He fished with guns and was famously fired for destroying a candy machine.
He rode a motorcycle with the Hell's Angels, and when he died in 2005, Hunter S. Thompson had already planned to have his ashes shot out of a cannon.
Thompson's life was presented in rare pictures and film during a book signing for UF journalism department chairman William McKeen's new book, "Outlaw Journalist: The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson."
More than 50 people came to a classroom in the College of Journalism and Communications to hear McKeen talk about the book, which was published in July.
"People who like Hunter S. Thompson like abuse," said McKeen, who honored requests to sign his book in the same profane manner that Thompson would.
Thompson became well-known after his debut in Rolling Stone magazine, writing "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" in two issues and later publishing it as a book.
McKeen became friends with Thompson after writing about his work.
"I needed to rescue him from that caricature," he said.
"He was a great, original voice. You can take one sentence and recognize the DNA of Hunter."
McKeen sold copies of his book for $25, and proceeds went to the Society of Professional Journalists, which sponsored the event.
Mike Foley, a master lecturer in the college, introduced McKeen before the presentation.
"By education he's a historian, so he knows the big picture can be told through little anecdotes and scenes and detail," Foley said in an interview.
"Besides being a terrific writer, he's a terrific reporter, which is essential in a biography."
Some of McKeen's first-year students try to write like Thompson for his classes - he said they are always unsuccessful.
"Only one person can write like Hunter S. Thompson, but only one person can write like you," he said.
