Speedy Delivery and Huggy Bear: a mailbox full of kindness

David Newell — a truly special Speedy Delivery

I sent David my custom collage to sign, and he returned it with a big blue “Speedy Delivery!” greeting to Scott, his signature, and “aka Mr. McFeely”. Seeing that familiar phrase written across something I designed is such a wonderful connection to a show I grew up watching.

But that was only the beginning. David sent an entire amazing folder worth of things: additional signed photographs, information about the Neighborhood, and a personal letter. He even personalized the folder itself! Opening it and discovering each extra made the return feel like a whole collection of surprises.

A letter that made the return even more meaningful

In his letter, David thanked me for being a longtime fan and responded to what I’d written about Mr. McFeely introducing children to people, places, and how everyday things are made. He remembered the visits to the Crayola factory to see crayons and markers being made, and pointed me toward the Mister Rogers YouTube channel.

Then came a line about my collage that absolutely made my day: “I love it. You did a great job.” That means so much. These collages are my way of celebrating someone’s work, and knowing that he enjoyed his makes this return even more personal. He even sent good wishes to my Roanoke Neighborhood!

One more detail deserves its own mention: he supplied a Mister Rogers stamp of his own to help cover the extra weight. He added all these wonderful things and then helped with the extra postage, too. Such a thoughtful gesture—and such a fitting stamp for a delivery from Mr. McFeely!

The man behind Mr. McFeely

David played the Neighborhood’s cheerful delivery man throughout the run of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. With his cap, bow tie, and familiar uniform, Mr. McFeely brought packages, visitors, and films that helped children discover how the world works. His factory films made ordinary things worth a closer look.

His contributions extended behind the camera, too. Hired in 1967 as both Mr. McFeely and a production assistant, David worked with costumes and props and later served as Director of Public Relations. His association with the company lasted nearly fifty years. He helped create the Neighborhood on screen and share it with people beyond the studio.

There’s something especially lovely about receiving this much kindness from someone associated with a program that made kindness feel so important. Today’s folder brought a little of that Neighborhood right to my mailbox.

More treasures from the folder

Here are the extra signed photos and information sheets David included. Being able to look through all of this is a treat in itself!

Antonio Fargas — Huggy Bear comes to the collection

My second return today was from Antonio Fargas! His signature fills the autograph space on my custom collage, and he dated it 10/26. With so many memorable looks and characters represented in the design, it’s a fantastic addition to the collection.

Antonio is best known as Huggy Bear on Starsky & Hutch (1975–1979). The stylish, streetwise informant helped the detectives navigate their cases, and his personality made him much more than just someone with information to pass along. The clothes, the delivery, and the charisma all helped make Huggy Bear one of the show’s defining characters.

His career reaches well beyond that role. He played Link Brown in Foxy Brown, Lindy in Car Wash, and Fly Guy in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. Another generation of television viewers knows him as Doc on Everybody Hates Chris. Across crime stories, comedy, and television, he has a knack for creating characters people remember.

“Your creation is cool!”

Antonio also returned my letter with a handwritten note of his own! He thanked me for reaching out and for the kind words, then added “Your creation is cool!” Seeing that reaction to my collage makes this return even more special. The autograph is wonderful, and knowing he enjoyed the design gives me another reason to smile.

Huggy Bear is still the role I wanted to spotlight here. It’s wonderful to have Antonio’s autograph on a collage celebrating that character alongside the other chapters of his career.