KC8GXW wrote:

I didn't take the free upgrade to general,

There's no free upgrade to General.

If someone earned a Technician back when that license used the same
written as the General, they can get a no-additional test
upgrade to General through the VE system. FCC recognizes old
(pre-March 21, 1987) Element 3 as carrying credit for new
Element 3.

But you still have to pay the VE fee, and have earned that
Tech in the first place. Not a giveaway or a free upgrade.

73 de Jim, N2EY