David Nelson Dies

David Nelson, a member of the Nelson family cast of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," died yesterday in California from colon cancer. He was 74.

Nelson was the last surviving member of the Nelsons TV family: actor-bandleader Ozzie; his singing wife, Harriet Hilliard; and his teen-idol younger brother, Rick.

The show, which originated on radio in 1952 as "Here Come the Nelsons," ran for 320 episodes from 1952 to 1966 as "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" on ABC. On the radio show, the boys were portrayed by pros, but they persuaded their parents to allow them to play themselves for the smallscreen.

The Nelson show was one of the first sitcoms on television and I remember it well. It was entertaining, a bit hokey but always cute. Condolences to the family.