William Darrell "Billy" Mays, Jr., the most famous television advertisement pitchman, will be remembered for pitching Oxi Clean, Orange Glo, and numerous other cleaning, and maintenance products. His distinctive beard and unique persona produced one of the most recognized television presences in the United States.
Mays was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, on July 20, 1958. He would go on to attend Sto-Rox High School, while living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He dropped out of West Virginia University. Billy Mays began working with his father's hazardous waste company. He then moved to Atlantic City in 1983.
Billy Mays's move to Atlantic City introduced him to his future career...pitchman. Billy started pitching products such as Washamatik. Washmatik is a portable cleaning device. He "pitched" to anyone who would listen or could be drawn into listening. Soon, the world would realize that Billy Mays had found his calling.
Pitchmen must be able to draw people to them, interest them, and make the sale. Billy Mays learned how to sell from other Atlantic City pitchmen. Billy listened to every word. The skills learned in Atlantic City would become the launchpad for Billy Mays's career. Leaving Atlantic City, he traveled from home shows, to automobile shows, to state fairs throughout the country.
In 1993, Bill Mays became friends with Max Appel. Max Appel was another pitchman with whom Billy had cultivated a rivalry. Appel had moved from pitchman to entrepeneur by founding Orange Glo International. Max Appel realized the greatness that was Billy Mays. He hired Billy to pitch his line of cleaners on the Home Shopping Network. Billy moved to St Petersburg, Florida to pitch products such as OxiClean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom.
Billy Mays soon achieved the rank of entrepeneur. Mays Promotions, Inc. was founded by Billy Mays. He served as the company's Chief Operating Officer (CEO). His Odessa, Florida home was the company's first headquarters. Success would not elude him. Companies and inventors fought over the chance to have their products sold by the world's greatest pitchman.
In 2009, Billy Mays became a TV superstar. Discovery Channel began airing "Pitchmen". Pitchmen took viewers behind the scenes of TV infomercials. Viewers were able to watch inventors pitch their products to Billy Mays and his partner Anthony Sullivan. See which products they picked up and see how an infomercial is produced.
No one gets out of life alive. Billy Mays expiration came on June 28, 2009. His wife found him unresponsive in bed. Early reports seemed to indicate a head injury from a very turbulent flight. Overhead bins had opened and released various items onto Billy Mays's head. Autopsy would not find any head trauma. It would indicate Mays had died of a massive heart attack.
Hillsborough County medical examiner Dr. Vernard Adams performed Billy Mays's autopsy. He announced that Billy's death had been caused by hypertensive heart disease. Indicating, the most likely cause of death was a heart attack.
Billy Mays was a pitchman to the end. At his funeral in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, Billy Mays was buried in a shirt bearing the OxiClean logo. His career was seen throughout the service. Pallbearers wore khaki pants and blue shirts, just as Billy had during his commercials.
Mays was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, on July 20, 1958. He would go on to attend Sto-Rox High School, while living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He dropped out of West Virginia University. Billy Mays began working with his father's hazardous waste company. He then moved to Atlantic City in 1983.
Billy Mays's move to Atlantic City introduced him to his future career...pitchman. Billy started pitching products such as Washamatik. Washmatik is a portable cleaning device. He "pitched" to anyone who would listen or could be drawn into listening. Soon, the world would realize that Billy Mays had found his calling.
Pitchmen must be able to draw people to them, interest them, and make the sale. Billy Mays learned how to sell from other Atlantic City pitchmen. Billy listened to every word. The skills learned in Atlantic City would become the launchpad for Billy Mays's career. Leaving Atlantic City, he traveled from home shows, to automobile shows, to state fairs throughout the country.
In 1993, Bill Mays became friends with Max Appel. Max Appel was another pitchman with whom Billy had cultivated a rivalry. Appel had moved from pitchman to entrepeneur by founding Orange Glo International. Max Appel realized the greatness that was Billy Mays. He hired Billy to pitch his line of cleaners on the Home Shopping Network. Billy moved to St Petersburg, Florida to pitch products such as OxiClean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom.
Billy Mays soon achieved the rank of entrepeneur. Mays Promotions, Inc. was founded by Billy Mays. He served as the company's Chief Operating Officer (CEO). His Odessa, Florida home was the company's first headquarters. Success would not elude him. Companies and inventors fought over the chance to have their products sold by the world's greatest pitchman.
In 2009, Billy Mays became a TV superstar. Discovery Channel began airing "Pitchmen". Pitchmen took viewers behind the scenes of TV infomercials. Viewers were able to watch inventors pitch their products to Billy Mays and his partner Anthony Sullivan. See which products they picked up and see how an infomercial is produced.
No one gets out of life alive. Billy Mays expiration came on June 28, 2009. His wife found him unresponsive in bed. Early reports seemed to indicate a head injury from a very turbulent flight. Overhead bins had opened and released various items onto Billy Mays's head. Autopsy would not find any head trauma. It would indicate Mays had died of a massive heart attack.
Hillsborough County medical examiner Dr. Vernard Adams performed Billy Mays's autopsy. He announced that Billy's death had been caused by hypertensive heart disease. Indicating, the most likely cause of death was a heart attack.
Billy Mays was a pitchman to the end. At his funeral in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, Billy Mays was buried in a shirt bearing the OxiClean logo. His career was seen throughout the service. Pallbearers wore khaki pants and blue shirts, just as Billy had during his commercials.
About the Author:
Are you a fan of late night TV? Or a fan of celebrities? Jim's Celebrity Newss is dedicated to all things celebrity. Whether reporting the world's greatest pitchman Billy Mays, Tom Cruise, or Brittany Spears, you can count on great gossip.
0 comments
Post a Comment