Randy Sly - W4XJ

Correspondent

Randy Sly was bitten by the “ham radio bug” through his cousin, Tom, K2QCX, when he was 12 and began as an SWL. He was first licensed in 1964 at age 15, after moving to Michigan, with the call WA8NTO. With a background as a licensed Amateur, he served as a Radioman Second Class on destroyers during the Vietnam War. He holds an Amateur Extra License.

Sly is a member of the ARRL, RCA, QCWA, LICW, SKCC (#616T), FISTS (#11762), and NAQCC (1164). Now a permanent resident of Kansas City, MO, Sly spent 17 years in Northern Virginia where he served as the Skywarn Amateur Radio Coordinator for the Washington DC/Baltimore Weather Forecast Office as well as Public Information Coordinator and State Government Liaison for the Virginia Section. Over the years, he has been involved in Skywarn, ARES, RACES, traffic handling and other forms of emergency communications. He completed ARECC I, II, III; SKYWARN Basic I, II (both many times) plus various optional classes; IS-100,700, 702 in the National Incident Management System; and RACES training. He also served as an Amateur Extra Accredited Volunteer Examiner. On the low bands he’s active on both CW (most of the time) and SSB.

Continuously involved in the field of radio, TV, communications and the media over the years, he has produced radio and TV programs and commercials along with film, video, and multi-image presentations for many regional and national organizations. From 2006 to 2011, Sly was the Associate Editor for Catholic Online, one of the largest Catholic news aggregators in the world. He is also a published author, having written for many online news organizations and national periodicals.

Sly is a graduate of Spring Arbor University (B.A.), Asbury Theological Seminary (M.Div. with honors), and pursued Ph.D. studies in Educational Media at Kansas State University. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity Degree (Honoris Causa) by Holy Trinity Theological College and Seminary. Prior to his call to ministry, Sly worked in radio as a disk jockey and broadcast journalist.

With over 40 years in ministry, he is a Catholic priest currently serving as President of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School. He is also a writer, teacher and conference speaker.

He and his wife, Sandy, have three grown children: Dena, Deborah, and David, all of whom are married, along with eight grandchildren. They live in Kansas City, MO.

Callsign: W4XJ
Email: w4xj@arrl.net