Bob the Bull: Chef Hat and Glasses

Dagsboro, Delaware

Bob the Bull first appeared in 1974, and for nearly 30 years stood outside Capt. Bob's Steak and Seafood House in Ocean City, Maryland. His owner, Bob Wilkerson, avoided local zoning ordinances by telling town officials that the 1,000 lb bovine was a lawn ornament. The bull was so popular that Bob had to cover him with petroleum jelly to keep people from climbing him.

The bull was made by F.A.S.T. Inc., which originally offered to put a big cigar in his mouth; Bob Wilkerson instead opted for a steakhouse bib and a pair of sunglasses. At some point the original glasses broke and Bob was outfitted with a cruder, but more durable, home-made pair, as well as a chef's hat.

When Bob Wilkerson died in 2013 the steakhouse closed and Bob the Bull spent several years in limbo, decaying into disrepair -- including having a large hole knocked into him by a falling tree. He was eventually purchased and moved to Dagsboro in 2019. His new owner, Paul Parsons, was a long-time fan of Bob, and had him restored to his original appearance by a local boat-builder.