User:Moswento/Prince Mongo

Robert Hodges (born 17 December 1946), better-known by his self-styled moniker Prince Mongo, is a Memphis eccentric, who claims to be the ambassador of the planet Zambodia, born in 1662 Earth time. He never wears shoes and refers to everyone as 'Spirit'. He has been the subject of much controversy, particularly for allegations of under-age drinking at bars bearing his name and for his practice of filling his front yard with miscellaneous items including mannequin heads and commodes.

Biography

Early life

Mongo's life before reaching the public eye is the object of speculation, especially due to his apparently large wealth. Mongo's own account is that he is the Prince of the planet Zambodia who was sent to Earth on a redemptive mission. In a September 2000 interview with the Memphis Flyer, he stated:

"I'm here on a mission to save Earthlings, and I will in due time. The Earth is self-destructing and when the time comes I will save a few people and take them with me. People don't realize how much I've already saved them from. I saved them from the earthquake, tornadoes, hurricanes. I've used my energies to divert those things."

One urban legend surrounding Mongo is that he had taken insurance out against mental illness, and then pretended to be insane in order to gain the insurance money, continuing to act as eccentric in order to keep it.

Later life

Mongo first became noticed by the wider Memphis population in the 1970s, when he owned a pizza place called 'Prince Mongo's'. As his decisions to avoid wearing shoes and to refer to everyone as 'Spirit' became noticed, so did the fact that he styled himself as the prince of a planet named Zambodia.

He also gained attention due to his practice of filling his front yard with junk.

Bar controversies

He later opened a bar named 'Prince Mongo's Planet'. He later renamed it 'King Mongo's Planet', and then 'Saint Mongo's Planet'. He then opened a bar at Ashlar Hall, renaming it 'The Castle'. These bars faced allegations of under-age drinking.

Mongo added a beach to the front of 'The Castle' in order to get around the fire safety regulations that restricted the number of patrons who could be inside to 88.

Court action

In 2002, following complaints from neighbours, the Shelby County General Sessions Court ordered him to remove a number of items from his front yard. At this point, he had accumulated items including commodes, a rocking horse and a coffin. When he challenged this order (and dressed up) he was sentenced to ten days in jail.(this after appearing in court in a green cape with goggles and a rubber chicken. He was fined almost $14,000 for the incident. Ultimately, two years later, he pled guilty and paid a $500 fine.

Move to Florida

He moved to a house south of Daytona Beach, Florida, where a disagreement about wooden decking prompted him to decorate his home in an extravagant way, painting the exterior in a multicoloured way, displaying underwear in his front yard and adding a five-foot hill of sand. This led to numerous disputes with neighbours, but the Volusia County State Attorney chose not to pursue charges against him. Following these disputes, Mongo returned to Memphis in June 2010.

Political career

He has stood unsuccessfully as a candidate in Memphis mayoral elections on several occasions, making his eighth appearance in 1995. His most notable appearance was in 1991, when he stood with a manifesto pledging to end taxes and hold public hangings. In this election, he gained 1.18 percent of the vote, which prevented either of his opponents from gaining the majority.

Public attitudes

Public attitudes towards Prince Mongo have been mixed, but have generally become less favourable since the 1970s and 1980s.

There have been suggestions that Mongo asserts alien origins to collect insurance money for insanity.

He has also proved unpopular with his immediate neighbours in Memphis. Residents who lived near 'The Castle' frequently contacted the police to complain about noise levels. While in Volusia County, he had numerous disputes with neighbours, including over the nude artwork Mongo chose to display in his yard.

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Robert Hodges, born December 17, 1946 according to criminal records, better known by his and minor political personality. He claims to be the ambassador of the planet of Zambodia and claims to be 333 years old. He never wears shoes and refers to everyone as "spirit." In the 1970s, when he lived in Central Gardens on Eastmoreland, he asked permission to bulldoze his front yard to park a cabin cruiser. This was strenuously defeated by his neighbors. In apparent revenge, he piled sand, dirt, toilets etc. in his yard and declared it "yard art." This seems to have been his start. His stunts have made him a household name in Memphis, and got him featured on the 1980s television show Real People.

Recently, an elderly stand-up comic purporting to be Prince Mongo's brother has begun making the open-mic rounds in Memphis. However, Prince Mongo's actual brother is Warner “Rusty” Hodges III, former mayor of nearby Germantown, TN.

Endeavors

For many years he met the public via Prince Mongo's Pizza in midtown Memphis before moving on to such endeavors as the giant Prince Mongo's Planet — three stories and 30,000 square feet of partying — and another called the Castle, which was housed in a century-old stone mansion, Ashlar Hall which was also his residence.

He has run for and been defeated as a Mayoral candidate on several occasions. When Willie Herenton beat Dick Hackett, by less than 200 votes, Mongo got 2000, perhaps spoiling Hackett's chances.

When he was planning the 3-story Planet he is rumored to have asked a topless dancer if she would like to work there, on the third floor, and offer "more than lap dances." He told her this would serve to thumb his nose at city authorities (She declined). Hodges is apparently financially secure, rumored to have family money, but nobody has been able to verify the source of his wealth. Before assuming his current nom de guerre, Robert Hodges owned a clothier that sold the finest imported men's clothing on Union Avenue.

Source of Wealth

One legend has it that he was insured against mental illness and keeps his money by continuing to act crazy. Prince Mongo's mother was an immigrant from Lebanon. He also owns a $2 million Fort Lauderdale home near Las Olas Boulevard. He is also rumored to own homes in Virginia Beach.

Court Activity

Once, he was jailed for dumping trash in the yard of one of his enemies.

He was also dogged by lawsuits over the drunk-driving deaths of two teenagers who died after they were served beer at the Castle in 1992.

He is also notable for a September 2002 run-in with the Shelby County General Sessions Court, which had ordered him to remove a collection of patio furniture, beach umbrellas, mannequin heads, toilet seats, and other items from his East Memphis front yard. He challenged the order in court, appearing in a green cape and goggles, green body paint, and festooned with a rubber chicken. He was charged with contempt of court, sent to prison for ten days, and was fined $13,875. He vowed to fight the case, but on June 10, 2004, pled guilty and paid a $500 penalty.

However, in 1983 he made a similar appearance, was held in contempt, and the "Tennessee Supreme Court overruled the conviction on the grounds that Hodges was practicing his religion."

External links

• Unofficial site, under construction since 2002
• Video of Prince Mongo talking about Zambodian fauna
• Extended biography and photos
• Official MySpace page