Having a city name its dump after you might sound like a cruel legacy to bestow. But for J.P. Patches, Seattle’s most famous TV clown, the tribute is fitting.The P-I reports that the Seattle City Council has voted to name the city’s North Transfer Station between Wallingford and Fremont after J.P. The reference, of course, comes from Patches’s status as Mayor of the City Dump in his long-running television show. In countless episodes Patches and his ever-present sidekick Gertrude hung out inside makeshift shack at the City Dump.Patches (real name: Chris Wedes) announced his retirement from TV back in August. I spoke with him extensively at the time about everything from how the show got started to his fondest memory of it.And though Patches claimed then that his last appearance would be a couple weeks later at the Fisherman’s Festival in mid September, he went on to pull a bit of a Brett Favre, making cameos at several subsequent events. Last night, on KCTS 9, Patches–who’s 83-years-old and battling blood cancer–doubled down on his questionable retirement, reportedly saying “Hey, I could be a Frank Sinatra. He came back. Or Cher. They retired and, all of a sudden, they’re back.”Whether he comes back or not, it seems clear that the legend of J.P Patches will live on. Granted it will live at a city dump, but J.P.’s fans likely wouldn’t have it any other way.Follow The Daily Weekly on Facebook and Twitter.
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