Local legend Joel Longnecker has plenty to say, if you can just get him to slow down long enough to chat
I was shooting the breeze with Matty B after his feature came out in January and he told me I need to interview Walkin’ Joel. I had never officially met the legend himself but had seen him plenty of times walking around the island. As the universe always seems to provide, once an intention is set, I stumbled upon him recently while out riding my bike. I was cruising down the road on the West Side and this guy turns around and raises his arm way up in the air and said “What’s up dude?” The energy was as if he had known me for years, but the truth was we had never shaken hands. I stopped my bike and started to chat. I told him he’d been referred by Matty B and he said “let’s go man, no time like the present!! “ So off we went. I learned so much about a Folly Beach Icon and a true face of the island that everyone seems to know.
FOLLY CURRENT: Where were you born and how long have you been tied to Folly Beach?
WALKING JOEL LONGENECKER: “I was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. I’ve been in Folly half of my life. I moved here after my accident. I was living in the Greenville area and had just got a brand-new Vision skateboard. I was struck by a car and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I had to have lots of therapy. Thank God it worked!!! That’s why I walk with a limp, but it doesn’t stop me! Now I live with my parents. We agreed that I would take care of the yard, and they would take care of me. I’m a walker, Folly is great for walking. I have a bike, but I choose to walk. That’s how I got my nickname. I just love to walk. Walking is good for you. It gets your heart going and your brain clear. You’re a nicer guy when you walk, that’s what I try to be, a nice guy.”
FC: What’s your favorite thing about Folly?
WJL: “My favorite thing about Folly Beach is the people! They’re party animals and crazies. We are all out here to have fun bro!! Hilton Head is too hoity-toity. Myrtle beach is too trashy. This is the best beach! My daughter is here now, she works on Center Street, she walks too! We have three generations in Folly now.”
FC: What’s a Folly story that you’re fond of?
WJL: “All my stories have to do with being a good neighbor. Lots of the older people here know me and ask for favors and I do everything I can for them. It makes me feel good and it makes them feel good. It’s all about being a good neighbor, you know?“
FC: In your opinion, what’s the most important issue facing Folly Beach?
WJL: “Since I’ve moved here, I’ve been annoyed with the trash on the beach, not trash as in people, trash as in actual trash!!! HA HA HA !!! People leave wrappers and happy meals and each one of those could kill a fish! I don’t blame the mayor or the city. I blame the visitors. I can’t believe they don’t have the respect for the beach to pick up their own trash.“
FC: If you were in charge, how would you fix it?
WJL: “That’s a big puzzle. We would all need to work together. I’d put more signs up, more annoying signs. When I first moved here there were not many no- parking signs, now they are all over. Like Bob Dylan says, “Times are a changing!” More popular beach means more trash. Next thing you know, we can’t even walk on the beach! You know what I mean?”
Every month, local entrepreneur and author Pat “Wiggy” Hiban interviews a different “Face of Folly” for this column. If you have an idea of someone you think Pat should chat with, please send suggestions to editor@follycurrent.com.
