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Tim Sample is a Maine humorist, writer and illustrator.
A few years ago, my wife and I were sightseeing in rural New Mexico when my cellphone rang. The caller was familiar from my phone’s contact list. I answered: “Hello Robert!”
“Hey Timmy! Humble hee-ah,” Came the cheerful response, followed by a slightly cranky, “How come you ain’t stopped by to see me lately?”
My old friend, Robert Skoglund, aka The humble Farmer had a point. Then in his mid-80s, Robert’s health was seriously declining, and yes, of course, I owed him a visit.
When I mentioned that I was speaking to him from the town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, any lingering irritation instantly evaporated in the bright sunlight of Robert’s white-hot curiosity.
We both recalled the game show “Truth or Consequences.” But while I remembered only the TV version hosted by Bob Barker in the 1950s, Bobby, being older than me by about a decade and a half, correctly noted that the original “Truth or Consequences” was also a popular radio show hosted by Ralph Edwards in the 1940s and early ‘50s. It was, in fact, a radio promotion that led to the town’s famously bizarre name change. So noted.
The call ended with my solemn promise to stop by Humble World Headquarters in St. George immediately upon my return to Maine. And I found myself marveling at my old friend’s boundless energy, curiosity and enthusiasm for the quirkier elements of everyday life.
Of course, Robert would know about some old oddball radio promotion. Oddball promotions — radio and otherwise — were the humble Farmer’s lifelong stock in trade.
Like many of my fellow Mainers, my earliest introduction to Skoglund’s infectious, off-beat humor was via his frequent submissions to the mid-1970s Maine Times newspaper’s “personal ads” section. A classic example:
“Lonely evangelist seeks attractive young woman eager to assume missionary position in Africa.”
Who was this guy anyway?
I first met Robert at one of the early Maine Festivals established around 1975 by legendary Maine Humorist Marshall Dodge and heralded as a “Celebration of Maine Life.” These annual shindigs were held on the Bowdoin College campus in Brunswick.
Robert, in person, was an elfin dynamo, an amiable, quick-witted, glad-handing hustler, tirelessly pitching his latest creative efforts with an evangelistic fervor, wrapped in a genuine Down East drawl and perfectly seasoned with his trademark self-effacing dry native wit.
A born pitchman he was never short of projects to pitch. Despite his coastal Maine roots and well-cultivated “awe-shucks” persona, Robert was in fact an ambitious, whip-smart polymath. He was an educated boots-on-the ground schoolteacher as well as a first-rate musician and jazz aficionado.
He was also a surprisingly sophisticated world traveler fluent in several languages, a deep thinker, a talented storyteller, a lifelong learner and voracious reader known to peruse volumes of “The Encyclopedia Britannica” whilst visiting the privy.
Over the decades, Robert would firmly establish himself as a nationally recognized, award-winning syndicated newspaper columnist, a sought after public speaker and a successful public radio host with a devoted and loyal fan base.
Never at a loss for original marketing schemes (and despite firm resistance from his “almost perfect woman” Marsha) Robert began hosting his legendary annual Free Lobster Bake at his property in St. George.
That signature event, which featured a free lobster dinner and free live entertainment from a Who’s Who of Maine storytellers, entertainers and musicians (myself included) became an annual pilgrimage for thousands of his devoted fans.
On what turned out to be my last visit with Robert at Chez Humble last summer, I was met at the door by Marsha’s daughter who was helping out around the house due to both Robert and Marsha being incapacitated.
It was obviously a poignant visit. Robert’s physical condition was tenuous at best but he was bright-eyed and clearly happy to see me. After explaining exactly where he wanted me to sit and apologizing for not being able to get out of bed and amble around the property, as we’d done in the past, we proceeded to explore a hodgepodge of topics including old friends, old times and notable current events.
When I took my leave he thanked me for coming and it was pretty clear that this was likely our last farewell.
When I heard that he had passed on and I reviewed some 50 years of our friendship, my mind snagged on one particular memory.
My wife and I were traveling a few years back when a phone call from Robert came in over the car speakers. I answered, explaining that my wife and I were both in the car on speakerphone. My wife said hello.
“Have I ever met you in person?” Robert asked.
“No, “ she replied. “But I’ve listened to you on the radio for years, and you are an old friend of the family.”
Amen. Thank you, Robert Skoglund!