In Memoriam: Brendon Grimes

	Brendon Grimes

TSC Productions founder and owner, Brendon "Grimey" Grimes, founder and owner of Florida-based TSC Productions, passed away on March 15 after a fight with cancer. He was 56.

Born in 1967, Grimes grew up in Chicago. He joined the United States Air Force at the age of 19. During the following 20 years of military service, he fine-tuned both his commitment to teamwork and knowledge sharing which would serve him well throughout his career. Grimes was posted to RAF Lakenheath, situated northeast of Cambridge in the UK. He worked as a DJ on the base and was tasked with running the lights installed in the social hall. In the beginning of 1997, he put in a call for a service visit from a Martin UK technician; Chris Hale (now with Chauvet UK) responded. Hale recalls how Grimes watched every step, asking nonstop questions. A friendship was born that would last for decades. Later that year. Hale enlisted Grimes' help with building the Martin stand at the PLASA Show in London. Martin's trade show team was led on the ground by Max Johnson, who also became a lifelong friend. Using his military vacation time and traveling to London and Vegas for the PLASA and LDI Shows, Grimes helped create Martin displays while learning more about lighting. Grimes was transferred to Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle where he worked on many campaigns and projects -- with one of the more unusual being a speaking part alongside Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.

Johnson remembers Grimes displaying his true depth of character during the 2001 PLASA Show when the events of 9/11 took place. Grimes knew right away that things would be changing for him, and his lighting gig would need to be paused. While loading the containers to be sent to LDI, he mentioned to Johnson that he might not make it to that particular show -- after which he couldn't be reached for several months while he followed his call to duty.

While many of his achievements in uniform were kept secret, Grimes proudly shared tales when he could. In his role as a loadmaster with C-130 Hercules planes, he was called upon to design the rigging system required for the operation and deployment of the MOAB weapon that had been developed at that time. The system is still in active use today.

Fellow veteran and former Martin colleague Jamey Brock, who knew Grimes for more than 25 years, spent many an hour discussing entertainment technology and sharing stories with an emphasis on motorbikes. After riding to Hurlburt Field to attend his Air Force retirement ceremony, Brock noted the camaraderie and respect that Grimes had earned from everyone right up to the generals of the unit who were present at the ceremony.

After finishing his military career, Grimes established TSC Productions in Fort Walton Beach, something about which he had long set his mind. TSC is a full-service live event production company that serves the Panhandle region and beyond with an ethos centered around knowledge, commitment, passion, and perhaps a little extra love for any fellow Harley Davidson riders.

In his spare time, Grimes enjoyed boating, traveling, and riding his Harley with his wife and Frodo, his dog. He was also a sponsor of both the Sinfonia Gulf Coast and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Grimes is survived by his wife, Nettie, his parents Jacquie and Ron, brother Devin, sisters Jennie Grimes and Heather Hill, nieces Raven and Dakota and three bonus children, Sean, Sydney, and Aubrey.

A celebration of life will be held from 1-7pm on April 13 at VFW Fort Walton Beach, 213 Carol Ave NW, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, with a small ceremony at 2pm. It will be an open mic event and anyone attending will be welcome and encouraged to say a few words about Brendon and how their lives intertwined.