So, a post this morning on a local cycling forum I inhabit piqued my interest in this man, "Wrong Way" Wooten. There seems to be a lot of hear-say about Wooten, whose birth name seems to have been Tom (it has been suggested that he legally changed it to Wrong Way). A lot of people met him on his journeys, talked with him, and there are brief recounts spread across the internet. I am going to leave it up to you to search those accounts out, if you are so inclined. I was more concerned with published reports, interviews, etc, the links for three of which are shown below.
David L. Sloan photo
From what I have been able to gather, Wooten traversed the country, north and south, east to west, raising funds for various charities, including the March of Dimes, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, the Leukemia Society, and the American Heart Association. During one interview (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) the reporter notes that Wooten had been on the road for 45 months by that point, and covered 28,000 miles starting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, traveling west to Los Angeles, down to San Diego, up to Canada, back to Los Angeles, and finally across to Florida via Arkansas and New Orleans. And yes, those travels did indeed include a stop in our very own city of Claremont. Other references of cities he passed through, which I have found, include San Clemente, CA, Ft. Wayne, IN, San Jose, CA, Philadelphia, Santa Fe, NM, Phoenix, AZ, and at Stanford University.
As you may have gathered, Wrong Way did not pick up the name by being frequently lost; no, he gained the name by riding his customized bike backwards, sitting on the handlebars and using mirrors to see where he was going. According to the articles Wooten was an educated man with a degree in psychology, whose goal in life was to simply help his fellow man. Riding his bike backwards was the means to that end. If you check out any of the links you will see that Wooten became a bit of a celebrity (though I do not remember hearing about him), and even had an appearance on the 1980s television show Real People. I noticed some comments suggesting that Wrong Way passed away in 2004, though, in my research, I have not come across an obituary for him. Interesting man, who clearly lived an interesting life.
Once, when asked what he did when he got a flat, he is reported to have replied, "I set the bike on fire." With a straight face. I've known that feeling. Clearly, after so many miles, so many encounters, there must be some fascinating stories out there. Thanks to Erik for pointing me to this previously unknown (by me) story.
Three newspaper stories:
Palm Beach, FL
Pittsburg, PA
unidentified photographer
I meet wrong way wooten a few months after appearing on "real people." He was on Rt. 30 in Irwin Pa. heading west. It was and still is a very dangerous 4 lane highway even back in the 80's. Wish I would of had a camera to take a picture of us together.
ReplyDeleteI met Wrong Way in NM in the early 80's. He was traveling through town and ended up staying with some friends of ours for a month or more here in Albuquerque. We were about 10 years old and rode all over the neighborhood with him. He was a very nice guy and the first "celebrity" that I had ever met. I learned to ride my bike backwards that month and to this day (@41yrs) I continue to amaze people, especially my elementary students, when I grab their bike and ride of "Wooten Style". -Matt Reynolds, Albuquerque N.M.
ReplyDeleteAwesome. Two more stories of people who saw/met Wrong Way.
ReplyDeleteTom passed away in January 2003. An eerie note to this, he left me a message on my answering machine three days earlier. I had not talked to him in a while. On the message he said "This is a voice from the past, give me a call." Unfortunately three days later his brother saw my number on his cell phone and told me Tom had been found in bed and died of a heart attack suddenly(47 yrs. old). You should have seen him driving around town in his 1967 Citroen with his beloved parrot Topaz riding on the top. A truly unforgettable character who always meant well. He was also pretty nifty on a unicycle!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminiscence.
ReplyDeleteI went to school with Tommy. He was a horrible bully. We rode on the same bus and he was always beating someone up. The teachers all the way through high school could not stand him being in class. He lived in Bryn Mawr, PA and went to Radnor High School. Sometime in his 30's I believe he was arrested for calling in a threat to President Reagan from a payphone at Dunkin Donuts in Bryn Mawr. Unbelievable how fast the secret service arrived.
ReplyDeleteAlthough he appeared to have changed, I am not sure that much of a change can really be true.
He definitely changed, I knew him between 88 and 93. Still a bit crazy but definitely not a bully!
DeleteI rember when that happened. My friends and were about 13 and he was at burger king in havertown a few days before the call.
ReplyDeleteI saw Wooten often riding his bike (backwards of course) down the middle of Lancsster Ave. in Ardmore and Bryn Mawr Pa. It was
ReplyDeletequite the show!
S. Sacks Wynnewood, Pa.
I remember seeing him riding in the same area, around 1974-75.
DeleteI was his cousin. He was s great person
ReplyDeleteHe was a thief and liar, those are true. He lived with us for while in the late 80's in Los Angeles, before his affair with my mother contributed to my folks getting a divorce. They he lived with and stole from my mother for a few years. Fuck him. Hope he died roaring.
ReplyDeleteI met Wrong Way Wooten in person when I used to work at Albertsons in Stuart.It was in 1985.He was one of my customers.He had one or two birds with him.He was a nice person.
ReplyDeleteI knew Tom back in day, from the late 60's to the 90's. He actually dated my sister for a little while, and was not the most kind person to her. Yes, he was a bully, a terrible bully who intimidated those around him. After High School, he continued to get into trouble, never, as far as I know, got away completely from being the edgy bad guy he was as a kid. Saw him PLENTY of times on Lancaster Avenue riding backwards, making a scene. It was always about Tom with him.
ReplyDeleteDid get arrested for making a threat on the life of the POTUS. Not sure what the disposition of that case was. Called from a pay phone, never even got out of the booth before the police showed up and arrested him.
In the 70-early 80's, he had a buddy who was a Radnor police officer. That probably saved his ass more than once.
And yes, in his little Citroen with the parrot, again, making a scene.
If he did, in fact, turn a corner and end up doing charitable works while doing his "wrong way" act, then good for him.
I also recall his passing. Sad to die so young, but must admit, I didn't really shed a tear.
I met Wrong Way in the late 1970's or very early 1980's when I was a Police Officer for the Columbia Police Department in Lancaster County, PA. Both the new US Route 30 and the old US 30 (now PA 462 or Lancaster Avenue AKA the Lincoln Hwy i.e. the first coast to coast highway in the US) pass through Columbia. I was working the night shift (2300-0700 or 2200-0600hrs) went I saw this guy riding a bicycle backwards as he rode the Lincoln Highway. And this was long after dark! Wooten flagged me down, introduced himself, and said that he was riding his bicycle coast to coast while sitting backwards! He had all kinds of gear and lighting on his bike, including a small TV set (this was decades before flat screen TVs). He wanted to know if we could put him up for the night in one of our cells! Other than visiting school children, this was the first time that anyone ever asked me to be put in one of the cells. So after showing me his bicycle he went to sleep in a cell and was on his way the following morning, riding west across the PA 462 Veterans Bridge towards Wrightsville.
ReplyDeleteKevin Maule
Asking to sleep in a cell. I think I have seen that on tv, and now I find out it happens in real life. Very good, thanks of sharing.
DeleteHe came to Boynton Beach Oceanfront Park in Florida probably around 1985. He hung around awhile and juggled and rode his unicycle and seemed like a nice guy. I think I have a few photos of him somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI knew Wrong Way when he drove the tow truck for Radnor Garage, late 80's to mid to late 90's. I delivered at a local pizza place in the area. He used to piss people off towing their cars if they parked at the pizza place but weren't eating there. Eccentric guy.RIP.
ReplyDeleteI remember those years very well, I worked in Bryn Mawr, and he was a customer of mine, and we became good friends until I moved to Florida.
DeleteHe was also featured on the Channel 3 show in the late 70's called Evening Magazine.
ReplyDeleteI met him in the early 80's coming thru Upper Sandusky, Ohio. He stopped at Harrison Smith Park and played basketball with us. I had him autograph a hat for me, but don't know where it could be now.
ReplyDeleteHis name was Robert
ReplyDeletehttp://m.legacy.com/obituaries/philly/obituary.aspx?n=robert-t-wooten&pid=708762&referrer=0&preview=false
He approached me in parkinglot of McDonald's pass ed Biloxi around 1980 asked me for 1 dollar donation an I give it to him one because his said he did chartible contributions an two I never seen anything like that before his bike looked like a pack camel seriously , he give me a postcard picture of him an said he was wrong way Wooten , great experince he was a friendly person just a one minuet meet an greet an I was gone.
ReplyDeleteMy first celebrity autograph.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.legacy.com/obituaries/inquirer/obituary.aspx?n=robert-t-wooten&pid=708762
ReplyDeleteI know his brother kevin from the wayne teen center. he was a bit of a dick - he got off on the attention.
ReplyDeleteI met Wrong-way In Anaheim California In 1981 at the age of 17, 40 years ago. I was riding a newly developed unicycle with Handel bars that looked like half of a bycicle when we came across each other and web instantly became riding buddies while he was in the O.C. he stayed at my mother's house for a few days and we even took our bikes to Catalina Island Via the Catalina Express where I'm at while I'm typing this 40 years later. Wrong way was a gentle soul when I met him, he also had a great voice and people cheered to his rendition of "without you baby what good am I? Lyrics.
ReplyDeleteI feel honored to have met him, and we had many laughs!
That's a terrific memory!
ReplyDeleteFinally tracked down the Real People segment of this guy. This captured my imagination and, as I took up unicycling, I did ride a small 10 speed backwards in an indoor fieldhouse once. It wasn't as hard as I thought, although I didn't try it "outside"
ReplyDeleteI was a radio broadcast in Hereford Texas when Wrong Way rolled into town. He was interviewed on KPAN. Must have been 1986ish. I shall never forget him.
ReplyDeleteMark Luchsinger May 312022
DeleteI met Wrong Way in the late 80s in Miami. He stored his bike for a while at Miami Bikes, my brother, Earnest (Ernie) Anderson's bicycle shop. I've often wondered what happened to him. I just saw a clipping about him in one of my brother's photo albums and looked him up.. He was a pretty nice guy and he and my brother were friends. Condolences to his family.
ReplyDeleteWrong way was a staple in the Bryn Mawr and Wayne area of PA. Was always accommodating to chat and would tell you his story. Rode always on Lancaster Avenue and always had a smile on his face. As a teenager he was impressive. Never saw the bullying side and if I had a few bucks on me would gladly give them to him. One of a Kind.
ReplyDeleteI tell you, Wrong Way saw a lot of the country from the saddle of a bike (backward), didn't he?
ReplyDeleteMet Wrong Way in must have been 84 or 85 in North Miami on 441. Bought him a burger and coke. We spoke for awhile! Got a autograph some where. It was a good talk.
ReplyDelete