdays. At the time I was chief engineer for Radio station KNET, in Palestine, and took Dave on a tour of the studios and transmitter site. Dave became so interested that he decided to acquire a Commercial FCC 1st Class Radio Telephone license (required then to work in a radio station). Dave started studying on his own, and with my assistance, and the help of Bill Reese, the owner of the radio shop, he not only acquired a commercial license but a ham license as well. He could not have been over 13 or 14 years of age at the time. He received W5ZRJ Amateur General license. The station hired Dave as a transmitter engineer working the night shift, enabling him to study to complete his high school education. Dave saved about all he earned, and was able to attend the University of Texas with those earnings. After graduating from the University, he acquired a small radio station in South Texas, but he soon learned that to get rich at a small radio station was a long if not impossible task. So Dave sold the station and moved to Austin, Texas and became a success in the world of finance. Below is a picture of Dave and his lovely wife "toasting the champagne" as Dave said. I still kid him to this day about being so frugal, and I can't but help make this observation: Who paid for the champagne? ha!