Welcome from WZ7I, Wes Cosand

So who is Wes?

I am located in the tiny village of Pipersville, Pennsylvania about 70 kilometers northeast of Philadelphia and about 8 km west of the Delaware River which separates Pennsylvania from New Jersey. We live in the woods so the antennas won't bother our neighbors. My radio call is from the state of Washington in the northwestern United States near Seattle. I moved to Pennsylvania about ten years ago.

I grew up in rural Iowa and Ohio in a Quaker parsonage and am still a farmer at heart. I received a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University and a PhD in Biochemistry from Rockefeller University and taught at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR and Washington State University for several years before moving to the pharmaceutical industry. Before retiring in 2006 my last position was leading computational chemistry and protein biochemistry at one of the major pharmaceutical companies.

The week I graduated from college I married Ruth, my elementary school girl friend, and she has added joy to my life. God has been good to us.

Our present home, Pipersville, Pennsylvania, is a Mennonite community settled in the 1720's. Although Mennonites are no longer the majority of the residents, the community still reflects many core values of this subculture.

I still consider myself a Northwesterner and like nothing better than spending a day on the slopes of Mt. Baker, even if it is raining.
I am interested in CW and digital modes, HF propagation and antenna design. The radio activity that gives me the biggest thrill is an extended conversation with someone from a different cultural background that offers insight into their daily life. Other interests include listening to classical music, gardening, and reading history, biographies and other non-fiction.