Joseph Gottschalk
Encyclopedia
Joseph H. Gottschalk was a resident of San Antonio, Texas
who gained international notoriety in 2003 through his preference for riding a bicycle clad only in a thong
. After numerous interviews, a parade, and at least one arrest for indecent exposure, his life ended under mysterious circumstances in Big Bend National Park
.
, one of six children. In 1969 at the age of 18 he attended Catholic seminary at Pontifical College Josephinum
in Columbus, Ohio, but dropped out after one semester. Described as "nerdy, even by seminary standards," Gottchalk was soon drafted into the Vietnam War
effort. According to his brother Paul, Gottschalk spent most of his short Army career behind bars refusing to do "anything to help the war efforts."
He married in 1976 and divorced in 2000 after fathering four children.
newspaper published a story on him in their May 5, 2003 metro section that was picked up by the Associated Press
and quickly went viral bringing him fame far beyond his own city's limits.
Locally Thong Man, as Gottschalk came to be known, provoked both admiration and disgust. For himself, Gottschalk seemed to enjoy pushing the boundaries of public taste and compared his riding wardrobe preferences to driving the maximum legal speed limit. In response to being labeled a pervert, Gottschalk decried judgment that "(based) morality on appearance." In time he gained a kind of cult hero status among a minority of San Antonians, enough so that on May 23, 2003 he was fêted as grand marshal of a parade sponsored by a local radio station.
. According to the police report, Gottschalk had forsaken his usual cycling attire for a "tan bag" which left his anus exposed when he stood up on his bicycle. He was released the following day on 100 dollars bond vowing to fight his Class B misdemeanor offense. It was a question of legality destined to remain unresolved.
editorial page mourned the loss stating: "Thong Man will be remembered as one of the many colorful, off-beat characters of Alamo City lore." Brewster County Justice of the Peace Shirley Williams declared his death a suicide after a month-long investigation.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
who gained international notoriety in 2003 through his preference for riding a bicycle clad only in a thong
Thong
Thong may refer to:* Thong , a garment which primarily covers only the pubic area* Thongs, jandals or flip-flops, a type of footwear similar to sandals but which are not secured to the ankles...
. After numerous interviews, a parade, and at least one arrest for indecent exposure, his life ended under mysterious circumstances in Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Texas. Big Bend has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, which includes more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56...
.
Early years
Before his riding habits made him an "odd news of the day" item, Joseph Gottschalk—his surname means "God's servant"—led an unremarkable life. He grew up in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, one of six children. In 1969 at the age of 18 he attended Catholic seminary at Pontifical College Josephinum
Pontifical College Josephinum
The Pontifical College Josephinum is a four-year, Roman Catholic liberal arts college and graduate school of theology founded by Monsignor Joseph Jessing in 1888 and located in Columbus, Ohio, USA. The seminary prepares its students to become priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Students come...
in Columbus, Ohio, but dropped out after one semester. Described as "nerdy, even by seminary standards," Gottchalk was soon drafted into the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
effort. According to his brother Paul, Gottschalk spent most of his short Army career behind bars refusing to do "anything to help the war efforts."
He married in 1976 and divorced in 2000 after fathering four children.
Thong Man
Citing an appreciation for personal liberty and the human form, Gottschalk began riding his bicycle clad only in a thong in April or May 2003. At first he restricted his rides to his south side San Antonio neighborhood, particularly Southside Lions Park, but with time he expanded his routes north into the downtown area. The San Antonio Express-NewsSan Antonio Express-News
The San Antonio Express-News is the daily newspaper of San Antonio, Texas. It is ranked as the third-largest daily newspaper in the state of Texas in terms of circulation, and is one of the leading news sources of South Texas, with offices in Austin, Brownsville, Laredo, and Mexico City...
newspaper published a story on him in their May 5, 2003 metro section that was picked up by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and quickly went viral bringing him fame far beyond his own city's limits.
Locally Thong Man, as Gottschalk came to be known, provoked both admiration and disgust. For himself, Gottschalk seemed to enjoy pushing the boundaries of public taste and compared his riding wardrobe preferences to driving the maximum legal speed limit. In response to being labeled a pervert, Gottschalk decried judgment that "(based) morality on appearance." In time he gained a kind of cult hero status among a minority of San Antonians, enough so that on May 23, 2003 he was fêted as grand marshal of a parade sponsored by a local radio station.
Arrest
On June 17, 2003, Gottschalk was arrested for indecent exposureIndecent exposure
Indecent exposure is the deliberate exposure in public or in view of the general public by a person of a portion or portions of his or her body, in circumstances where the exposure is contrary to local moral or other standards of appropriate behavior. Indecent exposure laws vary in different...
. According to the police report, Gottschalk had forsaken his usual cycling attire for a "tan bag" which left his anus exposed when he stood up on his bicycle. He was released the following day on 100 dollars bond vowing to fight his Class B misdemeanor offense. It was a question of legality destined to remain unresolved.
Death
On June 21, 2003 a group of hikers in Big Bend National Park discovered Gottschalk's naked mortal remains at the bottom of a 100 foot drop. The San Antonio Express-NewsSan Antonio Express-News
The San Antonio Express-News is the daily newspaper of San Antonio, Texas. It is ranked as the third-largest daily newspaper in the state of Texas in terms of circulation, and is one of the leading news sources of South Texas, with offices in Austin, Brownsville, Laredo, and Mexico City...
editorial page mourned the loss stating: "Thong Man will be remembered as one of the many colorful, off-beat characters of Alamo City lore." Brewster County Justice of the Peace Shirley Williams declared his death a suicide after a month-long investigation.
