Karl Wilkens Kent was born in San Jose, CA. on February 26, 1907. Mr. Kent was a radio "ham" by age 12 and received his first license for Radio Operator Amateur Second Grade in 1921 at age 14. He was certified for good knowledge of operation and care of apparatus, good understanding of international regulations and Acts of Congress to regulate radio communication, and the ability to transmit and read sound of Continental Morse at a speed of 10 words a minute. His family suffered financial losses from the depression. Consequently young Kent abandoned plans to obtain a University level civil engineering education and sought instead radio operator employment. He attended the Citizens' Military Training Camp in 1924 at age 20, and served as a Staff 2nd Lieutenant Supervisor in the Cadet Battalion of the Del Monte Military Academy in 1926. He was a licensed U.S. radio operator from 1921 until 1985. From 1927 to 1945 he worked on board marine vessels, and went on to operate radios at various locations urban mobile, experimental, highway mobile and coastal harbor radio stations before securing a position at the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company in Northern California where he worked from 1951 until he retired. He lived in Auburn, CA. for the last 22 years of his life and was a member of the Eureka Masonic Lodge No. 16 Free and Accepted Masons and Ben Ali Shrine. Karl W. Kent passed away at age 84 on November 10, 1991 in Auburn, CA.
From the description of Karl W. Kent papers, 1921-1985. (San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Library). WorldCat record id: 701114048
