Biography

KK9R was the callsign of my dearest friend the late Richard “Sparky” Sparenberg, a Korean war veteran, distinguished railroader at the Illinois Central RR as the Kankakee, IL station agent using morse code to pass and recieve messages via morse code on the telegraph lines. He was a long-standing member of the W9AZ Kankakee Amateur Radio Society club in Kankakee, IL.



I obtained his call on November 10, 2020 to honor Richard “Sparky” Sparenberg. I plan to use it for a long time in contesting & DXing operations at my newly located station here in South Florida.

Richard and I were both from Illinois. We had a common bond as railroaders and amateur radio operators. We had come to meet in 1996 when I moved to Clifton, IL where Richard and his wife Inez lived.

I will never forget our last visit together in Danforth, IL in 2012. It will be forever engrained into my heart and soul. I am honored to have his call.

The link below is Richard’s obituary:

https://www.daily-journal.com/obituaries/richard-sparenberg/article_8e1d750f-c57a-5a61-9b50-2095e02e3230.html

God Bless you “Sparky”!!!









I am a locomotive engineer for Tri-Rail in southern Florida. The picture you see above in the right hand corner was me in my conductors uniform in 2012 prior to my promotion into engine service for BNSF Railway.

I am still chasing the DX. My country count is now 330 confirmed on phone 331 mixed. Thank you Don (W3AZD) for checking my cards at the Melbourne, FL hamfest 2019. You are sorely missed my friend!!!

I still need the following countries:

3Y Bouvet, FT8W Crozet, FT8X Kurguelen, JD1 Minami Torishima, KH7K Kure Isl., KH8-S Swains Island, YK Syria, BS7 Scarborough Reef, FJ7 Sint Maarten.

ARRL DXCC over all country count now is 340. I will be appyling for the DXCC honor roll once I receive conformation from Z66DX (Kosovo 2020 www.z66dx.de)

They country count is getting harder to come by. Only 9 left to have all 340.

The HF station is back on the air in South Florida as of April 11, 2020. Look out now!!!

I am a proud member and secretary for the South Florida DX Association (SFDXA), I am a member and supporter of the Society of Midwest Contesters (SMC). "The black Hole".

I will be working hard to get my 5 band DXCC in hand. I have it worked now. I need a few more new ones on 40 & 80. Now to round up the cards. I am on LOTW, EQSL & Clublog. I am working FT-8 as it is an awesome way to DX digitally these days. Love this mode of operation!!!

See you out there on the bands!!!

I am proud to say my Irish roots of my family are from Mayo (Contae Mhaigh Eo) Co.Ireland. I plan to visit there in a few years. Cant wait to see the McNamara's and O'Day's there...

This is where Hank O'Day and the rest of my family are inturned in Chicago, Illinios.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23210915



God bless the Irish!!!



73,



Mac A. English

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Yaesu FTDX101MP
Alpha 374-A
Force 12 C-4