Just took a quick look at your history page on K5TRO.org. Noted a couple of problems. If Hoot Egger was a ham in the forties, he may have been, then he let his first license expire and got another. His call when I was a kid was K5IBB. That call had to be issued after K5BZH which came about in 1955, my first contact was made on 02 AUG 1955, my license was issued in July 1955. John McKenzie, he was in Sanfords class (Class of 56) had the call KN5COH, so he was after me and I am sure it was issued in 1955.

Sanford, Colburn Ward, and Web Mays were all licensed in 1954, that I know for certain. Lee Tesson was either 54 or maybe late 1953. He was a novice when he demonstrated ham radio at the scout building. George Devoll, not sure if he was 1953 or 1954, my guess is 1954. Not sure if he had a ticket when he arrived in Goldthwaite or not, I sort of thought he did, but not certain.

I know one thing, Devoll was a craftsman. He was using a homebrew transmitter he made and it was beautiful. He had a Hallicrafters SX-28 receiver, before that he had a National NC-57, I never saw the National, but I spent a few hours playing with that SX-28.

One of my memories of those years is George buying an 80 meter Command receiver (like the ones used on B-17s), modifying it and installing it in his car. I stood in his drive with others, in total awe. He had found a source of those Command receivers for $3 each. My father was standing there in the drive too. I made the comment that I was going to buy one. Dad's response was, "You are going to play hell." It got to me, mainly because George was a minister. George was cool, he never said a word. Somewhat later I heard him use a golf word a time or two.

The odds are there were other hams in Mills County prior to all of this activity.
Jim