Funeral services are being held this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas for Mr Frank Wilfred McCoy , a former businessman, fisherman and resident of American Samoa.
Mr McCoy died February 5 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71.
He was the owner of Harbor Refuse and Environmental Services Inc, which responded to oil spills in the harbor , a company that sold retail and commercial ice to stores and fishing boats, McCoys Icehouse, and three fishing vessels under his company, Northwest Fisheries.
Before going into business, McCoy worked for the ASG Marine Railway for many years. He was also employed by Van Camp Seafood where he met his wife Edith. He worked for several years for Thums Oil Company on oil rigs, in the oil fields and the Catalina Islands.
An avid fisherman, McCoy was very active on the local recreational and commercial fishing scene.
He represented American Samoa on the Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council and at one time was chairman of the council.
Taulapapa William Sword said Mr McCoy made major contributions to the Oil Pollution Response Organization and was well respected by the US Coast Guard and federal agencies he worked with.
“He did a lot of good things for the territory”, said Taulapapa, “a very good man”.
An obituary of Mr McCoy by his family said that in 2013, he and his wife Edith moved from American Samoa to Gorman, Texas and built a cabin out in the country. He relished living off the grid and built the cabin to be self sustaining with its own power and water systems. His pond was his pride and joy and he spent many hours during the dry season dredging it and preparing it to be stocked.
“Frank was a man of the highest character, integrity, and spirit, and he was living proof of the indomitable spirit of man. He brought his dreams to life, time and time again. He was truly a force of nature in his own right, and he touched the lives of countless people with his love, laughter, and light”.
Mr McCoy is survived by his wife Edith, five children and 19 grandchildren.
KHJ News expresses our deepest condolences to his family for their loss.
