August 29, 1914 marked the entry into the world of one Willard Lewis Waterman , who would adorn the airwaves as the star of The The Great Gildersleeve from 1950-'57. The Great was otherwise known as Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve , the water commissioner of Summerfield, with his bellowing calls and inimitable laugh. Fans of the show may recall the Jolly Boys Club , Floyd the Barber, Police Chief Gates, Eve Goodwin, and Leila Ransom. When replacing Harold Peary with Waterman , Gildersleeve was getting a seasoned and popular radio actor. He had already rocked the mic on such series as Those Websters and The Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters . It's our pleasure to commemorate what would've been the ninety-ninth birthday of a great character actor.