The Rev. Raymond "Lucky LeRoy" Marvel (1924-2004)
You know, this guy is a part of Southern Illinois history. I remember coming
home from school and turning on WSIL channel 3 on the black and white TV,
and there he was.. I think he was on just before Cactus Pete and the Funny
Company.
I can't remember if he was on every day or just once a week or what, but I do
remember Lucky LeRoy and his show. It was just him and his guitar. He would
stand there and perform old songs by Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline,
and too many more to name. It was great. I was about 6 or 8 years old at the time
and I thought Lucky LeRoy was a big star.
One of the most memorable things about LeRoy and what made him quite a
"character" were his sayings. One was something like, "Don't touch that dial or
I'll come out there and wop you upside the head with a wet squirrel." Another one
was at the end of the show. Something like, "I'll see you all next time. Until then
we'll bawl and squall, run up and down the wall, and holler good evening You
all." I have no idea where he came up with that. It surely was an original.
Another thing I remember was one evening my dad, my sister and I were at the
Farm Fresh store in Mt. Vernon. We went to check out and Lucky LeRoy was in
line in front of us. Both of us kids had a bag of sunflower seeds. LeRoy looked
down at us, smiled and said, "You know, If you eat too many of those, you'll turn
into squirrels."
I also talked my mom into taking me to hear him preach one night over by Mt.
Vernon. I wasn't really wanting to hear a sermon that bad, but I did want to see
Lucky LeRoy in person. I remember he sang, "Green Grass of Home". He had
changed the words a little to transform it into an inspirational song.
Lucky LeRoy was also a radio personality on WMIX, a Baptist Minister, and a U.S.
Army Veteran. He served for 1941 to 1945 and received two Bronze Stars and a
Purple Heart.
I'm a musician, and there are a few people I have to thank for influencing me to
become one. Lucky LeRoy was one of those.
So Long, Lucky LeRoy
home from school and turning on WSIL channel 3 on the black and white TV,
and there he was.. I think he was on just before Cactus Pete and the Funny
Company.
I can't remember if he was on every day or just once a week or what, but I do
remember Lucky LeRoy and his show. It was just him and his guitar. He would
stand there and perform old songs by Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline,
and too many more to name. It was great. I was about 6 or 8 years old at the time
and I thought Lucky LeRoy was a big star.
One of the most memorable things about LeRoy and what made him quite a
"character" were his sayings. One was something like, "Don't touch that dial or
I'll come out there and wop you upside the head with a wet squirrel." Another one
was at the end of the show. Something like, "I'll see you all next time. Until then
we'll bawl and squall, run up and down the wall, and holler good evening You
all." I have no idea where he came up with that. It surely was an original.
Another thing I remember was one evening my dad, my sister and I were at the
Farm Fresh store in Mt. Vernon. We went to check out and Lucky LeRoy was in
line in front of us. Both of us kids had a bag of sunflower seeds. LeRoy looked
down at us, smiled and said, "You know, If you eat too many of those, you'll turn
into squirrels."
I also talked my mom into taking me to hear him preach one night over by Mt.
Vernon. I wasn't really wanting to hear a sermon that bad, but I did want to see
Lucky LeRoy in person. I remember he sang, "Green Grass of Home". He had
changed the words a little to transform it into an inspirational song.
Lucky LeRoy was also a radio personality on WMIX, a Baptist Minister, and a U.S.
Army Veteran. He served for 1941 to 1945 and received two Bronze Stars and a
Purple Heart.
I'm a musician, and there are a few people I have to thank for influencing me to
become one. Lucky LeRoy was one of those.
So Long, Lucky LeRoy
Written by Dale
Bruce
Bruce
