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Billy Mays

By: Robert A. Hahn (Diary)  |  June 30th, 2009 at 11:14 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Salesman, entrepreneur, capitalist

There will be no tribute to Billy Mays today at the American Enterprise Institute. He won’t be on the cover of Newsweek with a halo on his head. The Wall Street Journal gave him barely a mention.

We need to do better. If we who celebrate free enterprise, capitalism, and The American Dream will not pay attention to his passing, why should we expect anyone to admire his achievements? Why would any young person want to emulate him?

Billy Mays started out hawking a washer-in-a-bucket on the Atlantic City boardwalk. He was a shameless pitchman, became an entrepreneur and a capitalist, and died a multimillionaire… all on the back of his skill as a salesman. Is there anything more quintessentially capitalist than that? Does anyone’s life better represent the promise of free enterprise? Does Billy Mays not belong in the American Dream Hall of Fame?

We’re told daily that “the free market has failed.” Instead of having people like Billy Mays on its cover, Newsweek tells the public “We’re All Socialists Now.” To read the newspapers in this country, virtue resides in government; the private sector is composed entirely of thieves and bandits. On Sunday, Senator Lindsey Graham — the new John McCain — explained that young people today are just not listening to Republicans. Why should they? Does anything good ever come of Republican principles? And if so, when are we going to hear about it?

I’m hoping that when Billy got to the Pearly Gates, Saint Peter told him, “But wait! There’s more!”

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COMMENTS

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  • blooch

    It would be a done deal already.

    My kids didn’t know who Michael Jackson was, and were disturbed by Jackson’s appearance in the recent barrage of videos and photos. When he saw the “Thriller” video, my 5-year-old asked, “Is that what he looks like when he’s dead?”. Needles sto say, there will be no photos of Billy Mays hanging his baby over a balcony.

    If there’s a pitchman heaven, Steve Irwin and Billy Mays are busy teaming up for one great presentation, but I’m already sold.

    Billy Mays, because of you, my carpets survived three toddlers.

    • Alberta

      2. I believe the answer is at least 2.

      • Wing Zero

        I was more upset this whole week over Billy Mays dying than M. Jackson. I thought about how Mays actually did something worth wile in the last 10 years.

        I’m sorry for Jackson’s kids, but honestly, I’m more sorry for Billy Mays 3 year old daughter. There was so much he could teach and offer her.

        • Caleb
    • mom2oneson

      That is what I say..we needed McCain to sell life under him.

  • zeebeach

    He was the quintessential capitalist. As the daughter of an amazing salesman, I truly appreciate this. Though I am personally not gifted at sales, I definitely appreciate those who are. It is a path to riches, limited only by one’s ambition.

  • http://impudent.blognation.us/blog kyle8

    you are right, he was a real American success story. Only he did it by offering good products that people wanted, not shaking down businessmen in poor neighborhoods in Chicago.

  • gotteeth

    My thoughts and prayers to the Mays family.

    Because of the Pitchmen show I came to see this guy as funny, human, genuine. I used to mute the channel when his commercials were on, my seven year old would look at me and say ” Dad, he has something important to say, that’s why he yelling. I want to hear what he has to say…please!” How could I resist :)

    So…Billy Mays became a part of our house by accident and his show helped to share his very human side with the viewer (and my son and I).

    He was fun…and will be missed.

    God Speed Billy!

  • Raven

    Didn’t recognize the name till I saw his picture in this one.

    He was a very good salesman and I can’t think of any garbage that he hawked. Always stuff that worked.

  • LibRick

    at what he did. He embodied the American entrepreneurial spirit. Billy, along with Ron Popeil, also achieved the status of American pop culture icon.

    He sold me on Oxy-Clean some years back …. the only TV product that I have ever purchased. It didn’t work like his infomercial but was still ok and not a rip-off — An amazing salesman, RIP!

  • mom2oneson

    do well even when the economy goes down..air time is less expensive.

  • The_Gadfly

    but he had a certain pizaazz that made them better than most. I wasn’t likely to buy most of the stuff he pitched, but I figured most of them would actually perform as advertised. I may have bought something from a store now and then after his commercials had made the products viable for brick and mortar stores. But he certainly is an American success story, and it would be nice if some of the MSM business newsies did profiles/short histories of what he did in life. And I certainly don’t begrudge him the money beyond $250,000/year he made.

    I pray that God will be with his family in their time of need. I would always wish Billie the best but never worry about him–right now he is probably pitching Oxi-Clean to the angels to help them keep their wings white.

  • blooch
  • OneCleverCookie

    is a direct example of someone adapting, overcoming, and prospering in the greatest nation the world.

  • 6eorge Jetson

    nt

  • Tbone

    The ability of the individual to rise above the government scum is increasingly difficult. I would say the country would be far safer in the hands of the Billy Mays than in the hands of King Barry the Dictator in Waiting.

  • Cheryl

    We need to read/hear more success stories that this, thank you.

  • http://www.obandcompany.com daezy

    He was a true entrepreneur, and the epitome of the American dream …. Success! I did have to mute him, but respected the fact that he sold products that worked, and that he was very comfortable in his shoes.

    Because of his strong presence, and that wonderful smile, he will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

  • mom2oneson

    Love Ron Popeil..his story is awesome too!!!!!!

  • http://www.scottbomb.com scottbomb

    When I first saw Billy Mays, I couldn’t ignore his commercials no matter how hard I tried. Sure, he was loud and enthusiastic, but not in an offending way. From what I understand, he never pitched an item he didn’t truely believe in and that is key in being a good salesman. And as a professional salesman myself, I find Billy Mays to be inspirational.

  • Next93

    Celebrities usually die in three’s (Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson), but leave it to Billy give us AN EXTRA CELEBRITY, FOR FREEEEEE!

    RIP Billy. You annoyed the daylights out of me, but you were certainly good at what you did.