Forey Fest urges peace in the Court Avenue District after a brutal beating nearly kills popular Des Moines icon Forey Jacobson

By Amber Williams

COVER Illustration by John Bosley, Raygun

Des Moines is not known as a violent city. But occasionally, tragic and violent things do happen to good people — to widowed grandmothers, to children, to business professionals, and on a lively night on Court Avenue last November, to a 61-year-old high school custodian.

Forey Jacobson is more than a janitor at Johnston High School, though. He is a Des Moines icon — a legend runner, a self-proclaimed witch and even “Des Moines’ own Chuck Norris,” as some have claimed. Most anyone who’s out and about in the metro has seen him, on a dance floor wearing torn jeans and moccasin boots, or running barefoot wearing nothing but a kilt or loin cloth. So the night he was attacked in Johnny’s Hall of Fame came as a shock to hundreds of people who know him as those things and more.

One word used by many to describe Jacobson is “peaceful.” And although he still frequents the bars and dances like an animal, Jacobson hasn’t had a drop of alcohol in 19 years.

Wholford-Wessels

But, Jacobson doesn’t remember anything from the night of Nov. 6, because he suffered a severe head injury from a brutal beating, the cause of which remains a mystery. He was bludgeoned so badly that he was not only knocked unconscious, but he lapsed into a coma and was near death by the time he arrived at Mercy Medical Center. For the last six weeks he’s undergone reconstructive surgery to his eye sockets, cheek bones, nose and jaw. He said his wife won’t allow him to see pictures of what he used to look like.

“I don’t know what happened,” Jacobson murmured, telling his story two months later from his home in Des Moines, still suffering from a broken jaw. “I can’t even tell you I was there for sure. The last night I remember that I went out — if it was that night — I remember I started at People’s Court and saw a band. Then I went to Johnny’s Hall of Fame to finish it out on my way back to my car. That was the last night I remember.”

According to police reports

Forey Jacobson is out of the hospital and back on his feet. He paid a visit to Raygun and bought a few of the T-shirts they designed for Forey Fest ($23 each). Photo courtesy of Raygun

The bar was packed that night. The crowd was thick, and the bouncer, Bojan Djukic, told police he saw a man on top of Jacobson punching him in the face. He identified Stuart Wholford-Wessels, 25, of West Des Moines, as the attacker. A witness, Adam Wilcox, from Eldridge, confirmed Djukic’s story. Wilcox reportedly pulled Wohlford-Wessels off of Jacobson to end the beating.

“We captured it on our in-house video, which we gave to police and the Polk County attorney. They’ve had that from the very beginning,” Johnny’s Hall of Fame owner Todd Millang told Cityview. “Once the video becomes public, I think a lot of that will become flushed out.”

Millang said Jacobson was a regular at Johnny’s for years and that he never caused much trouble, other than occasionally bumping into people while dancing. But he was quick to apologize and leave if necessary to diffuse any conflict, he said. Millang said fights have never been a common occurrence at Johnny’s, and they are cooperating with officials as the case heads to trial on Feb. 13. Wohlford-Wessels was arrested and charged with willful injury, a Class C felony, and assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor. He continues to maintain his innocence.

“I cannot comment as to whether or not they apprehended the right person, but I can say, it was one single assailant, and there wasn’t another fight going on (like the initial report stated),” Millang advised. “We have a policy on how we handle incidents like that. Our individual at the front door who got involved, I believe, did a good job. It was a very quick incident. We shut down the bar 20 minutes early and escorted people out the back door to give the personnel coming in to help Forey more room.”

Friends of Forey

Forey Jacobson has often been spotted out on the town sporting a kilt and/or moccasin boots.Special to Cityview

Jacobson was fed through a tube with his jaw wired shut during his stay in the hospital. The once fiercely fit competitor of just about every racing competition held in the metro was laid up on the edge of death. Emotions began to stir among the Court Avenue community and the running circuits, both of which were void of an iconic character too colorful to be forgotten.

“Everyone was outraged by the violence. To know he almost died and was going through surgeries, and it was all very touch and go — he just means a lot to a lot of people,” said Stephanie Tirrell, who was one of the initial creators of the “Friends of Forey” Facebook page (which has more than 1,515 fans as of press time).

Thanks to Facebook, the news about the assault and Jacobson’s grave condition went viral before the local media had time to react. Tirrell said she learned the news when she saw it on Jason Hoffman’s Facebook page.

“Jason Hoffman was a cook at Buzzard Billy’s when Forey was a dishwasher and I was a waitress,” Tirrell said. “I immediately contacted Andy Massoth, of Full Court Press bars, and Melinda Toyne (owner of In Any Event and Full Court Press event organizer). Andy was an owner at Buzzard Billy’s and I know he and Forey had all been in contact in the last decade via Hessen Haus and Oktoberfest. And I’ve worked with Melinda Toyne in the past, so it all came together great and then snowballed after the Friends of Forey Facebook page was made.”

Within a few days of finding out about Jacobson’s assault, Lori Williams (known as MusicMama Williams on Facebook) also became motivated to help.

“I had a couple people pass away this year, and I organized events like this for them,” Williams said. “After this happened to Forey, I immediately had people on my Facebook wall saying, ‘Are you doing anything for Forey? If so, I want to help.’ So, I thought maybe it means I should be doing something.”

By the end of November, Williams had hooked up with the “Friends of Forey” group.

“I’m a fan of Forey. He’s a great guy — very gregarious,” she said. “He adds a lot of character and flair to every event we produce.”

Forey Jacobson is a staple of the annual Living History Farms Cross Country Race where he runs in nothing but a loin cloth and war paint. Special to Cityview

Massoth, one of the Full Court Press owners, remembers when Jacobson first started gracing the Court Avenue bars, first as an employee, now as a patron, a participant and a staple, he said.

“He’s a big part of the identity of the Court Avenue District and has been for years,” he said. “He’s one of the icons of the area, and he’s always been that way in a peaceful manner. He’s one of those guys who just likes the social aspect of it and has as good a time as everyone else without drinking. We think it was pretty tragic what happened to him and wanted to help.”

And so Forey Fest was born — an event that could very well turn out to be a Full Court Press party for the history books.

Forey Fest

The event’s slogan is true to Jacobson’s nature: “No shirt. No shoes. No problem!” Slated for 10 a.m. on Jan. 14, Forey Fest will begin with a 5K run/walk, which Jacobson said he plans to run; a bar crawl from noon to 6 p.m., which includes Mullets, El Bait Shop, Royal Mile and Hessen Haus; and a concert at People’s from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Every person and business involved is donating the time, money and resources it takes to make the event possible. Raygun designed a Forey Fest T-shirt, and they’ve already sold more than 100 at $23 each — the proceeds of which go to the Forey fund. Several businesses and individuals have donated items and services for the silent auction, including Johnny’s Hall of Fame. People’s Court is donating the venue for the concert, and more than 15 musical acts will perform for free during the bar crawl and at the concert finale, Williams said. (See sidebar for event details.)

“I know Forey two ways — he runs the Des Moines marathon every year, and he loves Truth Be Told,” said Williams, who is wife to Ben Williams, the lead vocalist for Truth Be Told. “I was sick to my stomach about what happened to him. What went through my head was ‘someone doesn’t appreciate what is different about Forey.’ Forey is very confident and very unique. It hurts to think that someone would do something so violent to such a peaceful soul.

“He’s very natural. He lives very naturally and eats very natural,” Williams said. “Had he not been in such good shape, he might not have made it. I don’t think most people would have survived something like that.”

A different kind of road

Jacobson plans on doing more than merely surviving. And he plans on not only attending the festival in his honor this weekend, but running the 5K.

When he was released to go home, he could barely walk, let alone run. Due to the severity of his head injuries, his equilibrium was so altered, it made it difficult for him to balance and remain standing. Now he’s back to running about a half mile a day.

“I think I can run farther than that now, but I’m not pushing myself too much — just enough to maintain my stamina,” he said. “I’m recovering remarkably well. I’m coming a long ways. I was determined to get better, and I think that’s what attributed to my healing.”

Along with the outpouring of support from members of the community, especially his wife of 24 years, Susan, Jacobson also credits his healthy lifestyle to his quick recovery. As he approaches his 20th year sober from drugs and alcohol, Jacobson has learned a lot about loving the self, loving others and even loving your enemies. He considers this latest struggle as just another one of life’s challenges.

“I’m surprised it happened. When people drink they sometimes get beer muscles, especially around the holidays,” he said. “Alcoholics seem to have more stress around the holidays, and they don’t do as well. I hope people realize what it is to have a good time in a positive way and help each other instead of working against each other. If everybody helped each other, we wouldn’t have war.”

As for his attacker, Jacobson just hopes the man learns his lesson.

“I have to forgive him and hope that he learned. That helps me become more of a person of understanding. I hope he gets help,” he said. “I don’t hate him. I think he’s misguided.”

In the meantime, Jacobson spends his days exercising, cleaning his house and cooking for his wife. He’s eager to get back to work, and they’re ready to have him back, he said. He’s taking his recovery from the assault much as he did his recovery from addiction — one day at a time, drawing strength from a philosophy he borrowed from World Champion boxer Muhammad Ali: “Impossible is nothing.” CV

*********************************

Forey Fest

Jan. 14, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Visit “Forey Fest” or “Friends of Forey” Facebook pages for details

5K Barefoot Benefit Run/Walk, 10 a.m.-noon, starting at Mullets, 1300 S.E. 1st St.
Entry fee $25, includes free koozie, admission to bar crawl and concert. Register and view course at RunningRoom.com, or day of race.

Bar Crawl, noon-6 p.m.

Entry fee $12, includes koozie and admission into concert

Three bands at each bar play at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.:

Mullets — Truth Be Told; Mike Shriner, Rumble Seat Riot

El Bait Shop — Steve Kowbel, Mooseknuckle, Brother Trucker

Royal Mile — Tina and Brandon Findley, Jamie Grimm, Thankful Dirt

Hessen Haus — Dixie and Charlie, Tom Richards, Hath No Fury

Concert at People’s on Court, 216 Court Ave., 8 p.m.-1 a.m.

Entry fee $12 in advance/$15 at the door.

Tickets available at tikly.co or at the door.

Bands: J.B. & the Smoothsayers, The Workshy, Tubabu, Truth Be Told.

Featuring comic John Bush to emcee the local talent showcase and Forey Tales and silent auction, along with local celebrity Tana Goerty.

Donate

Make donation or purchases at tikly.co. Proceeds benefit Forey Jacobson.