He’s been an indelible figure of Eugene eccentricity, posted in front of the University Bookstore on East 13th Avenue most school days, delivering piercing one-liners to unsuspecting pedestrians and advertising his hand-drawn joke books. And now, he has gotten some recognition.
Frog, creator of the infamous joke-book series, arrived at his post last Friday to find that the antiquated newspaper box that held his joke books had been replaced by a new box. Eugene police officer Randy Ellis donated and painted the box appropriately in a frog motif, Frog said.
“He did a pretty good job, I think,” Frog said in his characteristic raspy voice.
The old box was retired after a decade-long career as Frog’s makeshift storefront. Frog said between normal wear and tear and students kicking the box, “it was pretty much trashed.”
“It got beat up. … There are some really stupid people that go to school. …
Sometimes I wonder how they get into college,” he said referring to the miscreants with loose feet.
The feet of humorless students weren’t the only thing the old newspaper box had to endure. Frog’s right to sell joke books without a license was repeatedly challenged by the City of Eugene until the prolific jokester took the legal fight all the way to the state Supreme Court and won. Then the city established an ordinance disallowing all vending on Frog’s coveted strip on East 13th Avenue. But resilient Frog had the last laugh when his lawyer found a loophole that allows newsstands of any kind.
“I only advertise and tell people to go to the box,” Frog explained.
Frog will release his 62nd joke book, a tribute to rap titled “Snoop Froggy Frog,” in April.
University graduate Beth Devereaux dropped by Thursday to pick up two joke books, “Return of the Frog Joke Book for Kids” and “Son of Frog Joke Book.” Devereaux bought her first joke book in 1986.
“I just finished my thesis on joke telling for kids,” she said.
As for Ellis, Frog said he’s got a complimentary joke book reserved just for him.

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