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Wireless Legacy traces its experience
back to 1956 when young Jim Crooks left the Navy as
a Chief with a background in Electronics. He traveled
to Madison, WI and joined ranks with WISC-TV as Assistant
Chief Engineer. After assisting WISC-TV with installation
and testing of their then new television tower and
studio, Jim’s first company, Broadcast Engineering
Services, Incorporated was born.
Jim continued to work on radio and television stations
around the Midwest for the next 41 years. During this
time Jim also worked for Ampex Corporation, the developers
of the first VCR, as a technical trainer. He traveled
the world teaching future instructors of video productions.
Jim also worked as Communications Coordinator for
the City of Madison, Wisconsin and headed the Wisconsin
State 911 Commission. |
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Jim was instrumental in developing
the National Emergency Numbers Association (NENA),
and in getting Emergency 911 admitted into state law
and implemented in the Southern Wisconsin area.
The company grew throughout the 1970’s when
Jim’s kids; Jim Junior, Jeff, Jean and John
and his Son-In-Law Ed Muehlfelt, joined him in the
family business. The company grew further in the 80’s
as employees outside the family were added and cellular
technology moved forward, becoming a focused area
of the business. |
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During the early 80’s, the business
name was changed to Broadcast Communications Services,
Inc (BCSI). Services included tower erection, site civil
construction, tower maintenance and inspections, consulting
and land acquisition. BCSI was instrumental in constructing
the first cellular system in the area for McCaw Cellular.
More family was added to the team in the form of Grandson’s
Jimmy and Jeremy Crooks as the company grew to near
20 employees. |
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The 1990’s brought much change
to BCSI including the addition of still more family
in the form of Granddaughters and Daughters-In-Law,
bringing employment totals to near 30. The company was
headed by Founder Jim Crooks and managed by John Crooks,
Jim’s son. New divisions were added to the company’s
portfolio including Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
(SCADA) systems, an innovative patented new strobe design
dubbed Brighter Idea Strobes and the industries first
training academy; Educational Services. |
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After exhaustive study of the practical
application of our industry’s work practices and
individual manufacturer’s standards, Educational
services developed the Tower Technology course. The
course was a five day intensive study of our industry’s
technical practices and standards in the area of construction,
safety and maintenance of communications systems. Educational
Services also became the first and only authorized trainers
for Anritsu (Wiltron) in the area of line sweeping. |
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In early 1997, BCSI was sold to Failure
Analysis Associates (FAA) out of Menlo Park California.
FAA changed the name to BCS Wireless and maintained
a business focus in telecommunications site construction
and maintenance, dropping the strobes, SCADA and Educational
Services as viable profit centers. FAA itself changed
its name to Exponent and BCS Wireless expanded its reach
with offices in WI, Denver, Seattle, Chicago, St. Louis
and Atlanta. The new company was headed by John Vice
with Jim’s son John Crooks as Vice President. |
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Though the death of Jim Crooks in
late 1997 brought great sadness to our industry and
especially to the team at BCS Wireless, the new company
thrived into 2000 increasing sales over 400% and nearing
50 direct employees overall. In May of 2000, Exponent
sold BCS Wireless to SpectraSite.
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In August of 2000, John Crooks left
SpectraSite and started what is today Wireless Legacy
Corp, a technically diverse communications company dedicated
to “Continuing The Heritage” of Quality,
Integrity, Safety and Service passed down through 40
plus years of family centered businesses. |
