Tom Kaye Retires from Paintball, AGD Under New Management

[beam]

Sad.

I remember getting so pumped for the first AO party. I drove into work for the highspeed connection, brought a bag of microwave popcorn, and a 2 liter of Mt. Dew. And then it got canceled because of technical difficulties.

I remember how much I loved to read the technical posts about paintball physics and debunking myths.

I used to tell everyone about AO. About the President of this awesome paintball company who was into archaeology, astronomy, etc. who would actually get on the forums and discuss new products and performance.

Sad to see you retire, Tom. Good luck in future endeavors.

/salute

[BreakoutPBJon]

As a dealer of AGD product and host of 2004's AO Norcal Socal Meet, myself and everyone at Breakout Paintball Central Cali wishes Tom the best of luck on his new ventures. I will always hold a special place in my heart for Mag's and the sheer muscle design of them. Being a dealer and seeing the fall of Automag's over time has sadened me and i hoped never for this day.

Happy Trails!

Jon - Breakout Operations Manager

[FSU_Paintball]

Good luck to you in the future, and in all your future ventures. We all appreciate what you've done for us and the sport, and we'll miss you

[SlipknotX556]

Damn Tom, sorry to hear this. Best of luck with whatever you may start doing. You will be missed.

[Fritz1970]

A Titan walks away . . .

Tom:

First time I've been back to AO in several months, and I see this. I feel as if I am watching a Titan stride out of view, taking the last vestiges of magic from our world.

Tom, you should know that there are many, many people who do not belong to AO or post, but who know who you are, what you look like, what you did for us as players and the sport as a whole, and who admire your character as well as your accomplishments. The flurry of agg cheater kidz may obscure the camo-clad host of us who remember, but we will be here, teaching others the sport and the sportsmanship that you forged.

Your titanic contributions may seem small to you, but to us mortals they are monumental. I submit that your contributions appear small to you because of your stature, not because of their worth.

Everything changes, including paintball. We must all accept that the time of legends in our sport is passing. Tom, please know that we will not forget, and that you have been a primary engine behind the creation of a rec and scenario ball community that will continue to flourish.

I cannot predict much else of what is to come, but I can make thse predictions:

I, my friends and many others will make Shatnerball a record event this year.
We will all stand in line to shake your hand and thank you for all you have done.
We will feel honored to do so.

May you find all the happiness and fulfillment that you have so justly earned.

Fritz1970,
(on my own behalf and at the direction of many East Coast old guard paintballers)

[scribe]

you're a good guy tom.

good luck in whatever you do.

[Carbon Blue]

*faints*

[kevdupuis]

I wanted to let all of you know that I will also be leaving Airgun Designs; my last day will be Friday, December 17. I began working for Tom in March 1991 so it's going to be strange not to come to work at Airgun anymore. But the time has come to move on ....

I want to thank all of you for your support of Tom and Airgun Designs. You're a great group of people. I hope that you will continue your support because the group of people who will continue to work here (Dave, Marcia, Jon, and Roman) are hard-working, talented people who care very much about the company, the products, and company service. It doesn't get any better than that!

Take care,

JoAnn

Sorry to see you leaving also, Deb and I'll miss talking to you on the phone.

BTW, where do we send the chocolates.

[Magaman]

Maybe, maybe not. You have to understand how hard it is to come back as an unknown. You all know me but in a couple months I will be invisible to 99% of the paintball world. Thats just the way it is.
AGD

Not if we have anything to say about it...

[MonsterMag]

Well I have a few things I want to say...

About 2 years I started playing paintball. My first marker was stock tippmann. I played on and off with it for about 1 year, then my birthday came and I had a paintball party my friend (dj89) let me use his xmag sence it was my bday , I LOVED it, I could go with out one. So I saved up my money and got a emag. I feel that it is the best marker I ever owned or will own. It is so fast and so sleek. All of my happyness was from you.
Tom Kaye , you are one of the coolest people I know , even though I have neve had the opertunity to meet you in person.


Here is a article I wrote for the teamwebsite

http://www.freewebs.com/teammagfiea/index.htm

Dear Tom ,
You have created many MAGnificent paintball markers over the years. You have brought out some of the best markers in our lifetime and we thank you for that. We are sad to see you move on , but also happy for you and hope you enjoy what ever you deside to do from here on out. Tom , we will always miss you and when we are playing paintball with our automags we will think of only one name.....Tom Kaye

Team Magfiea


Thanks again Tom

[C_22]

Best of luck Tom!

Being the great person you are, I'm positive you'll do great in any adventrue you embark. Drop by from time to time to say hi

Saludos desde Mex, Tom!!

[The Frymarker]

Tom,




I sent you a personal email and I am going to post here as well.



I'm very sad to see you go. You were the whole reason I stayed and continued on with making my grips. The first grips I made were on here for your markers. Since that time I have found a place to call home.

I hope you keep the grips and the artwork I have made for you as I will hold dearly my Tac and soon my Emag.

I'm glad that I kept that original drawing of you that we used for the posters. I have it hanging up on my wall and I look at it everyday as I am making grips for customers that are both yours and mine alike.

You have been an inspiration for me and your ideas and visions are something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. So even though you say you will be invisable, your not in my world.

I'll think about you, infact your in my grips on my tac one....they're just not finished yet.


I'm glad that I had the pleasure of meeting you at Shatnerball and sharing the stage with you for a while.


I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, think about us here on AO every once in a while, as I know we will be thinking of you.

LEGENDS NEVER FADE, and you Tom are a legend!

Heather

[markoger]

LEGENDS NEVER FADE, and you Tom are a legend!

Heather

Well said....

[_tMAN]

It's not official, paintball has died, only leaving a cold, souless, skeleton in its wake

good by Mr. Kaye, thanks for making paintball what it is. You are truly the founder of the game!



One last happy banana for the road

[Scott Hudnall]

I am very saddened with your leaving, Mr Kaye. You are a giant among boys in the paintball world. Best of luck in the future. Please stick around and keep us all informed as to what's going on. Thanks a million!!!