Dick Assman
Canadian gas station employee and television personality (1934–2016)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Arthur Assman (February 14, 1934 – August 15, 2016) was a Canadian gas station employee whose name propelled him to celebrity status across North America for four months in 1995.
February 14, 1934
Dick Assman | |
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| Born | Richard Arthur Assman February 14, 1934 Neudorf, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Died | August 15, 2016 (aged 82) Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Occupation | Gas station employee |
| Known for | Appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman |
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Career
In 1995, Assman moved from working at one Petro-Canada station to another. The latter station's owner took out an advertisement in the local newspaper that was sent anonymously to David Letterman, who was amused by Assman's name.[1] Assman was introduced on July 24, 1995, on the Late Show with David Letterman, where he was a nightly feature for about a month. During this time, he was known as "Assman the Gasman".[2]
Live field units in Canada interviewed him for the show. Over the weeks, Joe Namath declared himself an "Ass-maniac", while Assman received a musical tribute from Tony Orlando[3] on Letterman:
Northgate Petro-Canada
Oh, they're relocating
Their new office at Victoria Square
They're celebrating
Oh vaya con dios, Dick Assman
Vaya con dios, my love
As his fame grew,[4][2][5] Vancouver polling company Angus Reid Public Opinion reported that 49 percent of surveyed Canadians in September 1995 had heard of his name.[6] He received a request to judge a bikini contest in August 1995 for the Janetville Jamboree and Truck Pull in Janetville, Ontario.[2] "Assmania" came to a close in August when Assman visited the Ed Sullivan Theater and was presented with a bouquet of roses by Letterman.[7]
In October 1995, James Blanchard, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, paid a visit to Assman at his gas station, citing his status as "an international celebrity".[8]
Dick Assman himself, who took all this ribbing good-naturedly, pronounced his name "oss-man".[1]