Charles Ellis "Chuck" McCullough, age 82, passed away in Austin on September 16, 2018 from lung complications. Chuck was born on October 15, 1935 in Austin to Ruth Huddleston and Clarence McCullough in the old St. David's Hospital then located in a small 2-story building near 18th and Rio Grande Streets. He grew up in an Austin that was smaller, simpler and kinder, going to Wooldridge Elementary, University Junior High and graduating from Austin High School in 1953. From the time he was 13 years old, Chuck was very active as an amateur radio operator, receiving the call W5PRO. Chuck received BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from UT Austin in 1958 and 1960 and took additional courses toward a Ph.D. He was President of Tau Beta Pi, engineering honor society, and Eta Kappa Nu, international honor society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. While an undergraduate, he was elected Outstanding Electrical Engineering Graduate in his class. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
After graduation he worked in the hi-tech field in Austin and became manager of Kaman Instruments division of Kaman Corp. (helicopter manufacturer). In 1966, he met Janis Payne at a social event and they realized they had both grown up at First United Methodist Church. Janis was working on completion of her MS in Music at the time they met. Their life journey began in 1967, when they were married at the church of their childhood, officiated by Bishop W. Kenneth Pope. Chuck and Janis enjoyed many years of boating, water skiing and activities around their houseboat pulled up to their lot on Lake Austin. The houseboat was built by Chuck and some of his friends as a fun challenge a few years before they met. The last several years, Chuck & Janis have enjoyed summers in their favorite adopted second home in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
In 1970, Chuck became founder and President of Avtec Corporation. Their products through the years went from transistorized programmers which controlled three 35mm slide projectors to software-based control systems using dedicated microprocessors and custom control panels. These were used in some of the first corporate "multi-media" rooms of the 70s. This technology was soon expanded to software-based control systems for Video- Conferencing. Avtec Corp. was currently doing software development and programming software for live drone and live remote video.
When Chuck was 65, he contracted Guillain-Barre' syndrome from a flu shot. He was paralyzed from the neck down and in an inpatient hospital for over nine months. Recovering from the paralyzation and learning to walk again took a couple of years. When his health was restored from that trauma, he was able to enjoy a good fifteen years of fairly good health, still at the helm of his beloved Avtec Corp. Perseverance and resilience helped Janis and Chuck get through the last many months when his health began to deteriorate. His health decline was obviously related to pulmonary problems from his long illness of a few years ago. He died with his loving wife of over fifty-one years holding his hand.
Very special applause goes to Andy Gray, our efficient and dedicated employee of Avtec Corp. for over thirty years. Many thanks to our business partner, Thad Avery, for his many areas of help. Also, much appreciation goes to Dr. David Morledge of Austin Neurological Clinic, Dr. Jim Meyer of People's Wellness Center, and to Rebecca Steiner, Mark Barber and Lynette Patton of New Dimensions.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin with funeral services starting at 11:00 am in the chapel. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
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