By Ryan Fleischli, Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — Who among us can say they know of John Lee Scogin?
Most of us probably do know of him, but we know him by his legendary nickname, instead: “Chili Bowl Mullet Man.”
This man is known throughout the Springfield community for his terrific hair style and for walking all around the city.
Scogin was born on Sept. 25, 1983, at St. John’s Hospital. He went to TriCity schools.
He tried going to college, but just didn’t think it was for him.
“Don’t let things stop you from completing your college career and getting your degrees,” Scogin said.
“Keep going forward with life and be successful. I just found my own way of life.”
He had a great childhood and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
It was in 1988 that the mullet man began growing his hair style that we all know him by today.
“My father was the one that cut my hair, and one day, when I was five, I just decided to have him not cut the back of my hair,” Scogin said.
He he loves his hair. It is a part of who he is. He doesn’t care what other people have to say or think about it.
He has many favorite things about the chili bowl mullet, including its look, its feel and the way he feels when he walks around town with it.
These are only the minor things that he loves about the style.
His favorite thing is that it gives him “inspiration.” He says that it gives him true and great happiness for who he is.
Although he does love the mullet very much, there are a few things that he finds aggravating.
He said it can be tiring to take care of. He has to constantly cut it perfectly straight across on his own.
He doesn’t like to go to barbers, because he believes he cuts it the best.
Beside that, he keeps his hair care simple.
He says that he takes a shower, uses standard shampoo, combs and dries it every day.
He doesn’t do anything special, he says.
His family was not exactly comfortable with the hair cut.
They didn’t like it too much. They wanted him to cut it off. They fought it for some time and would really try and get him to cut it, so there was some confrontation.
Now his family has accepted it.
When he first started walking around Springfield, some people would yell and scream stuff out at him, but the mullet man kept going.
He continuously blew it off and just kept on going with life.
“I never got down or sad about what they would say to me,” Scogin said. “It is apart of who I am, and I love it.”
He now hears mostly positive comments.
He said he has never thought about cutting the mullet. He said he be lieves it is too much a part of who he is.
When the question was asked if he was ever consider cutting it for charity and such, he said, “Go find someone else. I would appreciate it, but find someone else. But I would be glad to help any charity in any way possible — except cutting my hair.”
His popularity has led to people doing many things for him. People give him coupons and discounts on certain goods and giving him rides.
Most of the time though, Scogin walks to all the places he has to go.
The mullet man walks about eight hours a day during the week and 10 to 12 hours a day on the weekends.
He loves walking.
Scogin says that he walks for for exercise and fun.
He believes that every day is an adventure when he walks. He gets to see new and awesome things while walking everywhere.
The Chili Bowl Mullet Man is unemployed but does odd jobs for people.
Scogin said he doesn’t have any career expectations. He just wants to see what happens.
“Life is a hard process, but you gotta do what you got to do,” Scogin said. “I just want to see what happens,”
Scogin said he has been contacted by MTV’s “Rediculousness.” It is planning something for the fall.
He doesn’t know what to expect from the show, though he does expect to be featured.
“Dear Spring-field fans, I have appreciated all that you have done for me,”Scogin said. “I hope that you all live long and happy lives. Always keep going and pursuing your dreams. Just remember when you see me walking down the streets, think of me, John Scogin, the Chili Bowl Mullet Man, because I am looking out for you and you are me. Y’all take care.”
Ryan Fleischli can be reached at [email protected] or (217) 786-23111.
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