Mr. Hunky III – Gary Cronk [1976] Article below Right - NW Gay Review, July 1976

Mr. Hunky IV – Bill Fisher [1977]

Newspaper article below is believed to be from NW Gay Review, July 1976. Bill was also known as Hurricane Olivia. He was Princess Royale, Mr. Portland, and Rose Empress XXVII in 1984.

Per the Northwest Gay Review, June/July 1977 issue on page 10, “Mr. Hunky Contest at Darcelle XV, “Honor Tillman, second runner-up received the Congeniality Award from the contestants. He is the manager of the New Ritz Disco.”

Mr. Hunky V - Bob Brue [1978] Page 10, Northwest Gay Review newspaper 1977 states, “(Mr. Hunky)…competition for this strictly social title began June 1…on June 4, they met again for dinner at the Rhondee…”

Mr. Hunky VI – Michael Schouten [1979] [some information suggests his name was spelled Mikeal Schoten]

Mr. Hunky VII – John Fink [1980] June 15 & 22, 1980

Article bottom Right is from NW Fountain, October 1980

Mr. Hunky VIII – Marty Slighton [1981]

Mr. Hunky IX Don Tribur [1982] Last photo is news article from Cascade Voice Newspaper, July 1982.

Article Right from the Eagle newspaper, May 1, 1985.

Mr. Hunky X – unknown [1983]

Mr. Hunky XI 1984 Michael Leonard or was it, David Lee? [Per Greg Bear: David Lee stepping down. Michael Leonard steeping into title.

MR. HUNKY CONTEST

1974- 1986

Per Northwest Gay Review, page 10, June/July 1977, “Sandy Director…originated the Mr. Hunky and Foxy Lady contests as a tribute to the gay community’s generous response to his need for the large blood transfusions a few years ago. All of these events have a serious motive urgency of contributing blood to the Red Cross.”

Per Jeanie Breall [owner of the Jelly Bean Clothing Store, The Store, part owner of Forward Gear, and The Jelly Bean Card Shop] – Sanford Director’s cousin, “In 1974 When Sanford went to the hospital for his heart surgery, his brother Alan called me at home and asked if I could help with a blood donation, since I could not, from me personally, I said we could call out the gay community. At that time, I was close with Dar Phillps, who was in the flower business at ADAMS Flowers, and so he helped put the word out. He reached out to Darcelle XV and David Hamilton. They were part of the Portland Forum, [president, Darcelle XV and co-chaired by David Hamilton], and through them, he received enough blood. Sanford thought there should be a way to get the community to keep giving and that’s how Mr. Hunky contest began. A year later, to compliment the ‘male’ competition’ Foxy Lady contest was included.”

Per the book Looking from the Mirror by Donnie with Walter Cole, “[Sanford Director] brought me a proposition, “I want to do something to raise money for the community, a competition like the Rose Court but for common folks. On your off nights of course. What do you think about hosting it down at the club?” Then he got sick and was rushed to the hospital to undergo heart surgery. The family was asked to give blood, some did, some couldn’t – one of those was his cousin Jeanie Breal. She told Sanford’s brother, Alan to reach out to the gay community. They were close to Dar Philips who was in the flower businesses at Adams Flowers, and so he spread the word. Sanford would go through one of his many operations, this one required a lot of blood. At this time, I was president of the Forum so, with Mame’s [David Hamilton] help, I hosted a blood drive which was very successful. This brought the two of us, Sanford and me even closer.

As he lay recuperating, Sanford kept calling, pushing, and finally, when he got better, he and I decided that it was something that might be fun and raise some money. Unbeknownst to me, he was now at his parent's house trying to stay still. His Aunt Estelle taught Sanford needlepoint, “This will keep him still and off the phone.” Which, to many who knew him wasn’t really going to happen. If you go to the Temple Beth Israel synagogue in Portland, you’ll see pillows made by Sanford on the benches in the main sanctuary of the synagogue.

Now, Sanford always had a flair for the obvious – he wasn’t shy about his desire to be around beautiful, barely clad, or even nude young men – okay, any guy who looked good, stripped down was good enough for him.

First, ‘Mr. Hunky’. I think the title says everything. Strutting on stage were some of Portland’s finest men – either in the tiniest G-strings or at that time they were called ‘posing belts’ you ever saw or completely butt-ass-naked.

[continuing]

For ‘Mr. Hunky’, contest and some saying ‘competition’ were always held on a Sunday evening, during the early incarnation of ‘gay pride week’ which is always in June.

[continuing]

[Mr. Hunky] was hosted by myself, and Sanford. With this connection to the family furniture store Directors Furniture, if you won, you received a sash (with the Roman numeral indicating which one you were), a photo op, a director’s chair with the words, “Mr. Hunky’, and all of those who competed would also get a small pendant with a key and ribbon that said, “I had a gay time in Portland, Oregon.”

The competitions were held down at Darcelle XV Club.

Below Walter Cole/Darcelle - Sanford Director/Sandy [1976] at Sanford’s home.

Mention in the May 1974 Northwest Gay Review below Left however they called it “Hunky Guy Contest. Below Right, first button from the Mr. Hunky, 1974 contest.

Mr. Hunky I – Ray Woods [1974]

Below Left: Possibly Ray, Candi Wrapper, Darcelle, and Sanford. Below Right: Sanford, Ray, unknown, Tina Sandell in the background - year unknown.

Mr. Hunky II – John Meadows [Candy Wrapper] [1975]

In the Northwest Gay Review, Page 4, June 1975 cited, “Mr. Hunky Contest coming up Portland. It was just about a year ago when Portland first heard about a new contest and a new presenter.”

Per Northwest Gay Review, June 1975 Gay Pride Weekend – “Sandy Presents the 2nd Annual Mr. Hunky Contest at Darcelle’s.” Photo Left is from the “Metropolis” section of the PSU Vanguard newspaper feature “Portland At Night” February 1975. Photo to the Right is Darcelle, Tina, and Roxy as “The Andrew Sisters”. Bottom photo is the winner John Meadows also known as Candi Wrapper. This was the night John did the infamous “Rhinestone Cowboy” as his talent, wearing chaps lip-syncing to Rhinestone Cowboy. He went over with a can of Crisco and put it on the nob of the stage railing and then sat on the nob. Walter/Darcelle asked after the competition if he could use the Rhinestone Cowboy idea John said, “Sure, this was a one-time only.” Since then, Walter/Darcelle has been performing Rhinestone Cowboy with butt-less chaps. John Meadows was also Crowned Princess Royale V, Rose Empress XX and The Lion & Friendship of the Rose 1986/87.

Mr. Hunky III – Steve Pickman [1976]

Confusing because the paperwork shows that Gary Cronk was Mr. Hunky III

[per April 1976 Northwest Gay Review article which cites, “Mr. Hunky contest set. Portland – It’s “Mr. Hunky time again. Sandy and Darcelle XV in conjunction with the Portland Forum and Associates and the American Red Cross are sponsoring the third annual Mr. Hunky Contest. The event will be Sunday, June 6, 1976, and Sunday, June 13, 1976, at 8:30 pm at Darcelle XV Tavern.” Photo Left is from a photo shoot with the intent to publish photos as a calendar. Below middle article NW Gay Review, April/May 1976; Below Right article NW Gay Review May/June 1976.

Mr. Hunky XII 1985 Mark Bowen

Check out this YouTube – what year? 1985? Asked Greg Bear 4-23-2022 https://youtu.be/dbrb00h0kFA

Per Greg Bear: Candi Wrapper, Gary Cronk, Sherry, Bill Fisher, Robbie, Bob Brue, Mike [also Sanford Director] Below Left article is from the Eagle Newspaper May 1, 1985.