July 5, 1925- Feb. 3, 2007
SEFFNER, Fla. - John E. "Johnny" McCoy of Seffner, Fla., formerly of Ironton, passed away on Feb. 3, 2007, at a Brandon, Fla., nursing home following a lengthy illness. He was 81. Johnny was born in Ironton on July 5, 1925 to Wray and Margaret McCoy.
He was preceded in passing by his beloved wife Mary Volgares McCoy, an Ironton native. He is survived by a son, Ken McCoy of Seffner, Fla.; a daughter, Judy Gerlach of Lexington, Ky.; his brother, Bob McCoy, of Crystal River, Fla.; his grandchildren, Lisa Samms, Kevin McCoy, Lindy
Freeland, Lori Gerlach and Robbie Gerlach and seven great-grandchildren. Ken McCoy, Judy Gerlach and Bob McCoy are also Ironton natives.
After graduation from Ironton High School, Johnny enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps as an Air Cadet. During those years, he organized and led several instrumental and vocal groups using his talents to support the morale of his fellow soldiers. World War II ended prior to his commissioning and like thousands of other young men he opted to return home and start a family rather than stay on active duty.
Over his lifetime as a professional musician and educator Johnny McCoy touched the lives of hundreds of young musicians and colleagues. Reminiscent of the motion picture "Mr. Holland's Opus," Johnny left the road life to pursue his degree in Music Education from Marshall
University in the early 1950s. He started the Rock Hill High School Band virtually from scratch and by 1961 had built that organization into one of the finest in the Tri-State area.
Famed Kentucky author Jesse Stuart once stated that he thought the RHHS group was superior to most small college bands. He accomplished this while continuing to play trumpet and arrange music for The McCoy Brothers Orchestra, with brother, Bob, traveling throughout Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, and the local area playing countless engagements.
Johnny moved with his family to Greenville, Ohio, (Darke County, near Dayton) during the summer of 1961. He proceeded to take the Greenville band program to a level that became nationally and internationally recognized. In the spring of 1969 jazz legend Stan Kenton was so impressed by the Greenville HS "Swingphonic/Stage" Band that he agreed to appear as guest soloist and conductor with the group. A subsequent recording of that concert was positively reviewed throughout the United States and Europe. Guest artists such as Clark Terry, Les Elgart and Kai Windling continued to build upon that legacy until Johnny's retirement from active teaching in 1974.
In 1963 he organized The Johnny McCoy Orchestra playing numerous engagements in Ohio and Indiana. In 1968 Johnny with broke with tradition and started using his own students as his primary base of musicians. During those years he continued as Supervisor of Music with the Greenville City Schools while teaching three junior high school bands ad several elementary school bands in addition to the GHS"Swingphonic/Stage" Bands.
Upon retirement from teaching Johnny resumed full time playing in the Dayton, Ohio, area until joining the "Dixieland" bands aboard the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen. He served as trumpeter, arranger, and front man with those groups for nearly four years until eventually
settling in the Tampa, Fla., area. There he organized his own groups and performed as a freelance musician until suffering a severe stroke in August 2001. During those years, he performed the "Sugar Blues Show" at the behest and blessing of his famous "uncle," bandleader Clyde McCoy.
Over the years dozens of his former students studied music at and obtained degrees from schools such as The University of North Texas and Morehead (Ky.) State University. Three of his former GHS students, Steve Blocher, Roger Dismore and son Ken played in the world famous North Texas One O'Clock Jazz Lab Band. Many are still playing and teaching professionally today.
He will be greatly missed by his family and all those whose lives he touched in a positive, professional manner.
