It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since the city of Valparaiso declared Billy Mays Day in honor of one of the most iconic pitchmen in television history. And it’s even harder to believe that just months after that incredible celebration, we lost Billy on June 28, 2009. Today, we pause to remember our friend, our partner, and a true legend of the direct response industry.

Billy Mays wasn’t just a famous face on television — he was a friend to the Livemercial family. When Billy visited our headquarters here in Valparaiso, Indiana, it was one of those unforgettable moments that reminded us all why we got into this business. His energy was contagious, his passion for products was genuine, and his ability to connect with people — whether on camera or face to face — was unlike anything we’ve ever seen. The entire city came out to welcome him, and the Mayor’s proclamation of Billy Mays Day was a fitting tribute to the impact he had on our community and our company.

Billy believed in what we were doing at Livemercial. He understood that the future of direct response marketing was moving online, and he embraced our “instant on” streaming video technology as a way to reach consumers in a new and powerful way. Working with Billy was an honor, and his endorsement of our approach to online direct response gave us credibility and momentum that we carry with us to this day.

We miss Billy Mays. The direct response industry misses Billy Mays. But his legacy lives on in every inventor who steps up to pitch a product, in every late-night viewer who picks up the phone, and in every entrepreneur who believes that a great product just needs the right platform. Here in Valparaiso, we’ll always remember Billy Mays Day — and the incredible man who inspired it.