Born: July 18th, 1937

Died: February 20th, 2005

High of his Life: Hunter S. Thompson was the greatest manipulator of the English language in the history of man. Inventor of “Gonzo,” his own personal genre of journalism, HST wrote some of the most fantastic collections of words and phrases in the history of man. The autobiographical novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the gonzo journalistic book Hell’s Angels, and the collection of articles Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72 are his most celebrated. However, he’s perhaps better known for his constant nonchalant use of drugs and alcohol. The Good Doctor described himself as “a teenage girl trapped in the body of an elderly dope fiend,” a phrase that seemed to fit his lifestyle perfectly.

Looking for a good drinking game? Just type “Hunter S. Thompson quotes” into Google, then search the page for how many times the phrase “pig fucker” is used.

Low of his Life: An alcoholic and a drug addict, HST health failed him at a relatively early age, and his physical struggles led to his seemingly inevitable suicide. More notably, like most who struggle with addiction Raul Duke had a closet full of demons, many of which were thrown out into the public posthumously by Rolling Stone editor Jann Werner in the biography GONZO: The Life of Hunter S. Thompson. And like many self-destructive aritsts, the Good Doctor leaves his loyal fanbase with the heartbreaking thought of what could have been.

Who Sees Him as a Hero: Journalists, politicians, writers, Ralph Steadman, Johnny Depp, and anyone who has ever truly enjoyed Las Vegas. Also, myself.