I did not know him personally, but I did meet at him gearbox twice when I was in phoenix. He was a genuine guy, and he did right by me when I went in there to buy some stuff. He seemed like a really swell guy, and I know that he was an integral part of this community and it forming, so that others like myself could take part in this sport.
It seems to me that he had huge part in the development of the airsoft community in all of arizona, and airsoft has had a huge positive effect on my life. All of the people I have met, the experiences I have had, the hobby helped make me who I am today. That goes for anyone who has been to airsoft games hosted by AA, TAC, CT, etc, so really he had a profound effect on all of us.
Only wish I could have thanked him again. Hes in a better place now. RIP.