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
Calvin G. Sims, Sr.
January 15th, 2011
12:37 pm
I have been a fan of Neal’s since he started radio. One of the highlights of my experience, with Boortz, was the day Royal Marshall joined his team. On the rare and far too infrequent times that he would chime in on the air, it was always a treat.
More than anything, I admired the character of this man. His devotion to his family and his citizenship will forever stand as a guiding example of the way a man should conduct himself. I am proud of Royal Marshall, I will never forget him and I will always miss him.
mary
January 15th, 2011
12:38 pm
I am heartbroken for his family, friends…i pray for comfort for you all.
Shan Holleman Marchitte
January 15th, 2011
12:39 pm
SOOO sorry this happened. I can’t believe it! I loved Royal! My thoughts and prayers go out to Annette and the girls and also to Neal and Belinda and the rest of the gang at WSB.
Boo been shot!
January 15th, 2011
12:40 pm
Damn……..
Suzanne
January 15th, 2011
12:41 pm
I have listened to Royal for years….most special was hearing him go from happy- go- lucky bachelor to devoted husband and family man….What a tragic loss for his family, the Boortz staff and the Atlanta community….I am so sad….
Angie
January 15th, 2011
12:42 pm
That comes as a total shock. My thoughts and prayers to his family.
Father of 5
January 15th, 2011
12:42 pm
Royal and Jesus will have a good time. I pray God will give peace to Royal’s wife and daughters, and that He will one day call them to be together again. None of us have very long on this orb, in the grand scheme of things.
Prayers for family
January 15th, 2011
12:42 pm
We were extremely saddened to hear about Royal’s passing. We have all been touched by him through his comments over the years and will miss him. His family — both immediate and extended — will be in our prayers. We can honor him by keeping his memory alive for his girls!
Allison Rizk
January 15th, 2011
12:43 pm
So profoundly sad. My thoughts and prayers go to his family and all those who loved and will miss him.
Lar
January 15th, 2011
12:44 pm
Hard to believe, have listened to him for many years.
Mike
January 15th, 2011
12:44 pm
What a huge shock! I really loved listening to him. The Royal Treatment was always so great! I really missed it when it was over. Royal made you feel like he was right there with you while you were listening. I didn’t know him personally, but felt like I did. He will be sorely missed. Words just can’t express this loss.
DrCH2
January 15th, 2011
12:44 pm
Although we yet know the cause of death, . . . young men and women in your 30’s and 40’s, start paying attention to your health. Beyond the capacity to love, one’s health is nearly the most precious gift God has given you. Pay attention to your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol readings. They are not to be ignored. May God bless Royal’s WSB family and his personal family, and give them perfect peace.
CaribouRancher
January 15th, 2011
12:44 pm
Sometimes you just sit at the keyboard, searching for words………..
Judy Drupiewski
January 15th, 2011
12:45 pm
I am shocked and truly saddened by this news. Royal will be missed by all. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Jack Mc
January 15th, 2011
12:45 pm
The world just lost one of it’s shining stars. The good do seem to go way to soon.
With so much hate and so many bad people in the world, country, state and city
how can it be that someone like Royal would leave us so soon and at such a young age.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Although I didn’t personally know Royal, he
felt like family on the radio.
Godspeed Royal.
Jason
January 15th, 2011
12:46 pm
Really sad. Very tacky by you guys to bold the “now” in front of 95.5 FM in what amounts to an obituary about the man. Cox Enterprises knows no low.
Veronica
January 15th, 2011
12:46 pm
We are shocked and so sorry to hear of this great loss! Royal Marshall always had a way of making politics interesting! My husband and I always hoped he would have his own show again. My prayers are with the Marshall family and the WSB team.
johnny
January 15th, 2011
12:46 pm
total shock , god must have needed him to come on home…
Joseph
January 15th, 2011
12:46 pm
A tragic loss for his family, WSB and all of Atlanta… he will be missed.
cyndi
January 15th, 2011
12:47 pm
Saddened to the news of Royal’s passing. Many years ago I spoke to him while calling into the Boortz show. I remember him being very friendly, unpretentious, and funny. What a sudden loss! May the Lord comfort the hearts of his wife and children.
Connie Moore
January 15th, 2011
12:47 pm
Just damn!! Royal and I e-mailed each other for years about politics and local stuff. I have lost a friend who I never actually met in person. My prayers go out to his family.
Karen
January 15th, 2011
12:47 pm
I am so sorry! He was a good man!
Jerry S
January 15th, 2011
12:47 pm
That’s horrible news. May God bless him. .
Donna P.
January 15th, 2011
12:48 pm
So sad for Royal’s family, friends, and colleagues. I hope they find the cause of this sudden death. RIP.
lone wolf fan
January 15th, 2011
12:48 pm
even though i’m not a fan of boortz himself, royal always brought a smile to my face. something about his actual being which was classy, sharp, and able to get across the point without actually being offensive. a loss for talk radio…
Penny
January 15th, 2011
12:48 pm
What a shock! My heart goes out to Royal’s young family as well as to his colleagues. He was the voice of reason and class on the Boortz Show. I will always remember his laugh. Atlanta has lost a fine man. I always hoped he’d run for office some day.
RIP Royal T
January 15th, 2011
12:48 pm
@Jim Chapman @G. Blanston – Now is not the time nor the place to air any of your personal feelings about anything other than Mr. Marshall. Talk about classless indeed.
Thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers during this very difficult time. God be with you…
Don
January 15th, 2011
12:49 pm
RIP, Royal. You touched the lives of many, and in doing so, leave a wonderful legacy.
Wanda
January 15th, 2011
12:50 pm
Wow, What a shock. How Sad!!! I cried when I heard this on the 12:00 news today. I have listened to Neal and Royal for years. I could tell Royal was a wonderful person. He will be missed!! May God be with his family and friends.
D. West
January 15th, 2011
12:50 pm
Sad news. Royal was a class act. His quick wit and contributions to the show will be missed.
Aquagirl
January 15th, 2011
12:50 pm
Nooooooooooo…..
Big Mike 42
January 15th, 2011
12:50 pm
I am very shocked about Royal. I enjoyed him and Neal for many years. Only the best to his family.
Roger Ollman
January 15th, 2011
12:50 pm
Jim Chapman and G. Blanston, the offensiveness of your comments is so obvious no response is required. Shame on you both!
NH
January 15th, 2011
12:51 pm
May God be with him and his family.
John Nagel
January 15th, 2011
12:51 pm
Terrible Terrible news. I am so sorry to hear this. He will be missed. Neal, Belinda, Christina, and his family, my prayers are with you.
myra mcdo[e
January 15th, 2011
12:52 pm
this is really crazy this good guy is gone he is the one that can keep neal in line .neal cant replaces this guy.my heart goes out to the family on both sides
Loneill
January 15th, 2011
12:52 pm
@G. Blanston: Not the right place or time. Leave it at the door.
Royal will be missed; what a great guy – loved hearing his discussions with Neal. Blessings to his family.
Dacula Dog
January 15th, 2011
12:53 pm
I’ll always remember hearing Royal recite this saying:
Yesterday’s history,
Tomorrow’s a mystery,
But today’s a gift.
That’s why we call it “the present.”
Royal, you could brighten my day with your laugh alone! May God bless your family.
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 15th, 2011
12:53 pm
Not to sound selfish, this leaves a gaping hole in my radio.
A good man gone way too soon.
NH
January 15th, 2011
12:53 pm
I just heard the guy’s voice, YESTERDAY!! The man was a talented talk show host. I always wondered why he stayed at WSB. May Jehovah bless his wife and kids. Ironic, he would joke that if the died before his credit debt was paid, he won.
SpaceyG
January 15th, 2011
12:53 pm
Can’t keep the tears back. What an outstanding person I was fortunate enough to have taken a comedy workshop with. This is a shock.
Anne
January 15th, 2011
12:53 pm
I LOVED Royal! He was one of the best parts of the show. Irreplacable. We will al miss him so much!
KIM
January 15th, 2011
12:53 pm
This is such a shock and I am so saddened to read of Royal’s passing! He was a good man who balanced the radio show in a thoughtful and respectful way. He will be so missed. My deepest sympathies to his family and to the radio people, as I know working with him so closely, they were truly family in every sense of the word.
mike
January 15th, 2011
12:54 pm
Royal was clearly the most intelligent of the crew. It will be hard now to tune-in without him there.
STW
January 15th, 2011
12:54 pm
The GOOD they die young…..Rest in peace…
Allie
January 15th, 2011
12:56 pm
What terrible news! It is no exaggeration for Belinda to say, “My other half is gone.” RIP, Royal.
Debbie
January 15th, 2011
12:57 pm
Enter your comments here
dawg
January 15th, 2011
12:57 pm
G.Blanton–This is not the formum for your rhetoric. Don’t think Royal would appreciate your remark about Neal….
Dan
January 15th, 2011
12:58 pm
What a true loss for the city of Atlanta and surrounding areas. He was a joy to listen to and was a great sidekick and quick wit to match Neal. He will be greatly missed. RIP Royal, you were truly loved!
Rhonda K.
January 15th, 2011
12:58 pm
Very sad…..Royal was great on the radio and the only voice of reason that Boortz would listen too…