I think Steve has given good information.
My date of first license is 1955, so my 60th anniversary of being KN0DDA 
comes up next Saturday. I was in third grade that year.
The youngest blind person to get a ham license, to my knowledge, was Johnny 
Fearon, W4WKP, who was 7 at the time he got his first license. He lived in 
the Atlanta area and was on this listserv when I first joined it 20 years 
ago.
73,


Lloyd Rasmussen, W3IUU, Kensington, MD
http://lras.home.sprynet.com
-----Original Message----- 
From: Tom Behler
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 7:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Date of first license?

In line with what Steve has provided here, I have consistently used 69 as my
check in the Sweepstakes contests I have done, based in the idea that I was
first licensed back in 1969 with one of those earlier two-year Novice
Licenses.  The license expired in 1971, but it was my first documented
license.

And, interestingly, I still have that original license, with my first
amateur call sign from Pennsylvania--WN3MQR.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve Forst
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 7:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Date of first license?

For what it's worth.  From the ARRL rules for Sweepstakes regarding  the
check:

***

4.4. Check

4.4.1. The last 2 digits of the year of first license for either the
operator or the station.

4.4.2. An entry must send the same Check throughout the entire contest.

***
For anyone wanting info regarding  historical  callsign info (like date
first licensed) contact Pete  NL7XM.  He is in Pennsylvania despite the
NL7 call.   From the blurb  on the e-ham review of his service:

MSRP: $Free or 1.00
Description: NL7XM ("Pete the Greek") provides a wonderful service to the
ham community by using his vast collection of Callbooks to research original
license dates. His work is done as a service to his fellow hams (although he
would accept $1.00 to defray copying and mailing costs).
Keep him in mind when you have old Callbooks to dispose of. He can be
reached at [log in to unmask]

Last of all, the pre-fill  info mentioned that is used by some of the
logging software packages is just a compilation of data gathered from logs
of previous contests.  It's not "official" and sometimes isn't even correct,
since a station who was low power last year and sent "A", may
be high power this year and sending "B".    Other data can change from
year to year.    Also if you haven't played in a particular contest and
  gotten into enough logs, you won't be in the next year's  pre-fill file
anyway.

And last of last of all,  the contest is really just a game, and if you give
the wrong year, the FCC isn't going to kick down your door and
shut you down.   You should try to be consistent however and give the
same  check throughout the contest as the rules quoted above state.


73, Steve KW3A










On 11/23/2015 6:04 PM, Pat Byrne wrote:
> The question of first licensing makes me wonder?  From a legal
> standpoint I don't think this information carries any
> significance.  Isn't it just a bit of information to be a part of the
> exchange?  I've not checked the FCC's database so don't know if
> anyone can check on the fact that I got my callsign/license in
> 1957.  Sadly along the way I've lost the original paper document.
> So, I'm wondering if you weren't quite sure of when you got that
> ticket, wouldn't an approximation do about as well?
> Thanks for the upcoming opinions.
> Pat, K9JAU
>