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Monte Dodge | all galleries >> Galleries >> Beards of Wild Men of the West > The Story Of " Virgil" Johnson
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June 1981 Monte Dodge

The Story Of " Virgil" Johnson

Tenino, Washington

"Virgil" lived up Skookumchuck River Valley In the late 70's and early 80's and was a bit " Mental" . He carried a staff like a " Wizard" with bits of broken glass in it that he claimed were " Emerails and Rubies" that he thought had special powers and I thought were pieces of green " 7 up bottles" and " Parts Of Tail Lights". He would spend his entire state werfare check on " Beef Jerky" and got around either walking, on his old 10 speed and on rare occasions with his goat pulled cart. He wore this same jacket summer and winter, only in summer he wore jean cut-offs with rubber boots. We always told him he was a dead ringer for " Ian Anderson: of Jethro Tull Fame after a tough month on the road. You could have did a coffee table book on Virgil as he was just flat " Interesting" .I am sorry I didn't take more photos of them. He always had a cackling laugh which he did almost always. ( He was hit and killed by a car in mid 80's) One thing is he always seemed happy and you would never know what spaceship UFO story he would come up with..


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Dave Larnerd16-Feb-2009 01:40
Great story Monte. It is too bad you didn't get more photos of him. Sounds like he was quite an interesting individual. I'm sure he had all kinds of stories to tell..
Barbi 24-Apr-2007 15:02
I remember Virgil! He was interesting. Great memory Monte.
Deems Burton28-Mar-2007 23:48
Great tribute story...half of the population of Happy Camp looks, sounds, and lives Virgil's life..
Lee G25-Jan-2007 00:54
Cool story! He does have the Ian Anderson look and stance.