Superlatives were a fact of life for Clifford Thompson (1904-1955). He was the big man on campus... any campus. Thompson claimed to be 8 feet 7 inches tall (although this is disputed), 460 pounds and wore a shoe sized 22. His chest measured 46 inches across and his ring finger was the size of a 50-cent coin. 

Also known as "The Scandinavian Giant," "The Wisconsin Paul Bunyan," and "Count Olaf," Thompson didn't stop growing until he was 27. Among other things, he was America's tallest: 

A typical meal for Clifford Thompson might consist of: 3 pounds of steak, three extra-large baked potatoes, several servings of vegetables, one quart of milk and one whole apple pie! A story claims that his first wife divorced him because she tired of preparing his meals.

To say that Thompson led an interesting life is an understatement. He worked in circuses, including Ringling Brothers, appeared in several movies, sold Blatz beer and later earned a law degree from Marquette University. Thompson moved to Portland, Oregon to practice law in 1949, where he was quoted as saying "I am here to live. I like the climate, the people, and the greenery.” Upon arrival in Portland, Thompson contacted State Fair Manager Leo Spitzbart, offering to make a personal appearance, preferably on Children's Day, at the fair for $125.

Read studylib.net article "Clifford Thompson: Marquette's Giant of the Law" by J. Gordon Hylton.