Remembering ‘The Menards Guy’
For more than three decades residents of the Midwest knew him as “The Menards Guy.”
With his folksy, excitable and sometimes over-the-top personality, Menards pitchman Ray Szmanda became a regional television icon while accompanied by the “Save big money at Menards” jingle.
Menards commercials featuring Szmanda still have a loyal following on YouTube 20 years after his initial retirement in 1998.
Szmanda passed away on May 6 at 91 and Menards is paying tribute to a longtime member of the home improvement giant’s family. A detailed history of Szmanda’s work with Menards, along with several of his commercials, can be found at the page dedicated to his work.
According to Menards, Szmanda was hired in 1976 after just one audition. The Eau Claire, Wis.-based company had eight stores at the time.
Within a few years, he had become a fixture on television with his trademark eyeglasses and full head of white hair. And as the television legend grew, so did Menards — eventually expanding to more than 300 stores in 14 states.
With his folksy, excitable and sometimes over-the-top personality, Menards pitchman Ray Szmanda became a regional television icon while accompanied by the “Save big money at Menards” jingle.
Menards commercials featuring Szmanda still have a loyal following on YouTube 20 years after his initial retirement in 1998.
Szmanda passed away on May 6 at 91 and Menards is paying tribute to a longtime member of the home improvement giant’s family. A detailed history of Szmanda’s work with Menards, along with several of his commercials, can be found at the page dedicated to his work.
According to Menards, Szmanda was hired in 1976 after just one audition. The Eau Claire, Wis.-based company had eight stores at the time.
Within a few years, he had become a fixture on television with his trademark eyeglasses and full head of white hair. And as the television legend grew, so did Menards — eventually expanding to more than 300 stores in 14 states.