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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
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12

Billy Mays, 'Hendrix' of Pitchmen, Is Buried

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(Newser) – TV pitchman Billy Mays was laid to rest today in his hardscrabble hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa., the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Friends described his determined rise from the mill town to the malls of New Jersey to the hallowed heights of the Home Shopping Network. “If there was a Jimi Hendrix of the guitar, there was a Billy Mays of the pitchmen,” a colleague said.

Mays’ iconoclastic style and booming voice were fondly remembered. A rival recalled a what-not-to-do training video. “They showed Billy Mays,” he said. “They actually used that at QVC.” All agreed he was a consummate professional who lived for his job. “He was there—he was a pitchman at heart,” said a worker on Mays’ Discovery Channel show. “He was on, never off.”

Pallbearers carry the coffin of television pitchman Billy Mays.
Pallbearers carry the coffin of television pitchman Billy Mays.   (AP Photo)
A pallbearer kisses Mays' casket.
A pallbearer kisses Mays' casket.   (AP Photo)
Pallbearers wearing Mays' uniform of blue shirts and khakis carry his coffin from the church in Mays' hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa.
Pallbearers wearing Mays' uniform of blue shirts and khakis carry his coffin from the church in Mays' hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa.   (AP Photo)
TV pitchman Billy Mays.
TV pitchman Billy Mays.   (AP Photo)
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He totally shut down the business when it happened. Pitchmen are always talking. The morning Billy died, he rendered that business speechless.

- Jerry Spanola, fellow pitchman

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12 comments
VIEWING:
 
Caps
Jul 3, 09 2:39 PM CDT
Why can't they put MJ away in due time, instead of wating l-1/2 weeks. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
embersyc
Jul 3, 09 2:55 PM CDT
GTFO, this is Billy's thread. VIVA LA BILLY!
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+3
Reader64481089
Jul 3, 09 3:19 PM CDT
One last time, RIP Billy Mays. You in your own way reached the top of your profession and were amazing to watch at work. RIP Reply
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+4
Newser001
Jul 3, 09 3:24 PM CDT
BYE, BILLY ! RIP. BTW, YOU WEREN'T A HENDRIX IN THE GENRE OF PITCHMEN - MADOFF TAKES THE PRIZE. Reply
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+3
Timinator2K
Jul 3, 09 4:35 PM CDT
You could tell Billy LOVED his work, not many of us can say that. And, OxyClean actually works GREAT! Thanks, Billy, see you on the flip side! Reply
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+4

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