daapride.blogg.se

After Willie's death local organizations stepped in to take care Shrews, coyotes, skunks, turtles and even a monkey. Over the years he raised dogs, rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, raccoons, parrots, It is said that the shelves of his home were lined with clocksĪnd Willie would say, "C'mon in, I've got all kinds of time." Willie's pets were almost as famous as he was. Willie was known for his kindness and his sense of humor. In his postcards he is often barefooted, smiling and relaxed, looks healthy as do his pets. He collected bottles and traded them in at stores. Postcards and any money he could make by scavenging along the roadside. When he traveled he relied mostly on the sales of his Later, Willie sold picture postcards of himself and his animals out of his car that he built using parts from an Overland,Ī Model T and other cars, and he sometimes lived in his car. On Farragut Naval Training Station in shorts and carpenter's apron, where he earned a reputation of being a hard worker. Willie made his living doing odd jobs for people around town, salvaging iron and twisted car parts. After his untimely death, Willie was referred to as "Spokane's Philosophy and way of life long before Woodstock. Willie." He was also called an "Original Flower Child" and an "Early-Day Hippie," but he roamed the county and spread his Nicknames such as "Wild Willie," "the Nature Boy," "Wild Man" and even "Tarzan." Other cities referred to him as "Spokane

Because of the way he dressed, the clothes he wore and his philosophy about nature, he inherited As Willie's health problems disappeared he put on some muscle and life became more Help his health problems, as he no longer suffered from colds even though he would often go polar bear swimming and ice Temperatures, Willie wore fewer clothes until he was down to a pair of shorts and sandals. Gradually, as his body acclimated to cold Immune system, started to shed his clothing about the time WWI started. Willie, perhaps in an attempt to strengthen his

His love of the outdoorsĭrew him to Spokane in 1905, when he was a pale, skinny, sickly young man.

He was also known as a kind person, hard workerĪnd a disciple of nature who dressed in his unique attire year-round.īorn a twin in 1884 in Mount Ayr, IA, Willis Ray WILLEY soon developed an appreciation of nature.

Only a pair of shorts summer and winter and traveled with several animals. People remembered him as the robust mountain man who wore For more than 50 years "Wild Willie" was a fixture in Spokane.