Guycell "Willie" Camper #LASTOFTHEOLDWORLDGIANTS

This image shows performers and staff from the Miller Bros. Howard Sideshow, a travelling circus attraction that was active during the mid-1930s.

Key Information
Who: Several specific individuals in this group have been identified:
Guycell "Willie" Camper: The exceptionally tall man on the far right. He was approximately 16 years old in 1936 and was billed as a "giant".
Nick: The small person (billed as a dwarf) in the lower-left corner, who was known by the stage name "The Thing".
Congo: The man in the second row back who was known for his ability to hold numerous golf and pool balls in his mouth.
The group also includes a man in traditional Native American attire and various other sideshow "oddities" and management.

When: The photo was likely taken around 1936, which is when Guycell Camper was performing with the Miller Bros. Show.
Where: These performers travelled extensively with the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Wild West Show and associated sideshows across the United States.

The background features a poster for the "World's Largest Collection of Freaks," a common marketing title for these types of troupes during the heyday of the circus sideshow.

For individuals wit pituitary gigantism, the body continues to produce excessive growth hormone because the "off switch" is essentially broken.

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Continued Growth

Constant Measurement: Historical records indicate that until his death at age 18, Willie Camper never stopped growing. This is a hallmark of his condition; even in adulthood, the bones continue to lengthen until the growth plates fuse, which often doesn't happen naturally in these cases.

Billed vs. Actual Height: While he was famously billed at 8 feet 7 inches (2.62 m) for show purposes, some records suggest he may have been slightly shorter, around 8 feet 2 inches, at the time of his draft registration. However, even at that height, he was gaining inches every year.

Comparison to Robert Wadlow

To see how much a person with this condition can grow in just their final year, look at Robert Wadlow, the tallest man ever:

At age 17, Wadlow was 8' 3".

By the time he died at age 22, he had reached 8' 11.1".

Even in the days before his death, doctors confirmed he was still growing.

If Willie Camper had lived into his 20s, medical historians believe he very likely would have challenged Wadlow’s record, potentially becoming the first verified 9-foot tall human. Unfortunately, the same hormones that caused his height also put an unsustainable strain on his heart, leading to his fatal heart attack at 18.

After his death in 1943, Guycell "Willie" Camper was transported from California back to his home state of Mississippi for burial.

Burial Details
Location: He was buried in Mendenhall, Mississippi.
The Coffin: Due to his extraordinary size, he was buried in a custom-made 9-foot-long (2.7 m) coffin.
The Grave Site: While historical records confirm he was buried in Mendenhall, his exact burial location within the town remains largely unknown or unmarked. Some sources list his burial details as "unknown".

This lack of a prominent marker was common for sideshow performers of the era, whose families often preferred to keep their final resting places private to avoid unwanted attention or potential grave robbing, a fear that was particularly prevalent for individuals of unique stature.

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