Austin Has Lost One Of Its Sparkling Stars
Hollywood has Angelyne, Beverly Hills has Quween on the Scene, London has Layla Flaherty, New York has too many to name and Austin had Leslie, a Texas icon who made the job of the local Parks and Recreation Department easier by bringing his twinkling charisma and priceless style to the streets. Austin is a little less weirder today, because Leslie passed away at the age of 60 in a hospice this morning.
KXAN (Thanks to Rachel & Anna for sending this in) reports that Albert Leslie Cochran was hospitalized last month before he was transferred to a hospice. Leslie’s health was never the same after he underwent brain surgery in 2009 for an injury he suffered when he fell in front of a taxi late one night. That wasn’t Leslie’s first head injury. Before Leslie moved to Austin over 20 years ago, he busted his head something serious in a motorcycle accident in Colorado.
Leslie, who was married for a quick second, worked as a truck driver and a disc jockey before he entertained the masses in Austin by sashaying around in a nalgas-bearing thong. Leslie also ran for a mayor a few times and advocated for the rights of the city’s homeless. One of Leslie’s friends Christine Ann, a shop owner, had this to say about Austin’s special rose:
“Leslie lived outside the box. He exemplified that, but also spoke … passionately that we not take ourselves too seriously. And Leslie, of course, never did. He will be remembered as the icon of weird, the ambassador of weirdness, if you will. As an Austin icon.”
Dlisted readers might know Leslie as the star of a few CAPTION THIS Contests. I thank Leslie for that. I couldn’t find a place to send donations (if donations are needed) for Leslie’s funeral services, so send one over if you come across one. I mean, Leslie has to have a tombstone shaped like a thong. I was about to tell you to put on a thong in Leslie’s honor today, but I’m sure your ass is already wearing one. (UPDATE: If you’re in the Austin area, you can drop off a donation at BookPeople.)
Rest in peace, Leslie. You are turning the angels on with a hip sway and making heaven a lot more weirder today.