"Uncle Roy Chapman" dies at 92

[Zoomer Roberts]

"Uncle Roy Chapman" dies at 92 (3:41 p.m.)

By Maribel Villalva / El Paso Times

Article Launched: 04/27/2007 03:34:02 PM MDT

Roy Chapman, better known as "Uncle Roy Chapman" by his fans, died of heart
failure at 2 a.m. Friday in his El Paso home. He was 92 years old.

Chapman was a fixture in children's entertainment from the late 1930s to the
early 1960s. He is perhaps best known for reading the comics on radio and
later for shows like "Kiddie Kollege," which he staged every weekend from
the stage of the Plaza Theatre, the Mickey Mouse Club and "Uncle Roy's
House."

Chapman later became a force in local advertising. In the 1960s, he joined
the advertising agency MithoffBurton Partners and pushed everyone in the
industry to demand excellence, said Bill Burton, chief executive officer of
MithoffBurton.

"He was an icon," Burton said. "He was a great teacher

Roy Chapman at the Plaza Theatre. (Courtesy of the El Paso Community
Foundation)and always tried to bring people up to another level."

He retired in 1984, but maintained an office at the business and visited
regularly. His last visit was about a month ago, Burton said.

"He had tears in his eyes because his family had a big meeting and decided
he couldn't drive anymore.

He came by to tell us he wouldn't be visiting anymore, but I told him to
just give us a call and we'd go get him," Burton said. "Despite all that, he
was in good spirits. He had a great sense of humor."

Eric Pearson, vice president of the executive office of the El Paso
Community Foundation, had lunch with Chapman on a regular basis.

"Every single time we were out, somebody would come up to him and say, 'You
don't know me, but ...' and then they would tell him a story about Uncle
Roy. He would just give them his sheepish smile," Pearson said. "I think a
lot of us have lost a little bit of our childhood."

Chapman became a supporter for the renovation of the Plaza Theatre and for
his 91st birthday, was given a private tour of the nearly completed theater.
At the time, he told the El Paso Times how excited he was.

"It's everything I remember and more," said Chapman as he sat in the new,
plush theater seats looking up at the Plaza ceiling, complete with twinkling
stars. Then, he looked to the space where he spent countless hours.

"The stage is just magnificent."

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Keith Chapman; two children, son
Jack and daughter Keith; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There will be a service for Chapman at 2 p.m. Monday in First Presbyterian
Church, 1340 Murchison. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the
Plaza Theatre or First Presbyterian Church.

Maribel Villalva may be reached at mvil...@elpasotimes.com; 546-6129.

[Betty Hulson]

Zoomer--thanks so much for the information about Roy Chapman. Being born in El Paso
and growing up there, we watched Uncle Roy every time he came on our old black and
white tv! My parents always threatened me with not being able to be a part of Uncle
Roy's Clean Your Plate Club if I didn't eat everything on my plate...hmmm maybe
that's why I weigh a bit more than I would like!! Anyway, I do have such fond
memories of him, so it was great to read that piece. Thanks for keeping us (those
who no longer live in EP) up to date on such things!

Roldan--the rose was a nice touch! It was good to see your name on the list again.
You always seem to give us much food for thought!! Thanks! Is that you in the rowing
photo? Great shot!

__________________________________________________
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[zoom...@zianet.com]

Back in my court and spark days, I tended towards daisies.

Romantic RayBob

[water...@aol.com]

Thanks for letting us know about Uncle Roy.  After a brief pause for sadness, this article made my day..."wife...Keith.....daughter, Keith"??????? Oh my gosh.  That make up for all of the 'boy named Sue" comments I've received for the past 30 years. I fondly remember the Sunday Funnies on the radio.   KEITH

---

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

[zoom...@zianet.com]

I was hoping you'd notice the Keiths in there. It's a cool name!

--Ray

water...@aol.com writes:

> ________________________________________________________________________

[water...@aol.com]

So is anyone else out there on this lovely Saturday night?  How are you doing, Ray? 

[zoom...@zianet.com]

The other kids are at a party in Mountain Park, but I wasn't invited.
[kidding!] It's thundering and lightning in God's Country tonight, and the
Giants are beating our D'backs. But I'm fine. Mighty fine!

I've always thought Linda Keith was a nice name. 'Linda' is Spanish for
'pretty' y'know!

--Ray

[Patricia Buchanan]

Ray,

I have no memory of Uncle Roy Chapman, weird. Do you remember Howell Eurich
and Snappy Pappy? They were on all sorts of commercials on TV and ran the
"Turn of the Century" down on Texas street, I think. After my parents
divorced, my mom dated Pappy (Bob Clark) until he died sometime in the late
70s.

Pat L.

[goti...@aol.com]

Hah!!! They only thought they were beating us...we were laying low and biding our time...then WHAM! A HOMAH!! The outcome was tremendously enjoyable.

Cindy

[zoom...@zianet.com]

Pat,

I think we all remember Howell Eurich. In addition to doing melodrama at the
TOOC, he was Bozo the Clown and the KROD weatherman who owned Puffy the
Weather Dog.

Your mom and Pappy Clark came out to the Vicount Club at Wedgewood & Orkney
on the East side at least once when I was playing there in the 1970s. I was
a little surprised to see him wearing teeth!

--Ray

[Patricia Buchanan]

Ray,

He looked at lot younger and more distinguished when he wore his teeth. He
only took them out when he was acting. Did my mom recognize you?

Pat

[zoom...@zianet.com]

Pat,

Yes, she did!

Ray
8-]

[Betty Hulson]

Pat--I remember Howell Eurich very well. Back in the mid 50s, my mom was the piano
player at the old melodrama theather. Howell played the villain in all those old
melodramas. We often went there while Mom was practicing with the various "artists."
Then in the 70s, Howell gave his life to the Lord and became good friends with my
aunt and uncle there in El Paso. We had dinner with Howell many times, and when I
was pregnant with our daughter, we were on a local tv show with Howell and my
uncle--it was on Christian tv. Howell told us that the Lord told him that we would
have a daughter, and sure enough he was right. Sadly, though, he could never seem to
come to grips with his past failures and addictions, and eventually took his own
life. But my memories of him are all good ones. He was quite the entertainer.

[water...@aol.com]

The Eurichs were friends of my parents during the early 60's.  I think it was Howell and his second wife.  Yes, I have fond memories as well.  I remember when he was going for a screen test and my mom explained what that meant. They came to our house for dinner when my parents were still young and fun-loving.  Keith