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Engineer John Crockett Dies

He was an emergency communications advocate

COLUMBIA, S.C. � Public media engineer John Crockett has died. He was 69.

John Morton Crockett Jr. passed away on Oct. 12 at Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital in Columbia, S.C. following a lengthy illness, according to his obituary.

Crockett served South Carolina public media organization SCETV as vice president of engineering. He joined the organization in 1990; he and his team oversaw the public television, radio and education networks, which includes more than 600 towers in the state.

His efforts advocating for emergency communications led to enhanced partnerships between SCETV with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division as well as other state and federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, according to the obituary. He is credited with SCETV�s participation in the SC Healthcare Emergency Amateur Radio Team program, linking hospitals in times of emergency through volunteer amateur radio operators. His call sign was W3KH.

Crockett 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.

In September, the South Carolina ETV Commission presented a resolution honoring him �for his unfailing vision, steadfast loyalty and leadership of emergency management communications.�

Prior to SCETV, he served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Upon returning home, he graduated from N.C. State University. He went on to work for his father John Sr., in the family business, Crockett Welding Supply distributorship, of which he eventually was named president. He sold the business before joining SCETV.

He was a past president of the Rotary Club of Five Points.

A New Jersey native, Crockett leaves his wife, Karen; three daughters; four grandchildren; sister; and two nephews and a niece.

Memorial gifts may be made to Palmetto Health Foundation, designated for Palmetto Health Cancers.

A memorial service was held on Oct. 18 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He is buried in Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

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