Homer Horace "Mac" Mccown

SERVICE: SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 7, 201311:00 A.M.FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHVISITATION: SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 7, 201310:00 A.M. UNTIL SERVICE TIMEFIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHINTERMENT:EASTLAWN CEMETERYOFFICIATING:REV. DON CAVINESSA Neshoba County native and long-time resident of Arlington Community, Mac McCown passed away at home surrounded by his family on August 31, 2013 at the age of 82.  He graduated from Arlington High School and East Central Junior College, ultimately earning a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1955.  He subsequently taught engineering at MSU until 1961, when he began his career at TRW Space and Defense Sector in Redondo Beach, California as an engineer.  Among his many accomplishments were training Apollo 12 astronaut Pete Conrade to deploy an antenna on the moon and leading the design and development of the antenna system on the Pioneer 10 spacecraft, which was the first man-made object to leave our solar system.  He then worked as a consulting antenna systems engineer for TRW and the European Space Agency from 1980 to 1987.  He formed Applied Electromagnetics Inc. in 1988 and served as President until his retirement in 2008.  He was a lifelong member of IEEE and several other prestigious professional associations.  Mr. McCown was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia.He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Vonnie McCown of Philadelphia, his daughters Bevin (Stan) Sistrunk of Philadelphia, Deanne McCown of Philadelphia, and Sharon McCown of Philadelphia, his sons Colin (Kim) McCown of Birmingham AL, Jay (Kristi) McCown of Philadelphia, and Joel (Ginny) McCown of Philadelphia, and 15 grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Ozie McCown, and his brother, Garland McCown. A scholarship has been set up by the family at Mississippi State University for upperclassmen studying electrical engineering and awarded based on financial need and GPA.  Mac came from a very humble background and struggled to pay for his education.  The family felt like it would be fitting to provide a little help to college kids in similar situations.   Donations can be sent to:  MSU Foundation, P. O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762--put "Homer McCown Scholarship" in the memo line Or you can give online at: http://msufoundation.com/