Tom Cox, Turner Sports, Senior Director of Remote Operations, Passes Away at 61

Updated with memorial information.

Tom Cox, senior director of remote operations for Turner Sports, died on the evening of August 17, 2010, after suffering a heart attack on August 9 in Wisconsin. He was 61. “This is a tremendous loss for those of us who knew Tom personally and respected him for the leader and teacher that he was for our company,” says David Levy, Turner Sports, president of Turner Sports. “His passion during his 17 years at Turner helped build our division into the leadership position we are in today.”

Tom Cox, Turner Sports, senior director of remote operations

Cox was with Turner Sports for 17 years where he was involved with the planning and implementation of remote facilities for all TNT and TBS sports programming. He oversaw mobile units, equipment, and managers for all of the division’s television properties including the NBA, MLB, NASCAR and professional golf, as well as the NBA Playoffs of TNT and TBS’s exclusive coverage of the MLB Division Series and League Championship Series (alternating between National League and American League each year). He also oversaw technical changes like the move to HDTV, Surround Sound, and was working on the move to 3D at the PGA Championship just prior to his heart attack.

“Tom has been the cornerstone of Turner Sports remote operations,” says Tom Sahara, Turner Sports, senior director of IT and remote operations. “Under his guidance, Turner Sports developed into an industry leader in sports production and operations.”

The influence Cox had on the industry extended beyond Turner Sports, impacting professionals at the leagues, fellow networks, remote production service providers, and manufacturers.

“If Tom ever approached any member of the NBA Broadcast team with a issue on location, because it was Tom, we knew there was a problem, and it required our attention,” says Steve Hellmuth, NBA, executive vice president, operations and technology. “He exhibited solid judgement on NBA television remotes in technical, engineering, operations and production matters. He was a thorough professional who established and maintained friendships with all of us at the NBA. I, and my colleagues at the NBA feel, today a great sense of loss.”

Prior to Turner Sports, Cox worked as the Director of Biomedical Communication for the University of North Texas Health Science Center for 15 years. Born in Witchita, KS, he began his career at KMTV in Omaha, NE. After three years in the U. S. Army he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

“For those who knew Tom from his 30 years in the television industry as a cameraman, tech manager and remote operations expert, he always set the example for so many on how to be a professional, a friend and most importantly, a tremendous father,” says Jeff Behnke, Turner Sports executive producer/senior vice president of Turner Sports.

Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports, executive vice president and COO, says the network lost a colleague, friend, and mentor and that Cox was more than just the backbone of the network’s productions. “He was the strength behind our bond as a sports division,” he says. “We’ll miss Tom deeply.”

He is survived by his wife Gina and sons Taylor and Aaron.

Memorial Service

A memorial service and celebration of life for Tom Cox will be held Saturday, August 21 at 3:00 p.m. at Alpharetta Methodist Church 69 N. Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009

Out of Town Guests

If you will be traveling to Atlanta from out of town, family and friends are asked to stay at the Holiday Inn Express, conveniently located near the Cox’s home and the church. A special bereavement rate is being offered of $62 per night. Please mention you are with the Cox Family.
Holiday Inn Express Windward
770-664-6661
5455 Windward Parkway, A​l​p​h​a​r​e​t​t​a​.​.​.​n​e​x​t to Fed Ex/Kinko’s

Memorials

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations please be made to:
Aurora Health Care St. Luke’s Medical Center
Aurora Foundation Operations
950 N. 12th Street Suite A511
Milwaukee, WI 53233-1306
Please note on check memo “In memory of Tom Cox”

OR you can donate online:
https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/aboutus/philanthropy/donate/index.asp?FacilityDonate=Aurora+St.+Luke%27s+Medical+Center

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