Tom Kaye Retires from Paintball, AGD Under New Management

[mobius]

What the...Wow...Crap...I dunno what to say. Tom, you will be forever upheld in the minds of many. What always made you and your company so great is that you care about the opinions of the people using your products. You will not be forgotten.

[Siress]

*dusts off AO account

Just want you to know that we, the people in my region of the paintballing world, appreciate your engineering developments in the sport. Thanks, and good luck.

EDIT: I'm not the Southern Comfort guy that shot you in the back at the Risk It All game by the way. I wasn't even there, so please don't chastise me.

[tipp-ed off]

Good luck Tom...and thank you.

[phantomhitman]

hmmm....if it wasnt for fireblades post i wouldnt have known. i would first like to thank you first EVERYTHING that you contributed to the sport, second thanks for letting me part of the ao groupies at the toys for tots event in Georgia

i almost feel out of my chair seeing this, but I knew it was coming. They way you talked in thread as well as in Georgia tipped me off. Good luck in everything you do, appreciate how you helped me.
Joe

[yonu]

Tom,

Though I never got to meet you in person this comes a a big shock as well as many others here have said

I hate to see you go but hopefully you will find a field that you are entusiastic about and hopefully you will still beable to get out to the fields and play

[pump]

miss ya dont be a stranger in here

somebody better archive the important threads

[bofh]

Since I don't see a lot of questions in the thread...

So, TK... Why are you calling it quits? Did it stop being fun? Is there an incident that triggered it?

You think you'll be doing something else? Moving to a different industry? Do something completely different? Stare at the sky? Dig up bones? Find a way to support those industries?

Need a jack of all trades computer guy?

[RamboPreacher]

Good luck. My prayers are happening for you and your family.

[68magOwner]

well, have fun with whatever you decide to do, your still a baller at heart

[bunkerhugger]

Mr. Kaye,
I first spoke with you back in 1991 when I was trying to get ahold of an automag. I finally begged two out of you and one of those is still the main gun of a man who has grown to become one of my best friends, much as the technology of your company has. In the nearly 14 years since I started using your products I've passed up many a chance to attend an event you were at, and now I find I regret it. Please attend the next Shatnerball so I can fly out and shake your hand one time before you go.

Thank you,
Ben Ramirez
Proud owner of CF00533 (Level 5)
Proud owner of XT00014 (X-mag)
Proud member of Southwest Voodoo

[frop]

Good luck & be sure to come back & visit!

THREE CHEERS FOR TK!

[warbeak2099]

I... uh... I can't find the words. I guess, good luck sir. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to own something which is at such a high level of quality. Maybe AGD isn't in great fiscal shape, but a man and an organization who has touched and influenced as many people as you and your company have is most definately a profound success in my book. You will always be a part of paintball...

[CRySyS]

UhhWhaa?!

I really hate to see you go, truely a titan as has already been pointed out.

So will it be pretty much business as usual at AGD? Specificly will everyone still have a job? I cannot stress enough how awesome the people you have there are, especially Marcia. She went leagues above her calling to help me out with a stupid credit card and I only have a Sydarm right now because of her. Everyone else there that I have ever delt with have been as great. These people care about what they are doing as much as you do Tom. I hope Dave shares that same quality; in fact I must assume it since he was your VP.

Also, will you keep everyone here posted about your new venture? I'd love to see what happens when you manage to combine a telescope and T-rex thigh bone!

Hell, will you still at least visit the board? I remember when this place was just a little owners group with a background image ripped off a porn site. And I remember when it disappeared for a while and another owners group had to be built to hold us all over. And then AO was resurected by none other than the very company whose product it was created to discuss. That was a fresh move for a manufacturer and a good one by the looks of this place. I'd hate to see that fade away now, it's much too soon.

Aww, crap. I just checked to make sure and it isn't April 1st. I think it's starting to sink in now. I'll be wearing black tommorow. Good luck Tom, and know that you won't be forgotten by anyone if I have anything to do about it.

[SSMercury]

Wow, I was the third person to view this thread 4 hours ago when it started, there weren't any replies, now it's all blown up to 4 pages.

Still can't think of anything to say.


Tom, you and AGD have been an awesome company, have always approached things from a logical perspective, and have had a good and honorable reputation, both as a company and a person. I hope Dave can fill your shoes as a replacement.

Your approach to paintball innovation has been nothing short of spectacular, and I regret never making a serious attempt at meeting you. Your methods of designing paintball gear echoes what I look for, quality, dependability, and simplicity of design.

[soaklord]

Thank You Tom

For all you have done for the industry. You have brought engineering to an industry that is based on hype. You are an inventor and an innovator, I hope your new aspirations make good use of these skills. Also, thank you for bringing me out of the hype and forcing me to use the scientific method when thinking about my purchases and pursuit of equipment. You saved me quite a few dollars and embarrassing moments. One of my favorite quotes (Pardon me if I paraphrase) "You finally get it to work and they ask for it in a different color." Please don't fade into obscurity, at least enjoy the passion you help raise from infancy from time to time. While I don't have any right to demand anything from you, don't abandon the child you helped to bring into the world. While it is going through some very difficult teen years right now, when it does finally mature, you need to be there for the acknowledgement of wisdom and love. You will be sorely missed. Your sanity was always refreshing. May you impact your next passion as heavily as you did this one and not lose sight of another quote you gave (Don't pursue paintball because it is paintball, pursue something because you love doing it.)