The Texas State bids farewell to one of its most colorful characters. Richard "Kinky" Friedman, a man who wore many hats – literally and figuratively – as a satirist, musician, and occasional political contender, passed away at the age of 79. According to The Texas Tribune, Friedman took his final bow at his long-standing residence, Echo Hill Ranch in Medina. A friend confirmed that he had been battling Parkinson’s disease.

Known for his distinctive aesthetic, complete with an ever-present black cowboy hat and a cigar, Kinky Friedman was the quintessential Texas originals. His satirical country band formed in the early 70s, Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, took a sharp-witted yet controversial stance in the music industry with numbers such as “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore,” as reported by KVUE. His literature furthered his iconoclastic brand, featuring titles like “Elvis, Jesus and Coca-Cola” and “Armadillos and Old Lace” with a fictionalized version of the author himself.

Bringing the same unapologetic audacity to politics, Friedman championed causes like marijuana legalization and casino gambling in Texas. Considering a time when same-sex marriage was not yet the law of the land, Friedman supported the cause. “I support gay marriage because I believe they have right to be just as miserable as the rest of us,” Kinky famously commented, a stand that preceded the Supreme Court's national legalization of the practice. His friend Hattersley, who had Parkinson’s disease, told The Texas Tribune that Kinky "never left anything out," when voicing his bold ideas.