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
Pope UGA XXIII
January 15th, 2011
3:57 pm
Very capable talk show host and radio personality.
Neal will miss him, not only as a co-worker, but also as
a close friend.
kreedham
January 15th, 2011
3:58 pm
Royal will be missed! He had good common sense and never appeared to be angry. Not only his family but I know Belinda and Neal are hurting too!
Fred
January 15th, 2011
3:59 pm
Royal will be missed and can never be replaced. My prayers are with the staff and the family.
Franklin Selvage
January 15th, 2011
4:03 pm
Never meet the man. I always was in Aw of him, however. we have lost a very good man.
jefe
January 15th, 2011
4:03 pm
What a sad story! I’ll miss his banter with Neal in the mornings.
Foley Anne Litton-Anderson
January 15th, 2011
4:03 pm
Royal was such a sweet friend, wonderful speaker. This is a very sad day for his loss, as he will be truly missed. I know that WSB will take great care of your family. My prayers and thoughts go out to Annette, Amira and Ava.
Annie
Special K
January 15th, 2011
4:05 pm
Terrible loss. Prayers go to his family.
Catherine
January 15th, 2011
4:08 pm
Royal….can’t believe you are gone….you will be missed. Your family is in my prayers as well as Neal, Belinda and all of you colleagues.
Now, I know this is not the time but I can’t believe some of the things some of you are saying on here. Have some respect for his family and friends. YOU are the reason this world is in the shape it is in. So full of HATE and total disregard for fellow human compassion.
AJay
January 15th, 2011
4:08 pm
This has left me speechless…RIP, friend.
LoveYouLongTime
January 15th, 2011
4:11 pm
My condolences to the Marshall family. I will certainly miss Royal, his wit, and his neutral positions on the show. I know Neal, Belinda, WSB and their families will certainly miss him. This is a tragic loss to all that listened to the show. My thoughts and prayers go out to all!
d terrentine
January 15th, 2011
4:11 pm
You never know how a person impacts your life when you are young, but it was all good…Rest in Peace..
jim
January 15th, 2011
4:11 pm
Good Man will be missed
JC
January 15th, 2011
4:12 pm
It was a joy to listen and share in Royal’s growth over the years. Although I had my share of disagreements with his position I respected and enjoyed his dialogue. I also appreciated the fact that he knew when to “turn on/off” the entertainment of talk radio and when to focus on serious topics of the day. Peace and prayers of strength to his familly and friends.
Sandra
January 15th, 2011
4:13 pm
So sorry to hear of Royal’s passing. I heard him first when he was doing his show, The Royal Treatment. He kept me company on a long drive. So sad!
ted
January 15th, 2011
4:13 pm
Dam
melissa's mom
January 15th, 2011
4:13 pm
What a shock. He was the perfect compliment to Neal Boortz and Belinda. Very sad.
NoOneWhoMatters
January 15th, 2011
4:14 pm
Royal was not only a fine person but had great wit. He stabilized Neal, often need. My prayers to his family and children, 43 is all to young. And to use his famous term… Just Damn.
jeff
January 15th, 2011
4:15 pm
He really kept neal on his toes
Good Man
Bless his family
Terri
January 15th, 2011
4:15 pm
I am so shocked and sad to hear about Royal’s passing. I have listened to talk radio for 15 plus years and always appreciated Royal’s voice of reason, especially when Neil was on a wild tangent. On air it was so evident that he loved his wife and daughters and his passing breaks my heart, especially for them.
Rest in peace Royal and thank you for your years of service on WSB….you will really be missed.
Brazen Unicorn
January 15th, 2011
4:15 pm
Wow, this is so sad. Royal was a fellow church member and just such a good person. Bless him and his family who are left to mourn his passing.
verygary
January 15th, 2011
4:15 pm
Very, very sad. Radio won’t be the same. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends.
Bill
January 15th, 2011
4:16 pm
I’m stunned. I will miss Royal’s humor, grace and his gentle soul.
Jeff
January 15th, 2011
4:16 pm
I am in total shock! What a great loss. My heart goes out to the Marshall family.
jeff
January 15th, 2011
4:17 pm
I sure will miss him.. I listened to him every night on the way home and I always liked the start of his show when he would say, ” be careful out there cuz there are some NUTS behind the wheel. god bless that man and for what he stood for.
Mark Patterson
January 15th, 2011
4:17 pm
In a instant one realizes how attached they become when news of this kind is revealed. A very long time listener to Neal Boortz but very aware and familiar with Royal’s presence over the years. Unknowingly I feel more attached then ever realized and understand now that the entire radio family of Boortz is a part of me. I am numb with sadness and can only offer my heart felt sorry for all with Royals family foremost in my thoughts and prayers. Neal and Belinda, I am deeply full of sorrow about your loss and know you will have some very difficult days ahead. You have my sincere heartfelt support and sympathy.
Theresa
January 15th, 2011
4:18 pm
He is now at the feet of God, safe and sound.
God’s peace to his family and friends.
Trailer Trash Baby
January 15th, 2011
4:19 pm
Horrible loss for this world. I’m in shock and I know how much this hurts to his friends like Boortz and Belinda. My heart goes out to his family and friends and they’ll be in my prayers.
Reid Wilborn
January 15th, 2011
4:24 pm
Horrible, terrible tragedy. Royal was a great person, and he will be sorely missed by all. This is just awful.
Andrea
January 15th, 2011
4:24 pm
Wow… earlier this week I was listening to Neal & Royal talk about being able to use Skype on the air…
“Boo got shot” – one of the best radio bits ever!!
Wonder if there is a delay button in Heaven?
Grace
January 15th, 2011
4:25 pm
Just in shock!!! He was a pleasure to listen to! Neal’s show will certainly not be the same without him! We will miss you, Royal! May the Lord give your family and friends comfort during this very difficult time! Surely gone too soon!
The_K
January 15th, 2011
4:25 pm
My prayers goes out to his family and friends. This is shocking. I enjoyed his Royal Treatment radio show. He will be missed.
Mark Patterson
January 15th, 2011
4:26 pm
2nd comment: This is no time to be less than human by tongue in cheek disparaging Neal or content of the show while commenting on this tragic situation. Leave your personal attacks at the door and stop throwing salt on the wound. Would you enjoy someone doing the same to you in a similar circumstance? Think about that for a moment before using this to make yourself feel better.
Bill
January 15th, 2011
4:27 pm
It brought a tear to my eye to hear about Royal Marshall. Always the voice of reason to temper Neal’s excesses. Condolences to his family and the WSB team.
Ann Aitken
January 15th, 2011
4:27 pm
True gentleman that complimented Boortz’s program…so smart. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and frinds, you will be miss:(
Roderick
January 15th, 2011
4:29 pm
So saddened to hear of Royal Marshall’s passing. My prayers are with his wife and children. Although I didn’t personally know Royal, he will be missed. I know I will miss hearing him on the Neal Boortz show.
Adam Cosby
January 15th, 2011
4:30 pm
May God bless his family. A lot of tears all over the world today. I know this family is missing him already. I pray that his beautiful family knows how much he loved them and how much he meant to us.
Birdie
January 15th, 2011
4:31 pm
I am truly saddened by this event. I heard Royal disagree with Neal on one show and I was amazed that anybody would be successful at that. He Was!!! A great loss for all of us. RIP, Royal.
Wes
January 15th, 2011
4:32 pm
This just breaks my heart. RIP my friend….
ellen
January 15th, 2011
4:34 pm
I am in shock and know the Boortz/WSB family are as well. Royal was always a great sidekick for Neal. Always tempered, always wise. Prayers for his family.
Perry B.
January 15th, 2011
4:34 pm
This tragic news literally took my breath away when I heard it at lunch. Royal was truly an icon in Atlanta Radio and will be missed.
Steve
January 15th, 2011
4:35 pm
No longer living in the Atlanta area I have not heard Royal in awhile. My memories of him are great. He was a rare personality that did not think too highly of himself. His version of Boo Got Shot is a classic for all time. I offer my sympathy to his family and friends at WSB.
Iris Still
January 15th, 2011
4:35 pm
My sincere sympathy to his family. May God give you peace and strength during this difficult time. He will be missed!
Cyana Jackson Sims
January 15th, 2011
4:36 pm
My most sincere sympathy go out to Royal’s family and friends. I met Royal a few years ago at a family gathering here in Atlanta in 2006 at his brother’s home . When I met Royal, his delightful spirit was so real. He was truly a genuine spirit. May God Bless his wife ,children,mother,brothers and sister. I feel so honored to have met a person who was so comfortable with what God had given him to share with others. My sincere prayers go out to all of you. Love Cyana Jackson Sims
jennifer
January 15th, 2011
4:36 pm
So sad and sudden. My heart goes out to his family… Damn.
whatever for
January 15th, 2011
4:37 pm
What a great loss – not just gfor the Boortzs show and WSB – but for everyone who ever wanted to know more about politics and thought/reason coming from a black conservative perspective. I am a Boortz listener and always found Royal to be highly intelligent and very thoughtful. I also often listened to The Royal Treatment at night. Royal Marshall will be missed. I pray for his family.
Anita Metcalf
January 15th, 2011
4:37 pm
I am so saddened to hear this news. Our hearts go out to Royal’s family and to the WSB family. He will always be remembered…the best legacy a person can have.
Winger
January 15th, 2011
4:39 pm
A unique individual. We’ll miss you, Royal. Just damn.
Gwen
January 15th, 2011
4:39 pm
I was shocked and very saddened when I heard the news about Royal. I have listened to Royal for years, on Neal’s show and when he had his show on WCNN. I remember hearing him sing the jingle for “Philly Connection”, his lively verbal jousts with Rhaoul, and of course, going head-to-head with Neal. I also remember when he vowed “I am never going to get married” (smile), and suddenly he was married with children. (very happily!!).
It saddens me that he died at such a young age, and that his daughters won’t grow up with memories of their father. Rest in peace, Royal. It’s going to be hard listening to WSB without you!!
AJ & Bobby
January 15th, 2011
4:40 pm
What sad news. Hearts, thoughts & prayers to his wife & children, & the WSB family.
Bogie
January 15th, 2011
4:41 pm
How truly sad for his family, the show and all of those who will miss him. Unbelievable.