ITMG Officers
§ President – W0OBH, Cindy Ray
Cindy was elected at our February 26th Meeting. Her Bio will be added soon.
§ Vice President & Treasurer – KA0OMM, Bob Jimmerson
I have been in
ham radio since 1970 and ka0omm since 1983. I am an electronic tech at unity point hospital at Iowa Methodist hospital and employed there since for 38 years. A farther of two
and two grandchildren. Been in electronics all my life. I have an extra in ham radio and active in ARES and hold 2 associate degrees in electronics. I am interested in all ham
radio types of communication, old and new. I have been involved in the ten meter group since its conception and enjoyed the friends and new and old communication we are
exploring.
§ Secretary – K0HTF, Tom - Doc Gruis Ed. D., Mini-biography of Tom/Doc Gruis, Ed. D., KØHTF – WQNU766
Thomas Elwood Heiderscheidt Gruis – was born two miles straight north of Rinard, Clay County, Iowa in 1936.
I graduated from Des Moines Technical School in 1954 with my core area radio and television and received my first-class radio telephone license in April of that year when I got
my first job on radio at then KCBC-1390 as transmitter operator and disc-jockey for 8-1/2 years. In total, I worked at 14 broadcast stations. And later came a radar endorsement
for my “ticket.” My longest broadcast employment was at KRNT-AM-FM-TV, now KCCI-TV for 24-1/2 years so I could afford to teach school.
In January 1960 was graduation from Simpson with a B. A. in religion and philosophy. Next came some seminary at Drake University. I cannot do foreign languages or advanced math
- did not complete it. Teacher certification was earned at Coe College in English, social science, and speech. Approval came later to teach electronics came later from the State
of Iowa. I taught in the Des Moines Public Schools for 39 years and one year in Portland, Oregon where I was also chief engineer for KBPS, the public schools AM-1450 station
(1968-1969).
In 1967 I started my master’s degree in education and earned it in 1971; then my education specialist degree in 1973, and finally my doctor’s degree in 1979. I am certified through
superintendent.
My first ham license , KØHTF, as a technician in 1958; never had a novice. I got an advanced license and now have an extra from the era with the 20wpm code requirement. My favorite
bands are 160 meters and 6-meters. My 6-meter beacon 50.07 has been on the air since 1962 and is now joined by 28.250 and 144.290. Years ago, there was also one on 175KHz. with
A-9 modulation.
When CB became available, I applied for my license on the first day possible and became something like 17W0489. Same first day application for GMRS when it opened. My first call
was KNH8083, but it expired and was lost in my first move in 70 years. Now WQNU766.
I am a life member or ARRL and REACT.
I have several VOIP protocols: IRLP - 7793, EchoLink - 50511, D-Star, AllStar - 43675, and NXDN – 1209.
Donna and I were married in 1980 and have twins born in 1985. I have six older kids from a previous marriage, the three oldest I adopted, and five survive. All of these have
accepted Christ as their lord and savior!
I have been a member of the IBEW since 1962, a Gideon since 1966, and a Mason since 1989 and am a certified lay-speaker in the United Methodist Church since 1985.
My-mail is [email protected].
§ Former Chairman & Secretary – KD0BR, Bob Ray SK
Robert (Bob) Joseph Ray
became a SK the evening of January 6, 2026.
Information on Bob's celebration of life can be found on the Tributes webpage.
Bob's Bio: Bob Ray has been licensed since 1962 while he was still in high school.
He was involved in the first 2 meter FM project in Cedar Rapids in the late 60s. Before that he was one of the people that held nightly gatherings on 28.6 MHZ on sideband
around the east central part of the state. After retiring from a life of computers and business he then became an active participant in the ten meter FM project in central Iowa
as well as several radio clubs in the area. In late 2012 or early 2013 he started sending out notes on what had occurred at meetings discussing the 10 meter repeater.