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.
Billy Mays Jr. began his journey on July 20, 1958. He was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. His high school years were spent at Sto-Rox High School. Billy May attended college at West Virginia University. He was not destined to be a college graduate. Billy Mays dropped out to work for his father. His father owned a hazardous waste company. In 1983, Billy moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey to start the next chapter of his life.
Atlantic City began Billy Mays down the career that would make him famous...pitchman. He started pitching products to anyone that passed by. Early on, Billy Mays pitched a variety of cleaning products including Washamatik a portable cleaning device. He would move on to pitch "As Seen On TV" products.
Billy Mays learned from the best. Billy learned to sell from some of Atlantic City's greatest pitchmen. Once again, he was destined to make a change. Billy Mays took his pitches on the road. He would spend the next 12 years traveling across the country. He would sell products at automobile shows, home shows, and state fairs.
1993 would open the next chapter of Billy Mays's career. He was attending a home show in Pittsburgh when he met Max Appel. Max Appel was a rival pitchman who had founded Orange Glo International. Appel would hire Billy Mays to promote the company's products. This brought Billy Mays and products such as OxiClean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom on the Home Shopping Network.
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.
Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan increased their own personal brands by filming "Pitchmen". Pitchmen is a Discovery Channel reality show that allows viewers a behind the scenes look at infomercials. Viewers follow Billy and "Sully" through pitch sessions where they review new inventions, watch as they chose products to sell, and filmed the infomercial.
Billy Mays's wife found him unresponsive on June 28, 2009. Initially, it was thought that he may have suffered a head injury. The day before, he had been on a very turbulent flight. The overhead bin had opened and items fell onto him. Later announcements would state that Billy 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.
Billy Mays Jr. began his journey on July 20, 1958. He was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. His high school years were spent at Sto-Rox High School. Billy May attended college at West Virginia University. He was not destined to be a college graduate. Billy Mays dropped out to work for his father. His father owned a hazardous waste company. In 1983, Billy moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey to start the next chapter of his life.
Atlantic City began Billy Mays down the career that would make him famous...pitchman. He started pitching products to anyone that passed by. Early on, Billy Mays pitched a variety of cleaning products including Washamatik a portable cleaning device. He would move on to pitch "As Seen On TV" products.
Billy Mays learned from the best. Billy learned to sell from some of Atlantic City's greatest pitchmen. Once again, he was destined to make a change. Billy Mays took his pitches on the road. He would spend the next 12 years traveling across the country. He would sell products at automobile shows, home shows, and state fairs.
1993 would open the next chapter of Billy Mays's career. He was attending a home show in Pittsburgh when he met Max Appel. Max Appel was a rival pitchman who had founded Orange Glo International. Appel would hire Billy Mays to promote the company's products. This brought Billy Mays and products such as OxiClean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom on the Home Shopping Network.
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.
Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan increased their own personal brands by filming "Pitchmen". Pitchmen is a Discovery Channel reality show that allows viewers a behind the scenes look at infomercials. Viewers follow Billy and "Sully" through pitch sessions where they review new inventions, watch as they chose products to sell, and filmed the infomercial.
Billy Mays's wife found him unresponsive on June 28, 2009. Initially, it was thought that he may have suffered a head injury. The day before, he had been on a very turbulent flight. The overhead bin had opened and items fell onto him. Later announcements would state that Billy 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.
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