Who does he look up to as an inspirational individual? “My father, Alfred McCoy and mother Verna McCoy when they were alive,” he replies. “In today’s world it is President Bush.”McCoy could be assigned to carry the torch anywhere from Buelton to Ventura on January 16.The Olympic flame was lit in Greece, the home of the original Olympic Games and flown to the United States on December 4 where the relay started in Atlanta, Georgia, the last place the Olympic Flame rested on U.S. soil. The flame will travel more than 13,500 miles and pass through 46 states in 65 days. In addition to torchbearers like McCoy, the Olympic Flame will be transported by car, airplane, train, ship, skier, horse-drawn sleigh, snowmobile, ice skater, covered wagon and other unique modes of transportation.The route has been designed to showcase as much of America as possible. The Torch Relay ends February 8 in Salt Lake City at the Winter Games.Approximately 11,500 individuals have the honor of carrying the Olympic Flame. Each torchbearer will carry the Flame for about two-tenths of a mile. A support runner accompanies each torchbearer.
Jim McCoy to carry Olympic Torch
January 04, 2002
Santa Paula News
Jim McCoy, owner of McCoy’s Automotive in Santa Paula for 41 years has been selected to carry the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic torch next month along the a segment of the California coast route.
By Brian D. WilsonSanta Paula TimesJim McCoy, owner of McCoy’s Automotive in Santa Paula for 41 years has been selected to carry the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic torch next month along the a segment of the California coast route.The exact section that he will run won’t be announced for another week. He’s fairly certain that it’ll be somewhere in the Central Coast area, maybe even Ventura. He’ll receive his official uniform about the same time his route is announced.McCoy was nominated by his sister, Lydia Carter of Alabama. She said that her brother had been a big help to her over the years, and noted that he had served Santa Paula on the City Council and as Mayor. “He is active in local organizations and raises money for charities,” she noted in her statement. “He deserves the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch. The help he has given me would be reason enough.”McCoy says he feels honored to have been chosen to carry the torch, representing his country, family, friends and community. “Having served in the Army, being Mayor of Santa Paula, picked as a Citizen of the Year (in 1992), having Congressman Elton Gallegly to honor us in Congress and all the other awards; this is is one of the greatest honors that I have ever received,” he said.McCoy, when asked who will be cheering him when he carries the Olympic Flame, replied that his wife Marie, daughter Debbie, son-in-law Tom Wiland, his grandchildren, representatives from the Santa Paula Times, local officials, numerous friends and citizens from Santa Paula will be there to cheer him.
