[Bavarian]

Bonnie Franklin, on airplane bus at Dulles years ago, before Dulles switched to terminals. The busse came to aircraft, took you to the main terminal. She was gracious, taking with her male assistant just a few feet from me, whereas the young women with her griped about riding the bus the whole time. Showed class.

When in High School we lived near a college and Ted Kennedy was to land his helicopter there to run around Philadelphia campaigning, thought a chance to meet a senator, so went there and stood right where his limo was.

Saw Mike Douglus as a member of the studio audience.

[eremite06]

Robin Williams at Alice's Restaurant, Brentwood, Ca. 1979.

[anarick]

Tony Bennett--Delivered art supplies to his apartment in Manhattan long long ago.
Rodney Dangerfield--Bummed a cigarette from me while I was waiting on line to get into his nightclub in NY.
Don King--Sat next to him in a restaurant in Soho
Susan Lucci--Met her in Vegas. Super nice lady
Frankie Valle--Met him after one of his shows in Mohegan Sun Casino.

[btf2008]

In my former and current line of work, I had the pleasure of meeting many celebs and a few Presidents/First Ladies. Most recent was during this past Presidential campaign...Michelle Obama is so down to earth and very personable. Absolutely my favorite!

I also met Mit Romney several times and had a conversation with him each time. I found him to be very personable too. He remembered my name and the conversation we had to time before. Very Cool!!

Favorite Country singers that I met are Lorrie Morgan and Billy Dean...least favorite is Alan Jackson.

[PennBF]

Most memorable was playing "Chop Sticks" on the piano with Elanor Roosevelt in 1944. Also met Pele the Soccer great, Charlie Byrd, Bob Hope, Ray Charles,
Tony Bennett, at concerts, and a lot more.

[John_W]

I grew up in St. Petersburg not far from Al Lang Field. As a teenager in the 60's I use to go there all the time for spring training games and try and get autographs.

One day the Yankees were playing and I was standing outside the stadium waiting for the players to go to the bus. I just happen to notice the guy standing next to me was Roger Maris in his civies mixed in with all of us autograph seekers. He had just been traded to the Cardinals and they were based in St. Pete but were off that day. He had come to see some of his old Yankee teammates. I remember when he gave me an autograph, he didn't seem agitated or putout like some of the other guys. Really nice fellow.

A few minutes later I noticed a big black limo pull up in front of Al Lang Field. I couldn't see through the dark windows, I just grabbed the door handle and opened the back door and out stepped Casey Stengel. He had also come to see some of his old players. He gave me an autograph right on the spot.

Once everyone had cleared out, I walked inside the stadium and looked around and noticed a couple of guys in the press box. It was Lindsey Nelson and Joe Garagiola. I use to hear Lindsey Nelson every Sunday morning when he did the replay of the Notre Dame games, he was my favorite announcer. I asked for their autogtraphs and Joe said, help me carry some things to my car and I'll give you one. At first I was disappointed because I wanted Lindsey's, but he seemed busy. Joe gave me a tape deck and I carried it out to his car. He asked what's my name, and he wrote me a personalized autograph, he was a real nice guy.

[Quixote]

Harry S Truman—I was associate editor of a weekly trade journal covering an event at which President Truman was the keynote speaker. He was a bigger man than I had thought, very down to earth, with a beefy handshake and a broad smile (in contrast to his daughter Margaret Truman Daniel who accompanied him, who was aloof bordering on unpleasant). This took place about ten years after he left the Presidency.

Nelson Rockefeller—He made an appearance at the same company as above (different occasion) while campaigning for the governorship of New York State. All smiles and hand-shaking, he struck me as THE consummate politician. He was not that tall, but he had the broadest head I had ever seen on anyone (could not imagine what his hat size must have been)!

Pete Seeger—I sat opposite him in an airport terminal waiting area and kept glancing at him until I thought I knew who he was. I caught his eye and asked, "I know you, don't I?" to which he pointed at his banjo case and replied, "You know this." We had a chat that was both delightful and serious, ended up on the same flight, and when I was returning a few days later, sure enough we were on the same flight again. It turned out that back in the 1940s, when he had first come to California, he had stayed with the parents of the cousin there whom I was visiting who were friends of his (another "small world" story)!

Lt. Gen. Howard Graves, Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, at his and his wife Gracie—I attended their yard sale at the Point when he was retiring. He later became chancellor of the state university of Texas. (The Point still has an annual community-wide yard sale, though security is greater now after 9/11 than it was before.) We talked very frankly for about a half hour, and I was very moved by what I learned. I even bought a military memento from them which, on my request, he documented a few days later with a note on West Point stationery.

Lester Pierson, Prime Minister of Canada in the 1960s—He was standing and chatting with two other men on the front portico of the Parliament building in Ottawa. My cousin, who lived there and had just given me a tour of the building different from the one available to the public, introduced me as his "cousin who is visiting from the States." He was very approachable and politely cordial. I was frankly awed that there was no security a la "secret service" and that he made himself so freely available to the public.

[2BNTV]

WOW - Harry S. Truman!!!! That must have been something.

[JohnFromMaine]

My most memorable was that, when I was 8 or 9, Peggy Wood (The Mother Superior in "The Sound of Music.") took me to my elementary school fair because my Mom couldn't. Her husband and my Dad owned competing printing companies and were good friends. I can remember that she wore a bright flowing flower print dress, a huge wide brimmed straw hat with a ribbon and bow, and, of course, the requisite dark glasses.

When I was 11 or 12, Commander Whitehead of Schweppes tonic fame, complete with trademark goatee, was a neighbor and his son, Charles, was a playmate. The Commander did a photo layout magazine ad for Schweppes on my Dad's sailboat.

When I was about 13, I taught John Philip Sousa III and his son, John Philip Sousa IV, how to sail. John Philip Sousa III was renting a house for the summer two doors down from us.

Also, when I was in my teens I watched as a "well oiled" Mel Allen made a pass at my Mom. He was a friend of my best bud's Dad and they were over for cocktails. Needless to say, I was royally PO'ed ... another reason why I have detested the NY Yankees all my life.

Lastly, Ed Koch, former out-spoken, curmudgeonly, lovable mayor of NYC, known for always asking folks; "How'm I doin'?" who recently died at age 88.
A humorous story happened when I met Mayor Koch; Back in 1987, when he was honoring our family NYC printing company in a private ceremony as we celebrated the business's 150th anniversary. While waiting in his outer office I was a bit nervous and needed to use the rest room next door. As I stood at the urinal, who should walk up to the one next to me but the mayor himself. He gave a quiet sigh of relief and my nervousness ... well, it was flushed away. He was a delightful man. God bless and rest in peace Mr. Mayor.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by JohnFromMaine

My most memorable was that, when I was 8 or 9, Peggy Wood (The Mother Superior in "The Sound of Music.") took me to my elementary school fair because my Mom couldn't. Her husband and my Dad owned competing printing companies and were good friends. I can remember that she wore a bright flowing flower print dress, a huge wide brimmed straw hat with a ribbon and bow, and, of course, the requisite dark glasses.

When I was 11 or 12, Commander Whitehead of Schweppes tonic fame, complete with trademark goatee, was a neighbor and his son, Charles, was a playmate. The Commander did a photo layout magazine ad for Schweppes on my Dad's sailboat.

When I was about 13, I taught John Philip Sousa III and his son, John Philip Sousa IV, how to sail. John Philip Sousa III was renting a house for the summer two doors down from us.

Also, when I was in my teens I watched as a "well oiled" Mel Allen made a pass at my Mom. He was a friend of my best bud's Dad and they were over for cocktails. Needless to say, I was royally PO'ed ... another reason why I have detested the NY Yankees all my life.

Lastly, Ed Koch, former out-spoken, curmudgeonly, lovable mayor of NYC, known for always asking folks; "How'm I doin'?" who recently died at age 88.
A humorous story happened when I met Mayor Koch; Back in 1987, when he was honoring our family NYC printing company in a private ceremony as we celebrated the business's 150th anniversary. While waiting in his outer office I was a bit nervous and needed to use the rest room next door. As I stood at the urinal, who should walk up to the one next to me but the mayor himself. He gave a quiet sigh of relief and my nervousness ... well, it was flushed away. He was a delightful man. God bless and rest in peace Mr. Mayor.

What a nice rendition of famous people met.

[twinklesweep]

I met Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Feller (RIP) and Mrs. Feller AND Olympic ice skater Scott Hamilton and Mrs. Hamilton and their baby on the same flight to Cleveland some years ago. They all got off the plane there, while for me it was a stopover. Scott and I stood in the front of our small section just outside the door to the cockpit discussing cancer, survival, and our feelings about it. All “just plain folks,” down to earth and unassuming. (And me not even a baseball fan!)

[Belmont4-150]

Valerie Bertinelli...danced with her at a dance club in Redondo Beach while Eddie VH jammed on stage
Howard Cosell and Muhammed Ali...LAX, parked in limo behind me. Driver bumped my car and they both came out to see if I was OK
Jim Rice, Jim Palmer and 2 others I forget. They were in a foursome in front of me on a course in Bermuda, 1979. We talked, pics, etc on several tee boxes.
Brad Delp...Lead singer, Boston. Sat next to him at a Celtics game then years later when he played at a private fundraiser.
And many more.....

[Ecuadog]

In the summer of '64, Carl Furillo used to make my lunch most days. He owned a deli then. I think that's my fondest encounter.

[TrudyM]

Met Julianna Margulies in the 80’s at an alumni event at my high school as she went to the same one and was there on alumni day, who knew she would become so famous. Many of the people I went to high school with at High Mowing Waldorf school ended up in the TV and film industry but most are on the production side so no names you would recognize.
Waited on Cher at Liberty House department store when I was a manager in the 70's and she had terrible acne but was very nice.
Met Vincent Price and Coral Brown, Shirley Jones and Marty Ingeles while on crusies on Royal Viking line. I was traveling with my mom and my son who was 7 or 8 at the time. As one of the few kids on the ship he loved helping out the cruise staff handing out bingo cards and trivia quiz sheets etc. The celebs on board took a liking to him and he ended up sitting with them during bingo and Vincent Price phoned our room and invited him to watch batman in the movie theatre with him. He talked to us and tried to convince us to enroll our son in acting classes but we never did.

[Mack184]

I have had the good fortune to have never worked a day in my life. Instead I have spent almost all of 4 decades on the radio. In that time I've had the opportunity to meet lots and lots of people. Most of the people I've met have been in the music business. Most of them have been C&W performers, who are by far the most accessible & friendly performers out there. I've had the special opportunity to meet everyone from presidents to porn..er..um..uh.."Adult" stars. So for what it's worth:

Music people: Tom T. Hall, Sonny James, The Kendalls, Larry Gatlin & Brothers, Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, LaCosta Tucker (Tanya's older sister), Jerry Reed, Mickey Gilley, T.G. Sheppard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Walker, Little Jimmy Dickens, Ben Burnley of Breaking Benjamin and...Ozzie. Yes..The Ozzie. Really.

Political people: Mike Pence-Former US House Rep & Current Governor of Indiana. I knew Mike when he was just a talk show host on WIBC in Indianapolis. President Ford (twice). He was one of the nicest people I have ever met anywhere. I met him once when he was president and once after he was out of office. The thing that shocked me, was when I got to meet him again the 2nd time he actually remembered my name. I was stunned. President Reagan. All I have to say is WOW!

Sports people: Rays Coach Joe Maddon, AL Umpire-Ron Luciano, WWF Wrestler-Big Show, George Forman-when he was still fighting. He had the fastest hands I have ever seen in my life. I'm not little and he nearly crushed my hand when he shook it. Evel Knievel.

Comics:Frank Caliendo-All I can say is Oh My God! What a funny, funny, funny man!

Porn..er..um..uh..Adult Entertainment people: BellaDonna, Chessie Moore, Nina Hartley, Ron Jeremy, Flower Tucci, Jada Fire & Miz Panther.

I'm sure I've forgotten a couple of music performers. But as I said..I've never worked a day in my life, and yet I got a paycheck. I have been a VERY lucky man!