| Notes |
- Niagara Gazette - 4/8/1950
LOCKPORT. April 8-The body of
Roy C. Witmer. 63, former Lockport
resident who rose to become
vice president of the National
Broadcasting company, was laid to
test today In Forest Lawn Memorial
park. Pasadena, Calif. Committal
services will be held at 2
p, m. today.
Word of burial plans was received
by Mrs. Herbert P. Glover,
177 Genesee street, a cousin, from
Mr. Witmer's sister. Mrs. H. Wallace
Murray, Pasadena. Mr. Witmer
died a week ago at Westport. Conn.
ALSO
Niagara Gazette - 4/1/1950
WESTPORT, Conn., April 1
Roy C. Witmer, 63, former vice
President of the National Broadcast
ing company, died early today at his
home here after a long illness.
Witmer, who was vice president
in charge of sales at the time of
his retirement in 1948, was one of
the pioneers of network broadcast
ing and was responsible for much
of the growth of radio during the
past two decades. ° _
Attended, Lockport Schools
Witmer was born at Niagara Falls
N. Y., and received his early schooling
at Lockport. N. Y. After graduating
from Leland Stanford-university
at Palo Alto, Calif. He
worked for a time as an accountant
at the First National Bank of Los
Angeles and then for the southern
California Edison company.
Returning East, he served for 12
years as vice president and general
manager of a manufacturing plant
at Fitchburg, Mass. From Massachusetts
he moved to nearby Norwalk
where he worked as sales manager
of the Norwalk Iron works
Witmer became, associated with
the National Broadcasting company
as a salesman in 1927. He was pro
moted to assistant sales manager in
1928, sales manager in 1930 and vice
president in 1931.
Witmer, after his promotion to
vice president, became mainly re-
sponsible for changing the form of
radio commercials. Asserting that
most advertisers did not know how
to use the radio and that the ma-
jority of listeners did not know how
to listen, Witmer insisted that com-
mercials, to be effective, should be
as entertaining as the rest of the
program.
Private Funeral Monday
"Tiresome advertising has killed
more radio programs than bad
actors and musicians," he said.
To listeners, he said; "Before you
tune in, select a program that suits
your taste, just as you would with
a stage production, then give it
your attention."
Witmer fought constantly for good
taste, interest and honesty in radio
advertising.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Dorothy (Parks) Witmer, daughter
of Robert S. Parks, formerly of
Fitchburg. Funeral plans are in-
complete.
Born in Niagara Falls
Roy C. witmer, the son of Joseph
Witmer, was born in Lockport road,
Niagara Falls. He was the grand-
son of Abraham Witmer and the
descendent of the Witmers who
came to this country from Switzer-
land in the middle of the eighteenth
century.
Roy C. Witmer's ancestors came to
Niagara county from Lancaster
county, Pa., in 1812.
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1886 - 1950 (63 years)