When you have a talent for the unusual, the world doesn’t often welcome you with open arms. There are times, however, when the brightest stars rise to the top and everyone takes notice. These talented individuals lead the way for others to express their gifts, and often make lasting contributions to society as a whole. When it comes to excelling at unusual things, these 10 Kens have the market cornered.
- Ken Onion – You don’t often hear of someone who is famous for making knives – at least not since the days of the Samurai. However, Ken Onion holds such a distinction. The ex-marine designed the “SpeedSafe” assisted opening mechanism for Kershaw Knives, as well as a helicopter mechanism for the U.S. military. Ken continues to excel at knife design, and has placed Kershaw Knives at the top of the food chain in the industry.
- Ken Davis – Motivational speakers usually go with a common thread: a success story and a proven determination to succeed in their chosen discipline. Ken Davis, on the other hand, decided to use comedy as his method of delivering inspiration. Through humor, Davis has become one of the most famous motivational speakers in recent decades. He regularly gives motivational seminars and works as a stand-up comedian.
- Ken Harman – Very few people find success in opening art galleries. What’s more, even fewer people can lay claim to becoming famous for their galleries when they have no formal background in art. Ken Harmen found his forte in life quite by accident, yet he can now boast sell-out art shows, despite having never taken a single class even closely related to the craft.
- Ken Edwards – This world record holder is no stranger to creepy crawlers. Ken Edwards earned his fame by chowing down on 36 live cockroaches, and earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. He also has a penchant for rats in his pants, with one of his unusual party tricks involving putting 47 of the furry critters down his trouser legs.
- Kenneth Arnold – You can thank Kenneth Arnold for War of the Worlds, Independence Day and A.L.F. He is also credited with being the first person to cause worldwide interest in U.F.O’s. Arnold reported his sighting in June 24, 1947, close to Mount Rainier in Washington.
- Ken Warby – Breaking the water speed record was a great achievement for Ken Warby. Donald Campbell, who died attempting the record, was Warby’s childhood hero. What’s unusual about the record breaker’s story is the name of one of the men who designed Campbell’s craft: Ken Norris. It’s almost as though being named “Ken” gives young men with a penchant for water speed an edge over the competition!
- Justin “Ken Doll” Jedlica – For over half a decade, fans have wondered what it would be like to have a real life Ken and Barbie. Well, that wish was recently realized when real life Barbie and Ken got together for a photo-op. However, Justin “Ken Doll” Jedlica and Valeria “Barbie” Lukyanova didn’t exactly hit it off. Both models have had extensive plastic surgery, with Jedlica’s work reported as costing over $100,000.
- Ken Webster – Blackpook pleasure beach is one of the most popular summer destinations in the U.K. Ken Webster has made a name for himself there as one of the premium hypnotists in the country. For over 25 years, Webster has used his unusual talent to entertain holiday makers with a show that combines comedy and hypnotism with a dash of pantomime.
- Kenny Roberts – Yodeling is a rare and difficult talent. However, there was a time when country stars across America incorporated yodeling into their acts. One particular group of musicians were known as “yodeling cowboys,” and Kenny Roberts was one of the best among his peers. It was Roberts’ jumping and yodeling antics that made him a big draw with younger generations, though, and so his place as the greatest yodeling cowboy of all time was sealed.
- Kenneth Locke Hale – The next time someone tells you to watch your language, think of Kenneth Locke Hale. His claim to fame is helping to prevent endangered words and languages from slipping into extinction. People who can master as many languages as Hale are known as polyglots, and it’s a talent that few can claim to have achieved. Some of the languages that Hale excelled in included English, Spanish, Tohono, O’odham, Navajo and Warlpiri. Hale also conducted extensive work on the structure of languages, providing a basis from which modern linguistics are taught.
