[Scan-DC] Radio Scanner lLegend Dies

[Kenneth Fowler]

Radio Scanner Legend Dies
Monday, August 4 2008
Rarely does a single person have the opportunity to have so much
impact on one industry, but Gene Costin did. He became a scanner
enthusiast in 1940, listening to 155.55 MHz along the coast north of
Los Angeles as a teen. He began collecting names, frequencies and
other information that he thought was interesting. Then in 1964, he
published and sold a printed edition of his collection, "Police Call."
The paperback book became the Bible for scanner enthusiasts all across
the country, and for over 40 years the guide was sold in Radio Shack
and other stores. Gene Costin died last week at 81. Costin was also a
10-year volunteer for the Los Angeles Police Department. Read a 2005
Wired story about him here