Royal Marshall, key part of Neal Boortz’s radio team, has passed
Royal Marshall, with his boss Neal Boortz, at the March of Dimes Achievement in Radio Awards in December, 2010. There, Boortz was given a lifetime achievement award. SOURCE: boortz.com
Raymond Royal Marshall, a crucial cog on syndicated talk show host Neal Boortz’s radio team as a sidekick and engineer, has died.
Pete Spriggs, program director for AM750 and now 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB, said he collapsed at his Atlanta home and was pronounced dead at Grady Hospital at about 1 a.m. early Saturday morning.
Assistant Program Director Condace Pressley said it was too soon to pinpoint cause of death. He was 43.
“He was a good man,” she said. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”
Marshall worked with WSB Radio for 17 years, according to the WSB Radio biography for Marshall.
Here’s the print edition story about Marshall that ran in Sunday’s paper.
UPDATE (Monday, January 17, 2010 at 10 a.m.): WSB Radio said Marshall had a fatal heart attack Saturday. His funeral service will be held at Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur Saturday at 11 a.m. It’s open to the public. WSB aired a tribute to Marshall Monday morning. Boortz announced the death of Marshall to his national syndicated network listeners at 10 a.m. Erick Erickson subbed in for Boortz today. Boortz said he will be back on air Tuesday morning live.
A St. Louis native and graduate of the University of Georgia in 1992, he got his start at WSB Radio as a board operator working overnights. Soon after, he joined Boortz as engineer and board operator.
In 1996, he started his own radio talk show called “The Royal Treatment,” which ran for several years, mostly at night.
After his show ended, he continued to work with Boortz, who is heard on hundreds of stations nationwide.
“There are no words available to express my personal sense of loss at the passing of Royal Marshall,” Boortz said in a statement released this morning. “It’s no stretch to say that I loved that man like he was my own brother. Royal had an unmatched sense of humor and a quick mind that made him a natural for radio, and his dedication to his colleagues and friends was only exceeded by his intense dedication to his family. Our program, WSB Radio and the entire Cox family has lost part of its very soul this day.”
“He was always upbeat, always in a good mood,” said Mark Arum, a traffic reporter for WSB Radio for 13 years. “He was always there with a quick line. We were always each other’s sounding board. He was always ready to lend a friendly and understanding ear.”
Rahul Bali, Marshall’s producer from 1998 to 2005, said he watched Marshall mature from happy-go-lucky bachelor to devoted father and community member. “He just grew up,” he said.
Marshall was a deacon at the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur and chair of the national advisory board at Forever Family, a non-profit organization which helps children who have parents who are incarcerated.
Marshall also dabbled in stand-up comedy at the Punchline for a few years. “He had an easy way with people and was very comfortable with the mike,” said Jamie Bendall, who owns the Punchline. “I thought he was a natural.”
WSB Radio announced the sad news at noon today. The station then held a moment of silence on air for Marshall before airing a special hour of Boortz’s show in honor of Marshall afterwards. If you’d like to sign the ajc.com guestbook, here is the link. You can read WSB Radio’s story here.
In that WSB Radio story, executive producer Belinda Skelton said: “For 15 years it’s been ‘Royal and Belinda. My other half is gone. I don’t know if I can sit and look at someone else on the other side of that glass.”
The station did tributes all afternoon. Arum and Clark Howard joined Adam Goldfein to take calls and reminisce.
Marshall is survived by his wife Annette and two daughters, two-year-old Ava and four-year-old Amira.
Marshall performing at the Punchline. SOURCE: Marshall's MySpace page
And here’s a photo of Marshall with his wife Annette from the Clark Howard roast from 2005, from Marshall’s MySpace page:
And WSB passed along this photo of him at a Fair Tax Rally:
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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880 comments Add your comment
barbara leverett
January 15th, 2011
6:49 pm
i enjoyed listing to royal always had something funny to say
Bud7dy
January 15th, 2011
6:49 pm
I feel like I’ve just lost an extremely irritating but devoted friend. I feel especially sad for my secret love, Belinda. Where do we go from here? First, Boo got shot, and now Royal is gone. Just DAMN!
Patricia
January 15th, 2011
6:49 pm
He was a class act.
BJ
January 15th, 2011
6:50 pm
What a classy guy. My heart really goes out to Royal’s wife and kids and family, the Boortz Show family, and WSB
tunch leverett
January 15th, 2011
6:51 pm
in by book royal was a swell guy
Dpcole
January 15th, 2011
6:51 pm
Royal, Neal and Belinda have been a constant part of my day for many years. We will all miss Royal everyday.
fairness for all
January 15th, 2011
6:51 pm
my condolences to the marshall family and to the members of the boortz show… i know from past
experiences that both “families” have experienced a great loss. most of the time your workplace
family experiences as much grief as your biological family… my sympathy goes out to both.
may god bless you all.
Scott
January 15th, 2011
6:53 pm
I just heard Neals commentary on Channel 2 News. I heard his tears and Just Damn mine started too.
Jonathan
January 15th, 2011
6:53 pm
I shed a tear when I read the news. Royal was the key to Boortz’s credibility, but I liked him most because he came across as a real person who happened to be on the radio. What a loss for Atlanta, but what a blessing he was for the time we had him.
Aubrey
January 15th, 2011
6:54 pm
Sad, Very Sad.
mrmik248
January 15th, 2011
6:59 pm
wow just wow Royal Marshal RIP
Alza
January 15th, 2011
7:03 pm
Big big shock!!!!! To quote Royal himself…..”just damn”!!!!!!
Caroline
January 15th, 2011
7:05 pm
Really sad news. My condolences to his wife and daughters and his entire radio family.
Kevin Vaughan
January 15th, 2011
7:08 pm
WOW….my family and personal prayers are with the family….what a shock….a sad day in the State of Georgia!!
GstatePanther
January 15th, 2011
7:10 pm
WOW, I cannot believe it, I listen to the show EVERYDAY, and Royal sounds like such a great guy. The show really will not be the same without him. RIP. Thoughts to his family.
C
January 15th, 2011
7:14 pm
Shocked at this news. May God rest your soul, Royal. Peace and many Blessings to your family. Thank you, Royal! Appreciate the depth and panache you brought to the show …and service to our community.
DawgDad
January 15th, 2011
7:15 pm
Shocking. My condolences to his family and friends. Though I only knew Royal as a radio listener I enjoyed his show and his work with Boortz. Royal was a good man; as such, he will be missed but never forgotten. God bless you, Royal.
CharlieATL
January 15th, 2011
7:19 pm
I am only a listener, but my heart goes out to Neal and Belinda almost as much as it does to Annette, Ava and Amira. I know that Royal’s extended family of Neal and Belinda and the rest of the WSB folks are just crushed with this tragic loss.
One remembrance I have of Royal was a really great exchange that happened a few years ago; I cannot even remember the topic, but Neal and Royal got into it on the air, and there was legitimate debate on whatever the issue was. Royal countered every argument and comment that Neal had, and finally, Neal said something on the order of “Royal! Don’t be (like) a caller!” This endeared and legitimized both Royal and Neal to me because there was significant and open real-time debate, internecine almost, about a controversial issue.
Neal & Belinda, you guys need to get the rest of us through this next week. Somehow.
Tom
January 15th, 2011
7:20 pm
May we all honor Royal by trying to lead lives which might elicit half as much out pouring of love as this. RIP and condolences.
D Moss
January 15th, 2011
7:20 pm
As so many before me has said “just Damn”
Patty
January 15th, 2011
7:25 pm
A real American. Loved by all. God please hold his family close.
MMS
January 15th, 2011
7:28 pm
I am so shocked and saddened by this news. I always loved the sense of humor Royal brought to the NB Show and his great laugh. My thoughts and prayers to his family and his WSB family.
Vic
January 15th, 2011
7:28 pm
At no other time until now has the phrase: “just Damn” been more fitting. I’m going to miss Neal saying (paraphrasing here): “I have the whole team here this morning, Royal, Belinda…” Gosh Royal, we’re going to miss you.
Rusty
January 15th, 2011
7:33 pm
I was really saddened today to learn of the passing of one of radio’s unsung heroes. I have been a fan of the show for many years. I always looked forward to his responses back at Neil’s off the wall or controversial comments. I will certainly miss his laugh — and how he balanced the team of Neil & Belinda. I would have liked to have known him. Condolences go out to the Marshall family and all of the people who were touched by him.
Homeward Bound
January 15th, 2011
7:33 pm
I ‘ve listened to the Boortz show for 20 yrs;Royal has always been the spark that lit Bortz’ flame. I am in tears.
My heart goes out to the entire WSB family, especially his personal family. “God is in control”
Sonny F
January 15th, 2011
7:35 pm
I have been listening to the show for a few years, It will not be the same. May God be with the family and all his friends and colleagues during this most difficult time.
devastated
January 15th, 2011
7:38 pm
CRAZINESS. There are just no words. I am so so sad to hear this news.
Tisha
January 15th, 2011
7:38 pm
I am so sad to hear this; speechless.
Kelly
January 15th, 2011
7:39 pm
I am so saddened by this. His was the first talk show I ever called in… it’s just so sad. He will definitely be missed.
Karen
January 15th, 2011
7:39 pm
I am stunned. We are always caught off guard when someone leaves us so soon. I thought I wasn’t hearing things correctly on the radio. I always enjoyed listening to Royal. He seemed very kind, witty, and rational about things. He was a really classy guy. I’m so sad and offer prayers for the Marshall family and WSB.
LM
January 15th, 2011
7:42 pm
You will be missed, Royal. Rest in Peace.
Royal Marshall, key part of Neal Boortz’s radio team, has passed | Radio & TV Talk « THE LOWE DOWN
January 15th, 2011
7:50 pm
[...] [...]
Beuancha
January 15th, 2011
7:54 pm
I was really shocked when I heard the news of Royal’s passing on the news tonight. I never met him but would listen to him on the Neal Boortz show when driving to or from work in Conyers. Gone too soon, but to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. God bless you and your family with peace.
Get News and Book » Royal Marshall, key part of Neal Boortz’s radio team, has passed – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
January 15th, 2011
7:55 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Patrick Carroll
January 15th, 2011
7:58 pm
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
W.H. Auden
Rusty
January 15th, 2011
8:03 pm
So sorry to hear this. Royal was a bright light that we will all loved and will miss. My prayers are with his family. I am not surpised to hear he was a deacon, and a man of faith in Christ. That is surely a comfort to his family, to think that they will be reunited with him in heaven. That is the best kind of life insurance a man can have!
Tom F
January 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
The news of Royal’s passing is shocking. My prayers go with Annette and his daughters. He will be greatly missed.
Steven L. Wright
January 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
Today is the first time I’ve seen a picture of Royal,but when I herd the news this morning I felt like I lost a friend.
Rectangulus
January 15th, 2011
8:10 pm
Boo got shot. Royal got free at last.
ron ahlstedt
January 15th, 2011
8:12 pm
i loved his voice. he will be missed. i feel really bad for his family
LINDA
January 15th, 2011
8:12 pm
OH MY…WHAT SHOCKING NEWS…..SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON TAKEN WAY TOO SOON….THOUGH I DID NOT KNOW ROYAL PERSONALLY, I HAVE LISTENED TO HIM ON THE BOORTZ SHOW FOR MANY YEARS……AS MANY OTHERS HAVE STATED THE BOORTZ SHOW WILL NO LONGER BE THE SAME….MY HEART FELT CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO ROYAL’S FAMILY, COLLEAGUES, AND LISTENERS…..MAY GOD’S LOVE COMFORT YOUR FAMILY DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT AND SAD TIME. GOD BLESS YOUR WIFE AND BABIES….
Chris Barnett
January 15th, 2011
8:17 pm
I remember hearing this and I had this horrible feeling go all through my body… I used to like listening to him on the Neal Boortz show and I can tell you he will be greatly missed!
Harold "HWALL" Wallace
January 15th, 2011
8:18 pm
ROYALTY,
Royal and I go back to 1985 when he was the roommate of my best buddy Armen Parker at the U of Mizzou at Rolla his freshmen year before UGA. He was a great guy from the beginning, clearly had values, and a great upbringing. Always loved music, and actually wanted to be a DJ first. He had turntables in the dormroom.
I remember Armen and I visiting Royal and his family one weekend in St. Louis during the 80’s to hang at one of the annual summer fest. We partied all night, and the next morning Royal’s dad who we called “Sarge” was making coffee and ask if we brought clothes for church. Armen and I stated no, and Sarge stated, the next time you visit us for the weekend, don’t forget your church clothes, because we attend church around here!!! We stated YES SIR, because for some reason it seemed that Sarge was still in the military. See, that’s why Royal had values, he got it from his Momma and Daddy!
I will never forget that experience, Royal was standing there smiling the whole time! RIP BRO, H
Beebo
January 15th, 2011
8:18 pm
A happening like this seems so unfair and unexplainable. No matter where I study or analyze I can’t understand how this could happen. The earth has turned billions of times and billions of persons have died and left billions alone and wondering why they suffered such an unlikely loss at such an unlikely time.
Bobbie
January 15th, 2011
8:19 pm
@ a congregant of the church of the painful truth: Amen!
jon
January 15th, 2011
8:27 pm
God Bless Royal Marshall. What a great radio man and balancing act for Neal. My prayers go out to Royal and his family.
Denis O'Hayer
January 15th, 2011
8:33 pm
A man of love, talent, wit, and grace. A delight to hear on the radio, and even better to know. Our prayers are with Royal and his young family; also with his friends at WSB, and all over Atlanta.
katieliz
January 15th, 2011
8:41 pm
Unbelieveable. What sad news. He will be missed by his radio listeners! Lifting up his family in prayer.
Danny Lovern
January 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
I got to know Royal as a person while my wife Helen worked for Clark. He was a genuine person with a level head. The Boortz Show has lost an important member and he will be missed. Our prayers go out to Royal’s wife and family. As the song goes “it always seems the good they die young”. God bless you and keep you Royal.
Molly
January 15th, 2011
8:56 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with Royal’s family and his colleagues at WSB.