SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX013
ARLX013 Lew "Mac" McCoy, W1ICP, SK
ZCZC AX13
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 13 ARLX013
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT August 2, 2000
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX013
ARLX013 Lew ''Mac'' McCoy, W1ICP, SK
Amateur Radio legend and former ARRL Headquarters staff member Lew
''Mac'' McCoy, W1ICP, of Mesa, Arizona, died July 31 following a
lengthy illness. He was 84.
As a member of the ARRL Headquarters staff from 1949 until 1978,
McCoy gained a national and international reputation primarily for
his articles in QST and his early work to combat TV interference.
''He became a hero of all the Novices and beginners because his stuff
was so down to earth and easy to read,'' said retired ARRL
Communications Manager George Hart, W1NJM, a good friend.
ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, described McCoy as
''one of a kind'' and ''versatile.'' Sumner said McCoy ''left his mark on
future generations of amateurs as QST's 'Beginner and Novice'
editor.'' When FM repeaters came along, Sumner said, McCoy made it
his mission to educate his ARRL colleagues about their potential.
An ARRL Life Member, McCoy was first licensed as W9FHZ and later
became W0ICP. He arrived at ARRL Headquarters in 1949 to fill the
job of assistant communications manager for phone. He went on to
work in the Technical Department where he was able to take advantage
of his ability to explain technical concepts in simple terms.
McCoy earned a reputation as a tireless traveler and goodwill
ambassador for Amateur Radio. He first started hitting the road in
the early 1950s after TVI had become troublesome for amateurs and
soon became the League's TVI expert. McCoy toured the country
demonstrating TVI cures for hams and TV service personnel alike.
ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, credited McCoy with providing
the foundation for the ARRL's current RFI expertise in helping hams
to deal with interference to consumer equipment and interference to
hams from other sources. McCoy also was well-known for one of his
projects, ''The Ultimate Transmatch,'' an antenna tuner he described
in a July 1970 QST article.
After leaving the ARRL Headquarters staff, McCoy continued as a QST
contributing editor. He subsequently was a major contributor to
other Amateur Radio publications, including CQ.
During his active years on the air, McCoy was an avid DXer with more
than 300 countries confirmed. More recently, he was active in the
Quarter Century Wireless Association, had served as QCWA president
and a board member and had just been elected again to the QCWA's
Board of Directors, something his daughters never got to tell him
before he died.
McCoy's first wife, Martha, died in 1998. Survivors include his
wife, Clara Gibbs McCoy, and his daughters, Marsha Ashurst, W1HAQ,
and Sharon Armann, ex-WN1GQR, as well as grandchildren and
great-grandchildren.
In accordance with McCoy's wishes, there will be no funeral. The
family is planning a memorial service for McCoy in early December.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations in
Lew McCoy's name to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E Flower St,
Phoenix, AZ 85014-5656. Condolences may be sent to the family care
of Marsha Ashurst, PO Box 2260, Lakeside, AZ 85929.
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/EX
