Over the years people have held records for things ranging from tallest to tiniest humans yet, one record remains fascinating; that of the heaviest man ever, a position that was held by Jon Brower Minnoch. The American man was born in 1941 in Bainbridge, Washington. He tried to live a normal life by starting a taxi company where he worked as a driver for 17 years. Aside from this, he was married twice and welcomed two children.
While his weight made him famous, he suffered numerous health crises including cardiac failure, respiratory failures, and edema which led to his death in 1983. He may be long deceased, yet, his story is quite compelling, and here is why.
Fascinating Details To Know About Jon Brower Minnoch that Will Blow Your Mind
1. His Early Life and Background
Jon Brower Minnoch was born on September 29, 1941, on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Though details about members of his family are not known, he is said to have suffered from obesity since childhood which is likely the result of his genetic makeup. Reportedly, he weighed 133 kg when he was 12 which is quite a serious weight for a child of that age.
Regarding his education, Minnoch is an alum of Bothel High School, one of the four high schools within the Northshore school district.
2. Minnoch worked as a Taxi Driver for 17 Years
Considering his weight issues which he started struggling with from a young age, you may be wondering about how he made his living. It turns out that he co-owned a taxi service known as Bainbridge Taxi Company.
Aside from owning the company, he also worked as a driver for a period that lasted 17 years.
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3. Jon was Married Twice
He was first married to Carolyn Jean McArdle who is also called Jeanette Minnoch in 1963 and together they ran the Bainbridge Taxi company. Remarkably, the couple had a weight difference that made many curious about them.
In 1978, McArdle weighed 50kg while Minnoch’s weight was placed at 590 kg(Shortly before his peak) thus breaking the record for the greatest weight disparity between a married couple according to Wikipedia. Regardless of this difference, the couple welcomed two children who choose to stay away from media attention. While their marriage seemed to be working fine, they parted ways in 1980. The details of the divorce are unclear, yet, it did not take the businessman long before he found love again.
He got married to his second wife, Shirley Ann Griffen in 1982. Unlike his first partner, not much is known about their weight difference.
4. The Birmingham Native Went on a Three-week Vegetable Diet
As mentioned, Minnoch battled with his weight since childhood and as he aged things only became worse. By the time he was 22 years old, the weight increased to 178 kg and 320 kg in 1963. Despite the genetic explanation for his weight, he maintained that water retention was the main reason behind his weight gain.
Unsurprisingly, his health became complicated by respiratory problems and other health challenges. The heavy man decided to tackle the weight problem by cutting down on his food intake to only vegetables as well as a large number of diuretics to help reduce his bodily fluid. Yet, this failed while leaving him weak and bedridden at home.
5. He Spent Two Years on Admission in the Hospital
Seeing that Minnoch’s health kept deteriorating, his wife at the time, Jeanette pleaded with him to get into a hospital. Though he agreed, moving him out of his home proved to be a daunting task. It took the effort of several firemen, rescue personnel, and specialized tools before he could be moved. In fact, records have it that the window of his home had to be removed for them to move the sick man.
Thankfully, they succeeded and he was moved to the University of Washington Medical Center where he was diagnosed with heart and respiratory failure and later a massive edema. While at the medical center, two beds had to be joined together while many helpers were used to turn him over.
Notably, Minnoch’s increased size prevented any attempts to weigh him at the time and this made his physician, Dr. Robert Schwarts estimate him at 635 lb(1400 kg). In his assessment, the endocrinologist concluded that he was 300 pounds heavier than the heaviest person ever reported.
6. He Once held the Record for the Greatest Human Weight Loss
Since doctors could not explain how he got so big, he was kept in the hospital for the next two years. During that time, he was put on a strict diet of 1200 units of calories and lost a significant part of his weight. Reportedly, he dropped to 216 kg having lost 419 kg which is the largest documented human weight loss.
This gave the then 37-year-old man a new leash on life as he hoped to drop to 91 kg. Sadly this never happened after he was discharged from the hospital.
7. The World’s Heaviest Man Died of Cardiac Arrest in 1983
Minnock was reported dead on September 10, 1983, as a result of cardiac arrest and restrictive lung disease. Prior to his sad demise, he continued adding weight after his release from the hospital in 1980. In 1981, he was admitted again when his weight reached 432 kg. Unlike the previous time, his battle to regain good health was not successful. Though he reduced to 362 kg at his death, his health was complicated.
Like other outstanding aspects of his life, even in death, he continued to be associated with extraordinary things. He was buried in a wooden casket lined with cloth and on two cemetery plots. It took 11 men to lift the casket to his final resting place in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Jon Brower Minnoch was Known as the Heaviest Man Ever at his Peak of 1400Kg
In March 1978, he broke the Guinness world record for the heaviest man ever at 635kg or 1400lb. Since then, the record for other heaviest people in the world has not beaten his. The closest records to his include that of;
- Robert Earl Hughes-429 kg(1926-58)
- Michael Hebranko-499kg(1953-2013)
- Albert Jackson-404kg(1941-88)
- Manuel Uribe Garza-560kg(D. 2014)
- Juan Pedro Franco Salas-501kg at his peak
