In Memory of KN6KK

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In Memory of Tom McCoy

It is with heavy heart that I bid farewell to my friend Tom McCoy. I first met Tommy in 1995. Tommy spent countless hours educating me as a new ham, on the technical aspects of radio, especially antennas. He was a friggin genius! Personally, I think Tommy invented the first tin can and string antenna. For those of you who are interested in antennas, we have some of Tommy's work posted here, including his masterpiece, the famous Blue Team 50B2. Those of you who remember the "Red Team / Blue Team Contests" of many years ago, already know how well Tommy's antennas really worked. Click here for more about the Red and Blue Teams. We shared another common hobby, photography. He was a master of that as well. I also enjoyed many hours of time spent with Tommy taking pictures. Some of Tommy's pictures can be found here. Tommy was a saint. He was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need, friend or foe. I just can't believe I will never see the "on line" symblol next to "Crimson & Clover" on my ICQ any more. Nor will I ever hear his favorite greeting to me on the repeater, "Back quiet Red Team loser." So long buddy. I will never forget you... ------------w6dek (Red Team Leader)

KN6KK

1954-2003

I got started in CB radio in 1970 at the tender age of 13. My parents had just moved us into a big house in northern Santa Monica where I got to start meeting new friends all over again. At Lincoln Junior high school I met some friends one of them "David Houtz" loaned me his extra CB radio and I was instantly hooked. What a world out on CB radio, I met a number of people on CB radio one of whom was Tom Mccoy (The Santa Monica Lion).

Tom picked up a part time job at the local Shell gas station on the corner of 14th and Montana in Santa Monica as a gas jockey (back in the days when an attendant pumped your gas for you, at no extra charge). I was one of the many people that hung around shooting the breeze while he worked. It was then that he had picked up his famous VW bug. It sure was nice knowing someone with a car. I was too young to drive but I sure wanted a bug when I grew up. I remember he and John Moore doing races down Montana from 17th down to 14th. I also remember how devastated he was when John committed suicide a few years later and how much more pain we all endured when John's father committed suicide just afterwards. I think it was then that I realized how big of a heart this guy had. He spent hours and hours with John's family helping out anyway he could. I was scared of all of the emotions going on in that house and Tom just jumped right in a dealt with it. I'm pretty sure it was from that point on that I knew I could trust Tom. I looked up to him as the big brother I never had.

Tom really became interested in Ham Radio at Santa Monica High School. He spent lots of time in Ronny Rindone's electric shop doing his best to mess up the class. One of my most fond memories was of him beeping out in Morse code ( ..-. ..- -.-. -.- ..- .-. .. -. -.. --- -. . ) on his VW horn while driving out of school parking lot one afternoon. What balls, you can't help someone like that. He seemed to also like making fun of the schools call sign in his radio contacts referring to the call sign suffix TDI as Totally Dumb Idiot.

Tom left for the east coast for several years to continue his education in electronics. I met up with him again as he arrived in his new 1974 Pinto filled with some incredible electronic gadgets. I saw that car at Norms on Lincoln in Santa Monica with little lights blinking on the dash and big meters cleanly mounted in the custom center consol and was instructed to not get to close as the alarm he had constructed was sure to electrocute me if I got too close. I remember hearing the Bee Gees on his stereo in this car so loud and full as to actually like the album. This was also the first time I had seen his hand built transistorized CB power amp capable of the wattage he was generating mounted in a compartment in the back of his Pinto complete with outside air venting. He had apparently discovered that he could cause florescent lights to energize in dark parking structure and closed gas stations by just keying up his CB with the big ass amp running. It was a lot of fun.

Tom got a real job with National Semiconductor and later Digital Equipment Corporation and rented several different apartments with roommates Cliff Thompson and Tim Forsyth on the westside and in the valley. This came in real handy when my parents had finally had enough of me and booted me from the house. Tom took me in without a second thought making room for me on the kitchen floor, what a friend. I left for the navy shortly after this. I kept in contact with my friend though my younger sisters who had apparently taken an interest in them. They had kept me up to speed and in the loop by marrying two of my CB friends. I did manage to make it home for an occasional party at Toms house.

I got my Ham license in 1991 and started actively enjoying my 435 career. I had started listening to 01-61 and then 435 back in 1988 and been building repeaters since that time. After years of explaining to Tom how "435 is just like CB radio in Santa Monica was" he finally broke down and got licensed and the rest is history.

As I type this, I am surprised to see that he had only been licensed for ten years, It seems longer doesn't it? He had accomplished so much and made so many friends in such a short time. You all saw how much time and effort he put into field day and boy scout stuff.

I only knew him for 33 years and took completely for granted his friendship. I never thought that we wouldn't be friends for at least another 33 years.

Damn, all this bullshit blubbering just to say I miss you buddy. --------kd6gdb

A message from Tommy's brother, Scott McCoy to Scott Press and all of us:

Please post it. I feel that everyone who liked Tommy as much as we did
should read on..

Blue and Red Teams;

Please allow me to offer you guys my very sincerest thanks for your
friendship towards my brother, Tommy! I was directed to your Memorial
Webpage by a number of Tommy's friends and am profoundly delighted
with what I have seen. I have since forwarded the URL to friends and
family around the world.

I am so happy that Tommy's and your paths crossed. Tommy was/is my
only brother and I have always marveled at him and his
accomplishments.

I understand that there are several stories about Tommy absolutely
astounding/confounding our poor befuddled father (thanks to Tommy!)
who was an electrical engineer. I can assure you that they are most
certainly ALL true!

Tommy's first major entry into stealth technology was initiated after
he had repeatedly asked our (poor) mother NOT to open his bedroom door
each night after he fell asleep (it's hard to imagine Tommy ever
asleep - he
was
always on the go at flat out breakneck speed in all directions at
once).

To remedy that early annoyance that our mother had initiated, my 'boy
wonder' little brother hooked up an electronic burglar alarm that was
activated by my mother's hand when she touched the doorknob! I'm sure
that it's no 'great shakes' by today's standards - BUT - designed and
handily built by a seven year old in 1961 it certainly caught
everyone's attention! That innocuous incident apparently marked the
genesis of a lifetime of fun and frolic in his wild wonderful world of
super stealth technology!

Woe to anyone who would throw down a challenge to Tommy in THAT arena!
I honestly don't think 'Tommy Tech' ever lost a challenge! I can
vividly recall - on many, many occasions - Tommy standing in front our
dad (who was always holding one kind or another of Tommy's
contraptions) explaining (in his best seven or eight year olds'
descriptors) not only what in the hell it WAS but more importantly HOW
it worked. Our constantly confused father was in a perpetual state of
complete bafflement and 'Tommy perplexity!' Perfectly at ease with the
best aerospace engineers in the world (including the the likes of
Teller, Wernher von Brawn, and other rocketry greats) I think the only
one that really gave our dad a real run for his money was his son -
the 'other son', Tommy!

*I*, sadly to say, did have/still do have a MAJOR problem getting the
batteries into my flashlight correctly. I usually can get it right
about
25% of the time! I can sympathize with that 'falling feeling' of
complete 'electronic expertise helplessness' in the presence of a
motivated Tommy Tech competitor 'cominatcha', meter in hand!

Apparently, Tommy has led the way, again - this time in the realm of
friendships! And again I'm jealous and (as usual) come in a far
distant second-place to my dynamic supersonic brother, Tommy 'The
Tech' Electron!

I can't wait to see Tommy again.

Thanks again, fellas! Job well done!

--------------Scott McCoy

Thoughts On Tom McCoy

I remember Tommy, at Skyranch:

With his Bean Pod Antenna

Reading Trivia, then after almost everyone else had gone

"Debating" with John into the wee hours of the morning.

I remember Tommy, at Skyranch:

On the 4th of July

Stuck at our house til 1am

By a police search for a gunman in the area.