Ron Toomer has Passed Away

[Skycoastin Steve]

I've seen enough posts on facebook and on other coaster sites to confirm this, but I haven't been able to locate a concrete news article on it. As soon as I find one, I'll get it posted. He was 81.

 

Here is the link to the article about his passing:

 

http://amusementtoday.com/

 

The amusement industry lost one of its brightest stars today with the passing Ronald V. Toomer who died peacefully in his sleep at 12:15 p.m. following a four-month battle with cancer. He was 81.

 

Born in Pasadena, Calif. on May 31, 1930, Ron spent his early life in the Golden State before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952. After 13 months in Germany, he returned home to continue his education. As a graduate of the University of Nevada-Reno (1961, B.S.), he worked for the Hercules Powder Company as a mechanical engineer on the nozzle section of the second stage Minuteman solid rocket motor. For Thermatest Laboratories Inc., he served as a mechanical engineer responsible for research and testing of high temperature materials for use in the aerospace industry including the design, development and manufacturing of the heat shield sensors for the NASA Apollo space program.

 

Privately, Ron enjoyed working with wood. He hand carved waterfowl and enjoyed assembling wooden car kits. He was an avid reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles, picture puzzles, cooking and gardening. In his younger years, he most enjoyed the days when he could hike and camp in the High Sierras and visit the nation’s National Parks.

 

Publicly, though, Ron is perhaps most well known for his work in the amusement industry with Arrow Development (aka Arrow Dynamics) and the creation of a vast number of attractions, particularly the modern steel roller coaster. While his first assignment with Arrow was water issues at Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean, the Runaway Mine Train at Six Flags Over Texas was his first roller coaster project. Working alongside Carl Bacon, he helped produce a coaster that paved the way with an amazing collection of coaster and ride projects. All total, Toomer would be credited with 93 steel roller coasters. He assisted with countless other non-coaster rides, including the initial layout for the hillside setting of the Six Flags Magic Mountain log flume.

 

Prior to his death, he admitted that when it comes to professional achievements, he was most proud of his contribution to the development of the first practical upside-down coaster elements (The Corkscrew) and his induction into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame in the year 2000.

 

Ron is survived by his wife, Betty of 54 years, four children and their spouses: Gregory and Christie Toomer of Darien, Ga.; Carol and Jeffrey Thornton of Bedford, Texas; Gary and Alana Mitchell of Keller, Texas; Christopher and Kristi Toomer of Parker, Colo. and nine grandchildren.

 

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Martin United Methodist Church in Bedford, Texas. Flowers or cards may be sent to the church at: 2621 Bedford Road, Bedford, Texas 76021.

R.I.P. Coat Hanger Man

Edited September 27, 2011 by ernierocker

[coasterlover420]

All I could find was this

http://tinyurl.com/3jeq27x

[DougMJr]

Well, it's Wikipedia "official," for what that's worth...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Toomer

 

Edit: I wasn't familiar with Ron Toomer until I researched who is was after his death. I now view him as a hero to the industry. I'm spiritual, and I hope that he will look over the industry from above. R.I.P.

Edited September 27, 2011 by DougMJr

[The SETGO Guys]

This is sad news, Ron Toomer was a coaster legend. He was truly innovative and contributed so much in the aspects of coaster design and construction. He will be missed.

[larrygator]

http://www.legacy.com/ns/obitfinder/obituary-search.aspx?daterange=Last24Hrs&firstname=ronald&lastname=toomer&keyword=valentine&countryid=0&stateid=all&affiliateid=all

 

If you type in Ronald Toomer with Valentine in the keyword area, an 81 year old from Bedford, Texas passed away today. Did Ron Toomer (from Arrow) live in Bedford Texas?

Edited September 26, 2011 by larrygator

[mr. cockblock]

R.I.P. Ron Toomer. Sad day for Arrow fanboys everywhere.

[harper83087]

Well this is a great way to ruin my good day. Goodbye Ron, your innovations helped create what we know today.

[braztaz]

This is so sad. He was a great guy, for sure.

[Dragon Khan]

I'm in a state of shock. Some may bring the coat-hanger building way up, but with the technology of the time, 2 thumbs up for Ron Toomer. the big arrow loopers and Maggie are orphan Those creations were more important to coaster developpement than Levy, probably

[beatle11]

Arrow coasters may not be the the most comfortable but Toomer definitely pushed the envelope at the time and he helped us get to where we are today.

[jzoole]

I thought he was already dead. Not trying to be insensitive. I sincerely thought he was. Anyway, bummer. Thanks for all you did for us Ron!

[thrillrider]

Sad news indeed....

 

Weird thing is that I was looking at a coaster book yesterday, and there was a picture of him inside. I thought to myself "Man, he has to be close to death".I don't mean to sound insensitive either.

 

He was a HUGE part of the coaster world, and will live on in the history books as being a pioneer of coaster design.

[SoCalCoasters]

I'm really sad to hear this... The past few years we've lost quite a few visionaries....Bud Hurlbut....Ron Toomer...

[Dragon Khan]

Makes me want to watch his older interviews. I remember seeing footage of him showing off the scaled model, then the full sized one at the Utah plant, of the Pipeline coaster. Too bad they never worked properly, because that would have been one more "trophy" to his list...

[DJeXeL]

The amusement industry owes Ron A LOT. Sad news indeed.

[beatle11]

RIP Ron Toomer.

 

[ernierocker]

All I could find was this

http://tinyurl.com/3jeq27x

 

They misspelled Arrow Dynamics three times in that article. Just saying...

Edited September 26, 2011 by ernierocker

[The Angry Darren Mullins]

I am sad to read about this. He is now with the Eagle's Fortress.

[rollin_n_coastin]

No official word on this anywhere yet. Just other forums and coaster sites commenting on the rumor. Remember how Gordon Lightfoot died and that was even picked up by real media?

 

So far, no one has been able to confirm. He could still be very much alive, just like Gordon Lightfoot.

[PSiRockin]

This makes me genuinely sad.

 

Hope it isn't true (doubt that though).

[XYZ]

Wow, this was unexpected, actually I didn't even know he lived this long. Though, I don't know if this is true or not, but did Ron Toomer never ride any of his creations?

[Skycoastin Steve]

All I could find was this

http://tinyurl.com/3jeq27x

 

They misspelled Arrow Dynamics three times in that article. Just saying...

Hence why I didn't link to it.

[The SETGO Guys]

Wow, this was unexpected, actually I didn't even know he lived this long. Though, I don't know if this is true or not, but did Ron Toomer never ride any of his creations?

 

True. He mentioned this several times in interviews he gave. He claimed to have Motion Sickness problems.

 

*Edit- 500th Post

[the ghost]

R.I.P Ron Toomer, awesome creator of the Inversion and the Corkscrew! In my opinion Ron is one of the original kings of steel, and after Anton Schwarzkopf this is probably the second largest coaster death ever! Sad day for the industry indeed!

[Electerik]

I rode two of Arrow's better creations yesterday: Magnum and Gemini.