Click on each thumbnail for a larger image.

Lew was first licensed as an Amateur Radio operator in 1957. He has been a continuous member of the ARRL since that time, and an "Elmer" to many local Hams. He scratch built his first radio, an 80 meter CW transmitter. His first QSL card was a "yellow card" from an Official Observer in Green Bay who said his second harmonic was louder than his fundamental.

In the late 1960¹s when the Amateur community was requested to assist with a cattle rustling problem, he served a two year duty on the Marathon County Sheriff's Surveillance Patrol.

On April 15,1972, Lew gathered 15 area Hams in his basement to discuss the practicability of erecting a two meter repeater in a new facet of the hobby called VHF FM. The result was the charter meeting of the Rib Mountain Repeater Association. For this reason, many consider him to hold the unofficial title of "The Father of the RMRA". He was a Charter Member of RMRA and served three terms as its Secretary.

Lew was unanimously selected as the RMRA's first Lifetime Member at the 2005 RMRA General Membership Meeting.

He is a member Tomahawk Repeater Association, and the Wisconsin Valley Radio Association. In March of 2004, he was the recipient of the WVRA's Excellence in Amateur Radio Award.

He has been a constant fixture of the Badger Weather Net since the early 1970¹s, where he now serves as the regular Wednesday net control, and the pick-up station liaison to the National Weather Service office at Sullivan, Wisconsin. Active in the local ARES, he has been and continues to be a regular participant in the Marathon County Severe Weather Net.

Lew holds the coveted Worked All States and Worked All Continents awards. He is active in the local chapter of the QCWA. He was a pioneer in HF mobile work, often assisting county hunters by providing multiple county contacts as he drove cross-country. He recalls during one trip through Kentucky in the 1950's, he helped one hunter by confirming contacts in eight counties.