Our Prayers, Thoughts and Condolences...

[AndyWaldrop]

...go out to the family, friends, and co-workers of Traffic.com - Dallas Operations Manager John McCarty who died last night. A lot of people in the business know, or know of, John. For the last several years, John has been the backbone of the Dallas office.

John was one of those folks that had a passion for this business of broadcasting. Even those of us that didn't speak to, or see, John everyday could tell instantly that he was a "people person" and that he had a real love for the business and what he was doing.

I'm sure information on any services planned for John will be forthcoming soon.
 

[spinderella]

I heard this just minutes ago from another source.  So sad.  John was a pro and a great guy.

He will be missed!

[Steve Eberhart]

This is really shocking news...does anyone know what happenned???

[Jay Weaver]

I just spoke with a friend of mine, outside of broadcasting, who has known John for a few years and he tells me John was outside in the yard yesterday afternoon doing some yard work.  When he finished, he came in the house complaining of not feeling well and soon collapsed.  His wife, Kim, called 911 and the paramedics showed up quickly.  They tried to revive him for quite a period of time.  After no success, they rushed him to North Hills Hospital in North Richland Hills where they worked on him for near an hour with no luck.  John was 55.
 
John was definitely one of the good guys. 

Jay

[MikeShannon914]

We're in complete shock here at the traffic office.  It just hasn't sunk in yet.  John was a great boss and friend, and we'll miss him dearly.  We don't know yet what happened, but it appears to have been sudden.  

Please keep his wife and kids in your prayers.  John's pride and priority in the world was his family.

Jim Thomas and I were just having a conversation about John on Saturday, about when John did Jim's traffic on KAAM in the 1980s.  John had a great career on the air here, at KLUV, Star 105 and Young Country, and later with the ABC Radio Networks doing an oldies show on Saturday nights.

[tashas]

John was the person who restored my faith in radio people. I cannot believe he is gone.

[BobLeonard]

What a shock. I'm stunned and truly saddened. John used to fill in for me at ABC whenever I was off. He would run the "Best of" shows. He was a friend and one of the finest people I've known. I am absolutely in shock by the news. Rest in peace, my friend

[Holstead]

I am right there with everybody else on John's passing.  Too soon, and so unexpected.  If there was anybody who made my miserable mornings brighter it was John when he was my traffic anchor when I worked at KTLR in Terrell.  He was an eternal optimist.  -and he was right, I DID get out of there, and went on to much bigger things.

I recall dropping by the Metro studios once a week or so driving back from Terrell to Bedford.  John, Eric Kauffman, Hal King and a few others would be there.

One time I recall Hal getting on John for goofing off and not filling out affidavits.  John responded back to Hal: "Holman, I can do that anytime, but how often do you get a chance to break the inter-office record of 22 hoops in wastepaper basketball!"

When you get down to it, he really was the best at what he did, and certainly earned his name at the top of the heap.  You had your great jocks, you had your great news guys, your great PD's, and if there was one single voice and personality associated with D/FW traffic on the radio, It was McCarty.

I miss him already.

Somebody please e-mail me with service info.  josh@joshholstead.com

[MikeShannon914]

John thought so much of Hal King.  He was so upset when he found out after the fact that Hal had passed away.

This reminds me so much of your situation not so many years ago, Josh...like your dad, John was the strong patriarch of a family that was very proud of him, and a guy who was loved by so many people who either listened to him or worked with him.

[busyradioguy]

Very, very sad news indeed.   

I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like he might have suffered a heat stroke.

Y'all take it easy if you're working outdoors!