Remembering Jerry Lewis

With this weekend’s passing of comedy legend Jerry Lewis, many of us choose to remember him for his humanitarian efforts; specifically, his years as host of his annual Labor Day MDA Telethon. Our friend “Shotgun Tom” Kelly fondly recalls his years as one of the local co-hosts of the Telethon in San Diego and Los Angeles.

“We would join other radio and TV telethon hosts from around the country and meet with Jerry in Las Vegas for telethon meetings and promotional photos,” says Kelly, pictured here with Lewis in this 1974 promotional photo that was on display inside every 7/11 store in the San Diego area. At the time Kelly was doing afternoon drive at the legendary KCBQ/San Diego and hosting the syndicated TV game show for kids, Words-A-Poppin.

As Kelly told RAMP, “All of us in radio and television who worked with Jerry Lewis owe him a tremendous debt of thanks for letting us help him raise money for ‘Jerry’s Kids.'”