Son of Emily Elizabeth Culp and Marshall Homer Cox, Marshall was born October 8, 1935 in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from UCLA in 1957 and studied business at USC.
After his proud military service, he started his career as a salesman at Sanford Process, a chemical company, but he recognized the potential in the burgeoning electronics industry and began his adventures in high tech when he joined Fairchild Semiconductor in the 1960s. He left Fairchild in 1972 and in 1973 he founded and served as President of Intersil, a semiconductor company at the cutting edge of the memory chip market. He played a major role in facilitating collaboration between America and Japan in the semiconductor industry.
In 1977 Marshall retired from Intersil and founded Western Microtechnology the same year—which soon became America’s fastest growing distributor of electronic components and systems. He retired from Western Micro after 19 years in 1997.
Marshall eventually left Silicon Valley and returned to his Southern California roots. Over the next 20 years, he served at many companies as an officer and co-founded numerous corporations in the medical technology and electronic components industries.
Though a busy businessman, he took time also to be an active father. He coached little league and loved being “Big Eagle” in the YMCA programs of Indian Guides and Indian Princesses when his kids were growing up.
His enthusiasm for UCLA, his alma mater, never wavered—and over the years he was a generous supporter of the university. Watching college and professional football gave him a lot of joy—and occasional heartbreak—especially as a Raider fan for life.
The son of an auto mechanic, Marshall loved beautiful automobiles and over the years amassed a large collection of classic British and American cars. As a member of the Candy Store, a well-known classic car organization, he exhibited at car shows throughout the state—and he won numerous best-of-class and best-of-show awards. He was also an avid military history buff and collected American military medals and British Orders.
Marshall traveled extensively for business—establishing affiliate companies in Japan, India, and Germany—and making friends around the world. He had some much-loved spots he returned to again and again for his favorite activities. From boating and waterskiing in Lake Arrowhead and beach volleyball in Hawaii to being the life of the party in Mazatlán, Mexico.
A natural entertainer, he loved music and was an accomplished pianist, playing everything from Beethoven to Fats Domino. In fact, for years, his office desk was a 19th century opera house piano.
He is survived by his wife Donna; his son Marshall; six daughters (Erin, Schelby, Michelle, Courtney, Gina, and Therese); 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces. While we have collectively lost a beloved husband, dad, uncle, and grandpa, many have lost a dear friend. He has been there for so many of us—an advisor, a confidante, a colleague, a playmate, a stand-in paternal figure, and the list goes on.
We invite you all to share memories and photos here on our memorial website. He would want us to reminisce and smile together at this time. Let’s raise a toast to a wonderful man.
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