Porter Hurt Jr Obituary
Porter Arthur Hurt, Jr. arrived for his first tee time on the Lord"s Course in Heaven on May 24, 2017. He was born November 1, 1940 to Porter Hurt, Sr. and Margaret (nee James) in Baltimore, MD, but lived most of his life in California. He had a love for anything fast; racing boats, cars, motorcycles and airplanes. He also loved playing poker, but his true passion in life was golf.
He entered the United States Marine Corps. in 1960 and was honorably discharged in 1966. He served as an Anti-Aircraft Batteryman, attached to the 1st LAAM (Light Anti-Aircraft Missile) Battalion "Charlie" Battery in Twenty-nine Palms, CA. After his discharge, he worked in the construction industry as a sheet rock hanger in San Jose, CA.
He then went to work for a major Silicon Valley electronics distributor as a stock boy, and within 3 years was the General Sales Manager of the company. His entrepreneurial spirit soon drove him to start his own electronics company out of his kitchen. That company soon grew to 3 successful electronics companies in Silicon Valley, PH Components, Testology and Actrix.
Actrix developed and marketed the first fully integrated PC and printer, complete with modem. The invention of the Actrix Portable PC led to an appearance on Good Morning America in 1982 where he demonstrated the Actrix on national TV. The Wall Street Journal also did a front page profile of him on October 25, 1983.
When Silicon Valley suffered a major setback in the mid 80"s, his entrepreneurial spirit was fired up yet again. He opened up a chain of successful 50's/60's nightclubs in the San Francisco Bay area called Sh Boom. The first club was located in Cupertino, a short distance from the Apple Computer campus and Apple's two co-founders were occasional patrons.
After 15 years in the business, he decided to retire and pursue his real passion, golf. In 2002, he moved to Litchfield Park, AZ and joined the Wigwam Golf Club, where he played an average of 4 times a week. In 2008, he embarked on yet another business venture. He and his wife started H & C Properties, a rental and house flipping business.
That company is still in business today. He is survived by his soul mate and wife of 30 years, Robin; daughters Stacey Votta (Alan) of Portland, OR, Shelley Hurt of San Luis Obispo, CA, son Brian Hurt of San Jose, CA, step-daughter Cheyenne Cook of Litchfield Park, AZ, sisters SueEllen James and Kathy Hurt, 3 grandchildren and 2 great- grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robin Hurt. Services have been held. Memorials may be sent to St. Jude"s Children"s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.
