Shown here are Sandra D. Roberts, WN5ASZ, Donna K. Fomby, WN5APM, Linda L. Neal, WN5AOG, Ella R. Sanders, WN5AUJ, Bonnie J. Baggerman, WN5AUI, Nina C. Shaw, WN5AUQ, and Carol J. Fontenot, WN5APG, along with Vivian McCracken, the director of Girlstown, a home for 32 girls who had lost their parents near Whiteface, Texas. When a winter storm cut off their power, heat, light, and telephone, the members of the Terry County radio club decided that the facility needed amateur radio. Members made the trip every Friday evening to teach interested girls code and theory. As a result, the seven girls shown here obtained their novice licenses.

According to the May 1962 issue of Popular Electronics, they were set up on 80 and 40 meters with the Hammarlund HQ-180 receiver and Heathkit DX-60 transmitter shown in the photo, generously donated by the club members. The girls were open to schedules, and I’m guessing more than one novice kept on the lookout for these callsigns after getting the magazine. The magazine noted that classes continued, and at least four girls were at work on their general licenses.

As far as I can tell, only of of the girls in the photo retained her license after leaving Girlstown. As late as 1973, there was a listing for Sandra R. Heinrich, WA5ASZ, in Irving, Texas, seated at the left in the photo.