McCoy’s Building Supply founder Emmett McCoy dies

Emmett Francis McCoy, 88, of San Marcos, Texas, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2012. 

Emmett was born in Houston, Texas on February 27, 1923. He was the son of Frank and Margaret (Drees) McCoy, and grew up in Galveston, Texas.  He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Miriam Swanson McCoy; daughter Brenda McCoy Remme and husband Kaare; son Michael Emmett McCoy and wife Myra; Brian Francis McCoy and wife Wetonnah; daughter in law Cindy Cox McCoy; nine grandchildren and spouses; and eighteen (soon to be twenty one) great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his son, Dennis Patrick McCoy and grandson, Keith Evan Remme.

Emmett’s family moved to Galveston, Texas when he was four years old, the same year Frank McCoy founded McCoy Roofing Company in 1927.  Emmett was active in Boy Scouts growing up and was an Eagle Scout.  He was also a member of ROTC at Ball High School, graduating in 1939.  He then attended and graduated from New York Trade School, and it was during his time in New York that he met the love of his life, Miriam Swanson.  Working in the shipyards in Orange, Texas at the beginning of WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in April of 1943.  He served in an Engineer Aviation Battalion in the Pacific Theater, and he was discharged with the rank of Sergeant in January of 1946.  He and Miriam married the very next month on February 23, 1946 in upstate New York, and came back to Texas to start their life together.

Emmett founded McCoy Supply Co. in the fifties, which later became the present day McCoy’s Building Supply.  His is a classic “Greatest Generation” story in which he and Miriam raised a family and built a business with incredible love, passion and drive.  Starting in a building no larger than a 4 car garage, McCoy’s, at the time of Emmett’s retirement in 1997, had grown to over 90 locations with sales exceeding $400 million.  He was a pioneer in the cash and carry building materials market, and today McCoy’s is one of the largest family-owned businesses in the industry.
Emmett and Miriam moved to San Marcos in 1972 and adopted the city as their hometown.  Other business enterprises that Emmett was involved in during his career included Balcones Bank, which grew from one location to four during the family’s ownership, and McCoy Land & Cattle Co., which he expanded into a large cow-calf operation in far West Texas. 

Emmett was a fitness enthusiast up until the time of his stroke.  For several decades he played tennis with a group of friends every Wednesday evening.  He became a competitive runner late in life, with a first place finish in his age division of the Capitol 10,000, while in his ‘60’s, and completed the New York City Marathon in 1984.

Emmett was always very generous to the community, and once retired, Emmett and Miriam focused on philanthropy in a bigger way than ever before.  Their gift to the Emmett & Miriam McCoy College of Business is the single largest gift received by Texas State University to date.  Their gifts, both large and small, were often anonymous, but were felt by so many in San Marcos, Hays County and across Texas and beyond. 

A public memorial service will be held on Monday, January 30, 2012, at 1:30 p.m. at the San Marcos Conference Center at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 1001 East McCarty Lane in San Marcos, with a reception to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center or the McCoy College of Business Foundation at Texas State University.

Statement from Denise Trauth, president of Texas State University-San Marcos, on the death of businessman and philanthropist Emmett McCoy of San Marcos:

“Emmett McCoy was a man of unmatched integrity, honor and generosity. He led by example, and his leadership taught us lessons in dignity and humility. He was a dear and cherished friend of Texas State University, and it is a privilege to have known him. We will miss him very much.”

In 2004, McCoy and his wife, Miriam, made the largest philanthropic gift to Texas State in the university’s history--$20 million to enhance programs in business administration. In return, the university named its College of Business Administration the Emmett and Miriam McCoy College of Business Administration. Dedicated in 2006, Emmett and Miriam McCoy Hall on campus is also named in their honor and houses the McCoy College.

In 2006, the McCoys received the university’s President’s Excellence Award and, in 2007, they were awarded honorary doctoral degrees by the university.

Statement from San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero:

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Emmett McCoy, who has been an outstanding business leader and benefactor in our community for many years. Our hearts go out to Miriam McCoy, the McCoy family and the McCoy Corporation employees."

"Emmett and Miriam McCoy have long been quiet, unassuming and generous donors to the San Marcos community, helping build the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center, the San Marcos Animal Shelter and assisting the City of San Marcos in purchasing the Spring Lake Natural Area a few years ago.  Their support for Texas State University established the McCoy College of Business Administration."

"Emmett McCoy leaves a lasting legacy, and we are profoundly grateful for his life and service."

Arrangements under the care and guidance of Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche, San Marcos, Texas 78666, 512-353-4311. Obituary and guestbook online at www.penningtonfuneralhome.com