Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Leopold
Hi Jon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was already in the worldwide Star Wars costuming organization know as the 501st Legion, with a classic stormtrooper costume. Besides going to comic conventions, they do many charitable events around their communities, including hospital visits. My wife is also in the 501st. Having seen the reactions from kids, she is the reason, I’m able to troop as much as I do.
In 2006, a local radio station held a mascot contest the day before the Michigan/MSU football game. I knew a fellow trooper that modified his armor to make an Indianapolis Colts Trooper. I borrowed many of his ideas, and the Wolverines Trooper was born.
In 2011, I had the helmet painted with automotive paint. It turned out so well, that’s when I started going to Michigan games. Not just football or basketball, but all of the sports. Following the example from the 501st Legion, I began to make visits to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital,, and other charity endeavors around Ann Arbor (and around the state).
In March 2024, I trooped my 1,000th event. Since then, I’ve appeared at another one hundred.. I’ve cheered on every varsity sport, and several club teams, in person. Imagine seeing a stormtrooper at a golf course or at the pool. Besides games and charity events, other events include weddings, funerals, parades, a gender reveal, birthday parties, U-M Nights for Detroit pro teams, summer camps, blood drives,
I’ve helped raise over $40K for various charities like the Chad Tough Defeat DIPG Foundation, American Cancer Society, and many more. I handed out nearly 100,000 of my collector cards to kids and fans at events. They’re like baseball cards, and have them for many different sports, plus cards for Mott and Survival Flight.
Twenty-one kids have dress up in their own versions of the Wolverines Trooper for Halloween- including three girls, and boys in Ohio & California! There’s also been seven fans get tattoos of me, which is crazy. I’ve had the honor of being the Grand Marshall in the Ann Arbor Jaycees 4th of July Parade, escort a water polo player on Senior Day, ballroom danced for charity, walking a bride down the aisle, been a ring bearer, and was included in the an intro video, narrated by Tom Brady, before the 2023 OSU game.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Early on, an assistant athletic director asked me to meet with him so that we were on the same page. I consider myself as a SuperFan, and not as a mascot. I also buy my own tickets to games. On a few occasions some generous fans bought my ticket.
One struggle has been my popularity at events. If I’m in a seat, I have to ask fans to wait until a timeout to take pics with me as to not distract from the action on the field/court. Since the costume is more comfortable to stand than sit in, at some sports, like baseball, softball, and soccer, I’ll just walk around making myself available for photos the whole time.
With the plastic costume, I’ve learned to adapt to extreme heat or cold conditions at games. It doesn’t breathe, and there’s room for two layers under it. Three times I had to leave early because it was too hot. At swimming and water polo, the humidity causes condensation inside the helmet and blurring my vision from on the lenses.
Walking to indoor events when it’s freezing outside is never fun. When I have someone joining me at those games, it makes a huge difference. I also bought a winter jacket (that belonged to a former football lineman) that fits over the armor and keep me warm.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What I’m most proud of is the impact I’ve had on kids. That over 20 kids have chose to make a Wolverines Trooper costume for Halloween is aMAIZEing!
I’ve had parents at Mott tell me that their kid showed more emotion/movement in my brief visit than they’ve seen in weeks.
I wish I had a camera that showed my point of view, when kids see me, or their surprise when I hand them on of my cards. Some kids are unsure about me. Most warm up to me if I give them a card, and a fist bump/high five.
There was a little girl at a softball game that hid behind me mom at first. By the end of the game, she would run up to me, give me a high five, and run back. She repeated this at least a half dozen times. There’s been so many interactions like this.The kids are why I wear a hot, uncomfortable costume, for hours at a time.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Many fans are shocked that buy my own tickets to games. I have or had season tickets or ticket packages for seven different Michigan teams.
Another thing many people don’t know is I take care of my wife. She had horrible back issues since 2006 from two car accidents. Thankfully we have cats that entertain her while I’m in Ann Arbor. We live in Goodrich, which is nearly 60 miles away.
Pricing:
- Private appearances start with a charity donation of $200.
- Business appearances are $250 for up to two hours.
- Charity events are free depending on my availability
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolverinestrooper
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolverinesTrooper
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlastyTrooper
