What else can you add to the headline except that a crime writing legend has passed on? And so, I'll repost the obit printed in today's Myrtle Beach Sun:
Legendary mystery novelist and local resident Frank "Mickey" Spillane died Monday at his Murrells Inlet home. He was 88.
Spillane is best known for his chain-smoking, sharp-shooting, womanizing detective character Mike Hammer. Spillane introduced Hammer in 1947 in "I, the Jury," his first detective novel.
Spillane was born March 9, 1918, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He discovered Murrells Inlet during World War II, when he was an Army Air Force flying instructor at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
Perhaps because of his experience with the Sun Fun Festival, Spillane liked to be involved in community affairs, especially in Murrells Inlet.
He was the informal host of the old Murrells Inlet Arts and Crafts Festival that ran in the village from 1972 to 1985. He walked around the festival greeting people, signing autographs, hugging fans and having his picture taken with them.
In 1986, he agreed to requests from boosters looking for a new way to bring in tourists to spearhead Mickey Spillane's Fishing Festival and Tournament.
The event appealed to his own love of the water and fishing. The festival lasted only a few years, blown away by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
The hurricane also blew away his beloved creek house that he bought sight unseen in the 1950s when he was looking for property in the area.
Spillane built a grander house, a stronger one, in the same spot at Jordan's Landing on the inlet. But he lost forever his collection of first editions of his books in many languages, along with posters of the films made from many of the books.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel.
There will be extensive coverage in tomorrow's Sun (with a guestbook for condolences) and here on the blog as well. The backblog's open too for anyone wanting to share thoughts, memories and anecdotes.
Another of the giants, gone.
Mickey was a good soul. I remember getting a note from him in 2004, when our first titles were just coming out, in which he wrote "At my
age of 86 (in four years I'll be 90!!!), but still don't wear glasses
and have a full head of hair, I'm kind of winding up a career, but I'll
sure be looking forward to seeing how your approach works out. Just
don't take too long!"
I'll miss him.
Posted by: Charles Ardai | July 17, 2006 at 07:13 PM
Horrible, horrible news. I think tonight I'll break out one of my favorite Mickey books (The Delta Factor) and read a few pages. When I first started writing, Spillane was my teacher, and a good teacher he was.
Posted by: Brian Drake | July 17, 2006 at 07:58 PM
This sucks. I loved his writing. One of the best, in my opinion.
Sad day. Rest in Peace, Mickey.
Posted by: Rob Gregory Browne | July 18, 2006 at 01:06 AM
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Posted by: Jesse MCcartney | July 30, 2006 at 01:36 PM