Ron "Typewriter" Mingo: Lightning-Speed Typist, Pro Baller, Smooth Operator

For a time, for a brief, golden time enshrined only in moth-eaten local newspaper clippings and age-warped public access television tapes, Ron “Typewriter” Mingo was the fastest, flyest typist in the whole world.  Folks always said there was something a little strange about Ron Mingo growing up, the tall, lanky youth who preferred his desk to the rope swings and ice cream parlors the rest of the kids liked.  ”He’s a strange boy, that Ron Mingo,” they said.  ”But by God, can he type.”

By high school, young Ron was typing 118 words per minute, by college, 140.  As an adult, Ron could type over 160 words every minute on his trusty manual Smith-Corona, Pegasus (he was the only man in the world with the carpal strength to tame her).  He was fired from 25, 30 jobs.  ”You’re too fast,” they would say.  ”No man should be able to type so fast.  It ain’t right.”  ”Type too close to the clouds,” they warned him, “and the Lord’s liable to delete you.”  But Ron Mingo would just smile, and tap away.

After the jump, groovy ’70s video of be-leisure-suited pro football and pro baseball player Ron “Typewriter” Mingo, the fastest typist in all the land.  

“Do not try this on your typewriter at home!”

Additionally, this article claims he could hit speeds of 225 wpm on computer pads.

Via Gizmodo.