RANDALL ELLIOTT

Chuck Hornaday shoe-horned me into Idaho State University's Vo-Tech Electronics program where I earned a 3-year Electronics Associates. During college, I worked with Dan Blanchard's brother Steve for two summers at a CB shop in Garden City. Idaho State then shoe-horned me into Tektronix in Portland, Oregon in 1978 and I've been here ever since.

Professionally, I was a Technician for 12 years and have been an Engineer ever since. I've worked for about 14 Portland-area companies over my 47 years here - such is the High Tech industry.

When I received my Professional Engineering license in 1999, I wanted to thank Chuck for the classes, the link to ISU, and several judiciously placed swift kicks in the butt he gave me over the years. Sadly, I found he had died just a few years earlier. He was a great mentor, teacher, and a close friend. For a former Marine Drill Instructor, he had a heart of gold and was a fine Christian man. If, perchance, his daughter (in Washington I think) ever reads this, I hope she takes heart in my memory of her Dad.

Mileposts of note: I wrote songs, sang and was Lead Guitarist in a Portland-area Christian Rock band (circa 1985), travelled for my engineering work to Britain, Mexico, Canada, Thailand and Taiwan, put thousands of miles on several motorcycles, ran my own IT business for 2 years, built about 10 electric guitars and own many more, designed and built the guitar amp I've used for 40 years, have a bunch of patents and proprietary inventions that I don't own and can't talk much about. It sure has been a full life! Just retired December 31st, 2024.

Email me at randoid_at_randoid_dot_com

If any of you recall me at all, you might remember I was a geek LONG before it became so fashionable! I moved to Boise after my freshman year in Fairbanks, Alaska.
I wasn't socially involved much at Borah except for Sophomore Drama and JROTC (which looked like fun playing Army for a school year) and every Electronics class I could get from my favorite teacher (believe it or not!) Chuck Hornaday including work-study with the US Forest Service at BIFC (NIFC now) where my dad worked with the BLM.
Mike Mead and Mark Megahan were buddies back then. I hope to find out what became of them. Chris Lowe was a neighborhood friend a year ahead of us. He is still in the Boise area retired from City of Boise as a computer guru. Amazing where his Geology degree from BSU took him, eh?