THOMAS COMPTON MACLENNAN, 74, went to be with his Lord and Savior (July 6, 2009 at 10:03 a.m.). Born September 15, 1934 in Dayton, Ohio, 5th generation Daytonian of a pioneering Ohio merchant family. Tom’s great, great, great grandfather built the first commercial structure in Dayton called Newcomb’s Tavern. It is now on permanent historical display at Dayton’s Carillon Park. Three days before Pearl Harbor, Tom, his mother, Mary Louise Layton Compton MacLennan, and his brother, Douglas moved to Hollywood, California to live with Tom’s grandfather, Ralph P. Compton.
He was raised and went to school in Hollywood and Burbank, California where his grandfather was a chief electrician at Warner Brothers Studios. Tom had an excellent singing voice and was chosen at the age of 8 to join the Golden Choirasters, a boy’s choir which performed in many Hollywood venues including hotels, department stores and in the annual Hollywood Boulevard Christmas parade and on national radio. Tom also sang and played his guitar in Hollywood and San Francisco including such clubs as “The Purple Onion” and “The Hungry I” and also with the San Francisco Civic Light Opera. Tom was an active Cub and Boy Scout and was a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. Tom joined the California National Guard 40th ID at age 14. His division was activated by President Truman on September 1, 1950, served at Camp Cook, CA and in Japan during the Korean War and was honorably discharged at age 17. Tom completed his last two years of high school in one year at the prestigious Hollywood Professional School while working two full-time jobs. It was while attending HPS that Tom had the great distinction of personally being introduced to Howard Hughes. Using his GI Bill, Tom attended Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Valley Junior College at Northridge and the California Institute of Medical Technology. On October 31, 1953 Tom married Patricia Ann Williams of Burbank, California.
In 1957, Tom moved to the SF Bay Area where he owned or operated 14 health studios and opened his first judo school. He was chosen to be the personal physical trainer for the Rev. Billy Graham and entourage during Graham’s 1958 Crusade at the San Francisco Cow Palace. In 1962, he and his partner started Mobile Telephone Systems in San Francisco.
Tom came to Houston in August 1964. He was the leader in competing with The Phone Company (a.k.a. “Ma Bell”) selling customer-owned mobile telephones and established a virtual “who’s who” of local and national business leaders and celebrities to purchase their own car phones. Among them were Red Adair, Governor John Connally, Senator Lloyd Bentsen, astronaut Alan Shepard, Glen McCarthy, Robert Goulet, Jackie Gleason, Doug Sanders, Rocky Marciano, the Kingston Trio, among others. He also invented the world’s first truly portable mobile telephone in a briefcase which was the precursor to the cell phones we all use today. He was a member of the former HBR since 1966. Tom has been a life member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo since 1966 and served on many committees; presently a member on the Speakers Committee. He is also a life member of the 100 Club of Houston and Director Emeritus of the Museum District Business Alliance.
While in Houston, Tom became the close, caring and loving companion of Mary Jane Carvel beginning in 1969 based on their mutual love of music and animals. She and Tom were the co-founders of the Mary Jane Carvel Sanctuary for Unwanted Animals in Brookshire, Texas.
Tom has a very deep belief in God and his only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The following might be a fitting epitaph:
Trust God, Believe Jesus, Obey Both, Covet Nothing, Envy No One, Help Others, It’s Never The Wrong Time To Do The Right Thing, God And I Are A Majority.
Tom is survived by his son, Steven Kenneth MacLennan and daughter-in-law, Diane and four grandchildren: Kyle Patrick, Jonathan Andrew, Samuel Aaron and Sarah Joy MacLennan all of Northridge, California.
A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church (800 Houston Avenue, Houston, TX 77007) with Steven MacLennan officiating. Cremation arrangements are with Beresford Funeral Service, Houston, Texas. For further information, contact Steven K. MacLennan: 8833 Shoshone Ave. Northridge, California (818) 701-0435.
Services
Memorial Service
Thu. Jul. 23, 2009
2:00 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
800 Houston Avenue
Houston , TX 77007.
Trinity Lutheran Church
Houston , TX 77007.
THOMAS COMPTON MACLENNAN, 74, went to be with his Lord and Savior (July 6, 2009 at 10:03 a.m.). Born September 15, 1934 in Dayton, Ohio, 5th generation Daytonian of a pioneering Ohio merchant family. Tom’s great, great, great grandfather built the first commercial structure in Dayton called Newcomb’s Tavern. It is now on permanent historical display at Dayton’s Carillon Park. Three days before Pearl Harbor, Tom, his mother, Mary Louise Layton Compton MacLennan, and his brother, Douglas moved to Hollywood, California to live with Tom’s grandfather, Ralph P. Compton.
He was raised and went to school in Hollywood and Burbank, California where his grandfather was a chief electrician at Warner Brothers Studios. Tom had an excellent singing voice and was chosen at the age of 8 to join the Golden Choirasters, a boy’s choir which performed in many Hollywood venues including hotels, department stores and in the annual Hollywood Boulevard Christmas parade and on national radio. Tom also sang and played his guitar in Hollywood and San Francisco including such clubs as “The Purple Onion” and “The Hungry I” and also with the San Francisco Civic Light Opera. Tom was an active Cub and Boy Scout and was a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. Tom joined the California National Guard 40th ID at age 14. His division was activated by President Truman on September 1, 1950, served at Camp Cook, CA and in Japan during the Korean War and was honorably discharged at age 17. Tom completed his last two years of high school in one year at the prestigious Hollywood Professional School while working two full-time jobs. It was while attending HPS that Tom had the great distinction of personally being introduced to Howard Hughes. Using his GI Bill, Tom attended Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Valley Junior College at Northridge and the California Institute of Medical Technology. On October 31, 1953 Tom married Patricia Ann Williams of Burbank, California.
In 1957, Tom moved to the SF Bay Area where he owned or operated 14 health studios and opened his first judo school. He was chosen to be the personal physical trainer for the Rev. Billy Graham and entourage during Graham’s 1958 Crusade at the San Francisco Cow Palace. In 1962, he and his partner started Mobile Telephone Systems in San Francisco.
Tom came to Houston in August 1964. He was the leader in competing with The Phone Company (a.k.a. “Ma Bell”) selling customer-owned mobile telephones and established a virtual “who’s who” of local and national business leaders and celebrities to purchase their own car phones. Among them were Red Adair, Governor John Connally, Senator Lloyd Bentsen, astronaut Alan Shepard, Glen McCarthy, Robert Goulet, Jackie Gleason, Doug Sanders, Rocky Marciano, the Kingston Trio, among others. He also invented the world’s first truly portable mobile telephone in a briefcase which was the precursor to the cell phones we all use today. He was a member of the former HBR since 1966. Tom has been a life member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo since 1966 and served on many committees; presently a member on the Speakers Committee. He is also a life member of the 100 Club of Houston and Director Emeritus of the Museum District Business Alliance.
While in Houston, Tom became the close, caring and loving companion of Mary Jane Carvel beginning in 1969 based on their mutual love of music and animals. She and Tom were the co-founders of the Mary Jane Carvel Sanctuary for Unwanted Animals in Brookshire, Texas.
Tom has a very deep belief in God and his only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The following might be a fitting epitaph:
Trust God, Believe Jesus, Obey Both, Covet Nothing, Envy No One, Help Others, It’s Never The Wrong Time To Do The Right Thing, God And I Are A Majority.
Tom is survived by his son, Steven Kenneth MacLennan and daughter-in-law, Diane and four grandchildren: Kyle Patrick, Jonathan Andrew, Samuel Aaron and Sarah Joy MacLennan all of Northridge, California.
A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church (800 Houston Avenue, Houston, TX 77007) with Steven MacLennan officiating. Cremation arrangements are with Beresford Funeral Service, Houston, Texas. For further information, contact Steven K. MacLennan: 8833 Shoshone Ave. Northridge, California (818) 701-0435.
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