The Novice Roundup started in 1952 with the objective to help beginners build operating skills and code speed. Between the years of 1951 and 1978 the Novice license was nonrenewable. You had to upgrade or you would lose your license, creating a niche for this event. As Amateur Radio entry level classes were restructured and made renewable in subsequent years, interest in the Novice Roundup declined, culminating in the final running of the event in 1995.