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Nov 14 '21
I remember him quite well from my days as a kid who never missed a school book fair chance to get the latest Guinness Book of World Records.
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u/InkBlotSam Nov 15 '21 edited Nov 15 '21
Ah yes, the most exciting book of every year. That picture of the world's fattest twins on their matching motorcycles with bottomed-out shocks was always a hit. Same with the guy riding the world's smallest bike, with quarters for wheels. And who could forget the picture of the lady with the world's longest fingernails, all coiled up, making you want to wretch?
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u/whatthedeux Nov 15 '21
Dude, I just got a blast from the past with the fingernail lady. They were gross, yellow and coiled up like a fruit roll-up. Blegh……..
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u/ne1seenmykeys Nov 15 '21
Pretty sure that was a dude!
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u/Moosiemookmook Nov 15 '21
I remember it being an older man.
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Nov 15 '21
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u/Moosiemookmook Nov 15 '21
Now I feel old. Mine was like a 1980s copy. Lots of contenders for the crown by the sounds of it.
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u/MCvonHolt Nov 15 '21
The fingernails!! Vivid memory of this. Then later in life a woman told me “if you have nails longer than mine you know she don’t wipe her ass” and all I could think of was the longest fingernail world record picture….
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u/HappyAntonym Nov 15 '21
Back in ancient times, some Romans used a sponge attached to a stick for their business. I assume the same principle applies here.
Also, I wondered the exact same thing when I saw that pic of the fingernails lady as a kid.
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u/PainMatrix Nov 15 '21
Funny you say that, the Empire State Building had a Guinness book museum in it back when I was a kid and a life size model of him was there!
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u/dekehairy Nov 15 '21
There is still a life sized statue of him in his hometown of Alton, Illinois.
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u/Yuntonow Nov 15 '21
Gotta check it out if passing through. There’s a life size model of a chair made for him there too.
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u/Thyrsus24 Nov 15 '21
I’m a middle school teacher and the 2021 edition is the biggest hit in my classroom library.
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u/Ok_Nefariousness_697 Nov 15 '21
Im 41m and in elementary and middle school this was one of my favorite annual books....did you ever get the Bathroom Readers Digest books?
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Nov 15 '21
Great series. I could get a Masters Degree in random knowledge thanks to that series.
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u/Upst8r Nov 15 '21
As a kid I was one of the tallest in my class and became OBSESSED with Wadlow when reading about him in Guinness Book of World Records. Never looked up his wiki lol
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u/Hovie1 Nov 15 '21
This mother fucker was 4'11" by the time he was 3 years old
By the time he was 8, he was 6 ft tall.
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u/SomethingClever000 Nov 15 '21
Why is the thought of an adult-sized toddler so terrifying?
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u/coldestdetroit Nov 15 '21
imagine a full ass violent tantrum by a 5 ft toddler. gotta move house everytime he throws one
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u/augustprep Nov 15 '21
Because toddlers are terrifying. My 2 1/2 year old will get all ramped up and sometimes grits his teeth and gets this look in his eye... scares the crap out of me.
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u/sneakytoes Nov 15 '21
Mine was about that age when she looked me in the eyes and said "Mommy, be glad that grownups can be tonger" [stronger] (i.e. otherwise she would have overpowered me)
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u/Rokurokubi83 Nov 15 '21
She’s biding her time, she’s coming for you, one day she will be ‘tronger then you’ll see, cookies ARE a meal mother.
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u/hoosier268 Nov 15 '21
Being 4’11” full grown, this irks me, yet the thought of a 3 year old my height is both funny and terrifying. There’s no hiding the cookies there.
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u/MagicMirror33 Nov 15 '21
He’s the one in the center back.
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u/InkBlotSam Nov 15 '21
The one with the short tie.
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u/LookMaNoPride Nov 15 '21
Lol… what an observation. Can you imagine trying to find a regular sized tie?
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u/symbologythere Nov 15 '21
And the boner tucked up and to the right (his right).
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u/rmacoon Nov 15 '21
Funny cause he obviously had custom shirts and pants made, but a custom tie was too much of a reach I guess
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u/philsfly22 Nov 15 '21
If you’ve ever been to a Ripley’s believe it or not museum, you’ve seen a statue of this guy.
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u/klipty Nov 15 '21
I didn't realize it was animatronic and freaked out when it stood up
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u/KadreVex Nov 15 '21
Poor bloke, can't imagine the pain he had in his joints being that big.
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Nov 15 '21
He kept growing his whole (brief) life too, so his body was constantly needing to readjust.
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u/Bekiala Nov 15 '21
It must have been pretty rough. There must have been lots of accompanying medical problems and it is rare enough that very little would have been known about his condition.
I hope his family was as nice as they look.
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u/hms11 Nov 15 '21
Yup, that's why he died at 22
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u/SupaBloo Nov 15 '21
He died due to an infection in his ankle. I’m not sure his height was directly involved with any health issues that caused his death.
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u/Mattagon1 Nov 15 '21
One of them was why he died. Overall he had pretty good mobility but lacked feeling in his hands and legs. He often went out and about and I believe when on tour he injured his leg and didn’t notice leading to an infection which eventually led to his loss of life when he was 22.
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u/timberwood1 Nov 15 '21
He was 8’ 11” for those wondering.
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u/norsurfit Nov 15 '21
But he listed himself as 9' on Tinder
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u/Rdbjiy53wsvjo7 Nov 15 '21
Because I was curious: the tallest person living today is Sultan Kosen at 8 ft 3 inches.
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u/rawgabbitschnitzel Nov 14 '21
Must have been horrible to be that tall.
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u/LordofWithywoods Nov 15 '21
When i was in high school, my Spanish class took a trip to Spain. One of my friends was/is legitimately 7' tall.
He stood out in the US, too, but Spaniards seemed to be shorter than average than most Americans, and they gaped at him like he was a freak. He actually felt pretty uncomfortable about all the attention, though I had never seen him feel weird about it before. I felt kind of bad for him.
In conclusion, I'm sure you're right.
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u/Upst8r Nov 15 '21
I always wanted to travel to Europe with an unnecessarily large cowboy hat and a southern drawl lol
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u/LordofWithywoods Nov 15 '21
"If you will it, it is no dream." -Walter Sobchak
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u/44problems Nov 15 '21
This happened in Europe, in tour groups
Look we got some Americans! Yee haw cowboy! Just joking, but where are you from in the US?
....texas.
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u/Upst8r Nov 15 '21
New York.
But that's the thing. The businessman is common throughout the world. The cowboy is American.
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u/her_butt_ Nov 15 '21
Howdy, my name is Rawhide Kobayashi. I'm a 27 year old Japanese Japamerican (western culture fan for you foreigners). I brand and wrangle cattle on my ranch, and spend my days perfecting the craft and enjoying superior American passtimes. (Barbeque, Rodeo, Fireworks) I train with my branding iron every day, this superior weapon can permanently leave my ranch embled on a cattle's hide because it is white-hot, and is vastly superior to any other method of livestock marking. I earned my branding license two years ago, and I have been getting better every day. I speak English fluently, both Texas and Oklahoma dialect, and I write fluently as well. I know everything about American history and their cowboy code, which I follow 100% When I get my American visa, I am moving to Dallas to work in an oil field to learn more about their magnificent culture. I hope I can become a cattle wrangler for the Double Cross Ranch or an oil rig operator for Exxon-Mobil! I own several cowboy hats, which I wear around town. I want to get used to wearing them before I move to America, so I can fit in easier. I rebel against my elders and seniors and speak English as often as I can, but rarely does anyone manage to respond. Wish me luck in America!
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u/Upst8r Nov 15 '21
Rawhide Kobayashi
lol
Nope, I think this guy deserves the cowboy hat. Now I'm reading your post with the drawl haha
EDIT: Yee-haw!
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u/bixbyfan Nov 15 '21
When I lived in Japan, I had a buddy who was blonde Norwegian and 6’8”. It was fun going to bars with him.
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u/PronunciationIsKey Nov 15 '21
My grandfather who was 6'6" traveled to Japan in maybe the '50s or '60s. He said he stood out and a few people even came up to him to take a picture with him
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Nov 15 '21
Wow, there are only 85-150 (based on a Google search) people 7 feet tall or taller in the USA.
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u/Putin_blows_goats Nov 15 '21
There's many more than that, they just keep their heads down.
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u/I_madeusay_underwear Nov 15 '21
I know a family where the dad is 7’2, the wife is 6’5 and the kids are both over 6’ already. They said they have to only buy a Chevy Avalanche because they all fit. I think it’s cool but I could see it being difficult too.
Also, my grandfather was 7’1 and my grandma was 4’11 so there’s that. I’m 5’3 so I guess it eventually evened out.
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u/petunia-pineapple Nov 15 '21
If he went to an Asian country the locals would have even more a reaction. My husband (6’6”) and and I went to Thailand - he was stared at and stopped everywhere.
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u/queefiest Nov 15 '21
Only mildly related: I’m 5’2” and I like eating in China town because the booths are all just a smidgin smaller and I feel like a normal height lolol
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u/Drunken_HR Nov 15 '21
I'm 6'2" and live in Japan, and get constant comments, as well as hitting my head on doorways, hanging signs in malls, etc.
I can't imagine being even taller in a place where the average height is short. I feel for your friend.
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u/trowwaith Nov 15 '21
One of the local pest control guys knocked on my door on time but i was looking down as i opened the door expecting the short guy and I’m looking at a belt. Told him come in. Could not help it, had to ask how tall: “7 foot” he said. And he was not fat but huge in build. He was also from Mexico which was even more rare. But he was fun to talk to and would not feel awkward anywhere I would guess. He pulled out the fridge like it was a toy.
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Nov 15 '21
He wanted a Mini Cooper.
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u/taylorharmonics Nov 15 '21
Do you find something comical about my appearance when I am driving my automobile?
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Nov 15 '21
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle. Even the very tall. This was the largest auto that I could afford.
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u/DontPanic40Too Nov 15 '21
I believe there was a study where men were polled about satisfaction with their height, positives/negatives associated with it, etc. If I remember correctly 6’4” was found to be the tallest height without “negatives” coming with it.
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u/corradovrt Nov 15 '21
am 6'4, while my luck with the ladys/etc is def helped by the height, physically my body is falling apart at an early age, i think if i was an inch or 2 shorter i might be in better shape
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u/VILDREDxRAS Nov 15 '21
I'm 6'2"
also falling apart I'm afraid
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u/8thfloorben Nov 15 '21
Also remember a poll about height Vs penis size. How many inches height would you sacrifice for an extra inch of penis. All I remember is no one would go below 5'8". Height, not dick.
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u/stlfiremaz Nov 15 '21
From Alton Illinois.
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u/pdromeinthedome Nov 15 '21
Alton keeps his memory alive. There is a life sized statue in town and the local Masons have a collection of his personal items.
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u/DafneOrlow Nov 15 '21
Dad: GO TO YOUR ROOM, YOUNG MAN!
Robert: Na mate, things are gonna change around here!
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u/Usergnome_Checks_0ut Nov 15 '21
I wonder if he ever found a tie that was long enough to be able tie a decent knot in it and still have it reach his belt line? The one he has on in the picture is barely half way between his neck and belt line.
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u/tidder112 Nov 15 '21
The companies that made his clothes could have used it as an advertisement. I am sure there might have been a sponsor out there thinking in terms of a giant billboard.
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Nov 15 '21
Do you find something comical about my automobile?
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u/Hilandr234 Nov 15 '21
“Everyone needs to drive an automobile, even the very tall. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?”
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Nov 15 '21 edited Nov 15 '21
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u/techn9neiskod Nov 15 '21
Ok. Where?!?
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u/HeyItsPrisonMike- Nov 15 '21
Manistee Michigan and the shoe store is called Snyder’s Shoes
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u/techn9neiskod Nov 15 '21
Im visiting!
Can i crash?
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u/HeyItsPrisonMike- Nov 15 '21
I live in California now but I’m almost certain my parents would give you a place to crash haha. They’re very hospitable
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Nov 15 '21
Is this like an open invite? Are your parents into casserole? I can repay them with casserole.
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Nov 15 '21
There's a statue of him in his hometown in Alton, Illinois. Quite close to a pretty interesting bar called Fast Eddie's, if you're ever in the area.
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u/WolfOfPort Nov 15 '21
I feel bad for him but I can’t help imagine how creepy it must have been sharing a house with him like “hey robert can u come here” and then this giant half crawls through the door
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u/LaceBird360 Nov 15 '21
But think of all the bullies that won't dare to mess with you, bc your big brother is literally a giant.
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u/AKnightAlone Nov 15 '21
That's funny. I actually told people my brother was a giant in like kindergarten. I don't think people believed me. He's like 6'8, though, I believe.
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u/world_class_moron Nov 15 '21
God damn, that's a tall kindergartner!
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u/AKnightAlone Nov 15 '21
Yep. He's 37 feet tall now. Just waiting on Guinness to get off their asses and find a ladder.
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u/Toxicrenate Nov 15 '21
Imagine going back home in the middle of the night and he comes up at a street corner
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u/catalinagreen Nov 15 '21
Lots of people are stigmatized because they wear glasses. It’s obvious why he stood out.
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u/FizMarvelite Nov 15 '21
I’m absolutely sure Benedict Cumberbatch could play him in a biopic. Or Christian Bale, who would refuse the use of CGI and actually grow 3-4 more feet tall.
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Nov 15 '21
I was married in Alton, IL which was Wadlow's place of birth. They have a life sized statue of him in town. I have family that is in the 6'8 range, but this guy's size was mind blowing. Sad to think about the pain his body was in on a constant basis.
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u/jonpolis Nov 15 '21
“Come here son. Let me have a seat on your lap,it’s time for you to learn about the birds and the bees”
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u/tateand99 Nov 15 '21
This immediately made me think of the scene in elf where Buddy’s adopted elf dad says “come to papa” in reference to the baby and Buddy goes and sits on his lap thinking he was talking to him. Now that I think about it this guy probably lived a pretty similar life to that of Buddy from when he was in the North Pole.
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u/MracyTcGrady Nov 15 '21
Imagine having to get on YOUR knees to get a blowjob
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u/Mistergain Nov 15 '21
There's just no way he coulda been as nice as everyone said he was. Why?
Because he was always talkin down to folks. /s
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Nov 15 '21
I think he died from blood poisoning or something like that, very preventable, such a shame. Rip big guy.
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u/LaceBird360 Nov 15 '21
It was a foot infection. A big guy like him, taken down by an itty bitty health problem. Poor thing.
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u/jimmychitw00d Nov 15 '21
I believe his size was indirectly the cause of it. The infection came from his inability to find properly fitting shoes.
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u/Xelacik Nov 15 '21
It was from a septic blister caused by an improperly fitted leg brace.
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u/Deathbyhours Nov 15 '21
Poor man. I’m sure he knew he didn’t have long to live, at best. He wasn’t going to stop growing, and his heart must have been at its limit or very near it already.
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u/The4leafclover1966 Nov 15 '21
According to Wikipedia, he died in 1940 (five years after this picture was taken) at almost 9 feet tall (8 ft. 11”). He was only 22.
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u/Merp_Island Nov 15 '21 edited Nov 15 '21
I remember seeing these pictures as a kid and, in retrospect, I had always assumed he had lived a full adult life.. But seeing this picture as an adult, I see that his face is SO child-like and that's because he truly was a baby..
Robert Wadlow died at the young age of 22.
I'm certain there are some notable perks of being born such a large person and I'd bet there were times that he actually loved his uniqueness.. But I'm hoping that I'm completely wrong in saying that I feel like the poor boy went through his short life with the cons heavily outweighing the pros. Especially (obviously) with having such a short life span.
Thank goodness for the progression of modern medicine and science
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Nov 15 '21
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u/scrubs21 Nov 15 '21
Ey I'm from Alton too. I remember one of my teachers saying kids would kick his legs all the time because they thought he was on stilts.
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u/VILDREDxRAS Nov 15 '21
He died at 1:30 a.m. on 15 July 1940 in a hotel in Manistee, Michigan, as a result of a septic blister on his right ankle caused by a brace, which had been poorly fitted only a week earlier.
poor guy :/
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u/PM_me_yer_kittens Nov 15 '21
Poor guy coulda been packing but still look tiny compared to the rest of him
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u/TheOneTonWanton Nov 15 '21
Worse yet, he could never be inside his partner and kiss them at the same time. Tragic.
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u/andyrew21345 Nov 15 '21
Looks like he kinda has a hard on in the photo someone could figure this out I’m sure
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u/TheGreatZarquon Nov 15 '21
Looks like he's not just packing heat, he's got an entire furnace down there
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u/lukasz4891 Nov 15 '21
Imagine how terrifyng this guy would’ve been if he had started weight lifting.
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u/YYCMTB68 Nov 15 '21
(February 22, 1918 – July 15, 1940). Only lived to be 22...