During the Great Depression, Felix moved to Chicago with his family when his father found work as a tailor. His high school teachers described him as a “candid camera addict”. After attaining his license as an amateur radio operator, he enjoyed speaking with friends across the country on his ham radio, under the call letters W9MRK.
Felix was drafted into WWII and immediately showcased his camera skills at the Army Air Force First Motion Picture Unit (FMPU). The Army Air Corp was stationed in Culver City, CA, where he served under commanding officer and future President Ronald Wilson Reagan for three-months. Throughout this time, he filmed hundreds of impactful training videos for the war effort, and worked alongside famous actors, such as: Clark Gable, George Montgomery, Alan Ladd, Arthur Kennedy, Pat McVeigh, Douglas Scott, as well as several additional Hollywood staples.
Felix played a pivotal role in “Project 152” during the war; the FMPU was the primary film production unit of the US Army Air Forces (USAAF). For this project, he filmed a realistic topography of Hiroshima, as well as other vital Japanese targets. Not only did his target area model films aid fliers before missions, but they also offered a since of relief for the viewers through a recognizable entertaining style. Army General Henry H. Arnold declared the military project as “the most successful of [WWII] or any other war” up to that point in history.
After the war, Felix returned to Chicago to work as a photographer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Then, he became the youngest of three original newsreel cameramen hired by WGN-TV at the Daily News Building. On two separate occasions, he was shot at while covering “marches, fires, murders, wrecks, riots, presidents, queens, kings, and press conferences”.
In 1949, he met his wife of 68 years, Cathy Gregorich; they married two-years later on June 1, 1951. Out of all of his passions, none could compete with the love of his life.
Thirty-three years later, Felix took an early retirement from WGN-TV, in which he thoroughly delved into his most enjoyable hobbies, such as: collecting coins, beer cans, stamps, and gardening, but most of all – spending time with his beloved wife, Cathy.
Felix’s beautiful life will forever be cherished by his three children: Gregory (Greg) Felix Kubik of Jackson, MO; Gerald (Gerry) Felix Kubik, wife Mary, of Lemont, IL; and Donna O’Boyle, husband Tom, of Schaumburg, IL; eight grandchildren: Cynthia (Cyndi) Kubik, Brenton (Brent) Felix Kubik, Roberta (Robbi) Kubik, Andrew Kubik, David Kubik, Michelle O’Boyle, Lynn Anna O’Boyle, and Matthew (Matt) Thomas O’Boyle; as well as three great grandchildren Juniper, Shelby and August.
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