To honor the memory of McCoy's Building Supply founder Emmett McCoy, a public memorial service and reception will be held at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Veramendi Ballroom of the San Marcos Conference Center, 1001 E. McCarty Lane.

Organizers are expecting about 3,000 people to attend the service, which will include the playing of taps and remembrances by family members and others.

Organizers said the service, which is open to the public, will be a very personal one. McCoy's stores will not be closed for the event.

McCoy, 88, died Jan. 7. He founded McCoy Supply Co. in the 1950s, later changing the name to McCoy's Building Supply. He and his wife, Miriam, moved to San Marcos in 1972, making it their adopted hometown.

The business started small, but at the time of McCoy's retirement in 1997, the company had grown to more than 90 locations with sales of more than $400 million, according to information provided by the company.

McCoy's is one now of the largest family-owned businesses in the industry.

Members of what the company refers to as its "30-plus club," employees who have been with the company for 30 years or more, will be on hand at the memorial service to act as ushers and honorary pallbearers.

Parking at the conference center is limited.

To accommodate the expected crowd, additional parking and shuttles will be available beginning at noon at Stone Creek Crossing, behind Sonic Drive-In and Panda Express and South of Beall's Department Store.

In lieu of flowers, the McCoy family requests that memorials be made to the Hays-Caldwell Women's Center or the McCoy College of Business Foundation at Texas State University.

For more details, visit the company's website.