Funeral services have been announced for James Robert Belcher of Magnolia, Texas, who passed away on November 4, 2024, after a work site incident in Grovetown, Texas.
Belcher, 38, was a tower technician supervisor employed by MasTec Network Solutions. According to Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace, his office received a call for a welfare check on November 5 when Belcher did not return home, approximately 100 miles from the Crown Castle 500-foot guyed tower he was working on. Officers found him diseased on top of an eight-foot-high support platform.
The project was reportedly not a MasTec AT&T turf assignment.
Immediately following the fatality, American Tower Corp. mandated that MasTec discontinue all work on their sites, according to Wireless Estimator sources. It is unknown whether Crown Castle has also put restrictions in place after it was identified that Belcher was working alone.
OSHA is investigating the fatality.
Belcher was a seasoned tower technician who entered the profession around 2010. According to his Facebook page, MasTec hired him in July 2021.
Viewing and visitation will be held Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Magnolia Funeral Home, 811 South Magnolia Blvd., Magnolia, TX. A funeral service will then follow at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m.
A burial will follow at Goodson Cemetery, 2714 Goodson Loop, Pinehurst, TX.
James’s wife, Ashley, and he have three young children, two girls and a boy.
The Tower Family Foundation has contacted Ashley to assist since James was the family’s main source of income.
In addition, donations can be made to Meal Train. Currently, the family will receive $2,640 towards a $5,000 goal.
Belcher was the industry’s second fatality this year.