Leroy M Cox
Encyclopedia
Leroy Milburn Cox Known as Roy, he was an entreprenuer, world famous for his Cox model engines and gas powered toys including model cars, airplanes and boats.
Roy's siblings were Orville (b.Oct.24,1910 - d.Jul.29,1979), Bob (b.Jun 25,1913 - d.Aug.26,1988), Lillian, Melvin and Dick.
Roy's first wife was Myrtle Lucille Mack, born Dec 13, 1906, died June 3, 1968. Roy and Myrtle were married on 12 Sep 1925 at Riverside, California.
They had one child, a son, Gerald Edward Cox, born April 8, 1939, died July 23, 1961 who died at a young age 22.
After Roy's first wife died he married again to Marybell Sauter, one of his employees, on January 4 1969.
Roy, Myrtle and their son Gerald are all buried side by side at Fairhaven Memorial Park, 1702 E. Fairhaven Ave. Santa Ana, Orange County, California, USA.
Roys first business venture was the manufacture of photographic enlargers, however World War II saw metal become very scarce forcing Roy to abandon the project. It was during the war that Roy began a career as an electrician.
Roy's entrepreneurial desire caused him to look for something else to do. In 1944 Roy started making toy wooden pop guns in his garage at home. It was made of wood due to metal still being scarce from the war. The popguns were an instant hit with the neighbourhood kids and soon Roy had local housewives working for him manufacturing the toy guns in his garage.
After the war ended, metal became available again and Roy's popgun sales declined because more desirable, competitively priced metal pop guns became available from the big toy manufacturers. This caused Roy to look for a new venture.
In 1950 Roy ventured into engine manufacturing by teaming up with Mel Anderson to produce the O-Forty-Five Special car. This engine was .045 cubic inch and used some parts from Mel Anderson's Spitzy model airplane engine, however the bulk of the engine was Cox's design.
In the same year, Roy had noticed the appeal of model airplanes to young children so he and two associates started working on their next venture developing a model airplane engine that was easy to start and had high performance. They spent a year working on the design and what they came up with was the beginning of a long line of successful competition and sport model engines, ready to fly airplanes, car, boats, and just about anything that could run on a motor. For a comprehensive history and listings of the individual engines and model planes see Cox Model Engine
Business boomed and in 1957 Cox took over the Disneyland flight circle at Tomorrowland which was seen as a major coup for the company. In 1960 a whole new line of high performance competition engines called the "Tee Dee" series was developed with the help of Bill Atwood a well known engine designer and manufactuer. The engines were an instant success.
In 1962 slot cars became popular so Cox was straight onto it gearing up manufacturing and now making slot cars, however in 1967 the slot car craze died leaving Cox with cashflow proplems as he had plenty of inventory and no one interested in buying it.
Following this Roy's wife Myrtle died in June 1968 making his financial problems even greater because he had to pay taxes on his inhertitance from his wife's death. Roy was beginning to develop his own health problems so he retired and sold his beloved company to the huge toy manufacturer Leisure Dynamics. Roy retired with the distinction of being the worlds most successful model engine builder.
Shortly after Roy's first wife died, Roy and Marybelle married on January 4, 1968 in Orange County California.
Roy and Marybelle's home was at Corona del Mar and they didn't have any children. In 1969 Roy and Marybelle sold the company, L.M. Cox Manufacturing Inc. to Liesure Dynamics and retired. They liked to travel and were actively involved in worldwide church missions.
After Roy died Marybelle continued to be active in her church and she was very close to her nieces, nephews and friends.
For the last few years of her life she has lived in Placentia, California. Marybelle Sauter Cox died on November 13, 2005 aged 87.
Family History
Roy's Father was John Tivis Cox was born Dec 1, 1877 in Tennessee USA and died Dec 7, 1966 at Orange California, USA. His mother was Rose Etta Corbitt, was born Sep 12, 1886 Oklahoma, USA and died Sep 23, 1960 Orange California USA.Roy's siblings were Orville (b.Oct.24,1910 - d.Jul.29,1979), Bob (b.Jun 25,1913 - d.Aug.26,1988), Lillian, Melvin and Dick.
Roy's first wife was Myrtle Lucille Mack, born Dec 13, 1906, died June 3, 1968. Roy and Myrtle were married on 12 Sep 1925 at Riverside, California.
They had one child, a son, Gerald Edward Cox, born April 8, 1939, died July 23, 1961 who died at a young age 22.
After Roy's first wife died he married again to Marybell Sauter, one of his employees, on January 4 1969.
Roy, Myrtle and their son Gerald are all buried side by side at Fairhaven Memorial Park, 1702 E. Fairhaven Ave. Santa Ana, Orange County, California, USA.
Early years
As a child, Roy spent a lot of his time after school and on weekends at his father's bicycle shop in Placentia California. This exposure to bicycle mechanics helped develop a keen interest and skills in mechanical devices.Roys first business venture was the manufacture of photographic enlargers, however World War II saw metal become very scarce forcing Roy to abandon the project. It was during the war that Roy began a career as an electrician.
Roy's entrepreneurial desire caused him to look for something else to do. In 1944 Roy started making toy wooden pop guns in his garage at home. It was made of wood due to metal still being scarce from the war. The popguns were an instant hit with the neighbourhood kids and soon Roy had local housewives working for him manufacturing the toy guns in his garage.
After the war ended, metal became available again and Roy's popgun sales declined because more desirable, competitively priced metal pop guns became available from the big toy manufacturers. This caused Roy to look for a new venture.
Business History
In 1946 Roy and his partner Mark Mier developed a metal push pull toy car for toddlers. This car was based on the Indianapolis 500 racers of the day. It later developed into a tethered car and engine manufacturers soon started making engine packages for the cars. The cars became very popular and at one time Cox was producing over 1500 cars per day. In 1948 Roy Cox was approached by model engine makers "The Cameron Brothers" who had built some engine packages specifically for Cox's Champion race car. This engine was sold separately under the Cox name "Thimble Drome" for the Champion car and was very successful.In 1950 Roy ventured into engine manufacturing by teaming up with Mel Anderson to produce the O-Forty-Five Special car. This engine was .045 cubic inch and used some parts from Mel Anderson's Spitzy model airplane engine, however the bulk of the engine was Cox's design.
In the same year, Roy had noticed the appeal of model airplanes to young children so he and two associates started working on their next venture developing a model airplane engine that was easy to start and had high performance. They spent a year working on the design and what they came up with was the beginning of a long line of successful competition and sport model engines, ready to fly airplanes, car, boats, and just about anything that could run on a motor. For a comprehensive history and listings of the individual engines and model planes see Cox Model Engine
Business boomed and in 1957 Cox took over the Disneyland flight circle at Tomorrowland which was seen as a major coup for the company. In 1960 a whole new line of high performance competition engines called the "Tee Dee" series was developed with the help of Bill Atwood a well known engine designer and manufactuer. The engines were an instant success.
In 1962 slot cars became popular so Cox was straight onto it gearing up manufacturing and now making slot cars, however in 1967 the slot car craze died leaving Cox with cashflow proplems as he had plenty of inventory and no one interested in buying it.
Following this Roy's wife Myrtle died in June 1968 making his financial problems even greater because he had to pay taxes on his inhertitance from his wife's death. Roy was beginning to develop his own health problems so he retired and sold his beloved company to the huge toy manufacturer Leisure Dynamics. Roy retired with the distinction of being the worlds most successful model engine builder.
Life after retirement
Marybelle Sauter was born in Canton Ohio on May 22, 1918. Marybelle's family moved Los Angeles in 1920 before moving to Santa Ana in 1946 and in the same year she was employed at LM Cox Manufacturing Co. She became actively involved as an officer in the company and the toy industry.Shortly after Roy's first wife died, Roy and Marybelle married on January 4, 1968 in Orange County California.
Roy and Marybelle's home was at Corona del Mar and they didn't have any children. In 1969 Roy and Marybelle sold the company, L.M. Cox Manufacturing Inc. to Liesure Dynamics and retired. They liked to travel and were actively involved in worldwide church missions.
After Roy died Marybelle continued to be active in her church and she was very close to her nieces, nephews and friends.
For the last few years of her life she has lived in Placentia, California. Marybelle Sauter Cox died on November 13, 2005 aged 87.