Tributes To Andy Figge

Edited by Robert Gonsett

Several members of the local broadcasting community have expressed their feelings about the untimely death of Andy Figge in the letters which are posted below, as received by the CGC Communicator newsletter during the week of February 15, 1999. Indeed, we have lost a very good man.

Thank you for the word about Andy. We are all shocked and distressed over the untimely loss of such a good person. Andy was a credit to his profession, and we will all miss him.

Jack Siegal, Chagal Communications/KFOX/KREA

I was deeply saddened by the news of Andy's death. A professional whose word and quality of work could be counted on. We had a standing order with Andy to do all of our major tower work, because he was the best!

A quick story which shows the character of the man. A fellow broadcaster who is struggling to pay the bills, and literally has to count pennies to keep the station on the air, called Andy for some badly needed tower work. The station owner reported that Andy went out to the tower, spent most of the day there, and fixed the numerous problems, and "only charged me a few hundred dollars." I just smiled. Andy had charged 10% of what he normally bills his other clients for the same work, and kept it a secret from the client.

Richard Jenkins, President, Educational Media Foundation, K-LOVE and Air-1 Networks

First and foremost, my deepest regrets go to Andy Figge's survivors. Their loss is unthinkable. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

I was shocked and felt an immediate lump in my throat when I learned (last night) of Andy's death. I had worked with Andy when I was the chief engineer of KNAC-FM in Long Beach, Ca., (now KBUE-FM). Signal Hill, Andy's home base, borders Long Beach.

When I lost a good friend, and until that point my ONLY tower man, Joe Kavanagh, I put the word out that I was looking for someone to fill Joe's formidable shoes. (For those who didn't know Joe, he too was, "cautious and meticulous.") Almost unanimously, Andy's name headed the list of guys in the Los Angeles area.

I think most engineers would agree that finding a good tower professional is akin to getting a good MD. Once you find one you like, you don't even consider using anyone else. Would you trust your "baby" with a stranger? Unthinkable. After his first job for me, Andy became my "Tower Doctor." He put me at ease right away.

Over about a four-year span, Andy did, perhaps, six separate jobs for me at the KNAC site, some large, some small. Regardless of the project, Andy's professionalism and his attention to even the smallest of details was very reassuring. His work was never anything short of perfect--he wouldn't allow it. If Andy bid a job out at four hours and he took eight--to do it just right--he would only accept payment for four. He looked at the additional hours as being on him--he wouldn't have it any other way.

Another very important trait of Andy's was his conscientious practice of tower safety. He was always mindful of potential hazards and did his work, "By The Book." Whether he had a full crew or just himself, safety was always number one.

I could elaborate, but, suffice it to say, Andy was a Tower Man's Tower Man.

Personally, I didn't know Andy well. However, I found it a pleasure to be in his company. He possessed a keen wit and treated everyone around him with respect.

Our small world has lost a big friend. His presence will be sorely missed.

Ron Russ, KSSE-FM, Los Angeles

I am shocked and stunned to read (about Andy's untimely death). In the past I have found Andy to be a great source of one stop shopping for tower and antenna work. We have lost a great asset to the broadcast community.

Marvin Collins, KFI, KOST, KACE, KRTO

So many abilities in one package. A real bargain. And so nice to work with, besides.

Lyle Henry, KFOX/FM

This is such a sad time to lose someone such as Andy. I think that he was an incredible man that I only met once. I lost my grandmother only a month ago and death is such a final and sad thing for a man like Andy. He was such a nice man and he seemed to be so caring and he talked about the love he had for his family with me and I will always treasure that because family is so important....

Clayton Creekmore

I attended Andy Figge's funeral service this afternoon. It was a wonderful event that really tied together everyone that Andy touched. Family, Church, scouting, music, Coast Guard, civil engineering, and tower services.

The fond and occasionally tear-filled remembrances were insightful and touching. The music was exquisitely selected and performed. Taps was performed by two buglers from the California Regiment, Civil War Re-creation Band in which Andy had played French Horn. Their scheduled performance for tonight would be dedicated to Andy's memory.

Our community was represented by several engineers. Joel Saxberg, who was unable to attend because of the AMR pilot situation, sent a message that was read, in part, by Tom Koza from KPWR.

Hiring Andy made me look like a better broadcast engineering manager. Working with Andy made me a better broadcast engineer.

John Paoli, KYSR, Los Angeles, February 16, 1999

Past issues of CGC Communicator newsletters may be viewed at:
http://www.bext.com/cgc/

Stories that pertain to this incident begin with CGC Newsletter #312. Read about the tower collapse.

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Edited by Gary Stigall. Posted February 19, 1999.