****Murdered By a Jealous Husband****
During a Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon he was hosting, Ernest “Stretch” Scherer, also known as Captain Billy, put his arm around a female volunteer. Her husband Willie Crowder was watching the telethon and that gesture made him angry. He started calling the television station and making threats.
On October 27, 1972, in the morning, Willie Crowder went to the T.V. station and asked to see Captain Billy, then waited in the lobby for him. Scherer was told there was a man who was quite upset waiting to see him. He laughingly replied, “I’m a celebrity! There’s a guy up front who wants to kill me!”
When Scherer arrived in the lobby, Crowder produced a .32 caliber pistol and shot him in the chest.
The police arrested Willie, but the prosecution never got a conviction. After the courts found out he had been injured in WWII at Guadalcanal and had other mental illness issues since then, he was deemed insane at the time of the shooting and sent to a state mental hospital in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Sometime in 1973, he left that facility on his own accord and was found in Arizona and arrested. Since there were no charges pending against him in New Mexico, an Arizona judge refused to extradite him.
Crowder stayed in Arizona and died in 1991.
One of the newspaper accounts of that shooting is below.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Albuquerque Tribune (Newspaper) - December 18, 1972, Albuquerque, New Mexico - Page 47
-Young Shipmates Mourn 'Captain Billy'-
Stretch Scherer, the beloved "Captain Billy" on KGGM- TV's children's show, is dead. Mr. Scherer died Saturday afternoon at Presbyterian Hospital from complications of a gunshot wound in the left chest. He was 48. Scherer, whose real name was Robert Ernest Scherer, had just finished filming the Captain Billy Show on Oct. 27 when he was wounded.
-Dropped to Critical-
Thousands of cards and letters arrived at the hospital and KGGM studio while he was in the hospital. Many were in childish handwriting. Hundreds of bouquets of flowers were sent to him. His young "shipmates" who watched the Captain Billy show were always loyal and attended personal appearances that Scherer made in Albuquerque. Les Wells, producer and director of the Captain Billy show, said Scherer worked for KOB-TV before coming to KGGM in Nov. The Captain Billy show replaced a previous children's program called "Captain Seafoam." The new show was first called "Captain Billy and the USS Seafoam."
-Born in New York-
Scherer, born in Buffalo, N.Y., began his television career in Austin, Tex., at a station owned by former President Lyndon Johnson. He was an honor graduate of DePaul University, Chicago. Scherer had a master's degree in drama. During World War II and the Korean War, Scherer served in the Navy as a medic. Scherer, always immaculately dressed in the latest fashions, was a civic-minded man. He traditionally hosted the Muscular Dystrophy telethon over KGGM.
-Lewis Telegram-
While Scherer was hospitalized, comedian Jerry Lewis, national Muscular Dystrophy Association chairman, sent him a telegram. After learning of Scherer's death, Lewis Saturday sent a telegram to the station mourning the death "of a good friend." Bob Ross of New York, who heads the Muscular Dystrophy Association, had telephoned Scherer at the hospital days after the shooting. Scherer gave uncounted hours to civic and community projects.
-Appear at Events-
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts asked him to appear at their events, and he was on hand for movie openings and other special events. Most of these appearances were voluntary, Mr. Wells said. Scherer often was called upon to be master of ceremony for women's fashion shows, including opening night shows at the Barn Dinner Theatre. He handled these with a light touch, often pretending to have trouble understanding the glib fashion terms of copywriters. Scherer had talked to Tribune Reporter Richard Williams about the shooting.
-Threatening Calls-
He said he had been receiving threatening telephone calls before the shooting and had had two premonition dreams that he would be shot.
Services will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Strong-Thorne Mortuary. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
During a Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon he was hosting, Ernest “Stretch” Scherer, also known as Captain Billy, put his arm around a female volunteer. Her husband Willie Crowder was watching the telethon and that gesture made him angry. He started calling the television station and making threats.
On October 27, 1972, in the morning, Willie Crowder went to the T.V. station and asked to see Captain Billy, then waited in the lobby for him. Scherer was told there was a man who was quite upset waiting to see him. He laughingly replied, “I’m a celebrity! There’s a guy up front who wants to kill me!”
When Scherer arrived in the lobby, Crowder produced a .32 caliber pistol and shot him in the chest.
The police arrested Willie, but the prosecution never got a conviction. After the courts found out he had been injured in WWII at Guadalcanal and had other mental illness issues since then, he was deemed insane at the time of the shooting and sent to a state mental hospital in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Sometime in 1973, he left that facility on his own accord and was found in Arizona and arrested. Since there were no charges pending against him in New Mexico, an Arizona judge refused to extradite him.
Crowder stayed in Arizona and died in 1991.
One of the newspaper accounts of that shooting is below.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Albuquerque Tribune (Newspaper) - December 18, 1972, Albuquerque, New Mexico - Page 47
-Young Shipmates Mourn 'Captain Billy'-
Stretch Scherer, the beloved "Captain Billy" on KGGM- TV's children's show, is dead. Mr. Scherer died Saturday afternoon at Presbyterian Hospital from complications of a gunshot wound in the left chest. He was 48. Scherer, whose real name was Robert Ernest Scherer, had just finished filming the Captain Billy Show on Oct. 27 when he was wounded.
-Dropped to Critical-
Thousands of cards and letters arrived at the hospital and KGGM studio while he was in the hospital. Many were in childish handwriting. Hundreds of bouquets of flowers were sent to him. His young "shipmates" who watched the Captain Billy show were always loyal and attended personal appearances that Scherer made in Albuquerque. Les Wells, producer and director of the Captain Billy show, said Scherer worked for KOB-TV before coming to KGGM in Nov. The Captain Billy show replaced a previous children's program called "Captain Seafoam." The new show was first called "Captain Billy and the USS Seafoam."
-Born in New York-
Scherer, born in Buffalo, N.Y., began his television career in Austin, Tex., at a station owned by former President Lyndon Johnson. He was an honor graduate of DePaul University, Chicago. Scherer had a master's degree in drama. During World War II and the Korean War, Scherer served in the Navy as a medic. Scherer, always immaculately dressed in the latest fashions, was a civic-minded man. He traditionally hosted the Muscular Dystrophy telethon over KGGM.
-Lewis Telegram-
While Scherer was hospitalized, comedian Jerry Lewis, national Muscular Dystrophy Association chairman, sent him a telegram. After learning of Scherer's death, Lewis Saturday sent a telegram to the station mourning the death "of a good friend." Bob Ross of New York, who heads the Muscular Dystrophy Association, had telephoned Scherer at the hospital days after the shooting. Scherer gave uncounted hours to civic and community projects.
-Appear at Events-
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts asked him to appear at their events, and he was on hand for movie openings and other special events. Most of these appearances were voluntary, Mr. Wells said. Scherer often was called upon to be master of ceremony for women's fashion shows, including opening night shows at the Barn Dinner Theatre. He handled these with a light touch, often pretending to have trouble understanding the glib fashion terms of copywriters. Scherer had talked to Tribune Reporter Richard Williams about the shooting.
-Threatening Calls-
He said he had been receiving threatening telephone calls before the shooting and had had two premonition dreams that he would be shot.
Services will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Strong-Thorne Mortuary. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
****Murdered By a Jealous Husband****
During a Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon he was hosting, Ernest “Stretch” Scherer, also known as Captain Billy, put his arm around a female volunteer. Her husband Willie Crowder was watching the telethon and that gesture made him angry. He started calling the television station and making threats.
On October 27, 1972, in the morning, Willie Crowder went to the T.V. station and asked to see Captain Billy, then waited in the lobby for him. Scherer was told there was a man who was quite upset waiting to see him. He laughingly replied, “I’m a celebrity! There’s a guy up front who wants to kill me!”
When Scherer arrived in the lobby, Crowder produced a .32 caliber pistol and shot him in the chest.
The police arrested Willie, but the prosecution never got a conviction. After the courts found out he had been injured in WWII at Guadalcanal and had other mental illness issues since then, he was deemed insane at the time of the shooting and sent to a state mental hospital in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Sometime in 1973, he left that facility on his own accord and was found in Arizona and arrested. Since there were no charges pending against him in New Mexico, an Arizona judge refused to extradite him.
Crowder stayed in Arizona and died in 1991.
One of the newspaper accounts of that shooting is below.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Albuquerque Tribune (Newspaper) - December 18, 1972, Albuquerque, New Mexico - Page 47
-Young Shipmates Mourn 'Captain Billy'-
Stretch Scherer, the beloved "Captain Billy" on KGGM- TV's children's show, is dead. Mr. Scherer died Saturday afternoon at Presbyterian Hospital from complications of a gunshot wound in the left chest. He was 48. Scherer, whose real name was Robert Ernest Scherer, had just finished filming the Captain Billy Show on Oct. 27 when he was wounded.
-Dropped to Critical-
Thousands of cards and letters arrived at the hospital and KGGM studio while he was in the hospital. Many were in childish handwriting. Hundreds of bouquets of flowers were sent to him. His young "shipmates" who watched the Captain Billy show were always loyal and attended personal appearances that Scherer made in Albuquerque. Les Wells, producer and director of the Captain Billy show, said Scherer worked for KOB-TV before coming to KGGM in Nov. The Captain Billy show replaced a previous children's program called "Captain Seafoam." The new show was first called "Captain Billy and the USS Seafoam."
-Born in New York-
Scherer, born in Buffalo, N.Y., began his television career in Austin, Tex., at a station owned by former President Lyndon Johnson. He was an honor graduate of DePaul University, Chicago. Scherer had a master's degree in drama. During World War II and the Korean War, Scherer served in the Navy as a medic. Scherer, always immaculately dressed in the latest fashions, was a civic-minded man. He traditionally hosted the Muscular Dystrophy telethon over KGGM.
-Lewis Telegram-
While Scherer was hospitalized, comedian Jerry Lewis, national Muscular Dystrophy Association chairman, sent him a telegram. After learning of Scherer's death, Lewis Saturday sent a telegram to the station mourning the death "of a good friend." Bob Ross of New York, who heads the Muscular Dystrophy Association, had telephoned Scherer at the hospital days after the shooting. Scherer gave uncounted hours to civic and community projects.
-Appear at Events-
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts asked him to appear at their events, and he was on hand for movie openings and other special events. Most of these appearances were voluntary, Mr. Wells said. Scherer often was called upon to be master of ceremony for women's fashion shows, including opening night shows at the Barn Dinner Theatre. He handled these with a light touch, often pretending to have trouble understanding the glib fashion terms of copywriters. Scherer had talked to Tribune Reporter Richard Williams about the shooting.
-Threatening Calls-
He said he had been receiving threatening telephone calls before the shooting and had had two premonition dreams that he would be shot.
Services will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Strong-Thorne Mortuary. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
During a Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon he was hosting, Ernest “Stretch” Scherer, also known as Captain Billy, put his arm around a female volunteer. Her husband Willie Crowder was watching the telethon and that gesture made him angry. He started calling the television station and making threats.
On October 27, 1972, in the morning, Willie Crowder went to the T.V. station and asked to see Captain Billy, then waited in the lobby for him. Scherer was told there was a man who was quite upset waiting to see him. He laughingly replied, “I’m a celebrity! There’s a guy up front who wants to kill me!”
When Scherer arrived in the lobby, Crowder produced a .32 caliber pistol and shot him in the chest.
The police arrested Willie, but the prosecution never got a conviction. After the courts found out he had been injured in WWII at Guadalcanal and had other mental illness issues since then, he was deemed insane at the time of the shooting and sent to a state mental hospital in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Sometime in 1973, he left that facility on his own accord and was found in Arizona and arrested. Since there were no charges pending against him in New Mexico, an Arizona judge refused to extradite him.
Crowder stayed in Arizona and died in 1991.
One of the newspaper accounts of that shooting is below.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Albuquerque Tribune (Newspaper) - December 18, 1972, Albuquerque, New Mexico - Page 47
-Young Shipmates Mourn 'Captain Billy'-
Stretch Scherer, the beloved "Captain Billy" on KGGM- TV's children's show, is dead. Mr. Scherer died Saturday afternoon at Presbyterian Hospital from complications of a gunshot wound in the left chest. He was 48. Scherer, whose real name was Robert Ernest Scherer, had just finished filming the Captain Billy Show on Oct. 27 when he was wounded.
-Dropped to Critical-
Thousands of cards and letters arrived at the hospital and KGGM studio while he was in the hospital. Many were in childish handwriting. Hundreds of bouquets of flowers were sent to him. His young "shipmates" who watched the Captain Billy show were always loyal and attended personal appearances that Scherer made in Albuquerque. Les Wells, producer and director of the Captain Billy show, said Scherer worked for KOB-TV before coming to KGGM in Nov. The Captain Billy show replaced a previous children's program called "Captain Seafoam." The new show was first called "Captain Billy and the USS Seafoam."
-Born in New York-
Scherer, born in Buffalo, N.Y., began his television career in Austin, Tex., at a station owned by former President Lyndon Johnson. He was an honor graduate of DePaul University, Chicago. Scherer had a master's degree in drama. During World War II and the Korean War, Scherer served in the Navy as a medic. Scherer, always immaculately dressed in the latest fashions, was a civic-minded man. He traditionally hosted the Muscular Dystrophy telethon over KGGM.
-Lewis Telegram-
While Scherer was hospitalized, comedian Jerry Lewis, national Muscular Dystrophy Association chairman, sent him a telegram. After learning of Scherer's death, Lewis Saturday sent a telegram to the station mourning the death "of a good friend." Bob Ross of New York, who heads the Muscular Dystrophy Association, had telephoned Scherer at the hospital days after the shooting. Scherer gave uncounted hours to civic and community projects.
-Appear at Events-
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts asked him to appear at their events, and he was on hand for movie openings and other special events. Most of these appearances were voluntary, Mr. Wells said. Scherer often was called upon to be master of ceremony for women's fashion shows, including opening night shows at the Barn Dinner Theatre. He handled these with a light touch, often pretending to have trouble understanding the glib fashion terms of copywriters. Scherer had talked to Tribune Reporter Richard Williams about the shooting.
-Threatening Calls-
He said he had been receiving threatening telephone calls before the shooting and had had two premonition dreams that he would be shot.
Services will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Strong-Thorne Mortuary. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
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