Reno Goetsch was one of the most accomplished Amateur Radio operators in the history of the hobby. He held the American Radio Relay League's Five Band DX Century Club award having worked and confirmed via QSL cards, stations from 100 foreign countries in each of the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands. Over his lifetime he amassed an astounding 368 confirmed countries worked, ranking him among the all time top operators on the ARRL's DXCC Honor Roll. By the early 1950's, Reno had certified contacts in 47 states on 6 meters. Among his many other awards were the "Worked All States", "Worked All Continents", the "A-1 Operator Club", numerous high scores in the annual ARRL Sweepstakes contest, and a CW Certificate of Code Proficiency with an endorsement for 35 words per minute.
In 2003, he was awarded the first ever Wisconsin Valley Radio Association's Ham of the Year Award.
He was the Wisconsin Section Communications Manager for ten years, Assistant Director of the ARRL Central Division for several years, and a lifetime member of the American Radio Relay League.
Reno was born October 18th 1916 in Wausau, WI. and started his radio career in 1934 as W9RQM, a call that would become so well known in DX circles that it was included as an example entry for years in the ARRL's log book publication. He changed his call to W9NA in the early 1970's when the FCC opened unissued and deceased callsigns for reassignment.
After graduating from Wausau High School and the Wausau Vocational School (now Northcentral Technical College), Reno worked briefly for the Commonwealth Telephone Company of Wausau, before joining Wisconsin Public Service Corporation in 1936. He married Eunice Asselin of Thorp on July 11,1940. From 1936 to 1945 he was granted a leave of absence to teach radio technology at the Civilian Training Corp in Ashland, Wisconsin; and the Air Force Air Transport Command in Billings, Montana. From there he went to Philadelphia to work as an engineer in the aircraft radar department of Philco Corporation. He returned to Wausau in 1945 and retired from WPS in 1978.
He was an avid mobile operator with a home-built HF rig (later replaced by a Swan 350) in his car. His station wagon became a famous site for the prominent side mounted antenna nearly 12 feet high with a large coil tapped for five bands. He enjoyed camping and took his radio across the U.S. While on these trips, he kept contact with his good friend Norm Lerch W9JBF via HF.
He died peacefully in his sleep on February 25,2005 after spending eight days in the palliative care unit at Wausau Hospital. At the time of his death, Reno was the only surviving charter member of the Wausau based Wisconsin Valley Radio Association, which was founded in 1934. He was also an early member of the RMRA.
Reno is survived by his wife and five children, including son Jerry K9PQT of Hawaii.
