Ocean City's 'Boardwalk Elvis' Dies At 78

OCEAN CITY, MD — Norman Webb, better known to Ocean City visitors as Boardwalk Elvis, has died at age 78, his family announced Saturday. He reportedly had suffered from cancer.

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan shared the news Saturday on Facebook. "RIP Norman J Webb aka “Boardwalk Elvis”. You truly are a boardwalk Icon!" the mayor wrote.

Webb, of Showell, would bike on Ocean City's boardwalk and serenade tourists dressed as Elvis, Santa Claus and other personalities.

His nephew, John Webb Jr., posted the news of his uncle's passing on the Boardwalk Elvis Is Alive! Facebook page. "Family, friends and fans. It’s with a heavy and broken heart to inform you that Uncle Norman has finished his earth journey this morning peacefully, comfortably and with loving family members by his bedside. Please keep our family in your prayers. We appreciate the love that everyone has shown."

A few weeks before his death, Norman Webb was awarded a key to Ocean City, WBOC reported.

"I am happy we had the opportunity to have a ceremony for him a few weeks ago," Mayor Meehan told WBOC. "And really thank him on behalf of all the people."

A funeral service will be held at 1pm on Thursday, June 21, at Bishop-Hastings Funeral Home in Selbyville. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to help defray funeral expenses can be made to Bishop-Hastings Funeral Home, P.O. Box 267, Selbyville, DE 19975.

Time magazine published a story about Ocean City in the 1990s that included a photo of Boardwalk Elvis, Webb's friend, Mike Beatty, told Delmarva Now.

“The City Council was so impressed by this, that the town of Ocean City arranged Greyhound bus fare, and a couple of nights lodging, and sent Norman and a friend to Graceland,” Beatty said. “It was near the top of the many nice things this great town has ever done.”

Image via Shutterstock