Gene (Costin) Hughes, the creator and publisher of the Police Call frequency books and one of the founding fathers of scanning radio hobby, has passed away. Very few people in the radio hobby actually knew Gene's real surname of Costin. I remember the first time he told me what it was during a phone conversation. When he asked me if I knew Gene Costin, I asked him Gene who? He had a good laugh over that one.Gene was a good friend, a great radio hobbyist, and super scanner hobby mentor. Like his Police Call publications, Gene will be missed.
From the August 3 Los Angeles Times at
http://www.legacy.com/latimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=114760512
"COSTIN, Gene. Born in Louisville, KY November 25, 1927. Gene Costin moved with his parents at the age of 12 to Los Angeles and loved this community. He lived a full and accomplished life. As a young man Gene devolped interests in politics and astronomy and closely followed developments in both areas throughout his life. He was a passionate civil libertarian and supporter of many liberal causes and other charities. *He was well known in the two-way radio communications business and renowned to radio hobbyists nationwide for Police Call, which he published under the name Gene C. Hughes.* After retirement he served long hours as a volunteer at the LAPD, for which he received a Volunteer of the Year award from the State of California. He was loved and will be missed by a wonderful family- his devoted wife Mitzi, three children, and their spouses-Cathy Costin (Mitchell Reback), Robert Costin (Yves Yarborox), and John Costin (Rachel Phipps). He was proud of his four grandchildren, Isaac Reback, Mia Reback, Silas Phipps-Costin, and Judah Phipps-Costin, and he adored his dog Murray. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Tower Cancer Research Foundation or a charity of your choice. Services will be private at Gene's request. "
A guestbook may be signed, at
http://www.legacy.com/latimes/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=114760512
(Photo courtesy of BoingBoing.net)
