Biography

Licensed since 2004, Randall discovered amateur radio as a kid through his older brother’s rig and has been hooked ever since. Years later, he and his wife, Krista (K6KEG), earned their licenses together — and eventually, marriage certificates to match. Both served for more than a decade on the Golden Empire Amateur Radio Society (GEARS) Board of Directors, supporting local repeater networks, emergency response programs, and digital HF operations.

Randall operates on 80m through 70cm, with active capability in digital, SSB, AM, FM, CW, and SSTV modes — often several stations deep across multiple locations. His current station lineup includes:

Mosley 2-element beam (20-15-10m) at 20’ AGL

Homebrew 40m dipole at 35’ AGL

Dual Workman UVS VHF/UHF verticals

APRS for position reporting and family coordination on 144.390 MHz (PL 100.0 Hz)

EchoLink node #206608

When not working HF digital late into the night (“after the boys are asleep”), Randall is chasing contacts via portable and mobile ops — often blending radio with outdoor adventure.

Randall’s love of the backcountry meets his passion for emergency communications. Whether snow camping in Lassen, backcountry skiing in the Sierras and the Cascades, whitewater kayaking, EUC commuting, or open-water swimming, he treats every outing as both recreation and readiness training. His field gear is built for rapid deployment and long-term self-sufficiency — a philosophy that mirrors his broader public service in community preparedness and emergency planning.

He integrates amateur radio into wilderness navigation, safety coordination, and volunteer event communications, reinforcing the value of ham radio when infrastructure fails.

Elected as Mayor and City Councilmember of Chico, California, Randall was the first Latino to hold either position in the city’s 160-year history. During his tenure, he led major fiscal and public safety reforms, including work on emergency management, shelters, and community resilience. His committee service extends across housing, economic development, and disaster recovery at both local and state levels.

Randall also serves/d on several civic and nonprofit boards, including:

Shalom Free Medical Clinic (President)

Project Hope of Butte County (Co-founder)

Butte County Assessment Appeals Board (Past Chair)

Chico Running Club (Past President)

He’s a two-time recipient of the Leadership in Action Award and the Claude Whelchel Memorial Community Service Award, both in 2017, recognizing his broad commitment to civic improvement and emergency readiness.

Outside of radio, Randall is a Registered Investment Advisor, Enrolled Agent, and principal tax manager of Bean Counting Firm, Inc. and Randall Stone Financial, focusing on financial planning, real estate consulting, and tax strategies. He holds a Master of Public Administration (with Distinction) from CSU, Chico, and teaches Real Estate Finance at the collegiate level.

Randall and Krista live between in Chico, CA with their two sons — both future hams in training and active GMRS licensees.  They spend a considerable amount of time in Bremerton, Washington. Together, they embody the spirit of community service, outdoor adventure, and lifelong learning that amateur radio inspires.

Randall operates HF in digital modes while their two boys are sleeping and occasionally operates SSB.  Returning to CW is also a priority.  Antennas at Team Stone include a Mosley 2-element beam (20-15-10 meters) at 20' AGL, a homebrew 40 meter dipole at 35' AGL, and two Workman UVS vertical VHF/UHF antennas.  The Stone family also uses APRS for position reports as well as simplex calling at 144.390 PL 100.0 Hz.  Randall stays connected via EchoLink as well on node #206608.

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Icom 756 MkIII Pro (HF, all mode)
Yaesu FT-897 (All band, all mode)
Yaesu FT-857 (All band, all mode)
LDG ATU-897
Mosley TA-32M 2-elem beam (20m-15m-10m)
>80m HB mag loop @6m AGL (40m-30m-20m-17m-12m-6m); Palomar Engineers 9:1 balun
40m full-wave HB dipole (40m-15m); Ferrite toroid core mix 43
2m HB dipole and loop (2m-70cm)

Our household uses a variety of HTs, including a Yaesu FT-5DR, Icom T-90, BTech UV-5X3
The automobiles use Kenwood TM-D700 with Garmin GPS "hockey pucks"