He was a funny guy until he up and died on me.
An AP dispatch crossed my desk over the weekend and I usually pay them little attention because I and everyone else have already heard the news on TV. This one was slightly different, however, because of the subject matter that evoked a certain memory of someone I used to know not that long ago. It was a story about a “recession-proof industry.”
It seems that during tough economic times men, young and old, return to college with an interest in the science of death…a field that garners greater interest as the job market worsens. Funeral services, quite frankly, is a recession-proof industry. According to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics funeral directors earn an average of $58,810 annually but they must have some incredible skills as you might imagine, not the least of which is grief management. The interest in Mortuary Science at Worscham College in Illinois has seen a 20 percent increase this year and Kevin Davis, funeral services director at St. Petersburg College here in Florida said, “You actually don’t have to pay your taxes but I don’t know of anybody who has gotten away from the death part.” The higher the unemployment rate the greater the enrollment in mortuary science schools.
Anyway, that was the news item that sparked my recall of Dick Bennick. He was the Regional Sales Manager for Radio Stations WLKF-AM/WEZY-FM, Lakeland, Florida at the same time I was News Director there. One of the reasons we became friends is because we were the only two out of a staff of about 30 who still indulged in the disgusting habit of smoking and so we frequently met on the porch to discuss significant matters of the day–weather, advertising, city government. It was a wonderful thing as we puffed ourselves to a slow death.
Dick made his fortune selling radio advertising to national accounts but he made his fame on TV–on Saturday afternoons hosting horror movie films. The show was called “Creature Features” on St. Petersburg’s Channel 44 and d the ratings went through the roof even though the idea was more or less a joke. Bennick hosted the show under the pesona of Dr. Paul Bearer, a comedic mortician that he had unsuccessfully created in High Point, North Carolina as Count Shockula back in the ’60s.
http:/www,flickr.com/photos/siredcelot/228662161/
Enjoyable read 
interesting,as when they made it law in NZ to ban inside smoking,I have met one hell of a lot of more people due to the fact that we were made to congregate together out in all weathers,lol, I may choke to death but hay I know a lot more people than I ever did….Some now good buddies. .
Ummm how old are you and do you still smoke, just beating my gums,hahahahahaa????
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