Who was L.L. Bean?

Search: ll bean

Why: In the fourfour recap of "America's Next Top Model":

If L.L. Bean himself sent giant corduroy letters from the grave to relay this message, she wouldn't be happier.

Answer: Leon Leonwood Bean! That's a funny name! And he was from Greenwood, Maine! Leenwood Bean from Greenwood, Meane. Oh man, you can't make this stuff up.

L.L.Bean was founded in 1912 by avid hunter and fisherman Leon Leonwood Bean in Greenwood, Maine, who had developed a waterproof boot (a combination of lightweight leather uppers and rubber bottoms) that he sold to hunters. He obtained a list of nonresident Maine hunting license holders, prepared a descriptive mail order circular, set up a shop in his brother's basement in Freeport, Maine, and started a nationwide mail order business.

By 1912, he was selling the "Bean Boot" or Maine Hunting Shoe through a 4-page mail-order catalog, and the boot remains a staple of the company's outdoor image. Defects in the initial design led to 90% of the original production run being returned: Bean made good on his money-back guarantee, corrected the design, and continued selling them.

He died in 1967.

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: He was born on Halloween. Look how rugged!