1921
Mr.
2007
Mr. Reverdy Mullins, Jr.
February 22, 1921 — July 12, 2007
Reverdy L. (Rev) Mullins, Jr., died July 12, 2007 in Lenexa, KS. He was 86.
Rev was born in Parsons, Kansas and attended the local schools and Parsons Junior College and in 1939 entered Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State) working to a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 8, 1941 and was commissioned as a fighter pilot in August 1942. He was assigned to the 18th Fighter Squadron, 343 Group of the 11th Air Force in the Aleutian Islands where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for dive bombing and strafing attacks on the Japanese on Kiska. He returned to the states in December of 1943 and married Dale Fairman also of Parsons. He entered the University of Kansas in September of 1945 in the School of Journalism where he was elected to Sigma Delta Chi, honorary journalism fraternity. His first job as a radio newsman was at KSEK in Pittsburg Kansas in June of 1947. In December of that year he went to work in the news department of KMBC in Kansas City. With the advent of television he became Channel 9's first TV weather man. Later he created the NOON show, a one-hour daily variety show which he wrote and produced and was the piano playing MC. It quickly gained popularity and became Kansas City's top ranking day time TV show, both local and network, out-rating such national favorites as Arthur Godfrey Gary Moore, Art Linkletter, and Ernie Kovacs, the only exception was the Mickey Mouse Club. In 1956 he was offered a writing job for Jack Paar on NBC's Tonight Show but he and Dale decided against raising a family in New York and they elected to remain in Kansas City. In 1958 Rev left TV to join Luzier Cosmetics, a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers, as a Division Manager. He rose to become vice-president of sales and marketing, a position he held until his retirement in 1985. He and Dale shared the major loves of their lives - reading, music and flying Rev had continued to fly as a recreation and in 1975 Dale joined him, learning to fly at the Johnson County Executive Airport and they enjoyed many flying trips and vacations sharing piloting duties. He also continued his writing, coauthoring a book with Dr. Richard Fenker, a psychologist at Texas Christian University, "Stop Studying, Start Learning," directed to underachieving high school seniors and college freshmen. In 1999, he decided to finish the last dozen hours of his journalism degree, completing it in time to graduate and walk down the hill at KU with his granddaughter Erin. While Dale had trained as a classical pianist, Rev had begun playing with dance bands in high school and college. He continued after his retirement, sitting in with various jazz groups in the Kansas City area and playing daily at happy hour at the retirement community where they moved after 43 years in their Leawood home.
He is survived by Dale and his children, R.L. III, daughter-in-law, Mary Lynne of Tucson, Arizona and granddaughter Erin of Phoenix, AZ; daughter Jan of Vista, CA, son-in-law Steve and granddaughter, Summer Frace of Austin, TX; son Robert, daughter-in-law, Elaine and grandchildren Austin and Katie of Lenexa, KS.
A Memorial Service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m., an hour prior to services. Memorial contributions may be made to K.C. Jazz Ambassadors, P. O. Box 36181, Kansas City, MO 64171-6181
.
Rev was born in Parsons, Kansas and attended the local schools and Parsons Junior College and in 1939 entered Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State) working to a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 8, 1941 and was commissioned as a fighter pilot in August 1942. He was assigned to the 18th Fighter Squadron, 343 Group of the 11th Air Force in the Aleutian Islands where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for dive bombing and strafing attacks on the Japanese on Kiska. He returned to the states in December of 1943 and married Dale Fairman also of Parsons. He entered the University of Kansas in September of 1945 in the School of Journalism where he was elected to Sigma Delta Chi, honorary journalism fraternity. His first job as a radio newsman was at KSEK in Pittsburg Kansas in June of 1947. In December of that year he went to work in the news department of KMBC in Kansas City. With the advent of television he became Channel 9's first TV weather man. Later he created the NOON show, a one-hour daily variety show which he wrote and produced and was the piano playing MC. It quickly gained popularity and became Kansas City's top ranking day time TV show, both local and network, out-rating such national favorites as Arthur Godfrey Gary Moore, Art Linkletter, and Ernie Kovacs, the only exception was the Mickey Mouse Club. In 1956 he was offered a writing job for Jack Paar on NBC's Tonight Show but he and Dale decided against raising a family in New York and they elected to remain in Kansas City. In 1958 Rev left TV to join Luzier Cosmetics, a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers, as a Division Manager. He rose to become vice-president of sales and marketing, a position he held until his retirement in 1985. He and Dale shared the major loves of their lives - reading, music and flying Rev had continued to fly as a recreation and in 1975 Dale joined him, learning to fly at the Johnson County Executive Airport and they enjoyed many flying trips and vacations sharing piloting duties. He also continued his writing, coauthoring a book with Dr. Richard Fenker, a psychologist at Texas Christian University, "Stop Studying, Start Learning," directed to underachieving high school seniors and college freshmen. In 1999, he decided to finish the last dozen hours of his journalism degree, completing it in time to graduate and walk down the hill at KU with his granddaughter Erin. While Dale had trained as a classical pianist, Rev had begun playing with dance bands in high school and college. He continued after his retirement, sitting in with various jazz groups in the Kansas City area and playing daily at happy hour at the retirement community where they moved after 43 years in their Leawood home.
He is survived by Dale and his children, R.L. III, daughter-in-law, Mary Lynne of Tucson, Arizona and granddaughter Erin of Phoenix, AZ; daughter Jan of Vista, CA, son-in-law Steve and granddaughter, Summer Frace of Austin, TX; son Robert, daughter-in-law, Elaine and grandchildren Austin and Katie of Lenexa, KS.
A Memorial Service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m., an hour prior to services. Memorial contributions may be made to K.C. Jazz Ambassadors, P. O. Box 36181, Kansas City, MO 64171-6181
.
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