1906-1919: Horatio Alger Comes to Life

1907: Promoted to junior wireless telegraph operator.

1908-09: Signs on as assistant telegraph operator at Marconi station at Siasconset, Nantucket Island, off Massachusetts; promoted to full operator.

1909-10: Appointed night manager of Marconi station at Sea Gate, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York.

1910: Transfers to management of Marconi station in Wanamaker’s Department Store, New York City

1911: Father dies; takes leave to sign on as wireless operator on S.S. Beothic out of St. John’s, Newfoundland, for seal hunting expedition; also serves on S.S. Harvard.

1912: Promoted to Marconi radio station inspector and instructor at Marconi Institute for new operators.

1913: Promoted to chief radio inspector and assistant chief engineer; helps establish first radio communications with railroad trains on the Erie Lackawanna line between Binghamton, New York, and Scranton, Pennsylvania.

1914: Permits Edwin Armstrong to demonstrate continuous wave regeneration technology at Marconi station at Belmar, New Jersey and receives reprimand from senior Marconi officials in England. Promoted to contract manager.

1915: Promoted to assistant traffic manager; makes first proposal regarding broadcast radio.

1915-18: Secretary of Institute of Radio Engineers (one of the IEEE’s founding organizations).

1917: Promoted to commercial manager.

July 4, 1917: Marries Lizette Hermant.

July 2, 1918: Becomes father of Robert W. Sarnoff.