Uploaded May 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
An interview with John Rollins W1FPZ, a member of the Antique Wireless Association, a very well known amateur radio operator, and home builder of radio receivers and transmitters. This video was taken shortly before John's passing. John passed away on March 18, 2008.
As a teenager John discovered radio and his brother bought him a $5.00 two tube regenerative radio kit to build. John built the kit, but it was another 6 months before he got another kit for the power supply. With the help of a ham who lived nearby, he got the radio working which opened up a whole new world for him. John was in High School when his brother went with him into NYC to test for a ham license at the FCC Field Office. For the next couple of years he was active on 40 M. CW using the regen receiver and a Hartley oscillator.
John was born in Quiringua, Guatemala, on May 27, 1924, the son of Charles E. Rollins and Hildagarde W. Flett, while his father was expatriated to work for the United Fruit Co. After his father died of malaria his mother returned the family to New England, where he grew up.
John enlisted in the Army during World War II and was part of the invasion force of New Guinea and the Philippines and served in the occupation of Japan.
When John returned home from World War II, he earned a bachelor of science degree in geology from the University of New Hampshire and a master of science degree from the University of Nebraska. After he graduated, he accepted a job with a major oil company and moved to Marcaibo, Venezuela, where he worked until returning to the U.S. to complete a doctorate in geology from the University of Nebraska. After graduate school, he worked in executive positions for Chevron in oil exploration on virtually every continent.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, John was a licensed pilot with a multi-engine instrument rating. He was a competitive pistol shooter with wins around the world. He was a skilled gunsmith and an enthusiastic ham radio operator as well as a builder of antique transmitters and receivers. Not forgetting his childhood roots in rural New Hampshire, he was an accomplished outdoorsman and trapper.
One of his greatest gifts was his willingness to share and teach what he knew with others.
Thanks for the opportunity to fill you in on some of the less well known aspects of Johns life. It was an honor to know him and he will be missed by all.
- Tim Walker, W1GIG - Bruce Howes, W1UJR
If you enjoyed this video, consider becoming a member of the Antique Wireless Association at: antiquewireless.org/homepage/membership
Subscribe to the Antique Wireless Museum channel and you'll receive news of our latest video uploads.
Music in this video
Song: Moonglow
Artist: Benny Goodman Quartet
Licensed to YouTube by
UMG, SME (on behalf of GRP); LatinAutorPerf, Sony ATV Publishing, IMPEL, UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, ASCAP, CMRRA, Public Domain Compositions, UMPI, Polaris Hub AB, LatinAutor - SonyATV, SOLAR Music Rights Management, and 10 Music Rights Societies
An interview with John Rollins W1FPZ, a member of the Antique Wireless Association, a very well known amateur radio operator, and home builder of radio receivers and transmitters. This video was taken shortly before John's passing. John passed away on March 18, 2008.
As a teenager John discovered radio and his brother bought him a $5.00 two tube regenerative radio kit to build. John built the kit, but it was another 6 months before he got another kit for the power supply. With the help of a ham who lived nearby, he got the radio working which opened up a whole new world for him. John was in High School when his brother went with him into NYC to test for a ham license at the FCC Field Office. For the next couple of years he was active on 40 M. CW using the regen receiver and a Hartley oscillator.
John was born in Quiringua, Guatemala, on May 27, 1924, the son of Charles E. Rollins and Hildagarde W. Flett, while his father was expatriated to work for the United Fruit Co. After his father died of malaria his mother returned the family to New England, where he grew up.
John enlisted in the Army during World War II and was part of the invasion force of New Guinea and the Philippines and served in the occupation of Japan.
When John returned home from World War II, he earned a bachelor of science degree in geology from the University of New Hampshire and a master of science degree from the University of Nebraska. After he graduated, he accepted a job with a major oil company and moved to Marcaibo, Venezuela, where he worked until returning to the U.S. to complete a doctorate in geology from the University of Nebraska. After graduate school, he worked in executive positions for Chevron in oil exploration on virtually every continent.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, John was a licensed pilot with a multi-engine instrument rating. He was a competitive pistol shooter with wins around the world. He was a skilled gunsmith and an enthusiastic ham radio operator as well as a builder of antique transmitters and receivers. Not forgetting his childhood roots in rural New Hampshire, he was an accomplished outdoorsman and trapper.
One of his greatest gifts was his willingness to share and teach what he knew with others.
Thanks for the opportunity to fill you in on some of the less well known aspects of Johns life. It was an honor to know him and he will be missed by all.
- Tim Walker, W1GIG - Bruce Howes, W1UJR
If you enjoyed this video, consider becoming a member of the Antique Wireless Association at: antiquewireless.org/homepage/membership
Subscribe to the Antique Wireless Museum channel and you'll receive news of our latest video uploads.
Music in this video
Song: Moonglow
Artist: Benny Goodman Quartet
Licensed to YouTube by
UMG, SME (on behalf of GRP); LatinAutorPerf, Sony ATV Publishing, IMPEL, UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, ASCAP, CMRRA, Public Domain Compositions, UMPI, Polaris Hub AB, LatinAutor - SonyATV, SOLAR Music Rights Management, and 10 Music Rights Societies
