2008 Woodie Awards
Buy the ticket, take the ride
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro
Chris Hippner
Issue date: 2/24/06 Section: Diversions
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Hunter S. Thompson died on Feb. 20, 2005 from a self-inflicted gun shot wound, but this was not an act of depression. He was a writer for Rolling Stone, a published author, the symbol of Gonzo journalism, and a patriot. He was such a tantalizing figure that two of his books were made into movies: Where the Buffalo Roam and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream.
His life was an enigma just like his work; his date of birth is not even of known fact. Most consider it July 18, 1937. After a crime-filled youth, he enlisted in the Air Force as part of his parole. At Eglin AFB, he worked as sports editor for the base newspaper.
Following his discharge, he worked at various writing jobs, most of which proved fruitless. He spent some time in the late 50's and early 60's writing newspaper articles in South America for American papers. It was during this period that he wrote The Rum Diaries, cataloging his experience in Puerto Rico as a correspondent for El Sportito. He quickly became notorious for his adventures as well as for missing deadlines. Of his lifestyle, he noted that "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the 9 to 5 hours".
He gained fame with the publication of his first major work, Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga. In 1965, The Nation editor Carey McWilliams approached him with the idea for a story based upon his experience with the notorious Hells Angels motorcycle gang. Thompson enjoyed a good relationship with the gang until the book started making profits. When he refused to share the money made, he received a beating or, as the Angels called it, a stomping.
In the later 60's, he received his Doctorate in Divinity from a mail-order church. From then on, he would be referred to as "the Good Doctor". In 1970, he ran for sheriff of Aspen on the "Freak Power" ticket. Narrowly losing the election, his platform was based on a host of different issues, including drug decriminalization, changing the city name to "Fat City", and more bicycle lanes.
His life was an enigma just like his work; his date of birth is not even of known fact. Most consider it July 18, 1937. After a crime-filled youth, he enlisted in the Air Force as part of his parole. At Eglin AFB, he worked as sports editor for the base newspaper.
Following his discharge, he worked at various writing jobs, most of which proved fruitless. He spent some time in the late 50's and early 60's writing newspaper articles in South America for American papers. It was during this period that he wrote The Rum Diaries, cataloging his experience in Puerto Rico as a correspondent for El Sportito. He quickly became notorious for his adventures as well as for missing deadlines. Of his lifestyle, he noted that "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the 9 to 5 hours".
He gained fame with the publication of his first major work, Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga. In 1965, The Nation editor Carey McWilliams approached him with the idea for a story based upon his experience with the notorious Hells Angels motorcycle gang. Thompson enjoyed a good relationship with the gang until the book started making profits. When he refused to share the money made, he received a beating or, as the Angels called it, a stomping.
In the later 60's, he received his Doctorate in Divinity from a mail-order church. From then on, he would be referred to as "the Good Doctor". In 1970, he ran for sheriff of Aspen on the "Freak Power" ticket. Narrowly losing the election, his platform was based on a host of different issues, including drug decriminalization, changing the city name to "Fat City", and more bicycle lanes.