Amazing Story of a Gentle Giant – Bernard Coyne

Bernard Coyne was seen as the real-life BFG - a man who was big but who had a bigger heart.

Join us as we dive into Bernard Coyne’s brief but memorable life; the tallest man with taller aspirations.

Who Was Bernard Coyne?

In modern medical history, Bernard is one of only 17 people who stood eight feet tall.

Bernard Coyne was born in 1897, on the 27th of July, in Oto, a small rural area in Woodbury County, Iowa.

Bernard is referred to as The Cherokee Giant and was the second son of six children. His parents were Catherine and Sylvester Coyne.

Bernard’s siblings shared none of his physical characteristics and were often compared size-wise to one of his legs.

Photo credit: Sioux City Journal

By the time Coyne was a teenager, he was already seven feet tall. He tried enlisting in the army during World War I but was rejected due to his height.

The army refused induction as they thought of him as a liability more than anything else.

While a black and white photo can show his physical attributes, his draft registration card notes that he had black hair and blue eyes.

At this point in time, sideshows and exhibitions were becoming popular. Given Bernard’s size, he understandably attracted the attention of the owners of these attractions. But, Bernard denied numerous offers to join as a performer. He didn’t want to be seen as anyone other than a normal human.

He was not interested in being branded a ‘human oddity’ or anything else.

On the other hand, his parents wanted him to appear as an attraction at a local fair. At the end of the day, they didn’t follow through with this, as they believed God would punish them for degrading their son.

Bernard’s friends remembered him as a giant man with an even bigger heart.

Journey With Giantism

Bernard Coyne stood eight feet, eight inches tall and weighed over 300 pounds.

Interestingly, his weight wasn’t much, given that it was distributed over his extraordinary height.

Coyne had a condition that many refer to as Marfan, more commonly known as Daddy Long Legs syndrome.

It’s a disorder that causes a person to have unusually long legs, fingers, toes, and arms. For example, Bernard’s feet were huge compared to those around him - he had to wear size 25 shoes. His parents cut holes in the front of shoes that couldn’t fit him.

Due to Marfan, all Bernard’s clothes had to be specially made for him. He even learned how to knit his own sweaters and pants.

Photo credit: Wikimedia

His family adjusted certain everyday items so that they could accommodate his tall stature. For example, his parents drove with the doors of their Model T automobile open! This was so Bernard could stretch his five-foot legs out of the car.

He also had a special chair that his parents constructed for him, along with a unique bed to cater to his stature.

Unfortunately, Coyne’s battles didn’t end with Daddy Long Legs syndrome. He fell ill with liver disease in September of 1920.

What made it worse is that he didn’t stop growing until his final days, adding to his medical history.

Death

Bernard Coyne died at the age of 23 in May of 1921.

At the time of his death, Coyne stood as the tallest person in the world, awarding him a spot in The Guinness Book of World Records. This was until he was dethroned in 1940 by Robert Waldow.

Given the length of the young giant, you can imagine he needed an extra-large coffin. Bernard’s special casket was designed to fit in the hearse carrying the casket. The coffin measured nine feet in length, and Bernard was buried in a Catholic Cemetery in Anthon, Iowa.

While Bernard is not seen as a historical marvel in Iowa, he does, however, fall under the category of the tallest person in the world.

Conclusion

Bernard Coyne was a giant amongst his peers and family members, and his status in the Guinness Book of World Records shouldn't go unnoticed.

Many people diagnosed with similar conditions had no choice but to join sideshows and attractions. However, Bernard made a point of staying out of that lifestyle and did so by choice.

Coyne is remembered for his kindness and grit and is truly one of the world’s Big Friendly Giants. Stay tuned to Phreeque.com for more amazing stories of unique and inspiring people in our world.