MARCH 2 – Chuck Maillet was born in New York City on August 17, 1920. He voluntarily joined the Army as a young man after hearing news of the Pearl Harbor attack. He served as a Combat Infantry Platoon Sergeant with the Mountaineer Infantry of the 37th Army Battalion from 1942-45, with two and a half of those years in the Aleutian Islands that included seven active beach landings.

After Sgt. Maillet was sent stateside, he served in special services and was the Master of Ceremonies and organizer for many shows to entertain servicemen and women. He worked with many of the Big Band groups of the era, including such greats as Benny Goodman, Kay Kayer, Les Brown, The Gene Krupa Quintet, Red Skelton, and many others. He has been in radio for over 60 years, starting as an announcer in 1947 and shortly after, became the general manager at WFLO radio in Farmville. He went on to manage WWOD in Lynchburg, WRNL in Richmond, WJWL in Georgetown, Del., and also tried his hand at TV at WLAC, Nashville, Tenn., all before buying and running WIOI when he came to Portsmouth in 1961.

During the years he has interviewed many stars, celebrities, and government officials, including two presidents. He takes pride in having had a hand in training many successful broadcasters. He has been active in community affairs, having served as chairman of the Scioto County United Way in 1978, Past President of the Portsmouth Rotary Club, past VP of the Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce, Ports-mouth Jaycees “Boss of the Year”, Trustee of Mercy Hospital 1972-78, past chairman and present member of the SOMC Foundation, served with Scioto Radio Reading Service, and board member of MRDD. He served many years on the boards of Goodwill Industries and Portsmouth Receiving Hospital. Maillet was awarded his STAR on the Portsmouth Flood Wall “Wall of Fame” in 2000.

He is survived by his wife, Bea LaForce Maillet, whom he married Sept. 1, 1945, at Camp Pickett; his children, Julie (Mike) Ilhardt, Charlene (Richard) Counts, Chip Maillet, and Jacquie (Tom) O'Rourke; grand-children, Dean Tackett, Chad Tackett, Jason Wolfe, Chris Counts, Glenn Counts, Charlie Maillet, Andy Maillet, Cory Maillet, and Katie O'Rourke; and four great-grandchildren, with one on the way.

Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 29, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with interment in Sunset Memorial Gardens at Franklin Furnace. Military rites were conducted by the Honor Detail of James Dickey Post 23 American Legion.

Memorial donations may be made to the Chuck Maillet Memorial Fund at Main Street Portsmouth, PO Box 620, Portsmouth, OH 45662, or to SOMC Hospice, 2201 25th Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662.