Not long ago, any trip around Grand Junction could be accompanied by the sight of a nearly naked man strutting his stuff. Everybody knew Speedo Man and his legend still exists. In Delta, Moped Annie has similar fame, strumming her guitar and singing off-key at high volume. Speedo Man and Moped Annie have become so well-known that they have achieved iconic status; small-town celebrities. How did they do it? Can you also become famous in a small town?

The short answer is yes. We live in an area where a headless chicken became so famous that it’s still celebrated long after its demise. If Mike the Headless Chicken can be famous, any human can do the same. It’s all about how interesting you can be.

In the case of Speedo Man and Moped Annie, mental illness probably played a very strong role. Eccentric behavior drew attention and soon they had their nicknames and celebrity status.

Having questionable sanity is not, however, the recommended approach to achieving fame. An individual does need a gimmick to stand out from the crowd, but it can be done without mental illness.

Dave Brock, founder of The Justice League of Hope GJ, is a fine example of this. While many may not not know Brock’s real name, he is becoming increasingly recognized as our local Deadpool, the Marvel character he dresses as while engaging in charity work.

Brock was motivated by a large heart rather than a deteriorating brain. He wears his costume to raise money for children and disadvantaged families. His rising fame has earned followers and sidekicks; myself included.

Without the gimmick of charity through cosplay, Brock would be just another guy with a big heart. When he throws on the mask, he becomes a huge presence.

That’s all it takes to become small-town famous: have a gimmick and do something other people don’t. It can be parading around in nothing but a speedo, screeching strange lyrics while playing a guitar or delivering smiles to children while dressed as a superhero.

We don’t have huge events and massively famous people rolling down our streets all the time. Frankly, that is some of the charm of our region, and it allows interesting people to rise to the surface. So if you want to join the ranks of small-town celebrities, find your own gimmick and have some fun. Mental illness not required.