Standing at around six feet tall with tattoos covering most of his body, he may look intimidating to people passing by.
He was labeled “The Scary Guy” in a full-page advertisement in a newspaper. He doesn’t like corporate America, wise people, back-stabbers and manipulators. But through all the hatred he received, he chose to teach others the not-so-scary method of being compassionate.
The Scary Guy, his legal name since 1998, travels around the world speaking to religious groups, social services, governments and colleges to spread love and respect toward people in hope of achieving world peace.
Scary Guy visited the Walter Cronkite School during the first day of a JMC 201 class on Aug. 21. Joseph Garcia, a Cronkite School adjunct professor, hoped Scary would represent some influential principles that connect to journalism.
“What a great first-day lesson for young journalists in that you never know what’s going to happen until it happens,” Garcia said. “We all have an idea of what something is before it happens. I think that prevents us from fully experiencing or allowing something to unfold that could happen.”
He said Scary’s message of eliminating prejudice and judgment carries throughout a lifetime, and said Scary touches base with a younger crowd because he is different.
In the ‘80s, Garcia met Scary Guy while working as a columnist for the Tucson Citizen. He wanted to write about tattoo shops, a novelty idea at the time, and he walked into Scary’s shop. Since then, the two have shared advice with each other and remained friends.
While reminiscing about meeting Garcia and talking to the class, Scary recalled a turning point in his life on May 31, 1998. His first tattoo shop he owned was firebombed, and he said his “jaw was on the floor in disbelief.” As a previous owner, Scary was a prime suspect and he said hatred flowed toward him.
He said moments of pure hatred like that influenced him to travel and make people see him and others differently from the inside out.
“One of my goals is to teach every human being how to create peace in their lifetime,” Scary said. “I can show you how to love people when they’re not loving.”
Cathryn Woodhall, Scary’s wife, sat to his left and described how it took two years of funding to have Scary visit three school programs.
“I thought it was for the students, but I realized it was learning for me, too,” she said.
When a student asked Scary about inspiration for his tattoos, he said each one symbolized his life and his journey, such as his wife’s name and an anchor attached to it representing his wife’s role as an anchor in his life.
An early stage of his journey, Scary recalled characteristics of both of his parents and how they influenced him while growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“My mother, I never got her to say anything negative of anyone,” Scary said. “On the other hand, my dad was another story.”
With all his life experiences, Scary was able to deliver his message of anti-bullying and peace to Garcia’s class of 20 students. Cronkite School junior April Morganroth said Scary made her want to ask more questions and want to be more open to others from then on.
Garcia said he had never met anyone more colorful than Scary, and he guaranteed that once people meet him, they’d never forget him.
“He found his calling in life and he answered it,” Garcia said. “He was brave enough to answer his calling.”
Contact the reporter at Samantha.Incorvaia@asu.edu
