Evel Knievel Dies at 69
November 30th, 2007 . by TexasFredKnievel’s death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs.
Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his bone-shattering spills.
Immortalized in the Washington’s Smithsonian Institution as “America’s Legendary Daredevil,” Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980.
Although he dropped off the pop culture radar in the ’80s, Knievel always had fans and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In later years he still made a good living selling his autographs and endorsing products. Thousands came to Butte, Mont., every year as his legend was celebrated during the “Evel Knievel Days” festival.
“They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives,” Knievel said. “People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner.”
His death came just two days after it was announced that he and rapper Kanye West had settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel’s trademarked image in a popular West music video.
SOURCE:
Evel Knievel Dies at 69
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Rest in Peace Mr. Knievel.
You brought us all many memories, many I grew up with.
May God bless you on your final jump.
Yes sir, rest in peace. The first action figure I can recall having as a kid was Evel Knievel and a motorcycle with a rip cord, I jumped a few creek banks with that man…
Memories indeed.
If it was a bone, Knievel had broken it. Pretty simple. He hurt every day, every moment, from sunrise to sunset.
BZ