W9NA Named Ham of the Year
posted 10 July 2003

Reno W. Goetsch, W9NA was recently named Amateur Radio Operator of the Year for 2002 by the Wisconsin Valley Radio Association. An award in the form of a plaque was recently presented to Goetsch at his residence by WVRA officers Myron Oestreich KB9STB and Michael Martens KB9VBR.

He was originally licensed as a teenager in the 1930's, Over his 70 years as an amateur radio operator, Goetsch successfully contacted all countries in the world once as well as achieving DXCC status on five different high frequency bands, and Five Band Worked All States award.

He is the sole surviving charter member of the Wisconsin Valley Radio Association. Since signing the charter in 1935, he has held most of the elected WVRA officer positions as well as serving as license trustee for many years.

In 1989, during the WVRA's 50th anniversary celebration, Goetsch was recognized for his half century of club involvement with a conference of an honorary life membership.

It is widely held among his peers, that of all Reno Goetsch's contributions to Amateur Radio, none was greater than his presence as a role model for generations of Amateurs.