Richard Arthur Assman (February 14, 1934 – August 15, 2016) was a Canadian gas station employee whose name propelled him to celebrity status across North America for four months in 1995.
In 1995, Assman moved from working at one Petro-Canada station to another. The latter station's owner took out an advertisement in the local newspaper that was sent anonymously to David Letterman, who was amused by Assman's name.[1] Assman was introduced on July 24, 1995, on the Late Show with David Letterman, where he was a nightly feature for about a month. During this time, he was known as "Assman the Gasman".[2]
Live field units in Canada interviewed him for the show. Over the weeks, Joe Namath declared himself an "Ass-maniac", while Assman received a musical tribute from Tony Orlando[3] on Letterman:
Northgate Petro-Canada Oh, they're relocating Their new office at Victoria Square They're celebrating Oh vaya con dios, Dick Assman Vaya con dios, my love
As his fame grew,[4][2][5] Vancouver polling company Angus Reid Public Opinion reported that 49 percent of surveyed Canadians in September 1995 had heard of his name.[6] Assman received a number of contracts for commercial appearances, was asked to run for public office, and received many marriage proposals.[citation needed] He received a request to judge a bikini contest in August 1995 for the Janetville Jamboree and Truck Pull in Janetville, Ontario.[2] "Assmania" came to a close in August when Assman visited the Ed Sullivan Theater and was presented with a bouquet of roses by Letterman.[7]
Assman or Assmann is a German-language surname derived from the name Erasmus.[citation needed] Dick Assman himself, who took all this ribbing good-naturedly, pronounced his name "oss-man".[1]
Personal lifeedit
Assman was born in Neudorf, Saskatchewan, to Adolf and Elizabeth Assman.[9] He died on August 15, 2016.[10]
Another Saskatchewan resident surnamed Assman, Dave Assman of Melville, Saskatchewan, earned notoriety in 2019 when he attempted to get a vanity licence plate with his surname on it; when Saskatchewan Government Insurance rejected his request, he had a tailgate-sized replica of an "ASSMAN" licence plate painted on the back of his truck, mimicking an episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. News reports did not indicate how closely (if at all) Dick and Dave Assman were related, but did note both pronounced their names the same way and were of German descent.[11][12]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Dick Assman still chuckles over his David Letterman fame". cbc.ca. May 15, 2015. from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
^ abc. Toronto Star. 4 August 1995. p. A14. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
^Late Show w/David Letterman - Dick Assman Part 1 on YouTube
^"Obituary of Richard Assman". speersfuneralchapel.com. August 15, 2016. from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
^Hudes, Sammy (August 19, 2016). "Dick Assman of Letterman fame dies at 82". thestar.com. from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
^. The StarPhoenix. 8 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-02-15.
^MacPherson, Alex (14 February 2019). . National Post. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07.
dick, assman, german, meteorologist, richard, assmann, richard, arthur, assman, february, 1934, august, 2016, canadian, station, employee, whose, name, propelled, celebrity, status, across, north, america, four, months, 1995, bornrichard, arthur, assman, 1934,. For the German meteorologist see Richard Assmann Richard Arthur Assman February 14 1934 August 15 2016 was a Canadian gas station employee whose name propelled him to celebrity status across North America for four months in 1995 Dick AssmanBornRichard Arthur Assman 1934 02 14 February 14 1934Neudorf Saskatchewan CanadaDiedAugust 15 2016 2016 08 15 aged 82 Regina Saskatchewan CanadaOccupationGas station employeeKnown forAppearances on the Late Show with David LettermanParentsAdolf Assman father Elizabeth Assman mother Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 References 4 External linksCareer editIn 1995 Assman moved from working at one Petro Canada station to another The latter station s owner took out an advertisement in the local newspaper that was sent anonymously to David Letterman who was amused by Assman s name 1 Assman was introduced on July 24 1995 on the Late Show with David Letterman where he was a nightly feature for about a month During this time he was known as Assman the Gasman 2 Live field units in Canada interviewed him for the show Over the weeks Joe Namath declared himself an Ass maniac while Assman received a musical tribute from Tony Orlando 3 on Letterman Northgate Petro Canada Oh they re relocating Their new office at Victoria Square They re celebrating Oh vaya con dios Dick Assman Vaya con dios my love As his fame grew 4 2 5 Vancouver polling company Angus Reid Public Opinion reported that 49 percent of surveyed Canadians in September 1995 had heard of his name 6 Assman received a number of contracts for commercial appearances was asked to run for public office and received many marriage proposals citation needed He received a request to judge a bikini contest in August 1995 for the Janetville Jamboree and Truck Pull in Janetville Ontario 2 Assmania came to a close in August when Assman visited the Ed Sullivan Theater and was presented with a bouquet of roses by Letterman 7 In October 1995 James Blanchard the U S ambassador to Canada paid a visit to Assman at his gas station citing his status as an international celebrity 8 Assman or Assmann is a German language surname derived from the name Erasmus citation needed Dick Assman himself who took all this ribbing good naturedly pronounced his name oss man 1 Personal life editAssman was born in Neudorf Saskatchewan to Adolf and Elizabeth Assman 9 He died on August 15 2016 10 Another Saskatchewan resident surnamed Assman Dave Assman of Melville Saskatchewan earned notoriety in 2019 when he attempted to get a vanity licence plate with his surname on it when Saskatchewan Government Insurance rejected his request he had a tailgate sized replica of an ASSMAN licence plate painted on the back of his truck mimicking an episode of the sitcom Seinfeld News reports did not indicate how closely if at all Dick and Dave Assman were related but did note both pronounced their names the same way and were of German descent 11 12 References edit a b Dick Assman still chuckles over his David Letterman fame cbc ca May 15 2015 Archived from the original on August 15 2016 Retrieved August 19 2016 a b c What a cheek The Assman is coming to Ontario Toronto Star 4 August 1995 p A14 Archived from the original on 4 September 2014 Retrieved 3 September 2014 Late Show w David Letterman Dick Assman Part 1 on YouTube Assmania goes on tour Waterloo Region Record 9 August 1995 ProQuest 275439121 Letterman s Regina pal takes the Late Night ribbing in his stride Waterloo Region Record 28 July 1995 ProQuest 275606091 Luscombe Belinda October 2 1995 NEXT I P DALY ON NIGHTLINE Time Archived from the original on 2007 07 17 What s in a name Ask Letterman guest Free Lance Star 21 August 1995 Retrieved 2023 07 26 Ambassador visits Assman Waterloo Region Record 5 October 1995 ProQuest 275425185 Obituary of Richard Assman speersfuneralchapel com August 15 2016 Archived from the original on August 20 2016 Retrieved August 19 2016 Hudes Sammy August 19 2016 Dick Assman of Letterman fame dies at 82 thestar com Archived from the original on August 19 2016 Retrieved August 19 2016 A Saskatchewanian Named Assman Has Once Again Been Denied an ASSMAN Licence Plate The StarPhoenix 8 February 2019 Archived from the original on 2019 02 15 MacPherson Alex 14 February 2019 Assman Strikes Back Denied Licence Plate Saskatchewan Man Emblazons Offensive Last Name on Tailgate National Post Archived from the original on 2022 05 07 External links editDick Assman at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dick Assman amp oldid 1220807813, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
