Crazy Carl Hickerson

Crazy Carl Hickerson, age 79, of Austin, Texas passed away on Monday, September 25, 2023. Crazy Carl Hickerson left the stage about 4 AM on September 25, 2023, Yom Kippur. Carl was born on July 14th, 1944 to Geraldine Clark Hickerson and Albert Lester Hickerson in Bartlesville, OK. He was pre-deceased by four of his seven siblings: Riley, Russell, Cynthia, Lucretia, and by his sister-law Terri Lynn (Wright) Hickerson and his partner of 31 years, Charlotte Ferris. He is survived by Brooks and Peggie Hickerson, Melanie Hickerson, Helen and Art Nelson, and his daughters Rachel Knapp (Ed) and Ruth Martin (Allen), seven grandkids and four (2023) great grandkids. He was also pre deceased by his second. Wife, Eve Bull, whom he married in 1968 and changed his name to Carl Hickerson-Bull. They had a son named Dante Lohman. When they divorced in 1993 he changed his name again to Crazy Carl Hickerson.

Carl went to four high schools: Odessa High; Rye High School in Rye, NY; Midland High and Austin High School in Austin, where he was on the first swim team to get lettered. He earned a freshman letter at UT in 1963 before flunking out. After a semester at Odessa College, he was manager of the UT swim team 64-65 and flunked out again. He changed his major to RTF after the third enforced withdrawal and managed to become a senior. At which time he threatened to run for city council and Pat Cuney said go ahead. So he did.

He had a successful career as a life model at UT Austin, in San Antonio, NYC, and Amsterdam. When He was deported, he returned to Austin and discovered that carnations would spin if they are balanced on a pin.

1977 he ran on the Paul Spragens’ political machine and made the radio spot where he said” they call me Crazy Carl because I suck toes, I’m the politician that will put your foot in his mouth!” He got 7% and immediately filed for place 2. The council made petitions necessary. He also got sinecures selling Salvation Sandwiches at the UT Art Building and being a guard at The nudist apartments. He always claimed he did not have mental illness, but he was a carrier.

His petition said he was a foul and despicable person, and you want him on the council. Molly Ivins signed it. In 1979 the election was two weeks after Three Mile Island, and he got 12,223 votes-23%. Later that summer, he broke 3 starting lights during the drag boat races on Town Lake and convinced Austin he really was crazy. He said if he ever got elected people would get mad at him, and he could say “It’s not my fault, I didn’t vote for me”.

After another winter in Amsterdam, modeling at the Rijks Accademe and spinning carnations, he returned to Austin and started selling roses on 6th street at night until beer got the best of him in 1984. Six years later, Esther’s moved to 6th and Red River and Crazy Carl became the warm-up act for twenty-seven years. In 2000, he started spinning mums on a dental device and developing his pecs, as depicted in Beef & Pie’s documentary.

Donations can be made to Austin Pets Alive in his name.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the Hickerson family.