‘Mr. Peppermint’ Dead At 84 [VIDEO]

Growing up in the metroplex (Dallas/Ft. Worth), I remember watching Peppermint Place and Mr. Peppermint on Channel 8 and was sad to read that he passed away yesterday.  Jerry Haynes, who was Mr. Peppermint, died yesterday morning in Longview nursing center from complications from Parkinson's Disease, he was 84.  Mr. Peppermint entertained kids as they got ready for school or just ate their cereal watching him and his sidekick Muffin (Muffin Bear).

Jerry Haynes entertained kids for over 35 years always wearing his signature red and white stripped jacket with a red, white stripped straw hat and stripped cane.  He decided to end the show in the mid 90's because kids TV programming was fading.  Mr. Peppermint appeared in more than 6000 episodes and was the longest running locally produced show in Dallas-Ft. Worth.

WFAA.com left me with Mr. Peppermint's message to his young viewers:

I want to remind you: Sometimes things don't go too well and you're not feeling a real good mood.  When you feel unhappy, nothing seems worthwhile. Just give yourself a peppermint grin, and you will wear a smile."

To see a look back on Peppermint Place and Mr. Peppermint check out wfaa.com.

What are your favorite memories of Mr. Peppermint?