Who have you met?

[Nick12]

When we stayed in a nice golf resort hotel in Orlando in the mid 1990s the Chicago Bulls basketball team were staying there also for a few days. They had a series with the Orlando Magic. Scottie Pipien, Dennis Rodman, Michael Jordan and the madness that is part of the Bulls culture. Female escorts, lots of late night and daytime poker games with lots of $$$$ on the line etc etc etc. I will leave it at that. Met all of them including rest of the team. Dennis Rodman was a freak and people loved his humor and his wild parties.

 

[BigNick]

Mrs BigNick has shaken hands with President Macron of France and the king of Spain in the course of her job in the last few years. A while before that, she was also in charge of making sure that Michael Gorbachev didn't go on stage to give his speech too early, so she got to bar his way. A couple of years ago she got within three feet of the Pope, but she was on protocol "melt into the background" duty and didn't get to shake his hand.

DS has been designated driver for an evening out with Brian Cox, who may not be familiar to US readers (good-looking former pop musician who has a PhD in physics and now popularises science on UK TV; not to be confused with Brian May of Queen).

DD has handled furniture rentals for Angelina Jolie, Sacha Baron Cohen, and a few other celebs.

I was written up in Science magazine a year or so ago, so y'all can say you know me , but I don't think I've ever met anyone remotely famous!

 

[kimcdougc]

Truett Cathy owner of Chick-Fil-A. Grew up with his kids in church in Jonesboro, Ga. Fast forward in my twenties applied for a job at a Chick-Fil-A. This wonderful man who at the time in 1986 was worth over $350 million dollars. His son (my friend) was suppose to interview me but was going to be excessively late. Truett ran out of the Chick-fil-A to catch me in the parking lot. (Mr. Cathy was there eating with his wife.) He said come back in and have some lunch on us since it is our fault your interview was late. All the good things you hear about him are true. This man want around in the world not telling another soul what he was doing to benefit children and just making the world a better place. His family is just like him.

George H W Bush. Was about 10 feet away from him when he was running for a 2nd term as president.

 

[Crabby Mike]

Met lots of semi-rock-stars (mostly up-and-coming at the time, or past-their-prime) while working in a big nightclub while in college -- Joe Walsh, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Robert Palmer, Aerosmith, and many more I've forgotten. Sat in the kitchen having my duty meal one night, between Chubby Checker and Iggy Pop, passing around a, um, "cigarette."

Later, worked in Vail and saw and/or met too many famous folks to count, but like others said, tended to leave them alone. More random encounters over a career in Megacorp and Megagov. A few favorites:

- bartended a reception for ex-President Gerry Ford. Nice guy, killer handshake, even after a few.
- worked a trade show booth in Vegas with Terry Bradshaw, who was then a paid spokesman for my Megacorp. Was a blast, especially later at the blackjack tables.
- had a nice long conversation with an older fellow who came into the hotel bar one day while I was setting up, just wanted a cup of coffee. Signed the tab and left a nice tip; looked at the tab later and realized he was Irwin Shaw, author (Rich Man, Poor Man), playwright,etc. Glad I didn't know, was a nice conversation between strangers.

 

[Tiger8693]

Just got back from the AT&T ProAm, and we stayed at a very nice little place called Mission Ranch. Has a nice restaurant as well, with a piano bar. Having dinner Saturday night and the owner of the cottages and restaurant (Clint Eastwood) came in for dinner, sitting at the table next to us. He didn't give me or DW the mean looking Clint squint, actually looked like a very nice guy. We both looked over at he and his girlfriend and just said hello and nodded. Numerous people came to him and spoke to him throughout his dinner and he was gracious and not rude. After dinner, he stepped over to our table, asked how we were doing, said thanks for being polite during his dinner and asked the waitress to get us another drink we were having on him. Class act.

Much better than the story I have where we met Luke Wilson, and subsequently Dennis Quaid. Taught us about leaving them to enjoy themselves though...

 

[Sue J]

I’m watching the Elvis All-Star Tribute and remembered meeting Priscilla Presley. I was an accountant at a Beauty and Barber supply distribution company. Priscilla had come out with a line of products and was visiting for some reason. I don’t remember why she stopped in at the Accounting Department but she came in and was introduced to many of us. My impression is that she was tiny! Even with very high spike heeled shoes she was very small. This was before she started the plastic surgery and she was very pretty.

 

[ejman]

I was once in the same country as the Queen of England.

 

[MarieIG]

Not me. DH, who is a highly skilled, blue collar worker in NYC, has seen a number and met a few. In his job, he has been sent to some high end residences and commercial buildings. The most famous person he met (when working in his building) was the (current) POTUS. The way DH tells the story makes me laugh, but it revolved around technical questions DT had for DH involving some equipment in his building that DT thought was malfunctioning. DH explained that the equipment was very sensitive to certain external stimulation and suggested some changes in the parameters which led to a resolution of the issue at no additional cost. DT was pleased, told DH he was a D-- smart Greek, and invited him to have dinner upstairs. (DH thanked him but declined as he was in work clothes.)

 

[IMATERP]

Franco Harris (week after immaculate reception) in the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh.
Bob Griese, Larry Zsonka, Vern Den Herder (Miami football players)
Harry Chapin before a show at DAR Constitution Hall
Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Andy Messersmith (LA Dodgers)
Madeline Albright
Geraldine Ferraro
Don Deluise in a Phoenix elevator
Reba McIntyre in Nashville in a convention suite - mid 80’s
Mary Chapin Carpenter (prior to her becoming famous.)
President of Tanzania (having dinner in a Hotel in DAR es Salaam) and everyone around me stood up when he walked in the room.
Several local media and radio personalities.

 

[target2019]

In our younger days, we traveled to NYC and CT, for various parties. A friend of mine lived in the city, and we attended a handful of parties where we met a few actors. We overnighted with a top actor and his friend at the time, also famous. On another occasion my spouse and sister accompanied the actor on a beer run. One memorable night was leaving a theater after live performance and diving into a limo for a drive to CT. We recently told our children about these events, and they were dumbstruck.

 

[travelover]

In our younger days, we traveled to NYC and CT, for various parties. A friend of mine lived in the city, and we attended a handful of parties where we met a few actors. We overnighted with a top actor and his friend at the time, also famous. On another occasion my spouse and sister accompanied the actor on a beer run. One memorable night was leaving a theater after live performance and diving into a limo for a drive to CT. We recently told our children about these events, and they were dumbstruck.

So, who was it?

 

[CaptTom]

My first-grade teacher, who inspired me in so many ways. The EMT's who wouldn't give up on my son, even after it was clearly too late. The doctors who've stitched and healed so many family members. The police and fire fighters who risk their lives daily for me. The military veterans who gave so much. The co-workers who taught me, made me laugh, or just commiserated with me to get us all through our day.

These are my heroes. If someone is good at acting, or sports, or politics, or making money, great. I respect that. But no more so than someone who is good at all those other things which, frankly, are more important.

I will never understand the hero-worship of celebrities. I don't stand in awe of them, nor feel special when I'm in their presence.

 

[Rianne]

My first-grade teacher, who inspired me in so many ways. The EMT's who wouldn't give up on my son, even after it was clearly too late. The doctors who've stitched and healed so many family members. The police and fire fighters who risk their lives daily for me. The military veterans who gave so much. The co-workers who taught me, made me laugh, or just commiserated with me to get us all through our day.

These are my heroes. If someone is good at acting, or sports, or politics, or making money, great. I respect that. But no more so than someone who is good at all those other things which, frankly, are more important.

I will never understand the hero-worship of celebrities. I don't stand in awe of them, nor feel special when I'm in their presence.

+1, although I listed some famous names. I really think of teachers, doctors and amazing people who reacted quickly to emergencies, risking their own lives.

Quick story, a friend back in college was bullied, called names, told he was stupid in 1st-6th grade. He had a nickname, I won't mention.
A math teacher in 6th grade saw his lack of confidence and extreme insecurity. He walked with his head down and never raised his hand.
She created eye contact with him, offered opportunities to let him talk in class, gave him reassurances that he had potential and helped him work through math problems by making it fun.
He graduated from my university in the top 1% of his business class.

This is a 100% true story as I knew many of his friends.

 

[treypar]

Some of the famous people I have met:


Rod Laver (tennis great)
Johnny Miller (golf)
Jimmy Carter ( twice) The first as governor and the second as ex President.

Reba McIntyre (very nice person)
Zell Miller(Governor & Senator) I sat next to him and his wife in economy on a flight from DC to ATL. He was such a nice guy.
Sonny Perdue (Twice). First was at the Governor's Mansion and the second was at his office at the GA state capital.

Jack Bogle(twice) He was great talking to both time that I met him. He is my favorite famous person.

 

[RobbieB]

Nobody famous.

 

[travelover]

........I will never understand the hero-worship of celebrities. I don't stand in awe of them, nor feel special when I'm in their presence.

I've never met anyone famous either.

 

[Slow But Steady]

When I was in high school, I sang backup vocals for a guy whose stage name was John Stuart. He claimed that he had been in the Beach Boys, but dropped out because they were never going anywhere singing songs like "Bob- Bob-berann."

I went to high school with Feliciano's (now ex-) wife Hilda's two brothers, who lived with Feliciano in the rich part of town up the hill from us.

Kevin Costner went to my high school a year behind, but I never met him.

 

[DeborahB]

Meeting people with money to invest, over the years, I guarantee that you can’t tell which ones have money by what they’re wearing.

 

[redduck]

.....

Ms. Gamboolgals father....101st Airborne all the way thru from Toccoa, parachuting into Normandy, A Bridge Too Far, Hell's Highway, Bastogne...... thru the end of WW2, all battles, never wounded, had a pencil and his pack shot off of him, was on Eisenhowers honor guard at Nuremberg....gtook Nazi's to and from there cells to trial and to the Gallows........\

Turns out I had a uncle who was an attorney at the Nuremberg trials. Never met him, but maybe Mrs. G's father did.

 

[cooch96]

Nothing like Elvis or the Dalai Lama but:

Kris Novoselic, former bassist of Nirvana. That man is about 6’-8” and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Seattle politics (or he did a couple decades ago).

Coach K (Duke, and former Army, basketball coach). Also surprisingly tall when not standing in a group of power forwards and centers.

Doug Stanhope, elite stand up comic and former star of The Man Show. Stanhope is only about 5’6”, but maybe 5’-9” if he stood up straight.

Lots of local celebrities, city and state level politicians, and folks who had a little more than just 15 minutes.

 

[medved]

Michael Strahan
Nancy Reagan
F. Lee Bailey
Thurman Munson
Colin Powell
Ali Velshi (CNN)
Elizabeth Warren

 

[bw5972]

My high school lab partner is now married to a Beatle. Nancy Shevell, Paul McCartneys wife

 

[Breedlove]

Ray W Hubbard , has a song" Name Dropping ". Shouldn't drop names . My most Important Donald Trump in 2016 at a private event in Memorial . My favorite who we love so much Billy Joe Shaver . When his son Eddie died I was just whipped I cried . Eddie was a great guitar player .These are Texas musicians . Meet with Dickey Betts when he comes to town sometimes . He is coming back sometime this summer . Dickey used to play with the Allman Brothers. Today Dickey is a little old man that likes to play golf loves the country club in the Woodlands. If I listed every musician it could go on and on . My son played college Baseball so we have met a few MLB players most noteable Roger Clemons . Went to the SB experience 2 years ago got to be on Good Morning Football , so we met a slew of players from Jim Brown to Tim Tebow. ( shake their hand ) Favorite Sports person when I was a kid was Woody Hayes met him at a Big Boy in Cambridge Ohio . Met Pete Rose as a kid at our LL football banquet all he did was talk and talk.
Oh Frank Beard ZZ Top hangs out at Pecan Grove Country club loves to chat , rather play golf then music .
About 5 miles from our House is Chuck Norriss's ranch , seen him around never talked to him .
Someone Mentioned Elvis ( never Met Elvis ) But Billy Joe Shaver tells a story many years ago he got a knock on his door at 3:00 Am in the morning and in his door stood Elvis . He said they played music and drank all morning!

 

[DrRoy]

At Spacefest DW and I have chatted with many Apollo astronauts - Walt Cunningham, Jim Lovell, Jim McDivitt, Dave Scott, Gene Cernan, Mike Collins, Al Bean, Dick Gordon, Fred Haise, Charlie Duke. We had dinner with Al Worden.

 

[Col. Klink]

Met Tom Selleck at the Nagoya (Japan) Hilton in the mid 90's. He was filming Mr. Baseball. Actually sat next to him at the bar and quaffed a beer with him. Ironically, I am retired and he is selling reverse mortgages!