James Glover Waits (Jim) W4ROM

Biographical Information

Born September 21, 1929 in Andalusia, AL. Died June 26, 2004. He attended schools in Andalusia and the Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Virginia.

My father bought a summer house in Camp Walton, Florida in 1929 so I spent most of my summers in that town until moving there in 1951. By that time Camp Walton had become known as Fort Walton and had a population of over 650 people!

Married to Margaret Jenelda Campbell from Crestview, Florida in 1950. Jenelda passed away in March, 1998. I have one son, Jim Jr. (BoBo) and one Grand Daughter Marla Marissa Waits Tomlinson (25) and her husband Don live in Navarre, FL. See Marla's prize winning art. Jim Jr. lives in King George, VA. where he and his wife Patrice work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren, VA.

Received Ham Radio License W4ROM in 1950.

Also owned a jewelry store in Crestview from 1949-1950.

I was in the radio/television repair field and later had a Motorola two-way radio service station in Fort Walton Beach for many years.

Went to sea as a Radio Electronics Officer in Merchant Marine for nearly thirty years. Served many ships in worldwide service and was on the SS Marine Duval, a liquid sulfur tanker running around the US coast for eighteen and a half years before retirement in 1988.

Currently own and reside at Rooks Bluff Fish Camp on the Choctawhatchee River near Bruce, Florida. The fourth largest river in Florida.

Community Work

Volunteer Fire Chief of Fort Walton before there was a paid fire department.

Fort Walton Beach Auxiliary Policeman from 1958-1960.

Hobbies

Avid ham radio operator specializing in chasing dx or hard to work and or rare countries. Also member ARRL Honor Roll and DXCC.

Welding, home machinist, old engine collector, lathe and milling machine work, fabrication, blacksmithing and COMPUTERS, COMPUTERS.