I was a server at a favorite Nashville, TN restaurant for about two years so I’ve got a long list and too many to mention. Suffice that all, with the exception of maybe 1 or 2, were regular and friendly.

I’ve seen Marshall Faulk twice around town. Once was at Layton’s in Clayton - a bunch of old people at Sunday breakfast. The other was at a bar in Midtown. My buddy asked him what he’s written and he got all confused. We were amused.

I’ve seen the Brown and Crupen guy in Dierberg’s. He had flip-flops and sweatpants on and ran his hand through the pistachios as he walked by. Yuck. Saw that girl from the Real World there, too.

As a child I met Claude Akins right beneath the Arch. I also ran into Richard Thomas (”Johnboy” of the Waltons) at an airport in West Virginia.

The Dixie Chicks, in McCarran International Airport, a zillion years ago.

And I call dibs on “retrobate,” which I define as a morally depraved individual who’s kind of a throwback. Think Austin Powers. Or Hef.

Let’s see. A few years back when Clint Eastwood was mayor of Carmel, California, I just happened to be in Carmel when a town meeting was being held. So, of course, I had to go. Fairly interesting, seeing the actor in a real life role. Also saw his then girlfriend Sondra Locke at the store when I was picking up some groceries.

Many years prior to that there was some big bowling shindig being held in St Louis. My dad was a bowling fanatic so he always watched the pros on TV. I pretty much knew of all the big names in that era. Well, dad and I were bowling at the local bowling alley (Airport Lanes) when the whole herd of bolwing celebrities came in to practice. Really messed with my head. Can you imagine trying to bowl worth a darn when you’ve got all these pros swarming the premises???

Then many years before that I got to meet Texas Bruce. You’d have thought that would have been a big deal for any kid of that era. Me? I think I cried and screamed even worse than the first time my parents took me to see Santa Claus!

You don’t necessarily have to “worship” a celebrity to have an interesting story.

I met Billy Joel in a tavern called the TP Lounge about 90 miles north of NY City 32 years ago. It was getting late and it was only him and the bartender when I walked in. I didn’t notice him because he had only come out with his first album and his album picture was fuzzy and dark.

The bartender prompted me by telling me it was Billy Joel a few seats down. So I went over and began asking questions. He kindly answered my questions and even showed me his driver’s license at my request. We must have talked for 30 minutes. He was a real down-to-earth guy and I’ll always remember that discussion.

Working as a track volunteer at Gateway I’ve met several racing personalities and some “cross over” ones. I’ve met David Letterman and Paul Newman (car owners), Joe Gibb (same), A.J. Foyt, multiple Andrettis, Stan Musial (my second meeting with him), Chris Pronger (got to escort him thru the crowd to a waiting Ill. State Police car) and actually did some work around the pit area with the late Wally Dallenbach Sr.. All memorable experiences but no autographs-I don’t collect autographs, just memories.

A friend and I ran into actor John Goodman coming out of a club in Illinois(I will refrain from saying which club so not to incriminate myself)and my friend had me follow him to his car and bothered him as he was trying to leave.I had to apologize for his rudeness and Goodman just gave me an ambivalent wave and that was it.

Boy, I don’t know where to start. So here goes in no particular order:

Jim Nabors (aka Gomer Pyle) whiie working at Union Station.
Chris Rock (very short) & Chris Pronger (very tall) while working at the Galleria
Sheryl Crow (she was not famous yet) while working at a record store in the CWE, got to hear a demo tape she had made while living in St. Louis, I swear she included part of the conversation we had in one of her later songs, but that is a different story for a different time
Mariyn Manson at a concert at the Fox
Carlos Santana at a concert at the Muny
Neil Patrick Harris (aka Doogie Howser) at a party in Maplewood
Ron Jeremy at a fine establishment in Sauget
Doug Thompson (the bass player in Supertramp) I’m friends with his daughter

I have met quite a few other lesser celebrities from my younger days managing record stores and going to concerts and other worldly travels, but those are the people that I have met that I consider “celebrities”. Not too bad for a kid from the hood.

In early 1987, Ozzie Smith came into the candy shop that I was managing, looking for a large box of candy to give someone for Valentines Day. My assistant, a 20-something black woman, waited on Ozzie and I thought that she was going to pass out taking care of his order. She babbled incessantly until he left.