Austin homeless icon Leslie Cochran moved into hospice
Austin’s most famous homeless person, Leslie Cochran, was moved into a local hospice Friday after friends saw his condition steadily improve late this week at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center.
Cochran was found unconscious last week. On Wednesday, he awoke from “semi-consciousness,” his friend Debbie Russell said in an email statement today. Cochran remains in critical condition in the hospice and full consciousness is not a sign in his overall health improving, Russell said.
The man, known for flamboyant outfits and the occasional campaign for public office, underwent brain surgery at the hospital last week. Cochran had been in declining health since a 2009 head injury. In recent weeks he had attempted to relocate to Colorado via Amtrak but had difficulties securing the necessary paperwork.
Cochran has been pleased when friends told him about the well wishes people sent him, Russell said, including cards signed by the mayor, city council members, and police and fire chiefs.
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http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/austin/entries/2012/03/04/austin_icon_leslie_cochran_mov.html
[font color=green]Leslie is an American peace activist, cross-dresser, street person and local celebrity in Austin, Texas. He is a critic of police treatment of the homeless. He ran for mayor of Austin three times and came in second in the 2000 election.
On October 3, 2009, Leslie Cochran was found outdoors in a vegetative state and was transported to University Medical Center Brackenridge in critical condition. He reported that he had been attacked after commenting to a group of people about the dangers of drug abuse.
On February 27th, 2012, St. David South Austin hospital confirmed he was present in their hospital listed in critical condition. The circumstances to his illness/injury are not yet known. He regained consciousness today after undergoing brain surgery two weeks ago.
He is known for outrageous attire including gold lamé skirts, leopard thongs, and high-heeled shoes. One day as I was driving down Guadalupe Street during lunch, I did a double-take as I saw someone walking in a blue tie-dyed bikini and heels. I never had an opportunity to speak with him, but at one time he was listed among the Top 10 attractions to see while visiting Austin.
I wish him well because he called attention to the plight of the homeless and participated in various events such as the Keep Austin Weird 5K.
--information supplemented by Wikipedia[/font]
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The news is not good news however. It is very tough to live on the streets and no matter where you live, there are always haters who can attack you. Leslie's 2009 episode may have been an attack. It was never proven one way or the other, but I doubt a fall could have caused the injuries he had then. And now again in 2012.
It's also very sad that he has no real family.
Austin icon Leslie Cochran dies at age 60
An Austin icon is dead, and Austin just got a lot less weird.
Leslie Cochran — the city’s flesh-flashing, cross-dressing, attention-loving, frequently homeless mascot, unofficial ambassador and sometimes mayoral candidate — died at 1 a.m. at Christopher House, an inpatient hospice, according to his friend and power of attorney Valerie Romness. He was 60.
Cochran had been admitted to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center last month after being found unconscious in a South Austin parking lot. The cause of death was believed to be complications from a brain injury, according to Romness.
Rest in peace Leslie. Your days of homelessness are now over. I hope you bring your own bit of weirdness to the next life.
