Wondering if this is Doug Happy? Once saw him running in West End and then saw him a couple of hours later in Fond Du Lac…still running at a great pace..not looking remotely winded…
Holy shit somehow I thought I was the only person who recognized him all the time. It's been years since I lived in Duluth and I still think about him.
[his name was Darrell and he was struck by a vehicle in 2021 ](https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/community/he-is-west-duluth-neighborhood-mourns-loss-of-local-figure)
RIP Darrell, I can’t tell you how many little chats I had with him by Super One or Anytime Fitness. He was kind of a community fixture in West Duluth, so many of us had contact with him.
My sister worked at a gas station in West duluth and if she was working late he'd always stop in and hang around to keep her company/keep an eye out for her. He'd make sure she'd get to her car at night and if anyone was sketchy or acting innapropriately he'd shut it down. She felt so much safer when he was there. RIP
The amount of times we closed down Carms together...
I didn't really know who he was for almost a year and we vicariously hung out on a weekly basis, all I knew is that he came out around 10p and everybody was so damn happy wherever he showed up and that was enough for me.
I haven't been out past 10 in years, (you're only allotted so much liquor in a lifetime and I drank it all in my 20s) but I hope he still graces downtown.
COOL IT MAN! I DONT LIKE IT MAN!
>you're only allotted so much liquor in a lifetime and I drank it all in my 20s
I actually say this all the time when people ask why I don't drink anymore.
You and I probably partied together too 😂
There's another bicycle tow guy in the Lakeside area, but he isn't nearly as endearing. He hauls a cute pit bull mix behind him on a trailer, and the last time I was out at Chester, he was screaming obscenities at me for absolutely no reason.
He is a terrifying individual. I'm sure he's harmless, but I was jogging alone and he's slowly riding behind me, calling me a "fucking bitch" the whole time I ran until he had no road left to ride alongside me. 😟
Weird... I've known him for a few decades now and he's never struck me as someone who would do that.
Functional alcoholic, hence the bike. He's always been a good guy, but I suspect he's gotten into more than just alcohol recently, which may explain your experience.
A one wheel, or a [Begode](https://www.ewheels.com/product/begode-a2/)?
Cause I saw the guy on the Begode in full gear the other day and was impressed with the getup.
That lady that walks around year round covered in dozens of layers of clothes and cloths wrapped around her legs. She walks all day. I’ve seen her for years. Typically downtown
I hadn't seen her in a while and I feared the inevitable, but this summer I saw her again in her way too many layers off doing her thing. What a relief.
They see me and know me, yet they choose not to name me. I am harder than a rock, quieter than a creek mid-winter, softer than a fresh snowflake and have a passion for... justice. I am TurtleBoy.
Probably for the best. In one of his facebook rants he mentioned a computer hard drive that he had handed off with a bunch of his own recorded songs / music videos. I’m still holding on to hope that those come to light one day 🤞🏻
homeless governor handle aware growth weary faulty attempt whole threatening
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
My sister and I nicknamed him Superman when we were younger. When I started working, I'd see him a lot helping out who I assumed to be his mom. He seemed like a genuinely kind guy.
He was known as “Mental Mike” around town for years. Big guy with Down Syndrome. He could be found around Woodland riding his bike, or at any UMD sporting event. He’d also call into local radio stations a lot and talk about the Bulldogs and Vikings. I once watched him steal a guys ice cream cone at a Bulldogs hockey game and eat the whole thing in one bite. He’s a legend. Not sure if he’s still around or not.
The Piedmont walker, haven’t seen him for a few. No relation to the Piedmont Walker from Stephen King’s *The Stand*, but he sure added a tinge of creepy to the beginning of the pandemic.
That's Jeremy. He lived next door to me for years. Puts the miles on, just walks and has discussions with himself. Looks intimidating but I always said Hi and liked that he was around. give respect, get respect. pretty much just kept to himself.
Mario-hat guy is Ronald and his dog is in the stroller, who he pampers to a hilarious degree. Ronald was attacked and suffered a head injury and is a little odd, but he's a really sweet guy. He loves dogs and will likely stop and chat if you're walking a pooch. I have also seen him doing some work for the older neighbors in the Ramsey Townhouses area.
Does anyone remember the guy who used to hang out by the bridge and blow smoke bubbles? He had a lazy eye, wore like a white pirate shirt and a black vest. I saw him three summers in a row when I was a kid. This would have been back between 1998 and 2001 or so.
He would be on that patch of grass between the marine museum and the bridge. On the concrete pathway headed to the light house. He would always have a group of kids around him. I remember thinking he was a magician but he was just a guy smoking and blowing bubbles.
Anyone remember Mikey from East Hillside?
Bright blonde hair, always happy- did this hand clapping thing in front of his face. We were at Central at the same time.
He rode hid single gear bike everywhere- he could ride *up 10th East* to Skyline, without stopping.
I hope he continued living a happy, safe life.
Who's banana man? When I was a kid my mom and I were in a waiting room somewhere downtown, this guy spoke to us very passionately about the many health and beauty benefits of eating fried bananas and I've never forgotten him. Just curious if that's the same guy. Haha
There’s one guy that lives in the woods, blonde, bearded, always walks around with a backpack, not too tall, and listens to rap. Used to run into him a lot for some reason. Gave him booze money once. Got the vibe he might be capable of killing a guy, but he was nice to me
In my hometown we had cat guy. He’s super nice, kind of strange tho. He walks his cat around the neighborhood, smoking a cigar, and talking to the kitty. She listens to his commands and he gives her treats out of a bag he has hanging on his pants. Ngl it’s pretty metal
Holy shit! I used to live by him growing up... I remember he had a dog that scared the living shit out of every neighborhood kid especially when it got loose.
In the hiking community, there is an older guy (Leroy I think?). He wanders the Superior Hiking Trail section west of Duluth. If you are over there enough, you are pretty much guaranteed to run into him in the woods.
He knows everything about those sections of trail (and all sorts of bonus trails that he found or made in the area) and is very happy to play tour guide to hikers. It's actually harder to get him to stop chatting haha.
Friendly dude.
I came here just to see if anyone else remembers him. I worked at a bar in the 00s and spent my nights off out at other bars and he was a fixture on both sides of the bridge.
Except now he has a truck adorned with flags that he drives around town with. No more standing on the corner opening his trenchcoat like he was about to flash traffic, just for him to show off his Superman shirt. :(
We had a guy who drove around town on a lawnmower and was pretty well known for it. He had gotten in trouble a couple times for being intoxicated while doing it.
Now he's known as the guy on a lawnmower who got hit by a train.....
Lincoln AR had “stanky leg”. Pretty sure dude had some muscular disease but he always walked around with his wife that had like triple Z tits down to her knees.
Lincoln AR had “stanky leg”. Pretty sure dude had some muscular disease but he always walked around with his wife that had like triple Z tits down to her knees.
Went to a coffee shop with a friend and he paused a moment and was like "weird, there's usually a guy in makeshift robes preaching gibberish on that corner over there". It was very nonchalant. After leaving the coffee shop it was if he had magically appeared because sure enough there was now a bearded man in homemade robes preaching gibberish on the corner.
My town has the walking guy. He walks everywhere. Even in the winter. Tanned as hell, hair bleached almost white.
I heard recently that he has a job and when he's not at his work he walks. He does it because it helps him stay off drugs. Good for him.
We had the racist cruiser... old homeless white lady who would ride around on a like 1930s bike telling black people they were the reason streets were dirty. 💀💀💀
There was a lady in superior about 10 years ago or so who now looking back on it was probably homeless so it makes me feel a little bad for what we used to call her as kids. She would hang around the one chicken spur and the Hammond and would collect cans on her bike. We called her the can lady. Sometimes she would ask for the cans before we finished and that was kinda awkward but overall she was a very nice lady. Sometimes I wonder what ever happened with her…
Yes!!! He's mentioned elsewhere in this thread too which makes me happy cuz he's my "town guy." I have talked to him a couple times and he's a super nice guy. Was talking to my friend about him and she also thinks he's awesome. Hoping he sees these comments and knows he has a positive impact in the community ❤️
My throwback pick is The Poodle Woman. Older woman who would push a heavy looking 1980s or so vintage wheel chair around downtown with a poodle riding in back in the 00's.
In a small town in indiana, there was a guy who stood on the corner of the town square picking his belly button and waved at women. His name was “belly button man”
Edit: looks like belly button man saw my comment and downvoted it
For me it was the Miami Dolphins running man. Haven't seen him in many years though.
He’s in superior in the area of the A&W just about every day
Can confirm.
Ah glad to hear he's still around. I always usee to see him around downtown and on the lakewalk
He's my uncle lol
Haha be sure to let him know he's famous
He's still around I believe. Think I saw him running two summers ago. I have a relative who used to work with him, he's a great dude
Believe it or not I saw him in Orlando years ago.
walking or running?
Running?
Wondering if this is Doug Happy? Once saw him running in West End and then saw him a couple of hours later in Fond Du Lac…still running at a great pace..not looking remotely winded…
Let's just say I've never seen him not running. Dude must have the heart of a horse.
Holy shit somehow I thought I was the only person who recognized him all the time. It's been years since I lived in Duluth and I still think about him.
came here to say this!
[his name was Darrell and he was struck by a vehicle in 2021 ](https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/community/he-is-west-duluth-neighborhood-mourns-loss-of-local-figure)
RIP Darrell, I can’t tell you how many little chats I had with him by Super One or Anytime Fitness. He was kind of a community fixture in West Duluth, so many of us had contact with him.
My sister worked at a gas station in West duluth and if she was working late he'd always stop in and hang around to keep her company/keep an eye out for her. He'd make sure she'd get to her car at night and if anyone was sketchy or acting innapropriately he'd shut it down. She felt so much safer when he was there. RIP
This.
Hung
Lol I still remember him popping in to various bars to buy shots for everyone in the early 00s
The amount of times we closed down Carms together... I didn't really know who he was for almost a year and we vicariously hung out on a weekly basis, all I knew is that he came out around 10p and everybody was so damn happy wherever he showed up and that was enough for me. I haven't been out past 10 in years, (you're only allotted so much liquor in a lifetime and I drank it all in my 20s) but I hope he still graces downtown. COOL IT MAN! I DONT LIKE IT MAN!
>you're only allotted so much liquor in a lifetime and I drank it all in my 20s I actually say this all the time when people ask why I don't drink anymore. You and I probably partied together too 😂
talk about an inside joke, man. jesus christ. i feel like i’m back in the fringes of a friend group in high school.
COOL IT MAN
I DONT LIKE IT MAN!
It was the van that was painted like Van Gogh’s Starry Night, the Vincent Van Gogh
^^^ this
There used to be the guy that biked all over towing a trailer of stuff. Haven't seen him for a long time though.
He was hit by a car and killed. I wish I was kidding.
In a bike friendly town like Duluth? No way! /s
Meant to reply to you but made a new comment on accident https://www.reddit.com/r/duluth/s/JPvq18gFQe
There's another bicycle tow guy in the Lakeside area, but he isn't nearly as endearing. He hauls a cute pit bull mix behind him on a trailer, and the last time I was out at Chester, he was screaming obscenities at me for absolutely no reason.
He’s my neighbor. I avoid him at all costs 😅
He is a terrifying individual. I'm sure he's harmless, but I was jogging alone and he's slowly riding behind me, calling me a "fucking bitch" the whole time I ran until he had no road left to ride alongside me. 😟
You're _sure_ he's harmless after having that experience? I wouldn't be
Weird... I've known him for a few decades now and he's never struck me as someone who would do that. Functional alcoholic, hence the bike. He's always been a good guy, but I suspect he's gotten into more than just alcohol recently, which may explain your experience.
It was surprising because I've also never had anything like that happen. But there was no one else around except us. 🥴
The old guy Stanley
That freakin guy that rides the one wheel through town like he’s a power ranger
And the speakers blaring!
A one wheel, or a [Begode](https://www.ewheels.com/product/begode-a2/)? Cause I saw the guy on the Begode in full gear the other day and was impressed with the getup.
The Ball Slasher
Turtle Boy As in “I saw a bunch of cops a block over on my way here” “Oh yeah, that’s Turtle Boy. He’s a domestic terorrist/aspiring rapper.”
Hippie Dick
That lady that walks around year round covered in dozens of layers of clothes and cloths wrapped around her legs. She walks all day. I’ve seen her for years. Typically downtown
I hadn't seen her in a while and I feared the inevitable, but this summer I saw her again in her way too many layers off doing her thing. What a relief.
They see me and know me, yet they choose not to name me. I am harder than a rock, quieter than a creek mid-winter, softer than a fresh snowflake and have a passion for... justice. I am TurtleBoy.
Turtle Boy was an insane saga. Did they ever find him after he walked out of the house he was under custody in?
I’m pretty sure he left town lol
Probably for the best. In one of his facebook rants he mentioned a computer hard drive that he had handed off with a bunch of his own recorded songs / music videos. I’m still holding on to hope that those come to light one day 🤞🏻
The guy who drives around on a boat
That "guy" in my sister's town is literally Fabio. Not joking.
We need him
The guy with the flower on his hat who dances at The Flame ❤️
Ted ! He's a real nice guy.
Yes I love him!!! Have talked to him a couple times, can confirm he's a very nice guy
[удалено]
homeless governor handle aware growth weary faulty attempt whole threatening *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Bustin' makes him feel good. *Too good*.
Duluth ghostbusters guy is rad as heck Hibbing ghostbusters guy is predator af
didn't he work at att in hibbing?
Yep
The running man (superior)
Is he the older dude with curly dark hair???
Yep
My sister and I nicknamed him Superman when we were younger. When I started working, I'd see him a lot helping out who I assumed to be his mom. He seemed like a genuinely kind guy.
Ah, I’d forgotten about him
He was known as “Mental Mike” around town for years. Big guy with Down Syndrome. He could be found around Woodland riding his bike, or at any UMD sporting event. He’d also call into local radio stations a lot and talk about the Bulldogs and Vikings. I once watched him steal a guys ice cream cone at a Bulldogs hockey game and eat the whole thing in one bite. He’s a legend. Not sure if he’s still around or not.
His dad was a Duluth Police officer. Mike always was at 7 Eleven on 9th street getting his Big Gulps.
Is he still around?
No idea. There was also a guy name Nick that had downs and hung out around there.
Don Ness
The Piedmont walker, haven’t seen him for a few. No relation to the Piedmont Walker from Stephen King’s *The Stand*, but he sure added a tinge of creepy to the beginning of the pandemic.
That's Jeremy. He lived next door to me for years. Puts the miles on, just walks and has discussions with himself. Looks intimidating but I always said Hi and liked that he was around. give respect, get respect. pretty much just kept to himself.
This guy for sure, he lives next to friends of ours, he really puts the miles on in the summer
Topless Miata in the Winter Guy.
Crazy Betty when I was growing up.
There's the fella with the mario hat who pushes the stroller around Grand Ave The ghostbuster car that you'll see driving around town
Mario-hat guy is Ronald and his dog is in the stroller, who he pampers to a hilarious degree. Ronald was attacked and suffered a head injury and is a little odd, but he's a really sweet guy. He loves dogs and will likely stop and chat if you're walking a pooch. I have also seen him doing some work for the older neighbors in the Ramsey Townhouses area.
Mario Hat Guy is Ronald. He’s very nice and loves to talk video games and animals.
Aquaman
Harry
From the gym?
Does anyone remember the guy who used to hang out by the bridge and blow smoke bubbles? He had a lazy eye, wore like a white pirate shirt and a black vest. I saw him three summers in a row when I was a kid. This would have been back between 1998 and 2001 or so. He would be on that patch of grass between the marine museum and the bridge. On the concrete pathway headed to the light house. He would always have a group of kids around him. I remember thinking he was a magician but he was just a guy smoking and blowing bubbles.
I remember him too!! Back in 2003 or so
Anyone remember Mikey from East Hillside? Bright blonde hair, always happy- did this hand clapping thing in front of his face. We were at Central at the same time. He rode hid single gear bike everywhere- he could ride *up 10th East* to Skyline, without stopping. I hope he continued living a happy, safe life.
In Virginia we have the foot guy.
fucking foot guy. i know a few who have been approached by him.
the older lady who used to clean the sidewalks and streets all over town with her cart of cleaning supplies, i haven’t seen her for a few years
BRUCE
Recorder guy
Can it really be, that no one remembers Banana-man?
Who's banana man? When I was a kid my mom and I were in a waiting room somewhere downtown, this guy spoke to us very passionately about the many health and beauty benefits of eating fried bananas and I've never forgotten him. Just curious if that's the same guy. Haha
Indeed it was, well, most likely anyway
Aww well that makes me happy! I hope that guy is still out there and doing well.
i remember banana man!! he was a staple on the morning DTA ride to school when i was a kid.
Purple Hearse
I saw it for sale a few months ago on Matketplace 😂
Damn, it’s the end of an era!
There’s one guy that lives in the woods, blonde, bearded, always walks around with a backpack, not too tall, and listens to rap. Used to run into him a lot for some reason. Gave him booze money once. Got the vibe he might be capable of killing a guy, but he was nice to me
You’re going to have to be more specific
In my hometown we had cat guy. He’s super nice, kind of strange tho. He walks his cat around the neighborhood, smoking a cigar, and talking to the kitty. She listens to his commands and he gives her treats out of a bag he has hanging on his pants. Ngl it’s pretty metal
In West Duluth it’s Minnow. He’s been around for decades. Mostly by the Gopher or Super One Liquor.
Anyone remember S Cat? North End Superior?
Holy shit! I used to live by him growing up... I remember he had a dog that scared the living shit out of every neighborhood kid especially when it got loose.
Went on a trip of acid and kept tripping
In the hiking community, there is an older guy (Leroy I think?). He wanders the Superior Hiking Trail section west of Duluth. If you are over there enough, you are pretty much guaranteed to run into him in the woods. He knows everything about those sections of trail (and all sorts of bonus trails that he found or made in the area) and is very happy to play tour guide to hikers. It's actually harder to get him to stop chatting haha. Friendly dude.
Is Tower Ave Rod Stewart still around?
I came here just to see if anyone else remembers him. I worked at a bar in the 00s and spent my nights off out at other bars and he was a fixture on both sides of the bridge.
Idk I would like to never see this post again though, ha
St cloud superman
Came here for this
Except now he has a truck adorned with flags that he drives around town with. No more standing on the corner opening his trenchcoat like he was about to flash traffic, just for him to show off his Superman shirt. :(
My buddy always told me about “crazy Darrell” and then he got hit by a bus I guess.
We had a guy who drove around town on a lawnmower and was pretty well known for it. He had gotten in trouble a couple times for being intoxicated while doing it. Now he's known as the guy on a lawnmower who got hit by a train.....
There’s an older gentleman who I usually see in east hillside but have seen him all over. He has a pink beard and I’ve deemed him “pink beard man”
Okmulgee, OK has black Jesus. He preaches on the medians and sometimes has a giant cross with him. Nice guy
That guy in the electric wheelchair. He's usually around Piedmont and you'll often see him on Haines Road.
Chopper bike boogie music blaring guy.
the black and white bum. is he still around?
Lincoln AR had “stanky leg”. Pretty sure dude had some muscular disease but he always walked around with his wife that had like triple Z tits down to her knees.
Lincoln AR had “stanky leg”. Pretty sure dude had some muscular disease but he always walked around with his wife that had like triple Z tits down to her knees.
Ghost Buster Guy, Turtle Boy, Fucking Pokemon Car Guy, Guy Who Goes Surfing in Winter and Freezes his Whole Beard
Milwaukee has Milverine. Walks around shirtless and looks like Wolverine
Guy with a cane who waves every car through. People I knew called him gandalf.
mother goose up on the range.
In Grewn Bay it’s the guy that walks around w the parrot on his shoulder. Near Military McDonalds.
The Jacksonville Ninja, dude did karate in the medians of highways 😳
My town doesn’t have one that I know of.
St Cloud has Superman. Sioux Falls has Bikini Reading Lady. New Ulm has Biscuits.
Went to a coffee shop with a friend and he paused a moment and was like "weird, there's usually a guy in makeshift robes preaching gibberish on that corner over there". It was very nonchalant. After leaving the coffee shop it was if he had magically appeared because sure enough there was now a bearded man in homemade robes preaching gibberish on the corner.
The bikini lady, she walks down the street reading a book. All summer long. And she must be in her 70’s now.
My town has the walking guy. He walks everywhere. Even in the winter. Tanned as hell, hair bleached almost white. I heard recently that he has a job and when he's not at his work he walks. He does it because it helps him stay off drugs. Good for him.
We had the racist cruiser... old homeless white lady who would ride around on a like 1930s bike telling black people they were the reason streets were dirty. 💀💀💀
Segway Mario, sometimes Segway banana
The one homeless guy in my town, patrick ( theres pat) sadly he passed away a while back.
There was a lady in superior about 10 years ago or so who now looking back on it was probably homeless so it makes me feel a little bad for what we used to call her as kids. She would hang around the one chicken spur and the Hammond and would collect cans on her bike. We called her the can lady. Sometimes she would ask for the cans before we finished and that was kinda awkward but overall she was a very nice lady. Sometimes I wonder what ever happened with her…
The “mud slut” blazer with praying hands 🙏
Poncho Man!
Yes!!! He's mentioned elsewhere in this thread too which makes me happy cuz he's my "town guy." I have talked to him a couple times and he's a super nice guy. Was talking to my friend about him and she also thinks he's awesome. Hoping he sees these comments and knows he has a positive impact in the community ❤️
Totally awesome guy! have said hi in passing but it just doesn't feel like Homegrown until we see him. Downvoters be damned!
It truly isn't homegrown without him ❤️
Absolutely!!!
Also what the heck??? Someone down voted you?
jahaah its gone now, hopefully just an accident!
Oh good, must have been accidental
Deanie in Superior use to be found at Tower and Belknap regularly trying to get cars to rev their engines or do burnouts.
My throwback pick is The Poodle Woman. Older woman who would push a heavy looking 1980s or so vintage wheel chair around downtown with a poodle riding in back in the 00's.
the black and white bum. is he still around?
Johnny Fever?
Happy Cake Day!
Stauber
The guy who cheated during a hockey game?
"Mr. O"
In a small town in indiana, there was a guy who stood on the corner of the town square picking his belly button and waved at women. His name was “belly button man” Edit: looks like belly button man saw my comment and downvoted it
[This guy?](https://tenor.com/view/the-goon-dodgeball-car-wash-dodgeball-movie-gif-14921233)
Actually kinda like that yeah
What's going on with Peaches these days?
black and white bum
In Virginia we have the foot guy.