The Resume

(December 26, 1893-May 27, 1949)
Died of a heart attack in 1949, aged 49
Cartoonist and compiler of weird and bizarre facts presented under the label of Ripley's 'Believe It or Not!,' world traveller, Chinaphile.
Originally had aspirations to play baseball; however, being injury-prone, he later turned to cartooning, joining the old New York Evening Mail in 1915 and creating a feature of bizarre sport achievements which he originally wanted to call 'Champs 'n Chumps' (but became 'Believe It or Not!' on the editor's insistence)
Used the 'Odditoriums' at the Chicago and New York World's Fairs and TV to further propagate his weird-yet-interesting stories

Why he might be annoying:

Ripley tended to be fixated on China and things Chinese all the more since the mid-1930's.
Many accused Ripley of exaggerating or even fabricating many of the items noted.
His 'Odditoriums,' the precursors of the Ripley's 'Believe It or Not!' Museums, were basically glorified freak shows.

Why he might not be annoying:

The sobriquet 'Modern Marco Polo' (as given him by HRH The Duke of Windsor) was a fitting and apt description of his career and exploits.
He introduced the strange and the fascinating of the world before TV became widespread.
He was something of an early TV celebrity in the late 1940's, dying just before he finished a special on Memorial Day.
He was willing to substantiate the sources of his items to all interested.
He was indirectly responsible for making 'The Star-Spangled Banner' the national hymn.

Credit: Iludium Phosdex

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Cartoonists
• I Did Not Graduate High School [N-S]
• I Died in 1949 (Ranked: 55)
• I Have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[R-T]
• Illudium Phosdex's Profiles
• My Spouse is at Least Ten Years Younger than Me
• Profiles 3751-4000 (Ranked: 3947)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 23 Votes: 13.04% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 9.09% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 13 Votes: 15.38% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 19 Votes: 42.11% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 24 Votes: 45.83% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 21 Votes: 61.90% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 31 Votes: 48.39% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 58 Votes: 53.45% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 103 Votes: 44.66% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 176 Votes: 44.32% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 313 Votes: 41.85% Annoying
In 2003, Out of 577 Votes: 42.29% Annoying
In 2002, Out of 1226 Votes: 45.43% Annoying