NAMES IN THE NEWS : Call Him ‘Doctor’ Soupy Sales

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Comedian Soupy Sales will get an honorary doctorate instead of a pie in the face when he visits his alma mater, Marshall University.

“This doctor will be making house calls,” Sales said after learning he will be honored at the school’s commencement ceremonies on May 12.

“I’m thrilled to death about the honor. I have a warm spot in my heart for Marshall.”

Sales grew up in Huntington as Milton Supman and graduated from Marshall with a journalism degree in 1949. He said he was fired from the school newspaper, The Parthenon, for cracking too many jokes and spending too much time at the student union.

Sales, who said he’s had more than 19,000 pies thrown in his face during his 41-year show business career, is best known for his first network television show, “The Soupy Sales Show,” in the 1960s.