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39-554: McKees Rocks may refer to: Places [ edit ] McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania , a borough in Allegheny County Events [ edit ] The 1909 McKees Rocks Strike, also known as the Pressed Steel Car Strike of 1909 Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with
78-614: A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home show in 1993, Mays struck up a friendship with rival salesman Max Appel, founder of Orange Glo International, a Denver -based manufacturer of cleaning products. He was then hired by the company to promote their line of cleaners, OxiClean , Orange Clean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom, on the Home Shopping Network in St. Petersburg, Florida . That same year he also befriended another future pitchman, Anthony Sullivan . Customer response to Mays's sales pitches
117-400: A dozen novels by the crime writer K. C. Constantine . Billy Mays William Darrell Mays Jr. (July 20, 1958 – June 28, 2009) was an American television direct-response advertisement salesperson . Throughout his career, he promoted a wide variety of products, including OxiClean , Orange Glo, Kaboom , Zorbeez , and Mighty Mendit. His promotions aired mainly on
156-400: A median income of $ 25,872 versus $ 23,402 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $ 13,858. About 20.5% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 38.8% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over. McKees Rocks is the fictional setting of the novels Duffy's Rocks by Edward Fenton, Riot by William Trautmann , and more than
195-527: A notable icon in popular culture, with many shows, YouTube videos, and films lampooning him. In the South Park episode " Dead Celebrities ", Mays' ghost appears repeatedly to Ike Broflovski, trying to sell him products from the afterlife with his catchphrase "Hi, Billy Mays here with the...". Mays' son, Billy III, a self-proclaimed South Park fan, said he loved "Dead Celebrities", and found its portrayal of his father to be both tasteful and respectful. He
234-652: A recognized television presence in the United States and Canada. Mays was born on July 20, 1958, in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania to Joyce Palm and Billy Mays Sr, where he was raised in nearby Pittsburgh . He was a student at Sto-Rox High School , and later West Virginia University , where he was a walk-on linebacker on its football team during his two years there. After dropping out of college, Mays worked for his father's hazardous waste company before moving to Atlantic City, New Jersey , in 1983. On
273-770: Is a borough in Allegheny County in Western Pennsylvania , United States, along the south bank of the Ohio River . Part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area , its population was 5,920 at the time of the 2020 census . The borough is within the Sto-Rox School District , which serves McKees Rocks and neighboring Stowe Township . The local high school is Sto-Rox High School . The Pittsburgh, Allegheny and McKees Rocks Railroad
312-452: Is located in an area along the river known as the "Bottoms". The McKees Rocks Bridge , which carries traffic between McKees Rocks and Pittsburgh , is the longest bridge in Allegheny County , at 7,293 feet (2,223 m). McKees Rocks has one of the largest Indian mounds in the state, built by the Adena and Hopewell peoples a thousand years before Europeans entered the area. In the past,
351-475: The Home Shopping Network through his company, Mays Promotions, Inc., although they have aired on other syndicated networks. Mays's infomercials were known for his catch phrase "Hi, Billy Mays here", and his shouted delivery of lines. Mays and his business partner, Anthony Sullivan , were also featured on PitchMen , a Discovery Channel television series that documented their work. His distinctive beard, attire, loud voice, and impassioned sales pitches made him
390-546: The United States Census Bureau , the borough has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km ), of which 1.0 square mile (2.6 km ) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km ), or 6.31%, is water. The multimillion-dollar, 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m ) Father Ryan Cultural Arts Center opened in 2008, at 420 Chartiers Avenue, adjacent to the F.O.R. Sto-Rox Library (at 500 Chartiers Avenue). It offers many creative and performing arts courses to
429-592: The Atlantic City boardwalk, Mays sold the Washmatik portable washing device to passersby, along with other " As Seen on TV " products. In Atlantic City, he said, "I was taught to pitch by a lot of old pitchmen. That's the kind of style I have." Mays then traveled to home shows, auto shows , and state fairs across the United States for a period of twelve years, selling various maintenance products and tools, including cleaning products and food choppers. At
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#1732779477134468-546: The World (IWW), was repressed by armed security guards and the state militia, resulting in at least a dozen deaths. The conflict involved participants on both sides. In 1940, three decapitated bodies were found in boxcars in McKees Rocks during a routine train inspection. The train cars had apparently come from Youngstown . In fact, throughout the 1920s, various dismembered and decapitated bodies were recovered in or around
507-474: The birthplace of former Ohio Governor John Kasich and late television salesperson Billy Mays . For thousands of years, Native Americans inhabited the region. The Adena culture built a large earthwork mound here, which was a burial site. It was augmented in later years by members of the Hopewell culture . This was the largest such mound in the state. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History excavated half
546-496: The borough was 82.71% White, 14.06% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population. The 2010 census revealed there were 6,104 residents. The population density was 6003.25 people per square mile. The racial makeup was 62.17% White, 35.26% African American, 0.57% Asian, and 0.34% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of
585-705: The chain. Shooting was scheduled to begin in August 2009. On March 26, 2009, Mays appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno . On April 15, 2009, the Discovery Channel began airing PitchMen , a documentary series that featured Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their jobs in direct-response marketing . After Mays' death, Discovery Channel aired a special Billy Mays tribute special, Pitchman: A Tribute to Billy Mays . He and Sullivan also appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on June 23, 2009, five days before his death. Mays' first marriage
624-406: The city was known for its extensive iron and steel interests. There were large railroad machine shops and manufacturers of locomotives and freight and passenger cars . Other factories produced springs , enamel ware, lumber , wall materials, plaster , nuts and bolts , malleable castings , chains and forgings , tin ware, concrete , and cigars . McKees Rocks is also known as
663-416: The conclusion that Billy suffered from chronic, untreated hypertension" and said in the release that they were considering "an independent evaluation of the autopsy results". The medical examiner concluded that "cocaine use caused or contributed to the development of his heart disease, and thereby contributed to his death" in a press release. He said Mays last used cocaine in the few days before his death but
702-508: The funeral, much like Mays wore when he advertised his products. He is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery. In the immediate aftermath of his death, many companies pulled ads featuring Mays from the air, replacing them with similar ads featuring Anthony Sullivan . By mid-July, with his family's consent, some ads were put back into rotation, alongside previously unaired ads. His catchphrase and infomercials made Billy Mays
741-467: The inscriptions had "long since faded away, if indeed they were anything other than marks made by English fur traders." The borough derives its name from trader Alexander McKee , who also served as an Indian agent. He was given a 1,300-acre (530 ha) tract of land in 1764 for his services during the French and Indian War. The name also related to a rocky projection into the river at this site. In 1769,
780-581: The mound in 1896. Its archaeologists traced the construction history and unearthed the remains of 33 people. The mound crowned a high bluff that overlooks Chartiers Creek and the Ohio River. The bluff under the mound was quarried for municipal paving some time after the archaeological dig, eliminating what remained of the Indian burial site. This site was considered by George Washington as a possible location for Fort Pitt , which he eventually ordered built on
819-427: The name McKees Rocks was placed on an official deed, and that year is considered to be its founding date. In 1892, it was incorporated as a borough . In 1900, 6,353 people resided in the borough; in 1910, 14,702; in 1920, 16,713; and in 1940, 17,021 people inhabited McKees Rocks. After industrial restructuring caused a loss of jobs in the city, the population declined, to 6,104 at the 2010 census. Mann's Hotel, which
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#1732779477134858-537: The nearby swamp areas of New Castle and McKees Rocks. Despite similarities to a series of murders that had occurred in Cleveland during the same time period, the murders were never solved or officially connected to the killings in Ohio . McKees Rocks is located at 40°28′13″N 80°3′49″W / 40.47028°N 80.06361°W / 40.47028; -80.06361 (40.470218, −80.063674). According to
897-514: The north. Chartiers Creek separates McKees Rocks from two Pittsburgh neighborhoods and have connectors to both: Across the Ohio River, McKees Rocks runs adjacent to two other Pittsburgh neighborhoods: As of the 2000 census , there were 6,622 people, 2,905 households, and 1,652 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,377.5 inhabitants per square mile (2,462.4/km ). There were 3,402 housing units at an average density of 3,276.4 per square mile (1,265.0/km ). The racial makeup of
936-418: The population. There were 2,905 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.4% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size
975-522: The previous evening that he had felt unwell. Initially, there was incorrect speculation that he died from a head injury he experienced on a flight he had taken earlier in the day, in which the plane sustained a rough landing after blowing its tires. After an initial autopsy on June 29, 2009, Vernard Adams, the Hillsborough County, Florida , medical examiner , stated that Mays suffered from hypertensive heart disease and that heart disease
1014-461: The products he promoted. In December 2008, Mays began appearing in ads for ESPN 's online service, ESPN360 . These ads were a slight departure for Mays as they were designed to be parodies of his and other infomercial clichés. He also made a live appearance during the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl promoting ESPN's and ABC's January 1, 2009, bowl games . Prior to his death, Mays had signed a deal with Taco Bell to film infomercial-style commercials for
1053-509: The public. The "Bottoms" neighborhood is the site of the McKees Rocks Indian Mound, designated as a National Historic Landmark . The oldest human bones in eastern North America have been discovered here during an excavation. McKees Rocks is made up of several neighborhoods, such as West Park , Meyers Ridge, and "The Bottoms". McKees Rocks has two borders by land: Kennedy Township to the west and Stowe Township to
1092-500: The site of the destroyed French Fort Duquesne in what is now Pittsburgh's Point State Park . Around 1749, the French-Canadian explorer Pierre Joseph Celoron de Blainville visited the area and discovered a "written rock" inscribed with markings he believed were made by Native Americans. Celeron named the place after the rock, and it eventually became known as McKees Rocks. Writing in 1918, historian John Boucher stated that
1131-598: The then-three-year-old OxiClean corporation. He became a staple of the brand and the wider company, Orange Glo. Later on he appeared in Kaboom infomercials. Mays was the CEO and founder of Mays Promotions, Inc., based at his home in Odessa, Florida . His services as a pitchman became highly sought-after, and he appeared in commercials for many diverse "As Seen On TV" products such as Mighty Putty . Mays claimed to be an avid user of
1170-513: The title McKees Rocks . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McKees_Rocks&oldid=349296279 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania McKees Rocks , also known as " The Rocks ",
1209-443: The toxicology tests also showed levels of painkillers hydrocodone , oxycodone , and tramadol , as well as anti-anxiety drugs alprazolam and diazepam . Mays suffered from hip problems and was scheduled to have hip replacement surgery the day after he was found dead. Mays' funeral Mass was held at St. Mary's Church on July 3, 2009, in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania . The pallbearers wore blue shirts and khaki pants at
McKees Rocks - Misplaced Pages Continue
1248-409: Was 2.96. The population included 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males. The median income for a household in the borough was $ 22,278, and the median income for a family was $ 29,063. Males had
1287-459: Was a Republican . He was also a Catholic . On the morning of June 28, 2009, Mays' wife found him unresponsive in his home in Tampa, Florida . He was pronounced dead at 7:45 a.m., aged 50, appearing to have died sometime overnight. The Associated Press reported there were no indications that the house had been burglarized, and that police did not suspect foul play. Mays had told his wife
1326-402: Was enthusiastic, and sales sharply increased after his first day, although some reviews were poor. He was very well known for shouting during infomercials. For example, The Washington Post staff writer Frank Ahrens called him and other similar television salesmen "a full-volume pitchman, amped up like a candidate for a tranquilizer-gun takedown". In October 2000, Mays shot an infomercial for
1365-535: Was not under the influence of it when he died. Hillsborough County spokeswoman Lori Hudson said that nothing in the toxicology report indicated the frequency of Mays' cocaine use. Cocaine can raise the arterial blood pressure, directly cause hypertrophy of the left ventricle, and accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, the release said. In October 2009, a second medical examiner, commissioned by his family, concluded cocaine did not contribute to his death. According to subsequent news reports,
1404-522: Was possibly one of the oldest buildings in the Pittsburgh area, was located at 23 Singer Avenue in McKees Rocks. It was believed to have been built around 1803, although some sources put the construction in the 18th century. It is rumored that George Washington stayed there when he was surveying the Indian mound. On October 12, 2009, Mann's Hotel was condemned due to neglect and had to be demolished because of its deteriorating condition. McKees Rocks
1443-635: Was the likely cause of his death. According to a toxicology report released August 7, 2009, heart disease was the "primary cause of death" and cocaine was noted as a "contributory cause of death". In response to the release of the toxicology report, the Mays family issued a press release stating, "We are extremely disappointed by the press release released by the Hillsborough County medical examiner's office. We believe it contains speculative conclusions that are frankly unnecessary and tend to obscure
1482-696: Was the site of one of the pivotal labor conflicts of the early 20th century, the 1909 McKees Rocks Strike . In the summer and early fall of 1909, some 5,000 workers of the Pressed Steel Car Company 's plant at McKees Rocks went on strike, joined by 3,000 others who worked for the Standard Steel Car Company of Butler and others in New Castle . The strike, led by organizers of the Industrial Workers of
1521-475: Was to Dolores "Dee Dee" Mays, which ended in divorce. He had a son with Dolores named Billy Mays III (born August 12, 1986) who worked as a production assistant alongside his father on the PitchMen television show. Mays had a daughter, Elizabeth, with his second wife, Deborah Mays. His daughter was three years old at the time of his death. In an interview during the 2008 presidential election , Mays said he
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