John Morton Crockett, Jr., 69, passed away on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital in Columbia, S.C. following a lengthy illness. Born in Perth Amboy, N.J. on December 18, 1946, he was the son of the late John Sr. and Elaine Gregory Crockett.
Mr. Crockett was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and a Vietnam veteran. He graduated from N.C. State University and remained a loyal Wolfpack fan. He settled in Columbia to work in the family business and became president of Crockett Welding Supply distributorship. After selling the business, he began at SCETV in 1990, eventually rising to Vice-President of Engineering. He and his team oversaw one of the most complex and innovative public television, radio and education networks in the nation which includes more than 600 towers statewide.
He was devoted to his SCETV family whom he respected and admired. His passion was advocating for emergency communications in the state. His efforts led to enhanced partnerships between SCETV with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) as well as dozens of other state and federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. He is credited with SCETV’s ongoing participation in the SC Healthcare Emergency Amateur Radio Team (SC HEART) program, an initiative that links hospitals around the state in times of emergency by using volunteer amateur radio operators.
He worked with the S.C. State Guard sponsoring Amateur Radio License training sessions and served as a mentor and technical advisor. He was President of the Columbia Amateur Radio Club and Vice President of the Southeastern Repeater Association.
He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Major General Robert E. Livingston, Jr., the Adjutant General of S.C.; The Swamp Fox Patriot Award by the S.C. State Guard; The Blue Granite Award from S.C. State Senator Phil Leventis; and the Friend of the Taxpayer Award from Gov. Jim Hodges. In September 2016, the South Carolina ETV Commission presented a resolution honoring him “for his unfailing vision, steadfast loyalty, and leadership of emergency management communications.”
He was also a past president of the Rotary Club of Five Points, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, Benefactor, Paul Harris Sustaining Member, a Ten Star Rotarian, and served on many committees.
Though proud of his many accolades, family and friends will remember him for most for his generosity, humility, kind heart, and caring spirit. His faith in God, and love for his wife, children, and grandchildren gave him strength to persevere despite his illness. His heart was fullest when he was surrounded by his four grandchildren who knew him as “Poppie”.
Mr. Crockett leaves behind the love of his life, his wife, Karen Estes Crockett of Ballentine; daughters Christine Crockett who resides at their home, Cheryl Taylor (Travis) of Columbia, and Cassandra Taylor (Graham) of Irmo; grandchildren, Jackson, Temperance, Elaine and Preston; sister, Nancy Crockett Cooper (Miles) of Columbia; and two nephews and a niece.
A memorial service for Mr. Crockett will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with burial in Fort Jackson National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 17, 2016 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel.
Memorial gifts may be made to the John M. Crockett Internship Fund to support internships for young, aspiring engineers through the ETV Endowment, 401 East Kennedy St., Suite B-1, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
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