The ABW Family and Leather Community are mourning the unexpected loss of George Hester, who passed away on Friday, November 17th, 2023, at the age of 69.
Born on September 28, 1954, in Jackson, MS, George is survived by his loving partner of 28 years, Danny Alford, of New Orleans.
A true southern gentleman, George was a longstanding member of the leather community, serving as a producer of ABW and contributing to events such as IML, Drummer, ILSB, LA Leather, and numerous other community gatherings for many years. His exemplary skills in presentation and showmanship served as examples that many across the country looked up to and learned from.
George dedicated his career to serving others as a surgical nurse in Jackson and New Orleans, recently retiring from a successful tenure at Touro Hospital.
Above all, George was a beloved friend and mentor to many. Our hearts continue to grieve alongside his husband, Danny Alford, his immediate family, and his closest friends.
Iconic pioneer filmmaker Terry LeGrand (1939-2018) passed at his Hollywood home on April 18. As Marathon Films, Terry produced the great leather classic film “Born to Raise Hell” (1975) directed by Roger Earl starring their discovery, Val Martin, whom “Drummer” editor Jeanne Barney featured on the cover of “Drummer” issue 3. At the infamous LAPD raid of the “Drummer Slave Auction” on April 11, 1976, the intimate friends Terry, Roger, Jeanne, and Val were among the 42 persons arrested. Terry and Roger were longtime friends not lovers, and Terry was the sole owner of Marathon Films. As a producer, Terry was relentless and remarkable. In anti-gay LA, he managed to shoot “Born” in outdoor spaces and at the old Truck Stop bar out in the San Fernando Valley. He and Roger created more than thirty erotic films, most of them leather, and all of them popular.
Most often shooting in LA, Terry and Roger traveled in 1988 to London to shoot their BDSM series, “Dungeons of Europe” with Mr. Sebastian. Wanting to extend that leather magic in 1989, Terry and Roger hired Mark Hemry and me, because we were Palm Drive Video, to travel with them as cinematographers on a wild month-long European location shoot that resulted in the six-film series, “Bound for Europe," documenting authentic Dutch and German S&M. It was Marathon’s first two-camera shoot. In Amsterdam, we shot “The Argos Session” inside the historic Argos Bar capturing the interior and vibe of that 1950s bar which no longer exists. After Dusseldorf and Hamburg, we shot three of the six “Bound” films in West Berlin bars during the last exciting and romantic summer in West Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Terry wanted to shoot in East Berlin; but at Checkpoint Charlie we turned around because no one on the crew felt it was safe for a VW van full of pornographers.
Photos of “Dungeons” and of “Bound” entertained leatherfolk in nearly a dozen issues of “Drummer." In 1991, Terry became the founding publisher of “Leatherman Magazine” which he sold to Brush Creek Media where publisher Beardog Hoffman and editor Joseph W. Bean built its success as “International Leatherman.” Terry retired from erotic art and went on to do AIDS-related work until his passing. Last year my long-form interview of Roger Earl telling all about Terry LeGrand and the making of “Born to Raise Hell” was published in the book “California Dreamin’: West Coast Directors and the Golden Age of Forbidden Gay Movies” by Editions Moustache in Germany.
August 17, 1966 - April 13, 2017
Garrett Scott, Leatherman, of West Hollywood, CA and more recently of Long Beach, CA passed away in the morning hours of April 13, 2017, after a lengthy battle with cancer (edit for correction) The cause of Garrett's death has not yet been determined. I had the privilege to meet Garrett Scott on two or three occasions. I didn’t know him well, but those that had the opportunity to love him and truly see his humanity respected him as a man who gave all he could and knew the boy as “a big kid with a bigger heart”.
Scarff was a loving man and a supportive soul. A long time member of the Los Angeles Leather Community. Scott won Mr. LA Leather Bear 2006 which was held at Faultline Bar on Saturday, February 11, 2006. He was a board member of LA Bears, and a member of the Los Angeles Boys of Leather (gen 1).
He was recently pinned to Mama's family (we are currently researching his Mama's Name and we will update with this info)
Scott was remembered on FaceBook by Don Mike.
“I lost a friend today. Garrett was my brother, twice. Once in the LA boys of Leather (the first incarnation) and again in the LA Band of Brothers. He could be an incredible pain in the ass. One time, at a Band of Brothers meeting, we were going around the room each giving the LA Leather class of 2012 words of advice and encouragement before the big contest and Garrett told them to watch out for me because I was so funny and entertaining that I would throw them off their game and make them lose. It was the nicest backhanded compliment I've ever received. And as much as I liked to gripe about the ridiculous things he would do, I had an immense respect for the man. In the first few years of the Off Sunset Festival, he would show up first thing to volunteer (mainly so he could nag me for being five minutes late), and stay way past the end of his shift. I remember seeing him carrying big boxes of stuff up and down the fairgrounds, sweat pouring down his face, and he wasn't in the best of health then. I had to practically yell at him to sit down and stay hydrated. He just wouldn't quit if there was work to do. And he was always like that. One other thing that I will never forget. Back in the early 2000's, when I first met him, he struck me as being very childlike, and prone to fits of brattyness. I honestly didn't know what to make of him. Then one day I had to call him at work for something and this man answered the phone, very mature and businesslike. I asked for Garrett and was shocked that it was he who had answered the phone. It didn't sound a thing like him. And it made me think. We all have different aspects of our personality that we bring forth in different circumstances and catching that glimpse of Garrett, when none of us were supposed to be looking, made me realize that he loved this community because we let him be who he really wanted to be. A big kid with an even bigger heart. And an incredible pain in the ass. I'm going to miss him.”
The world lost one of the best BDSM/Fetish/Kink film makers on Tuesday night, November 22, 2016. Mike Skiff who has produced numerous award-winning films passed away after a long bout with throat cancer.
He lived in Los Angeles, CA and was the owner of Third Rail Media through which he documented many Leather community and LGBTQ events such as International Mr. Leather, Mr. LA Leather and Mr. International Rubber, various pride festivals and personal interviews among many.
He was well known for his films Kink Crusaders and Folsom Forever.
A full story with photos was posted by Antebellum Gallery of Los Angeles at http://antebellumgallery.blogspot.com/2016/11/mike-skiff-rip.html?zx=2d6d70b6b52b4032
Survived by her life partner Margaret Begley. Meek had been suffering illness and had suffered several falls over the last few months but details surrounding her death this morning are unknown at this time.
Amy Marie was known to many as Daddy, Bare or Papa or Aunt Bare. The nickname Bare was short for Bare Images, which was the company that Meek ran that actually held ownership of IMsL during Meeks "IMsL Gen 2".
Perhaps best known for her IMsL/IMsBB Legacy, her title journey started in 1992 with Ms Nebraska Leather. Then in 1993 she won International Ms Leather. In 1994 she purchased IMsL from the board and ran the contest 1995-2006. It was under her ownership that the contest grew into the weekend event style we enjoy today. It was also Meek who approached Chuck Renslow, owner of the then co-ed International Bootblack Contest, and convinced him to endorse splitting the contest in two. Creating the International Ms. Bootblack Contest in 1999.
Meek is the first of the IMsL/IMsBB Alumni to pass away. Our hearts go out to each and every reader whose life was made better by this phenomenal woman.
Meek was the first female to judge IML, however, she was so much more than a titleholder. Amy Marie has been described as trailblazer. An out and proud lesbian since the 80’s. She came out in high school amid a climate that was less than ideal or supportive. She was also an activist. Meek was a member of the 1993 March on Washington as well as a rabid backer for the DSM-IV revisions.
Amy Marie was definitely her own person and lived life on her own terms. She was an influence to those who sought out how to be masculine women and have pride in one's self and their community, no matter what community one’s path would take them to. An unorthodox sense of humor, Meek gave hugs that tried to heal the world. Even when she didn’t understand or appreciate a person's view she still loved and encouraged them to follow their heart.
Unapologetic, strong, brave, and troubled, Amy Marie “Bare” Meek was a Leather Icon. Her methods of community involvement made for some legendary battles. But, one thing is for certain, Amy Marie Meek forever changed the leather landscape for all women.
By Brian Conway
Richard "Rich" Dockter, co-owner and producer of Thunder in the Mountains in Denver, CO, passed away unexpectedly on September 20, 2016.
Rich had recently been diagnosed with HPV throat cancer and had been undergoing treatment. Since his diagnosis he had been a advocate for people to get vaccinated against HPV as it is now one of the rising cancers in both men and women.
Rich had been in the the Leather community for over 20 years touching many of people's lives over the years through presenting at events, producing his own event and meeting and greeting complete strangers on the street. He volunteered his services at the Denver Police with Missing Children Department for several years. He later volunteered his time at Hey Denver a local free STD testing facility. Rich always had a knack for striking up and carrying on a conversation with the people he met.
Whenever you would run into him, he would always have a smile and upbeat attitude. Rich was never one to shy away from situations and always lived his life to the fullest. He leaves behind his husband Brian and their four Shar-Pei dogs. He will be missed greatly and has left a hole in the heart of many within the community.
Services will be October 22, 2016 at 12 PM at Horan & McConaty in Denver, CO, followed by a reception at the Tavern DTC.
David Nelson passed away at his home in Atlanta on April 28, 2016 surrounded by family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Glenn C. Nelson. David leaves behind his mother, Carolyn Nelson, brother, Jeff Nelson and sister-in-law, Dolores Nelson.
He was born on December 22, 1961 in Knoxville, TN. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 1984 and went on to earn an MBA in Marketing from Georgia State University in 1994. David enjoyed working in the retail industry for over 25 years but his true passion was helping others through his work for many charitable organizations.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to charities which were dear to David.
Leather Leadership Conference (leatherleadership.org)
Leather Heart Foundation (leather heart.org)
Full obituary and Services details at: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=David-Nelson&lc=4944&pid=179826380&mid=6909013
--------Our hearts and soul's go out to David's chosen family. He was surrounded by family and friends at his passing, and I for one will miss is intoxicating smile and seemingly boundless energy. If you ever attended an auction for Southeast Olympus Leather or attended LLC you'll remember David's vivacious presence and love of this community. There are a few leatherfolk that I can honestly say I would have liked to have had the chance to know better and David was among those names. In Leather - Vonn Tramel.
Sir Alan Penrod of Atlanta, GA was reported dead on January 14 due to medical emergency.
A Celebration of Life was held for Sir Alan at the Atlanta Eagle on the evening of Saturday, January 30. A You Tube video was posted on Facebook with Sir Alan's partner Nitro Hankinson speaking by Stefan Shagwell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCl0SQAr_kI&feature=youtu.be There are additional segments of video of several community leaders eulogizing Sir Alan videographed by Stefan Shagwell.
On Sunday afternoon, January 24, friends and family gathered for a service at H.M. Patterson & Son – Spring Hill Chapel in Midtown to pay their respects to Sir Alan.
This bio for Sir Alan was entered for a recent Pantheon of Leather Award nomination for him: International Leather Sir 2011 Sir Alan began his journey into the Leather and BDSM lifestyle nearly two decades ago while living in South Florida. He began exploring the heavier side of BDSM in 1996 while in his first recognized DOM/sub relationship. Alan moved to Atlanta in 2004 and was an active member of Atlanta’s Leather, BDSM, and Fetish communities. Alan was a full member and past President of Panther L/L club and the co-founder of the Hotlanta Rubber and Gear Club. He co-owned and produced the Southeast Black and Blue Weekend and co-produced Atlanta Leather Pride. Alan held the titles of International LeatherSIR 2011, Southeast LeatherSIR 2011 and Mr. Atlanta Eagle 2009. Sir Alan shared his life with his two collared boys: pup nitro and boy david. He facilitated classes and demos on a wide variety of BDSM topics including corporal punishment, whips, stun guns, hot wax mummification, CBT, clothes pins and clamps, and cigar play. Alan and Nitro received the Pantheon of Leather 2015 Couple of the Year Award.
Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on January 21, "Dr. Michael 'Alan' Penrod was born May 27, 1963 and was called home on January 14, 2016. He was a lifelong teacher, helper, humanitarian, and would do anything for his friends and extended family with a smile from ear to ear. He is survived by his partner((s) two partners Nitro Hankinson and David Robinson...), amazing family, and friends that always surrounded him."
I have never heard one negative word or even a hint of one about Sir Alan. He was the epitome of a Southern gentleman. His partner Nitro is the same. Someone like Sir Alan does not come along often and they are hard to replace.
Upon arrival Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC to attend Mid Atlantic Leather I received word of Sir Alan's passing. It was stunning news that no one was expecting.
So loved around not only by the local Leather community, Leatherfolk attended the Celebration of Life from around the country. One even gave a fitting tribute to Sir Alan by buying him a permanent light on the San Francisco Bay Bridge project in his honor.
The Leather Journal was founded in May, 1987. The Leather community was hungry for news magazine that covered clubs, organizations and events. TLJ has successfully met that need for 34 years. We have adapted to change more than once and when the Internet came about we were there by adding www.TheLeatherJournal.com
