ETO Spotlight: Ace McNeely

By Erica Guagliardi:

Although there has only been one other ETO spotlight to date, Ty’s vision for the segment is clear: to illuminate the depth in the people around us, and to celebrate the spirit of those who staunchly avoid stagnancy by escaping the ordinary in their lives—whether the ordinary is defined by touring nine months out of the year, bartending seven nights a week, or inhabiting a cubicle for eight hours a day.

Since this is such a new segment, it may seem odd that I’m straying from the original concept, and even odder that I’m writing at all, but I firmly believe that this week calls for a variance.

On Monday, August 9, after a fall from a cliff in Austin, TX, we lost a man who set a very high standard in, among other things, sincerity, talent, energy, and warmth. Thirty-year-old Ryan “Ace” McNeely was arguably best known for being a multifaceted musician and sound engineer, who began playing music around the same time he entered kindergarten. Ace continued to influence and shape all music he touched throughout his life, whether it be through producing, running sound for, or playing in bands. He additionally worked to instill musical prowess in kids through teaching music theory, guitar, bass, and drums at Zounds Sounds in Dallas.

Ace was one of the few people whose talents were as captivating as his presence. Monday night at City Tavern in Dallas, a bar where Ace could often be found working or socializing or playing, the crowd that gathered to mourn and reminisce further established his dynamic character. Stories of his humor and compassion poured out through bouts of laughter and sobs, and people continue to speak of his impact through his facebook page, as well as in the comments section of the Dallas Observer article concerning his death.

Many stories of Ace’s generous nature have been shared over the past few days, but his efforts to make everyone comfortable may be best illustrated through his last act of selflessness, the donation of his kidneys, which has given hope to an eight-year-old child and a forty-year-old woman.

Funeral services will be held in both Houston and Austin before Ace is cremated, and a benefit for his surviving family members will be held this on Saturday, August 14th at 9 pm.  More information on the benefit is available HERE.