Silent Key: Jack Daniel Passes Away

Jack Daniel

Jack Daniel

APCO International is sad to announce that we just received word regarding the passing of Jack Daniel, a Life and Senior member of APCO and a longstanding commercial supporter of APCO International from the CPRA chapter.

“Jack was a legend in public safety communications,” says APCO International member and Commercial Advisory Council chair Rick Ringold. “He was extremely product knowledgeable and giving with his knowledge. If he knew something and could help you, he would share it.”

“Jack was a professional and a gentleman, and will be sorely missed by his friends and his APCO family,” says APCO Life Member and past APCO International President Gary David Gray. “He was one of those people who has seen and done everything. He was a peacemaker. He wasn’t a salesman, but would tell it like it is.  He ran a tight ship.”  Gray describes Jack as “firm but fair. He had a very strong sense of fair play. He wouldn’t allow anyone to take advantage of APCO or the CAC. Knowing and working with him was a blessing.”

Jack was a proud supporting member of APCO International, serving on numerous committees, including the Commercial Advisory Council and the Editorial Advisory Committee. He was a member of at least four APCO chapters: CPRA, NAPCO, Arizona and Nevada. One APCO member described Jack as the father of the Western Regional Conference.

“Jack was a stellar individual and a dedicated member of APCO,” says Richard Granado, APCO Life and Senior Member and Western Region Director. “He was the fabric that connected the commercial members, whether working on finding sponsors for events, putting together the dispatcher awards and even the monthly meeting. It will be difficult for anyone to fill his shoes.”

Jack was a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the International Code Council (ICC), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). He was also a Fellow of the Radio Club of America. He was an expert on NFPA and International Fire Code in-building communications codes for first responders. He was the vice chair of the NPSTC in-building committee and was participating in new nationwide in-building code developments in NFPA and ICC.

He had more than 50 years’ experience in land mobile wireless communications, ranging from field tech rep to corporate management. Over the past 15 years, his company had become known nationwide as a leading authority in advanced in-building and underground radio communications system designs and products for public safety and industry, including the use of fiber-optic cables for RF signal distribution and software augmented signal boosters. He was a speaker at numerous APCO International Annual Conferences, as well as IWCE and other national level conferences on RF distribution of cellular, private radio and public safety wireless signals. He was the author of multiple articles in trade publications.

Jack will surely be missed.

UPDATE

A memorial service celebrating the life of Jack Danielwill be held March 8, 2012, at 1 p.m. Pacific at:

Dessert View Memorial Park and Funeral Home
11478 Amargosa Rd.
Victorville, CA

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  • Anonymous

    Jack was one-of-a-kind and a true radio/wireless guy to the end. Thank you, Jack, for all you
    accomplished over the years on behalf of the wireless industry, Public Safety, APCO, and the PWF. But more importantly, thank you for unselfishly sharing your knowledge, friendship, and professionalism with
    all of us. You will be missed. Rest in peace, my friend. Nick Ruark Quality MobileCommunications, LLC

  • Joe McNeil

    I am shocked and saddened by the news that my friend Jack
    Daniels passed away so suddenly. From the West Coast to the East Coast; Border
    to Border; and around the World Jack Daniels was the man to call for help with
    any issue radio related. I cannot ever remember not knowing Jack. He has been
    there for me and for APCO forever. He was the “go to guy” for advice and the occasional
    reality check when things in our industry were getting blurry. I know that I
    can speak for most all past presidents of APCO International when I thank his
    family for allowing him to help us make APCO a bigger and better institution.
    Without his sage advice and unwavering support I am sure that APCO would not be
    the world leader in public safety communications that it is today. I am
    comforted in the realization that Jack has already met up with Art McDole and
    they are now scheming new telecommunications ideas for the House of the Lord.
    Rest In Peace Jack. I would also like to offer our sincerest condolences to Pat and
    the family.
    Joe McNeil, President, APCO International (1998)

  • Lin Ford, APCO Life Member

    As a longtime friend and fellow Life Member of APCO with Jack, this came as a deep shock.  Exchanging our usual pleasantries, jokes and serious discussions of APCO and it’s history this past year in Philadelphia, Jack and I had a nice long visit during the Conference.  To say Jack will be missed by the APCO community would be an understatement and he will leave many shoes to fill.  I am thankful for our years of friendship, and pray Jack’s legacy will be carried forward.  Lin Hardy Ford, APCO Old Fossil, Past Historian

  • Jack Hoffman

    Jack has been our Commercial Chairperson for CPRA for as long as I can remember. He will be missed immensley

    in our monthly CPRA meetings. My thoughts and prayers go out to Pat and all of the family members. Rest in Peace Jack and John Hoffman  

  • Peter Thomas, APCO Life Member

    During my time serving on the APCO Institute Advisory Committee, we (ADCOMM) were in the process of developing the Silent Key Scholarship program to provide training scholarships to our members. In an effort to strengthen the program, we met with the CAC to share our ideas and ask for their involvement. We were well received and the long term relationship with the CAC began. The cornerstone of that relationship began with Jack, on his own, “challenging” all commercial members to match his donation to the Silent Key. Like everything else Jack did, he was very successful. Well the rest is history and that initial challenge has led to 10′s of thousands of dollars being awarded to our members to further their public safety education. Jack was one of those people who never looked for personal recognition as he always wanted what was best for APCO first and foremost. RIP Jack, your work and love for APCO has made us all better at what we do.   

  • Mary Messamore

    Prayers lifted up to Jack’s family and friends as we mourn our loss and celebrate his life.  RIP.

  • Paul Niemann

    Jack is an inspiration and someone you could trust.  I will miss him, however, I won’t forget him or things he has accomplished.  Jack was a good man.  Paul Niemann, RFSignalman