The Empire Carpet man has died!  Man, it seems like everybody in the world knew about him.  You could always tell who was really from Chicago because you’d start…588 and the poser had better come up with the rest of that jingle.  Here’s the story:

NORTHLAKE, Ill. — The man who became famous as the Empire Carpet Man has died at age 89.

Empire announced Elmer Lynn Hauldren’s death on Wednesday. Hauldren was the voice of Empire Carpet on television advertising in the 1970s. He later lent his voice to Empire commercials, working with the Northlake company until he died. The company said it chose Hauldren as its on-air talent after unsuccessfully auditioning several others for the role. Hauldren helped launch the carpet company’s “588-2300” jingle. Hauldren was a World War II veteran and a singer in a barbershop quartet.