Milton Douglas McCoy

Milton Douglas McCoy, 85, of Fresno and formerly of Hanford, passed away on March 21, 2019 in Traditions Memory Care at Oakmont of Fresno. Born on Jan. 4, 1934 in Warrenton, N.C., he is preceded in death by his beloved wife Violet (Vi) of Fresno and his parents John McCoy of Michigan and Ethel Wright Richmond of North Carolina.

Milton, who was known by his colleagues as Milt, his West Coast family and friends as Mac and his southern cousins as Jack, attended John Graham High School in Warrenton, N.C. (Class of 1952) before joining the U.S. Air Force. He served for four years. While stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Merced, he met the love of his life, Violet Campos, whom he married in 1958.

After receiving his Associate of Arts degree at Fresno City College, Milt earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration from Fresno State College in 1961. He went on to have a distinguished 36-year career in public service, starting as an administrative analyst for Fresno County before moving on to positions of increasing responsibility for Ventura and Solano counties.

In 1972, Milt embarked on what he would later call the most rewarding journey of his professional life when the Kings County Board of Supervisors selected him to be the county administrative officer. He would hold this position for an illustrious 21 years. Among his noteworthy accomplishments were several major construction projects such as a new county government center complex in Hanford as well as courthouses, sheriff substations, libraries and two state prison facilities. He also oversaw the installation of critical water and sewer lines in Corcoran.

In a California Legislative Resolution on the eve of Milt’s retirement in 1993, Assemblyman Jim Costa of the 30th Assembly District and Senator Phil Wyman of the 16th Senatorial District noted the “tremendous growth and development” Kings County experienced under Milt’s tenure and praised Milt for laying a solid foundation for the county’s future through “prudent budgeting and a commitment to automation efforts.”

Through the years, Milt remained a man of simple pleasures. His greatest passions were fishing along the banks of local rivers, watching Westerns, listening to music and spending time with the family dogs. He was also known to read espionage novels, sometimes two at a time, until the early morning hours.

Of all the things he loved most, Vi and his children were at the top of the list. For several years after they retired, Milt and Vi spent a lot of time traveling across the U.S. and abroad, often with their daughters and their families. Milt often said he was the luckiest man alive to have had a career that allowed him to help make others’ lives better, a loving marriage to his best friend and three daughters who meant the world to him. He will be greatly missed.

Milt is survived by his daughters Kelley of Fresno, Shawna McCoy (Shana Just) of Sacramento and Tracey Hanson (Erik) of Elk Grove; three grandchildren and one great granddaughter; and several cousins, nephews and nieces.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Traditions Memory Care and Hinds Hospice for the exemplary care and compassionate support they provided during Milt’s final months.

Services will be private. In honor of Milt’s lifelong love of all animals, especially stray and unwanted dogs and cats, memorial contributions can be made to the Kings SPCA Halfway Home, 9071 16-1/2 Ave., Lemoore, 93245.