Whimsical, charming, friendly, kind, courteous and supremely polite. That was my dear, lovable friend Dennis Daily. I’d never seen him mad and he never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was an encyclopedia of information and was very generous with his time, attention and with his vast knowledge. He was a fan of all things aviation and could tell you how any airplane would fly. He’d never want to criticize anyone, even when they were wrong. Ever the diplomat, he’d say: “this is not a criticism, only to make you more perfect but…” (and there was always a but!) and he’d go on to correct you on your grammar or diction. Say “FEEL” instead of “fill” and what is this business about ‘conversating’ with someone? It’s “conversing!” One time in Key West, Florida, Dennis curled up and took a nap on the floor of the room, because he found his bed too soft, and when he awoke he sad, “Wow, that floor sure is conducive to repose” — he’d always say the most random things.
He adored the legacy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and called him a “benevolent dictator” who did a lot of good for the people. Dennis also enjoyed watching David McCullough and Ken Burns documentaries and he always had a deep sense of history. Dennis himself served in the U.S. Capitol as congressional press secretary to his U.S. Congressman David Cornwell (D) Indiana. He left government after Cornwell lost his reelection bid. Dennis also worked for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in public relations and one of his crowning achievements there was working with the late, great Gary Owens on a PSA to prevent a pervasive, destructive-to-crops gypsy moth infestation. He then joined Mutual Broadcasting and he was the first producer for “The Larry King Show” before the suspenders-wearing broadcaster moved his show to television on CNN.
Dennis enjoyed listening to the dean of broadcast radio, the late, great, legendary Paul Harvey and was also a fan of gospel singer George Beverly Shea, who performed for many years alongside the revered preacher Rev. Billy Graham. A fan of old time radio, Dennis listened to every episode of “Fibber McGee & Molly” and also was a fan of “Tales of the Texas Ranger,” “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar,” “Dragnet,” “Gunsmoke,” and the “Lone Ranger” and he hated when local Los Angeles radio station KNX got rid of the drama hour that was on at 8pm every night. After his stint at UPI radio in L.A. ended, Dennis moved to Las Vegas, then to Long Beach, and to Palm Springs, back to Las Vegas and then back home to southern Indiana — first to Monroe City with his longtime friend and former Indiana weatherman, the affable Kerry Dean, whom Dennis would affectionately call “the weather human,” and then to where he was from, the small, charming, quaint town of Washington, Indiana. It was there where every year up until about a decade ago, Dennis would broadcast a live show at his hometown church every Christmas for his “American Montage” radio show on United Press International. In light of the recent anti-immigrant sentiment against Haitian immigrants fleeing violence in their native homeland, Dennis, a native of small town Washington, IN, sympathized with the plight of the Haitians and likened their situation with that of other ethnic groups before them, including of Mexican Americans and even to his own Irish heritage when Irish immigrants were ostracized for being “different” and “foreign” when many Irish groups first migrated to the U.S. decades ago.
Dennis was a friend and a fan of Jimmy Weldon, voice of Yakky Doodle of the Hanna-Barbera cartoons, and later Webster Webfoot, Rocky & Bullwinkle voice actor June Foray and Hanna-Barbera voice actor Janet Waldo, the voice of Judy Jetson, among many others. He even once met the legendary entertainer Bob Hope and he always had a photo up of he and Bob. He was looking fondly at Bob who was looking onward, you could see Dennis’ side profile and how much in awe he was of the gracious Bob Hope.
For those who knew Dennis really well, he treated people to his whimsical characters and cooky alter egos. Bob Whittmore (or Robert W. Whittmore in formal settings) was the sweet, clueless and Grape Nuts eating fellow, the “Swollen Chef” Buster Guttman and his Waterman’s Tuna sponsor (look for the can with the God Mercury on it). Stu Fenman was the man-on-the-street reporter who would often come up with clever, catchy lines in his delivery. One of the best deadpan deliveries he ever made was for a fictional product called … wait for it. Little Cheesy Bastards! Haha, it was a a Cheez-Itz knock off. Cantankerous and otherwise charming Herschel Hatzoff is credited for his marketing whiz.
One thing that few probably knew about Dennis was that he was quite the distinguished whistler. He’d often perform at the behest and clever nudging of legendary cabaret performer the late, great Rudy de la Mor. He was so good at it, in fact, that Rudy playfully dubbed Dennis “Whistler’s Mother” and Dennis would also sing for Rudy on occasion, often performing the song “Laura.” Dennis introduced me to Rudy and he’d often go to his delightful performances. I miss them both.
A roll by any other name?
Ever a pacifist, Dennis stood his ground when it came to weapons and those who touted them. He was a member of a group of seniors who would meet at McDonald’s for their morning repast and conversation. One time he saw someone at the breakfast club with a concealed gun and he wasn’t having it. He chose not to go again and he let the group know exactly why he was boycotting them. He didn’t believe in guns and he was a devout pacifist.
Mr. Daily was also an author and he penned books such as this one: “The Mar-a-Lago Maniac”
Dennis enjoyed a good Chinese restaurant meal at “Hunan Garden” and could often be found at his local jaunt “The New White Steamer” where you’d see them flipping burgers in the window with a nice white pillow of smoke billowing from the smokestack at the top. Dennis would wash every meal down with an “endless supply” of Diet Pepsi or the Walmart variant of it if he was not in a restaurant. He also frequented “Hacienda El Asadero” in Washington, Indiana, and even became friends with the owner and the staff. Dennis was a very friendly guy and he genuinely cared about people. He’d always speak very fondly of his sister Diane Daily and of his upbringing in a small house on John Street.
Dennis, thank you for being such a gracious, kind and endearing man. I wish to emulate you and your whimsical ways. You were kind up until the very end and for that, I will always admire you. I love you, Dennis. Rest in peace. Thank you for being a friend and a mentor of the highest order. Make the other angels laugh and teach them well up there. I know you will! Dennis was a bingo fan and even wrote for a publication (under his nom de plume Bob Whittmore) called the “Bingo Bugle” — his favorite number was I-19. He’d often say, “Congratulations, damnit!” to those who won over him. He’d always play the minimum cards because he was in it for the fun. The very few times that he won, he’d help others with his winnings.
Dennis was a fan of Anthony Newley and one of his favorite songs was by George Jones. He also loved the comedic chops of the legendary Red Skelton and enjoyed episodes of the cooking show “America’s Test Kitchen” and he even sent them a video audition.
Dennis also loved to take road trips and here’s one of his explorations:
For the random delights and musings that Dennis left us with, check out his first YouTube channel, which will now serve as a time capsule, an archive and as a remembrance of the ingenuity and curiosity of a lifelong reporter:
Dennis also had another YouTube channel and you can click below to check it out:
Amicitiae Nostrae Memoriam Spero Sempiternam Fore