Lester Picker (September 26, 1905 – May 10, 1930) was an American

amateur radio Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communi ...

operator famous in the early 1920s. Picker achieved fame when he fell when erecting an

aerial Aerial may refer to: Music * ''Aerial'' (album), by Kate Bush * ''Aerials'' (song), from the album ''Toxicity'' by System of a Down Bands *Aerial (Canadian band) *Aerial (Scottish band) *Aerial (Swedish band) Performance art *Aerial silk, ...

for his radio. He broke his neck as a result of the fall and was paralyzed. Picker, who operated under the

call sign In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally assig ...

s of 6AJH and 6ZH and lived in

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the List of United States cities by population, eigh ...

, was also the District Superintendent for the

American Radio Relay League The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the United States. ARRL is a non-profit organization, and was co-founded on April 6, 1914, by Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence D. Tuska o ...

. Prior to his fall, Picker was slated to graduate high school. By the use of his radio he was able to graduate from Roosevelt Memorial High School in San Diego.

References

* * * 1905 births 1930 deaths American radio personalities Amateur radio people {{US-radio-bio-stub