R.I.P. Dick Gregory 1932-2017

A pretty good runner in his youth if I'm not mistaken. RIP.

On the bright side, there's one less person named "Dick" in the world.

eh? eh?

RIP.

You are clueless on who he is aren't you?

Heard him talk about in race hydration and fuel consumption back in the early to mid 70's. Made perfect sense and the rest of the world caught up about 10-15 years later.

Giant of a man. His autobiography 'N*gger' is certainly worth a read. Great high school (Sumner High, MO mid 4:20's miler in the '50s) and college runner (former SIU school record holder at 1:54 in the '50s). Comedian, activist, businessman, farmer. Quite a life. Never one to let things go. Poked the Bear. Stood up to 'the Man'. Brave. Stubborn. Dedicated. Principled. Defiant til the end. Thank you Mr. Gregory.

His daughters were pretty good track athletes at Plymouth-Carver High School in Massschusetts, also the alma mata of Brooks Johnson (and me).

Not Nomar wrote:

His daughters were pretty good track athletes at Plymouth-Carver High School in Massschusetts, also the alma mata of Brooks Johnson (and me).

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't brag about graduating from the same school as Brooks Johnson. He and Dick Gregory were polar opposites.

Dick Gregory made people laugh.

Brooks Johnson made people uncomfortable.

Both spoke a lot of truth.

Both spent time in Chicago track circles.

I have his book "cookin' with mother nature" from the 1970's when I was competing in marathons. Gregory weighed 280-300 pounds, went on a hunger strike while in jail for protesting, and got down to 99 pounds by changing his diet. I'm not sure what he maintained after that but he kept to a much healthier diet. I think he also went on some long distance cross country runs with another diet guru, of which I also had his book but don't recall his name, something like kousvinskus.

Gregory was a popular fellow, smart, and this was a very good book.

Here's a link to the book.

If it's really selling for that much though I'll sell it.

https://www.amazon.com/Dick-Gregorys-Natural-Diet-Folks/dp/0060803150

Some of Dick Gregory's later rants were a little far fetched.

MaybeMaybeNot wrote:

Some of Dick Gregory's later rants were a little far fetched.

Agreed. He was a racist nut bag.

Pretty good times for the 1950's. How did he do against national competition during his era?

Huh. I've been calling him Greg Dickory this whole time.

I remember enjoying reading Dick's autobiography - controversially entitled -"N*****".

Years later, I came across it on a London street market bookstall and wanted to buy it.

Unfortunately, it was out of reach, and the stall was owned by a big black bloke.

I pointed at the book and said that I wanted it."Which book?" he asked .( I wasn't going to name the titlle!), and do I began describing its location but couldn't seem to direct the owner to it.

I often wondered, if the stall holder might have been teasing me.Eventually, managed to get the book without saying" the word".

Anyway, it's a very good read.

The book title is still controversial as this site wouldn't let me name it!