Herbert Hoover Jr.

Lore & Background

Herbert Hoover Jr. developed an interest in radio at age 14. After graduating from Stanford University in 1925 and earning an MBA from Harvard, he worked in aviation radio, setting up a network of stations across the Western U.S. for Western Air Express and later serving as first president of Aeronautical Radio Inc. His hearing impairment, resulting from influenza during the 1918 pandemic, made him ineligible for military service in World War II but did not deter his engineering career.

In the 1930s, Hoover turned to exploration geophysics, founding United Geophysical in 1935 and Consolidated Engineering Corporation in 1937. He advised foreign governments on oil negotiations, including Venezuela in 1943 and Iran in 1944. In 1953, President Eisenhower sent him as special envoy to Iran to broker an oil deal after the Abadan Crisis. He later served as Under Secretary of State from 1954 to 1957, often acting as Secretary of State due to John Foster Dulles' illnesses.

Hoover was an active amateur radio operator with call sign W6ZH and was elected President of the American Radio Relay League in 1962, the primary representative organization of amateur radio operators to the U.S. government.

Reader's Guide

Herbert Hoover Jr.'s significance in amateur radio stems from his leadership of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in 1962, representing amateur radio operators to the U.S. government. His technical background in radio communications, developed from age 14 and applied in aviation and geophysics, gave him credibility within the amateur community. His call sign W6ZH identified him as a licensed operator. Beyond amateur radio, his legacy includes pioneering aviation radio systems for Western Air Express, founding geophysical companies that advanced oil exploration, and serving as a key diplomatic negotiator in Iran and as Under Secretary of State. His work in Iran helped restructure oil concessions, and his tenure at the State Department included acting as Secretary of State during Dulles' illnesses. His hearing impairment, a result of the 1918 flu pandemic, affected his public perception but did not limit his engineering and diplomatic achievements.

Did You Know?

• Herbert Hoover Jr. contracted influenza during the 1918 pandemic, which left him with a permanent hearing impairment.
• He was the first president of Aeronautical Radio Inc., a nonprofit formed by Western Air Express, Boeing, and American Airways in 1929.
• He founded United Geophysical in 1935, using radio and seismological methods to prospect for oil.