Bruce's first ticket was WNØTAS back in 1967.  He went to Kansas State University majoring in WØQQQ and somehow got a Computer Science degree, then headed back to the family wheat-and-corn farm near Colby, KS. He retired from active farming five years ago.

Bruce and XYL Janice were on Windjammer’s Yankee Trader circumnavigation in 1979. He visited and operated with notable DX stations such as Fr. Dave CE0AE on Easter Island, Tom and Betty Christian VR6TC (later VP6TC) from Pitcairn, and Fr. Moran 9N1MM and his boys school in Nepal.

They visit Grand Cayman annually where Bruce is ZF2BJ. Son Jon, KB0MBS, and family live in Thailand. On winter visits Bruce is HS0ZLB and often joins the E2X crew for the CQ WorldWide CW contest.  He, DCHF's ARRL HQ guest Mike Corey KI1U, and the Mileshoskys -- Brian, N5ZGT, and Katelyn, KA5TLN -- were part of the three-team ARRL staff/board expedition activating the Azores in 2015’s Worked All Europe SSB contest.

For two decades beginning in 1994 KØBJ served as ARRL Midwest Division vice-director and director, and second vice-president. He is currently an ARRL Honorary Vice-President.