JAMES R. LOOMIS

JAMES R. LOOMIS, 85, passed away Friday, Jan. 13, 2012 at home. Born and raised in Lansing, Mich., he worked for Magna-vox for 30 years, retiring as Chairman and CEO in 1992. He joined Magna-vox in January 1962 as Controller of the Magnavox Research Laboratory in Torrence, Calif. He assumed responsibility for the development of the Magnavox electronic facsimile program. In late 1964 he was assigned the responsibility for establishing the Magnavox Furniture Group in North Carolina. In 1966 he was transferred to the Company's headquarters in Fort Wayne and was appointed General Auditor. Following an assignment with the Magnavox Radio-TV International Operations, where he had responsibility for South American Operations, he became Director of Purchasing for the company's Government and Industrial Products Group in 1970. In 1973, he was appointed Vice President of Magnavox Systems, Inc. Upon formation of the Magnavox G & I Electronics (MAGIEC) in 1975, Mr. Loomis was elected Senior Vice President, Administration, and was also elected to the Board of Directors. He also chaired the Research and Development Committee of the Company. In 1977 he was elected Senior Vice President, Operations, and in 1980 Executive Vice President. In January 1981, he was elected President, Magnavox Electronic Systems Company. He retired from the Company as Chairmen and Chief Executive Officer in 1992. Prior to joining Magnavox, he spent eleven years with the Department of the Navy. He was intimately involved with various aspects of Department of Defense procurement programs at both field and headquarters levels. During this period, he also participated as a Navy representative for the Hoover Commission review of Department of Defense facilities. He is an alumnus of Michigan State College, and followed Spartan athletics for many years. He played baseball in the minor leagues. He served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II and saw considerable action. Jim was a golf enthusiast, and was a member of the foursome that won the amateur division of the 1994 Bob Hope Desert Classic Golf Tournament in Palm Springs. He was a member of the Fort Wayne County Club, the Bermuda Dunes County Club in Palm Desert and the Burning Tree Golf Club in Bethesda, Md. He was a Past Chairman of the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce and it's Executive Committee; Past President and member of the Mad Anthony's Board of Directors and the Board of Taxpayers Research Association; Past President of the local Chapters of the Navy League and Institute of Internal Auditors; He served on the 5-man Governor's Task Force that reviewed the Marble Hill Nuclear Power Plant. He also received a "Sagamore of the Wabash". He served on Indiana's Future Commission; Board of Directors for Harris-Kayot, Inc.; and was a past member of the Board of the famed shipbuilder, Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. He served on the Board of Directors for Photo Control Corporation of Minneapolis, Minn.; was on the Advisory Board of IU/PU in Fort Wayne; and served on the Fort Wayne Allen County Airport Authority Board. He was a Member of the Board of Directors for the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, and he is included in the Who's Who of American Business Leaders. Surviving are his wife, Shirley A. Loomis of Fort Wayne; daughters, Suzanne Studinski of Fort Wayne, and Deborah M. Graham of Riverton, Utah; sons, J. Michael Loomis, Timothy J. Loomis, Jon R. Loomis all of Fort Wayne, and Terry Loomis of Oldsmar, Fla.; stepson, James Leitch of Alpharetta, Ga.; and step-daughters, Katy Leitch of Portland, Ore., Janie Franco of West Linn, Ore., Nancy Burdeshaw of Potomac, Md., Margaret Weller of Atlanta, Ga., and, Amy Boisseau of Churchton, Md. He is also survived by 24 grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his first wife, Elaine, who died on Jan. 15, 1982; parents, Max B. and Marguerite Loomis; brother Frank M. Loomis; and sister Rosemary Rea. Mass of Christian Burial is 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Arcola, with calling one hour prior. Father Jason Freiburger officiating. Calling also from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 at D.O. McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, with the Rosary at 2 p.m. Burial in Covington Memorial Gardens, Fort Wayne. Memorials may be made to the Catholic Charities or Mad Anthony's Children's Foundation (260) 426-6200. To sign the online guest book, go to www.mccombandsons.com