View source for Willis Death Hoax

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On a visit to [[Terry Carr]]'s home in mid-1952, [[Pete Graham]] (then aged 13) suggested a hoax that [[Willis]] had died. [[Carr]] tried to squelch the notion and thought he had, but [[Graham]] circulated a number of postalcards announcing [[Willis]]'s death. He had done it, according to [[Carr]], because he'd gotten a gift from his parents of a [[postcard mimeo]] and two [[stencils]] and "he had been dying to try them on something". Since the pcs were mailed from San Francisco few fans believed the news, but [[Lee Riddle]] called [[Lee Hoffman]] long distance to check -- and she was able to confirm that [[WAW]] lived on. Practically everybody blasted [[Graham]] for the stunt. (Some blamed [[Terry Carr]], who was not involved.) Many were disturbed because the hoax might affect the campaign adversely. 
 
The postal said: "We regret to inform you that the well-known Irish fan, [[Walter A Willis]], is dead. He passed away at his home in [[Northern Ireland]] at the hour of 9:50 A.M. on Thursday, May 15. The doctor said he died of diptheria [sic], a disease from which he had been suffering for some time. The [[chicon ii|Chicago Convention]] will honor his death by cancelling the banquet, and by limiting the auction to quiet bidding. Most [[fanzines]] will have a memorial issue, which will be for sale only to [[fans]] who contributed to the '[[WAW With the Crew in '52]]' fund. [[Fen]] who contributed to the '[[WAW With the Crew in '52]]' fund, send your name and address to [[Shelby Vick]] and he will return your money. All [[fanzine]] publishers are asked not to treat this announcement as a [[hoax]], but to give it full consideration and to announce it in his own magazine so that [[fans]] may know of this throughout the nation and the world. Yours, An Interested Fan Who Is Willing To Pay Postage For These Cards." 
 
[[Vick]] knew it was a hoax; he'd received a letter from [[WAW]] dated 20 May. The card was postmarked Frisco, May 28, and was poorly mimeoed. [[Walt Willis|Walt]], of course, turned up alive, but the rigors of convention and postcon visiting almost caused him to make an honest man of [[Graham]]. 
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[[Category:hoax]]