McCoy, Richard                                                         * Home

Read The Dukes of Vestal by Dick McCoy

“ It's how things were, and when you get down to it, sometimes I wish they still were.  And yes, it’s amazing any of us ever survived.”

Want the real McCoy recipe for Spiedies?

 

1965(Vestal Central HS)     Dick & Becky in Vestal

 

Dick & Becky with Dave & Ann Benedict (Tennessee, Dec 2003)

Dick can be reached at: CelticMick@aol.com 

 

 

Since 1965 the "real McCoy" has undergone various changes, both physical (which we try but cannot change) and mental/emotional (which we can).  

Shortly after our high school graduation ceremony I went to work at IBM and toyed with the idea of going into the military as some of my friends had done, until my dad said to me one day "Son, if this so-called "war" (Vietnam) was similar to World War II in which I fought, I'd be pushing you into the recruiter's office; however, its a politician's war and it won't be won, the only sad outcome will be that a lot of young boys will be killed needlessly.  Go to college".  

Well, like any 17 year old, at first I thought ol' dad was full o' blarney, until I really sat down and "chewed" on his words for a while.  Then I acted:  I applied to Broome Community College and attended full-time for two years.  Upon graduation I transferred to a four year college in Florida.  I graduated in 1971 from Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Florida with a B.S. in Marketing, Minor in Criminal Justice.  

In 1972 I successfully passed the NY State Civil Service Patrolman's Exam and was approached by various police departments in Broome County to sign on; I decided on the Johnson City Police Department  JCPD  and for the next 28+ years I went from Patrolman to Administrative Lieutenant, the rank at which I retired in October 2001.  
I have many, many memories of those years, some good some bad (which make for great conversation at parties, by the way), but there are two tidbits of learning I walked away from police work with:  one is the ability to listen to people and sympathize with & understand their wants, desires, and hurts.  Secondly, while in high school and a few years afterward, I was a very shy guy, subsequently I had a hard time meeting the opposite gender; police work changed all that - it built in me a confidence to be bold and to step forward and take action.

During those 28 years I married and divorced and had two beautiful children along the way; Katie Rebecca, 29 years old, married to a dentist and living in Baltimore, MD, where Katie is now a full-time mommy to our first granddaughter, Sophia.  I also have a son, Nathaniel Joseph, 23 years old and a graduate of Broome Community College.  Nate is a computer whiz and has his own website construction business in Binghamton NY: 

 Blue Pixel Studios - A Leading Design Firm Servicing Binghamton and Upstate New York    

 

Last year I met the woman of my dreams, my soul mate and best friend, a woman who understands me and tolerates me:  Rebecca Kay (Vance) McCoy. Becky had been an officer with the Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office, Miami, FL for 25 years when I met her, and she also held the rank of Lieutenant.  We met in June of 2001, married in August, I retired from the JCPD in October and moved to Florida, Becky retired in November, we bought a house in Tennessee in January, and now live the life of retirees in the deep South, and lovin' every minute of it, and each other.  

We plan to tour England and Ireland in July & August of this year, and hope to travel to Colorado sometime this year also.  Will I go back to work?  At this time no, we're enjoying the life of leisure too much, and we are financially able to stay retired for as long as we desire.  I've worked since I was 12 years old, first delivering the Sun-Bulletin newspaper, then working for Howard Hilton of Vestal as a "gopher" in his construction business, etc etc ad nauseum.  Becky and I decided its time for a break.  Life is good, God is blessing us, and continues to do so.  I'm curious to see what the next 37 years brings.
                                                   Dick McCoy

 

How to retire (Feb 2002)

 " ... we spend each morning going for a nice long walk with the dogs in the woods and then exercising together when we get back, then deciding what to do with the rest of the day ... believe me, we always find plenty to do.  There's also a lot of hikes and places to see in the Great Smokies and other state and national forests here, so we'll be doing that too.  And there's always Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge with hundreds of places to visit, take in a show, shop, or just sit down to a nice meal.  Its nice to retire and move to a place where you've never lived, because it opens a whole new program of things to see and places to go that you've never been.  I highly recommend it! "  

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