Voting Station

Klaus Maertens

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Inventor

The Resume

    (circa 1910- )
    Created 'Doc Martens' Shoes

Why he might be annoying:

    He was a doctor in Hitler's WW II Army.
    His shoes offer comfort with small regard to style.
    He injured himself while skiing (1945).
    When WW II ended, he looted a cobbler's shop and stole shoe materials and manufactured his first shoes.
    Although his shoes were successful in Germany, they became overwhelming popular once he sold the patent to Bill Griggs, a British shoemaker (April 1, 1960).
    Bill Grigg anglicized the name of Doc Maertens to Doc Martens and added the trademark yellow stitching to the sole.
    He used a blow torch on a discarded tire to make his first air-cushioned sole.
    He had trouble selling his products as shoe store owners thought the shoes were shabby and would fall apart quickly.
    During the 1950's, 4 out of every 5 of his shoes were bought by housewives over forty.
    His shoes are currently a mainstay of unfeminine lesbians.
    His red boot shoe was part of the uniform for British Football hooligans, claiming their advisories blood would blend into the red shoe.
    His shoes are a bit pricey.

Why he might not be annoying:

    While recuperating after an ankle injury from a skiing mishap in the Bavarian Alps, he realized how uncomfortable his army boots were (1945). He concluded that a rubber cushion would be more comfortable that a cork one.
    His shoes feature soft leather and an air-cushioned sole.
    Since 1960, the shoes are officially named 'Air Wair,' but most people still refer to them as 'Doc Martens,' 'D.M.s' or 'Docs.'
    Because of their comfort, they became standard wear for postal workers, cops and the military.
    The shoes are also a counterculture icon being worn by mods, skins, punks, psychobillies and goths.
    The British Ska Group Madness immortalized Doc Martens in song.
    The Broadway play 'Rent' mentions his shoes.
    Pope John Paul II owns a specially-made pure white Doc Martens.

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 19 Votes: 47.37% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 37 Votes: 56.76% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 34 Votes: 61.76% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 70 Votes: 67.14% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 120 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 208 Votes: 50.96% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 117 Votes: 47.86% Annoying