Nine-year-old Holly Wilson is a licensed radio operator

Nine-year-old Holly Wilson, of Lumberton, recently received her amateur radio license. Photo by Cassie Smith. Nine-year-old Holly Wilson, of Lumberton, recently received her amateur radio license. Photo by Cassie Smith. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Nine-year-old Holly Wilson is a licensed radio operator 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Nine-year-old Holly Wilson doesn't normally join her classmates in their favorite game: tag.

The Lumberton third-grader said she's not that good.

But aspiring to be great at tag isn't exactly Wilson's goal.

Instead, Wilson has recently obtained an amateur radio license.

Wilson - whose call sign from the FCC is KG5AOG – spends her free time learning things like what to do when an antenna is raised: make sure it's 10 feet away from a power line. When she puts the radio down, her focus returns to her fish and playing Mincraft.

"The main rule is always give your call sign every 10 minutes for identification," Wilson said.

L.B. Little, Beaumont Amateur Radio Club president, said it's no small feet that Wilson received that license. Little said he's been in the HAM radio business for 30 plus years and the average age of a participant is someone older than 30 years old.

"I think it's absolutely fantastic," Little said.

Wilson said she was originally interested in learning the skills so she could talk to her father, Joseph Wilson, on the radio.

She said she once had to give her call sign four times during a conversation with her father because they talked so long.

But achieving the amateur radio license has become more than just talking to dad.

Wilson said she now joins amateur radio clubs in helping

with events around the community. She said she joined others in helping serve with the use of the radio at the Big Thicket Bike Ride following riders to ensure the safety. The members can radio one another and emergency crews for help if needed.

Holding radio and stuffed animal, Faolan, Wilson said, she hopes to become a veterinarian and an robotics engineer when she's older.

She said she wants to build robotic dogs that can play with animals that are in a one-pet home so they don't get lonely.

Until then, she said, she's going to continue to study for a higher level license.

Bennie Youngblood, president of the Big Thicket Amateur Radio Club in Kountze, said amateur radio is growing by "leaps and bounds" in terms of numbers of licenses.

"What's rare about this is her age," Youngblood said. "It's a pretty substantial test she took and was able to pass."

Many people think the need for radios is disappearing when that's not the case, Youngblood said. After hurricanes Rita and Ike, many cell phone towers did not work and required the use of radios. It's important the skill set is passed on, he said.

"This is a big deal," Youngblood said. "We're real proud of her."

CSmith@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/SmithCassie