Frank "Rocky" Fiegel (January 27, 1868 - March 24, 1947) was a real-life person from E. C. Segar's home town of Chester, Illinois who (like J. William Schuchert and Dora Paskel) inspired a Thimble Theatre character. In this case, Popeye.
Frank Fiegel, nicknamed "Rocky", was a well-known Chester individual. Something of a local legend, he supposedly had an inordinate strength and often participated in fights. Like Popeye, he smoked a pipe and was toothless. He is said to have been kind to children as well.
Since 1996, his gravestone bears an engraving of Popeye's face as he first appeared in Thimble Theatre.
External links[]
- Frank "Rocky" Fiegel at Find A Grave