William C. McLendon, Sr.

William C. Mac McLendon, Sr. died peacefully at his home on July 7, 2003, of complications from a stroke. Services will be held Saturday, July 12, 2003, at 11:00 AM in Ford Chapel of the First Baptist Church, Longview, Texas. Entombment will be at the Rosewood Park Mausoleum following the service. The family will receive visitors at Rader Funeral home, 1617 Judson Rd. Friday evening 6 to 8 PM. ?Mac?, as he was known, was born in Cleburne, Texas on June 1, 1919. His father was a railroad man, and at age 12 the family moved to Longview when his dad was assigned as Longview Station Agent. Mac had an insatiable curiosity and interest in radio from an early age. He earned his Amateur Radio License at the age of 12 in 1931. He was an active ?Ham? from then until his death, initially holding the call W5FFX and later earning the prestigious 2-letter call W5ML due to his senority. He graduated from Longview High School in the mid-thirties, and met and married Ruth Herrin in 1939. Ruth was the love of his life and they were married for 62 years before she died in June, 2002. Mac and Ruth started their married life in Pensacola, Florida where Mac worked for the Federal Communications Commission. Shortly before World War II broke out, Mac was transferred to Kingsville, Texas. where he was assigned to a then secret program monitoring transmissions across the Mexican Border. After the United States was drawn into the war, Mac joined the Merchant Marines where he served as a ship?s radioman on a gunship that escorted supply convoys across the Atlantic. After the war, Mac, Ruth, and their expanding family moved to Longview to begin their life together pursuing the American Dream?and with God?s help, the dream came true. After working for a short period as dispatcher for the Gregg County Sheriff?s Office, Mac launched his own business, McLendon Radio Communications, to service and maintain the radios for local law enforcement agencies in Longview and surrounding towns. Mac took advantage of his intense interest and knowledge of the emerging field of radio technology, to build a successful business serving commercial and local government needs in fixed and mobile radio communications. The business rapidly expanded throughout East Texas to serve not only law enforcement agencies, but also taxi companies, plus the many businesses that grew up around the thriving East Texas Oil Field. He operated the business from 1946 until 1973 when he sold out and retired. Mac was a self-taught man for his entire life. He studied and read profusely to keep current in the rapidly changing and exploding field of communications and electronics. He achieved or participated in many ?firsts? in the history of electronics in this area. In the late 1940?s, he procured and installed one of, if not the first television set in a home in the City of Longview. The nearest TV station was 140 miles away in Fort Worth, but on a good day reception was available, and all the neighbors would come over to watch the round, snowy, black and white picture. When Sputnik, the first satellite, was launched Mac tuned in his radios to pick up the ?beep-beep?signal transmitted as the tiny satellite passed overhead. Again, many neighbors and friends came over to listen and be a part of this moment in history. He introduced mobile radio communications to much of East Texas Commerce and Law Enforcement. In the late 1960?s, he was granted the first mobile-telephone license for East Texas, and installed the first automobile telephones in this area. After retirement from his business, home computers became his primary interest. He became proficient from the earliest days, starting with Radio Shack technology of 20+ years ago. In the 1980?s, he served as president of the Longview Computers Users Group, and became known throughout the area as a willing and knowledgeable consultant on home computer operations. Mac was active in many civic and church activities. He served as a deacon of the First Baptist Church for many years, and was active in the Kiwanis Club serving as president in 1969. He was a charter member of the Shriner?s Sharon Temple. In addition to electronics, Mac?s insatiable quest for learning led him to many other endeavors. During the 1960?s, he became an accomplished beekeeper, installing and maintaining hives throughout rural East Texas. He built a thriving business harvesting and selling his honey, which was sought after by honey lovers from Shreveport to Ft. Worth. His acquired knowledge and experience led him to many tutorial speaking engagements with local schools and organizations. These sessions inevitably featured extraordinary photographic slides and movies he had taken to demonstrate the various stages of the life cycle of a beehive. He was proficient in photography, carpentry, woodworking, and many other areas, but was most proud of being a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his children, Bob and Susan McLendon of Richardson, Dr. William C. and Susan McLendon, Jr. of Longview, Larry and Ginger McLendon of Dallas, and Keith and Gaynel Thompson of Adelaide, South Australia. He is also survived by his grandchildren, James and Michele McLendon, Terri and Scott Burghart, John and Kris McLendon, Charisse and Rob Tolleson, Will McLendon III, Karie Gasper, John Gasper, Luke Humphrey, Ross McLendon, Lauren Thompson, and Valerie Thompson; as well as his great-grandchildren Scarlett Burghart, 8, Trey McLendon , 5, Miles McLendon , 3, Nicole McLendon 2, Calvin Burghart , 1, and Emeline Tolleson, 7 months. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, 209 E. South St. Longview, TX 75601. A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.raderfh.com and the service may be viewed through the funeral-cast icon.

William C. McLendon, Sr.

June 1, 1919 - July 7, 2003