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Uncle Skeletor? Prince Adam and Skeletor may be more than enemies in Netflix’s new He-Man series

Credit: Netflix and Mattel Television

In three short years, Netflix has transformed the wider He-Man universe into a lively place. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power shed a new ray of light on the realm of Etheria when it debuted back in 2018, followed earlier this year by Kevin Smith’s trip to Eternia in Masters of the Universe: Revelation .

Now the streamer is making a return visit to the He-Man homeworld with this week’s premiere of a new, kid-focused CGI series that comes with a familiar Filmation-vintage name — even as it adds a potentially complex new dimension to He-Man lore. Tugging at a seldom-seen thread from a late-1980s mini-comic, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe reportedly tackles a major family link between the hallowed series’ biggest hero and biggest villain.

Speaking recently with Comicbook.com , showrunners Rob David and Jeff Matsuda said they intentionally teased out the idea that He-Man's alter-ego, Prince Adam (voiced in the new series by Yuri Lowenthal), and Skeletor (Ben Diskin) are meant to be more than mortal enemies. Thanks to a canonical comic book connection from the past, they said, Adam is actually Skeletor’s nephew.

Uncle Skeletor? Well — yes. "There was a mini-comic in 1987 [most likely the mini-series launched in 1986 by Mattel’s The Search for Keldor ] where they hinted that Skeletor might be Randor's brother [aka the brother of Adam’s father, the good king of Eternia],” explained David, “but they never directly said it. In 2002, when they had the next He-Man show, they noted that Skeletor was Keldor, but the link between him and Adam wasn't totally made explicit. They never really got to explore that familial relationship.”

In Netflix’s new storyline, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is taking those family connections and mining them for all the tension that a Grayskull-sized family squabble implies, said the showrunners. The idea, they explained, is to “really dive into that relationship and make the drama personal with stakes. We had the perfect opportunity to bring this all together and show the comparisons and contrasts between these two characters. They're both heirs of Grayskull but the fact that Adam doesn't covet the power makes him the right choice to wield it.”

This isn't the first time an attempted He-Man revival has dared to deal directly with family feuds left untouched by Filmation’s original 1980s animated series. The script for David S. Goyer’s unmade He-Man movie at Sony has long been rumored to tweak things even further, making Adam and Skeletor actual siblings — a complicated brotherly bond if ever there was one.

In any case, the important thing as the new series kicks off is to be on the lookout for a freshly-updated wrinkle that adds a ton of weight to Adam’s royal responsibilities. Thanks to David and Matsuda, now you know — and knowing is half the battle. (Oops! — That’s from a completely different 1980s animated series.)

Produced by Mattel Television, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe debuts Sept. 16 at Netflix.

• He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe

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He-Man: Why Masters of the Universe's Skeletor Is a Skeleton

Skeletor's appearance explains his name, but different Masters of the Universe continuities have their own explanations for why he looks this way.

Just as well known as He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is their arch-foe, Skeletor. This skeletal yet muscular fiend has vexed Eternia and Castle Grayskull since the franchise's inception, becoming one of its most iconic elements. However, despite how popular of an '80s villain he is, most don't know Skeletor's true origins.

Skeletor's bony facial features are the reason behind his name. Still, different continuities have had their own explanations for why he looks this way. Here's all of what's known about the various versions of He-Man 's greatest opponent.

RELATED: He-Man and Skeletor's Children Nearly Starred In Their Own Series

Classic Skeletor's Origin

The original mini-comics that came with the first wave of  Masters of the Universe toys gave Skeletor an origin , largely ignored by every other franchise iteration. It stated that he was from another dimension filled with people just like him, suggesting that his bony dome is a natural part of his physiology.

The classic cartoon  didn't delve too far into the villain's origins. However, the comics that came after the show heavily suggested that he was once King Randor's brother Keldor. The explanation for Keldor's disappearance was that he had attempted to master dark magic. In doing so, he supposedly trapped himself in another dimension. With it being all but confirmed that this version of Keldor became Skeletor, it can also be assumed that his awry dark magic experiment also disfigured him beyond recognition. This would ironically make Skeletor He-Man's uncle. Similarly, a DC Comics published continuity had Skeletor gaining his iconic form from a curse.

The  Masters of the Universe Classics toyline created a new but retro continuity and finally embraced the Keldor/Skeletor/Randor connection. Here, Keldor was Randor's half-brother who worked alongside Hordak in an attempt to unite and rule Eternia. After one coupe attempt failed, he had Hordak fuse him with the Demo-Man, becoming Skeletor.

RELATED: Masters of the Universe Officially Introduces He-Man's Long-Lost Hero

He-Man 2003 Skeletor

The 2002  He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon finally portrayed Skeletor's origin on-screen, giving a twist to the backstory that many classic fans had already come to suspect. Here, Skeletor was once a dark warrior named Keldor who attempted to free the powerful Hordak from his imprisoning dimension. Keldor and his allies attacked the Hall of Wisdom to pursue this goal, running afoul of the then-Captain Randor. The battle's end saw Keldor's face dashed with acid.

Keldor retreated and summoned Hordak in an attempt to save his own life. Hordak physically transformed him, removing the tissues and skin around his damaged face. Now named Skeletor, the former Keldor seemingly lost what grip he had on sanity. It's worth noting that this version of Keldor was not related to Randor like in previous incarnations. So far, this has been the only concrete explanation of Skeletor's appearance and the only on-screen portrayal of his origin story. However, the franchise's current limelight  in popular culture could once again see future reboots explain how Skeletor got his boney look.

KEEP READING: Image's Masters of the Universe Revival Wasn't Exactly Classic He-Man

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The New Official Origin of Masters of the Universe Has Just Redefined He-Man Lore

The masters of the universe/teenage mutant ninja turtles crossover is every 80s kids dream, all 5 emily henry romance books, ranked from worst to best.

You can't get much more '80s than Skeletor. The memorable He-Man villain practically defined this era of Saturday Morning cartoons; Shredder was funny, Mumm-Ra was intimidating, and Megatron looked awesome, but Skeletor was somehow able to envelop all three of these qualities!

The character first debuted when Mattel launched the first wave of their He-Man and the Masters of the Universe toy line back in 1982 (with the TV show soon to follow). Much like so many other entries in legendary action figure lines , Skeletor was created strictly to have mass appeal, and then writers were forced to fill in the blanks for the story behind the character.

What they filled in was an incredible villain who some would say has even overtaken his hero in popularity; even those only casually familiar with pop culture can recognize Skeletor's familiar design and personality. Then there was his iconic voice , brought lovingly to life by Alan Oppenheimer, that we can all still vividly hear in our heads as we type this. With a new Masters of the Universe movie on its way in the near future we figured that fans need a little bit of a refresher course on the legendary villain. Here are 15 Things You Need To Know About Skeletor.

15. He wasn't the only major villain in the '80s He-Man cartoon

He-Man and Skeletor go together like peanut butter and jelly: one simply cannot exist without the other. Almost every single Masters of the Universe story worth telling involves the skeletal sorcerer attempting to capture Castle Greyskull and harness its power to take over all of Eternia. All of the He-Man shows, movies, and comics so far have portrayed Skeletor as the clear-cut primary antagonist. Unlike Batman or Spider-Man or the Flash, He-Man didn't do the whole "villain of the day" thing too often. Instead Prince Adam found himself locked in an eternal battle with Skeletor and his henchmen, week in and week out.

Despite his designation as the show's main villain, Skeletor was actually only in 71 of the original cartoon's 130 episodes. This meant that half of the time, He-Man and his friends were going up against other foes. Now, often this simply meant that one of Skeletor's many minions acted as the episode's villain, with their boss' presence still looming large in the background.

Other times, however, a new big bad would make an appearance: The evil Count Marzo appeared a few times throughout the series as a major villain. Every now and then He-Man would have to face a one-off threat like Evilseed, the Game Master, or Shokoti.

14. He and Richard Nixon share an actor

To make any sort of political jokes here would be far too easy and probably would be considered low-hanging fruit. But come on, comparisons between Nixon (considered one of America's most corrupt Presidents) and Skeletor (a conniving over the top ruler) are jokes that practically write themselves!

The Masters of the Universe movie was anything but masterful; it took the swords and sandals/futuristic setting that made the cartoon so popular and threw it out the window, forcing the heroes to spend a majority of the film in "our world" and playing up the overused fish out of water trope. Also, He-Man was played by Dolph Ludgren,  the sidekick Orko was replaced by a really odd-looking troll, and most of Skeletor's colorful minions were replaced by faceless soldiers.

Just about the only thing that makes Masters of the Universe watchable is Frank Langella's portrayal of Skeletor. It wasn't good, per se, but watching the character actor chomp scenery as Skeletor was a delight to watch (especially when you compare it to the stale acting of the rest of the cast). Langella later would move on to play another famous villain (we're kidding!) in Frost/Nixon , for which he earned a Best Actor nomination for his role as the 37th President of the United States.

13. He's had to team up with He-Man on multiple occasions

Skeletor isn't the type of person who likes to play nice. He's ridiculously arrogant, always boasting about his intelligence and how superior he is to the likes of his underlings. The character's comically large ego is a defining feature of the Skeletor we all know and love; to think that he would ever put aside his differences for some sort of "greater good" seems like too much to ask. He doesn't even get along with his fellow villains!

Yet, Skeletor has been forced to team up with his most hated adversary on many occasions. The most famous occasion of the two enemies joining forces is the "Evilseed" episode of the '80s cartoon, which saw the titular villain of the episode easily defeating both the Masters of the Universe and Skeletor's forces. Skeletor reaches out to He-Man in desperation and they join forces to bring down Evilseed once and for all.

Most recently, in He-Man: The Eternity War , a version of Skeletor can see into the numerous multiverses of his existence. He claims that in every plane of his existence, there was always a He-Man or She-Ra there to defeat him. Hating to be on the losing side of a battle, Skeletor offers his services to the side of good. Of course, this lasts for all of two seconds, as by the end of the series he gains the power to summon infinite dead soldiers from across time and space in effort to conquer the known universe.

12. The original comic series gave him a drastically different origin

The origins of Skeletor in the '80s cartoon are still up to debate this day. Though it was hinted at throughout the series and the comics that came after, we were never told the details on the character's early years; we only know that he has been working for the forces of evil since Prince Adam was just an infant.

The 2002 show attempted to fill in the blanks by reusing an abandoned plot line from the post-Filmation comic books (but we'll get to that later!). Honestly it might have be better to never know the character's origin story. It gave Skeletor an aura of mystery and allowed the audience to see him as pure evil, rather sympathize with him.

As mentioned earlier, the toys for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe came out long before the show. Each toy came with a small comic book that detailed the backstory of the figure and featured vastly different origins for each character. He-Man, for example, was a straight-up barbarian rather than royalty. Skeletor was said to be from a race of skeletal beings that hailed from another dimension. During the "Great War," the villain ended up in Eternia thanks to a rift in the space-time continuum. His main goal in this series was to use the power of Grayskull to reopen the rift and bring his race through to conquer the land.

11. Skeletor was actually second in command to Hordak

During the initial run of the He-Man cartoon Skeletor was seen as the ultimate villain. His loyal servants feared his wrath and he was always portrayed as one of the most powerful sorcerers in all of Eternia (if not the universe). Not to mention that he was one of the few characters who could actually go toe-to-toe with our heroes and not get completely humiliated. Whenever something sinister was afoot, Skeletor always seemed to be behind it.

When Mattel launched its She-Ra: Princess of Power series, coinciding with their new line of toys in 1985, they decided that they needed to one-up the legendary villain. The premiere of the show introduced us to Hordak, the leader of the evil Horde who was hellbent on conquering the known universe. It was also revealed in the premiere that Skeletor wasn't always the powerful leader that we thought; he started off Hordak's " favorite pupil " before being left behind during a skirmish and betraying his former master.

From that day forward the two villains would be at odds, with Skeletor even going so far as to help the heroes in order to humiliate his old boss.

10. He got a cybernetic upgrade in the '90s reboot of the series

Who here remembers The New Adventures of He-Man ? We didn't think so. Despite having a whopping 65-episode season one, the show fell off the radar fairly quickly for casual fans of the series. The plot followed He-Man as he was called on to defend the futuristic planet of Denebria from a group of evil mutants. Naturally, Skeletor ends up on Denebria and allies himself with these new enemies. This incarnation of Masters of the Universe only ran for a single season in 1990.

The Skeletor of The New Adventures of He-Man was a bit different than the one that came before; he was given a makeover to look more realistic and serious,  ditching his bright purple hood for a black one and gaining more humanoid features. The character's iconic high-pitched voice was also replaced by a more subdued and sinister one.

Perhaps the biggest change, however, came in the form of cybernetic upgrades. In the first episode Skeletor is exposed to a large power crystal that bestows upon him a suit of power armor and gives him a more futuristic look. Yeah, we'd much rather have the purple hood and cloak.

9. Skeletor isn't the laughing stock you think he is

Thanks to his comical nature and the overall family-friendliness of the original show, Skeletor is often looked upon as a bumbling idiot. The character has been an easy target of pop culture jokes through the years and has been reduced to more of a laughing stock of the supervillain world as of late. Worst of all (as you'll see later in our list) is that it works! Skeletor's characteristics make him stick out in the minds of anyone who was around at the time and the perfect fodder for parody . But is the character really that laughable?

He may consistently fail to capture Castle Grayskull and defeat his arch enemies, but Skeletor is actually a brilliant inventor, skilled tactician, and a powerful sorcerer. Often the only thing that stands between him and victory is himself. Skeletor has a bad habit of being over confident in his schemes, leading to him missing an exploitable flaw that brings about his downfall.

In the 2002 cartoon and the modern comics the character is portrayed in a much more menacing way than his predecessors. The Skeletor in these series tortures, kills, and mauls his way through anyone who stands in his way. The writers are also able to seamlessly blend the character's old traits into these new versions without taking away any of the fear factor that comes along with these darker versions.

8. He is consistently one of the funniest characters on Robot Chicken

Yes, we realize that we just spent an entire entry on how not laughable Skeletor is. But we also said that he's the perfect type of villain for parody! His voice alone is enough material to base countless jokes around. The hit Adult Swim show Robot Chicken captured our nerdy hearts when it debuted in 2005 thanks to the way it lovingly skewered our favorite pop culture characters, and is still going strong 8 seasons later.

Skeletor is easily one of the best non-original character on the show! The character is always portrayed as partaking in some parody of one of his schemes that goes awry, like the time he traveled back in time to kill He-Man's mother and accidentally killed his own. Or the time that he carpooled to work with the likes of Lex Luthor, Cobra Commander, and Mumm-Ra. Or when he accidentally killed He-Man (" the first recorded murder in Eternia history ") and hastily wrote a suicide note to cover his tracks.

Skeletor is usually joined in these sketches by his loyal servants Beast Man and Evil-Lyn, who point out how pointless his plots are and just how unappreciated they are as henchmen. If you haven't caught any of these sketches yet, you definitely need to!

7. He has a soft spot for cute animals and children

In a show about barbarian princes fighting a magic skeleton man, He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special took the campiness cake. This very special crossover episode saw Orko accidentally crash-landing on Earth during the Christmas season. He accidentally brings two young children back to Eternia, and they share the story and spirit of Christmas with the Masters of the Universe. Meanwhile the supreme leader Horde Prime tasks Skeletor and Hordak with capturing the children because " the Christmas spirit could prevent his rise to power. " Yeah... it was weird.

Skeletor kidnaps the children and their dog, but his ship is sabotaged by Hordak and he crash-lands on a snowy mountain side. Determined to deliver his captives to Horde Prime, Skeletor and the children begin a journey on foot. Over the course of this journey, the villain is shown to be caring and compassionate about the children and their pet. He makes them coats when they get cold, protects them from a snow monster, and even asks them to explain Christmas. He also refuses to let anyone else but him carry the dog.

In the end, Skeletor has a change of heart and betrays Horde Prime, claiming that he was swallowed up with the " spirit of Christmas " at the time. The villain's affinity for animals is portrayed in other media, as he often keeps a large cat named Panthor as a pet.

6. He has dark beginnings in the 2002 series

In 2002, Mattel relaunched its Masters of the Universe toy line for a new generation along with a new cartoon series. This version of the show took on a similar tone to the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot, taking a concept that was cartoonish and campy and injecting it with a darker tone. Though the show only lasted two seasons it was praised for reviving He-Man for a new group of children and bringing characters to life that had never been put on screen before.

The Skeletor that appeared in this reboot was given a complete backstory and a more sinister portrayal. The character started off as Keldor, a warlord who was taught dark magic from this show's version of Hordak. During his initial attempt to conquer Eternia, Keldor came into direct conflict with the future king, Randor. When it appeared that he was going to lose, Keldor threw a vial of acid at his opponent only to have it reflected back in his own face. The villain returned to Hordak with his wound and begged for his life to be spared; the dark sorcerer saved Keldor by turning his head into a floating skull and dubbed him as "Skeletor." Pretty dark for a children's show don't you think?

5. The character has an affinity for advertising

As much as people ridicule him for his voice and personality, everybody loves Skeletor. How could you not? He's the stereotypical mustache-twirling villain that epitomized the shows of peoples' youth. He's also one of those characters that is just a blast to watch! You know that he's never going to be successful in his endeavors but dang it, he's gonna try his hardest. Skeletor is perhaps the most iconic character to come out of the Masters of the Universe series, maybe even more so than He-Man.

One of the core principles of marketing is to tap into your audiences' sense of nostalgia. And what better way to get people talking about your product than by having it endorsed by their favorite childhood villain? A few years back Honda launched a series of commercials featuring Skeletor and He-Man in which he tells viewers that buying a new Honda will bring back the same sense of euphoria they felt when they received his action figure as a child. The company even went so far as to let the character "take over" their twitter account, to much hilarity.

Most recently, Skeletor appeared in a commercial for Money Super Market , where he can't help but dance for joy over the money that he saved by using the company.

4. Skeletor is a member of the Gar species

In 2012, DC Comics once again tried to give the character of Skeletor an intricate backstory in their He-Man comic series. It had been hinted at for years that Skeletor was not human, but rather a member of a mysterious race that was never explored in the initial show or comics run. It turns out, Skeletor (or Keldor more specifically) is actually a member of the Gar. These beings are not alien or from another dimension; the Gar are natural inhabitants of Eternia but the majority of their species has been wiped out.

The Gar have a long history with Castle Grayskull. Originally inhabitants of a small island in Eternia, King Grayskull turned to the race for help against the dark forces of the Horde one thousand years ago. The Gar supported the king in his killing of Hordak and banishing the Horde to another dimension, but were weary in the war's aftermath. A small group of Gar prophesied that Grayskull's rule would bring about Eternia's destruction. They banded together and assassinated the legendary king, branding their race as traitors for the next thousand years. Of course Skeletor came from these guys.

3. There's a debate as to whether or not he has a neck

Talk about a pointless debate. Of course Skeletor has a neck! He's a living skeleton, for crying out loud. Besides, how could he wear a hooded cloak if there was nothing there for it to drape around? Wouldn't it just fall off? Also, the original action figure clearly shows the character without a cloak and he clearly has a neck. Debate over! Right?

Well, wait just a second. In the 2002 show it clearly states that Skeletor's head floats on his body. Like, they make a big deal about it. So does this apply to the character retroactively as well? You never see him with his hood all the way down in the original show or comic series, so maybe he never had one to begin with? But then there's also a scene in the original show where his hood is getting blown back by the wind, but Skeletor's neck is nowhere to be seen. Why is this so confusing?!

2. His voice actor was the director of the original Westworld park

The smash hit HBO show Westworld has taken the world by storm. Though it hasn't yet reached the levels of popularity shared by the company's other shows, like Game of Thrones or The Wire , the series has skyrocketed in popularity since its premiere last year. The show is loosely based on the Michael Crichton movie of the same name, where a futuristic Western-themed park filled with androids goes off the rails and begins to kill its guests. Being HBO, the new version of Westworld is able to ramp up the gore and adult themes that could only barely be touched upon in the 1970s.

The role that Anthony Hopkins plays in HBO's newest hit was portrayed originally by Alan Oppenheimer, also known as the voice of Skeletor. It's odd to see Oppenheimer in the part of the Park Director; he's much more subdued and stern than you'd expect for the man who would go on to become one of the most beloved voice actors of all time.

Sadly, he didn't get to show off his true acting chops in this role, as this film was one that was mostly forgotten about until recently and the actor went into a celebrated tenure on the small screen. We'd absolutely love to see the 86 year old Oppenheimer make a return to the franchise that kickstarted his career if the showrunners would have it!

1. There's a 90% chance that he is He-Man's Uncle

Skeletor and He-Man, related ?! These two are arch enemies; their hate for each other as intense as Obi-Wan and Darth Vader, or Batman and the Joker. To think that the two could be born form the same bloodline is insane. Granted, this is only relevant for the '80s television show. In the 2002 version and 2012 comic series it was made clear that Skeletor was originally a Gar named Keldor and had no relation to the royal family of Eternia whatsoever. The character of Keldor in the original show, however, had a very different role.

In the canon mini-series comic that followed the cancellation of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe in 1986, we find out that Keldor is the long lost brother of He-Man's father, and it is hinted at that he and Skeletor are one and the same. Sadly, we cannot confirm this with 100% certainty, as it was never officially included in the canon of the series.

During the comic, Skeletor goes to great lengths to stop He-Man and King Randor from discovering " the secret of Keldor. " The mystery is deepened even further when the two heroes find a blurry picture of Keldor via a rip in the space-time continuum and start to make out familiar features before Skeletor barges in and stops them. One of the comic book writers later came out and admitted that Skeletor and Keldor were supposed to be the same person, but the show and comic series got cancelled before the twist could be put into place. Talk about trouble at home...

What do you think of our list? Would it make Skeletor proud? Let us know in the comments!

• Masters of the Universe

He-Man: 25 Things That Make No Sense About Skeletor

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In 1983, a new cartoon appeared on television based on a series of action figures by Mattel. It was called He-Man and the Masters of the Universe , and it featured a strange, muscleman who rode a green tiger and swung a glowing sword while fighting an equally strange muscular blue skeleton. It was awesome.

He-Man is who you get if you cross Conan the Barbarian with Mickey Mouse. He rarely punched or hacked at anyone with his sword, preferring instead to throw heavy things around and talk things through. Skeletor cut a more forbidding figure, with his enchanted staff, his giant purple panther pet and his army of evil goons, each more colorfully named than the last.

Skeletor has become one of the most enduring villains in all of pop culture. He has often been the subject of parody and memefication, but also commands respect for being the arch-enemy of the strongest man in the universe (take that, Superman!). There is a long, involved backstory behind Skeletor that stretches back decades.

Not all of that backstory makes sense or maintains coherency. That is because the character of Skeletor has been assigned various origins and ambitions in different mediums, from cartoons to comics and live-action movies. Going through the various stories about the purple bodied and white skulled villain brings up a number of questions about the how and the why of the various aspects of his character. Here we bring to you 25 such things about Skeletor that make no sense from a logical standpoint, which, as we all know, is such an important part of Saturday morning cartoons:

25 Where's The Neck?

Skeletor has a body design that is as awesome as it is baffling. You have the Grim Reaper-like face, and then a body that looks like it's stepped straight out of a Mr. Universe contest. But the neck always remains mysteriously unaccounted for.

So what is the deal with Skeletor's neck?

Does it actually exist, or does his chin disappear into inky black nothingness? Some action figures show Skeletor with a blackened neck, others with a blue one. Yet others choose to cover his neck entirely in cloth. We suspect even the character's creators aren't sure about that body part's existence.

24 Why Did He Not Pass Away?

So in most cases, the explanation behind Skeletor's skull face is that years ago, he was a normal-faced guy. Then he was attacked with acid, which ate away his face leaving intact only the bone beneath. But that is not how acid works.

If you got hit in the face with acid in the amounts that can do that kind of damage, you're not going to be able to survive. You will pass away almost immediately. This is like that Two-Face nonsense from Batman comics all over again, where exactly half of Harvey Dent's face was burnt off by acid.

23 Why Is He So Buff?

Skeletor is many things. He is a leader. He is a mastermind. He is a sorcerer. But he is never shown to be much of a physical threat. He tries to win all his fights through cunning, unlike a certain arch-enemy who gets by on brute strength alone.

So when exactly does Skeletor get the time to work so much?

Look at his physique! He looks like that guy who practically lives in the gym and posts sweaty shirtless selfies on Instagram the whole day. Considering how busy he is always plotting mischief against Castle Grayskull, Skeletor must have discovered the most efficient diet and exercise plan in the universe.

22 How Can He Talk?

You need a tongue in order to be able to vocalize and talk. Does Skeletor have a tongue? That's not a question that usually gets asked about a character, but based on Skeletor's face, it seems there is only more black void where the inner parts of his mouth should be.

But if that is the case, how is he able to talk at all? You know those joke skeletons that start chattering their teeth when you press a button? That should be all that Skeletor's face is capable of doing. Instead, the man is always ready with a villainous monologue.

21 How Can He Smell Stuff?

We're still not done talking about Skeletor's face and how anything he does with it doesn't make any sense. So let's talk about his sense of smell. How does he have one? None of the organic tissues that need to be present for olfactory identification to work are available on Skeletor's... well, that place where his nose should be.

And yet, it has been proven that Skeletor has no problem smelling stuff.

Or maybe he just pretends to be able to smell. Or maybe it's the go-to answer for logical fallacies in most fantasy series: magic.

20 How Does He Still Have Allies?

One thing that has stayed consistent across all the adaptations of the character is that Skeletor always treats his minions like dirt. He insults them, belittles them, and we're pretty sure he doesn't allow them to form unions either. He also betrayed Hordak when Skeletor was his second in command.

With such a history of being an absolute tool to the people he works with, how has Skeletor managed to retain his allies? Why haven't Beastman, Evil-lyn, and the other minions kicked him to the curb? Maybe they just can't find work anywhere else.

19 Why Does He Have Allergies?

There have been a couple of stories where Skeletor was revealed to suffer from allergies. From pollen. From flowers. That's right, Skeletor's kryptonite is the gently wafting daisy flower that might send some flower dust up his nose-hole.

So what is the point of being one of the undead, a powerful scientist and sorcerer if you can't even cure yourself of a condition that renders you unable to go into a garden without needing an EpiPen shot? Skeletor should look into resolving this embarrassing condition before he steps out of Snake Mountain to fight He-Man.

18 Where Did He Come From?

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe hit the ground running when it came to Skeletor. They provided no explanation or backstory for him before pitting him against He-Man. One can understand why. When a guy looks like Skeletor, you don't need to present a two-hour documentary to make the audience understand that, yep, he's a bad guy.

But we'd still like some clarification.

According to the earliest origin stories, Skeletor is an interdimensional being who accidentally landed in Eternia. According to another retelling, he is King Randor's long-lost brother. So which story is true?

17 How Did He Get Snake Mountain?

As far as evil lairs go, you can't beat Snake Mountain. The place has a dank, dark look and a giant snake statue coiling around the edifice to signal that this building is not a family home or government property, but a bad place where bad things are plotted.

But how did Skeletor come by it? According to one story, the mountain was a holding cell for Serops, the snake god, created by the council of elders. So Skeletor is basically a squatter. But according to a different storyline, Skeletor himself built the structure from scratch.

16 Who Is Scare-Glow?

There is no shortage of weird looking humanoids with freaky appearances in Eternia. But Scare-Glow is just another level of freaky and weird. Because there is a strong chance he might be the spirit of Skeletor, who is... also still alive... what?

Skeletor called Scare-Glow from beyond space and time.

It is strongly hinted that Scare-Glow might be Skeletor's ghost from the future. It was later revealed that Scare-Glow is actually the ghost of Karak Nul. But how is he a ghost when he has a clearly solid body that just happens to glow? And why was he initially marketed as 'The Evil Ghost of Skeletor'?

15 Why Does He Turn Good Only During Christmas?

One particular He-Man and She-Ra Christmas special saw Skeletor learning about the true meaning of Christmas. A couple of Earth children get transported to Eternia during Christmas. There they get captured by Hordak and are sent to be held captive by Skeletor.

But instead of punishing the children for keeping the spirit of Christmas alive in their heart, Skeletor ends up befriending them and celebrating Christmas with them. He then proceeds to forget everything about them in the next episode and goes back to being a complete monster to everyone around him.

14 Is He A Scientist Or Sorcerer?

The thing about Skeletor is that he seems to be equally skilled at both science and magic, and he himself seems to have trouble telling the two apart. A lot of his minions make use of highly advanced scientific equipment to do his bidding, like ships and lasers.

But then he spends all his time obsessing over the magic inside Castle Grayskull and how to possess it.

Science and magic are historically shown to be opposing forces in fiction. You pick one or the other and stick with it. You never saw Lord Voldemort plotting to steal a nuclear bomb for his arsenal. Yet, Skeletor can't seem to decide which of the two forces he wants to gain mastery over.

13 Is Skeletor The Victim Here?

One of the backstories for Skeletor is that he is the half-brother to King Randor, named Keldor. The mother of Keldor was a woman from a different race called Gar, which is why Skeletor inherited her blue skin.

It is also implied that it is the color of his skin that prevented Keldor from claiming the throne, and he has been working to right this injustice ever since.

Can you imagine if this happened in the real world, where a person was stopped from becoming king because of his skin color? Our sympathies would totally be with Skeletor.

12 How Does Skeletor Not Know Who He-Man Is?

The whole thing about Skeletor is that he is a mastermind. That is why his minions follow him, and that is why the Sorceress who looks over Castle Grayskull views him as a serious threat. And yet, this evil genius could never figure out that Prince Adam and He-Man are the same people.

Everyone knows that the one superhero who has an even more pathetic disguise than Clark Kent is Prince Adam.

The man's idea of a secret identity is to wear lesser amounts of clothing and hope his muscles distract everyone from his face. And apparently, that is exactly what happens in the case of Skeletor.

11 Where Is His Power Sword?

During an episode, Skeletor realized that the source of He-Man's powers is his sword, and set out to make his own. And then he succeeded in making it. Skeletor's new sword was almost a match for He-Man during a couple of episodes and then got ignored completely afterward.

This is a recurring trend with Skeletor's plan. The guy really hates repeating himself. Why didn't he make an entire arsenal of power swords and distribute them to his minions and keep the biggest one for himself? And why does he need the powers of Castle Grayskull at all if he can already create a weapon of nearly the same amount of power as the sword powered by Grayskull?

10 Is Skeletor He-Man's Clone?

The very first time we saw Skeletor in the cartoons, viewers noticed a curious fact. Both He-Man and Skeletor are basically the same person from the neck down. Since Skeletor doesn't have a face, could we assume it also looks like He-Man's face?

Do the two have some clone-type deal going on?

The actual answer is that He-Man, Skeletor and related characters were initially created as action figures. To save time and money, all the male figures had basically the same exact shape and dimensions with different clothes and coloring added afterward. Hence the similarity in everyone's physiques.

9 Why Does He Eat?

We have seen a few sequences of Skeletor enjoying a hearty meal, or drinking a cup of some kind of liquid. But it has been established at various points that Skeletor is now basically one of the undead. He doesn't need to do any of the usual things other living beings do, like eating, sleeping, or burping.

Could it be like a phantom limb situation? Skeletor is only going through the motions of pretending to eat or drink to remind himself of his own humanity? Okay, now we're just starting to feel sorry for the guy.

8 Why Is He Mostly Left Alone?

Skeletor has repeatedly shown himself to be public enemy number one when it comes to Eternia. He has also never tried to hide the fact that he lives in Snake Mountain. So why have King Randor and his forces not stormed the mountain yet and captured Skeletor?

Instead of waiting for him to hatch a new plot and try to take over Castle Grayskull yet again, Randor could simply have him thrown in jail, cut off from his allies. But that never seems to occur to the Masters of the Universe, who are content to simply chase him away after every victory.

7 Why Doesn't He Get Better Minions?

To date, Skeletor has not won a single battle against He-Man and his allies. And the reason behind this is not that He-Man is some kind of genius who constantly outwits him. The rest of the Masters of the Universe are also too dumb to realize their leader is just Prince Adam wearing a hairy diaper.

The real reason Skeletor keeps losing is that his allies and minions are constantly disappointing him.

They forget their power sets, immediately lose every advantage in a battle and frequently have their plans backfire. So why does Skeletor keep himself saddled with such incompetent buffoons instead of releasing a job ad for competent assassins on Eternia's Linkedin website?

6 How Does He Get Funded?

From the looks of it, Skeletor is a really rich guy. Every episode he hatches a new scheme that uses resources that can fund a small city for a month. And yet we never get an idea of where he gets this endless supply of money to fund his hobbies.

If there is an evil board of directors backing his schemes, shouldn't they be fed up with his never winning, not even once? Or is Skeletor just really wealthy? Is Snake Mountain worth a lot of money on the real estate market? We doubt it. Does he have a side racket going on that we don't know of yet?

'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' Season 2 Trailer Exposes Skeletor's Plan To Become a God

Key art and additional casting have also been revealed.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Season 2 is set to premiere worldwide on Netflix on March 3rd. Mattel has provided a new sneak peek at the upcoming season with the release of a brand-new trailer, key art, and casting news.

The newest iteration of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is a computer-animated science fiction fantasy featuring familiar characters that many generations of fans have grown to love. It follows an amnesiac Prince Adam who, due to the antics of his corrupt uncle, has been separated from his father, King Randor. After becoming a member of the Tiger Tribe, the prince discovers a magical shape-shifting sword that transforms him into the superhuman He-Man. After his transformation, he and his allies must fight against the evil Skeletor and his minions.

In Season 2, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe must keep the Power of the Grayskull out of the clutches of Skeletor and his hypnotized army of soldiers by relocating Castle Grayskull to the safety of the sky kingdom of Avion. While He-Man learns what it means to lead, King Randor must rally a secret rebellion against Skeletor who now has his sights on his next prize.

RELATED: 'Masters of the Universe' Movie Casts 'West Side Story's Kyle Allen as He-Man

The show features the talented voice cast of Yuri Lowenthal as He-Man/Adam/Tuvar; Stephen Fry as Man-E-Faces; David Kaye as Cringer/Battle Cat; Grey Griffin as Evelyn/Evil-Lyn; Antony Del Rio as Duncan/Man-at-Arms; Kimberly Brooks as Teela/Eldress/Sorceress; Trevor Devall as R’Qazz/Beast Man; Judy Alice Lee as Krass/Ram Ma’am; Roger Craig Smith as Kronis/Trap-Jaw/General Dolos; Fred Tatasciore as King Randor/Baddrah; Ben Diskin as Skeletor/Prince Keldor; Tom Kenny as Ork-0/RK Units; Max Mitchell as Kitty; Max Stubington as Young Adam; Zeno Robinson as Stratos; Dee Bradley Baker as Webstor; and Bobcat Goldthwait as Gary the Dragonfly.

Fry, Robinson, Baker, and Goldthwait are the newest actors to join the cast for Season 2.

Writers for the series include Bryan Q. Miller , Peter Binswanger , Amanda Deibert , and Lila Scott . Executive producers for the show are Rob David , Frederic Soulie , Adam Bonnett , and Christopher Keenan , all of whom have worked on Masters of the Universe: Revelation . Jeff Matsuda serves as co-executive producer. Susan Corbin serves as producer, with Miller as the story editor.

Mattel’s original Masters of the Universe children’s cartoon premiered in 1981 and remained on air for seven years. The story throughout the series revolved around the main protagonist He-Man and his quarrels with the main antagonist Skeletor on the planet of Eternia. It engaged its audience with its mix of science fiction and medieval fantasy elements. Following its success, it spawned several action figures, comic books, and video games as well as a spin-off series called She-Ra.

Look forward to revisiting Netflix’s adaptation once more this March.

Until then, check out the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Season 2 trailer below:

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

To Save Skeletor

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Masters of the Universe's Skeletor is teaming up with Gary Vee

Mattel and VeeFriends are getting together for a new multi-pack

He might not have succeeded in defeating that accursed He-Man and taking over Eternia just yet, but maybe that’s because Skeletor hasn’t had the right help just yet. Thankfully, the villain from Mattel’s beloved Masters of the Universe franchise has a new sidekick, courtesy of a collaboration with contemporary entertainment company VeeFriends: get ready to meet Skilled Skeleton.

Admittedly, Skilled Skeleton doesn’t seem like the obvious choice to hang out with Skeleton; designed by Gary Vaynerchuk, the creator of all 283 characters in the VeeFriends line , the character is intended to symbolize “VeeFriends' mission to inspire optimism, accountability, and kindness,” according to Mattel. So… of course he’s featured in a new special edition two-pack alongside Skeletor himself.

"Partnering with such an iconic figure like Skeletor feels extremely surreal; this character is a touchstone for all of us from the Gen X era," said Vaynerchuk. "I'm excited to collaborate once again with Mattel following our incredibly successful VeeFriends UNO collaboration. I'm excited to give a hat tip to the collectors of Masters of the Universe — one of my favorite communities in the world. I hope everyone enjoys these special edition toys as much as the team and I have had in creating them. The Mattel team did an incredible job bringing this amazing toy to life."

“Gary’s innate passion and connection to the brand is one of the many reasons we were excited to collaborate with his forward-thinking company,” added PJ Lewis, VP and head of Action Figures at Mattel. “This collaboration allows us to connect to our Masters of the Universe fans in a new and exciting way while continuing to expand the audience for our best-in-class action figures with Gary’s VeeFriends fanbase.”

Both Skilled Skeleton and Masters of the Universe Origins Skeleton will come with special features as part of the Masters of the Universe VeeFriends Multipack:

• Skilled Skeleton glows in the dark and comes with six swappable hands, removable hood, armor and a shareable VeeFriends flex chain. The figure has 10 points of articulation.
• Masters of the Universe Skeletor includes three swappable heads for his multiple moods, five swappable hands, Sword of Power, Havoc Staff, and hood and armor. The figure has 16 points of articulation.
• Both Skilled Skeleton and Skeletor’s heads are interchangeable.
• Each character in this special two-pack collaboration also has swappable “heart” and “rock” hands and 16-plus points of articulation.
• The figures are packaged in a custom box with sliding slipcovers and a mini-comic.

The special Masters of the Universe VeeFriends Multipack will be available for pre-order starting October 6 at 9:00AM Pacific, exclusively at shop.mattel.com , retailing for $45.00. Click through the gallery below to take a peek at what you’d be getting.

It feels like just recently that we were wondering if Masters of the Universe could be another Barbie for Mattel …

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He-Man and Skeletor 40th Anniversary Masterverse 2-Pack SDCC 2022 Exclusive

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Mattel dropped a doozy of a reveal with their Masters of the Universe 40th Anniversary He-Man and Skeletor 2-Pack SDCC 2022 exclusive!

Way back in March 2022, Mattel revealed the 40th Anniversary Masterverse He-Man figure but since then, the figure has gone up for preorder on sites like Amazon, Big Bad Toy Store, and Entertainment Earth! It has also gone through some design changes that we will also cover off on too! This calls into the question whether the 40th Anniversary He-Man will be a single release with the addition of a 40th Anniversary Skeletor but a 2-Pack is twice as nice! We already saw a hint of that on the leaked reveal list that included an 40th Anniversary Skeletor!

UPDATE 7/14/2022 @ 10:30am): Unboxing Video

40th anniversary he-man and skeletor masterverse 2-pack features.

• Drawbridge inspired castle Grayskull box
• Vintage inspired packaging with red rock bursts
• Magnetic clip for when the box is closed

Figures and Accessories

• Vintage inspired proportions where He man and Skeletor are a little more beefed up
• Flocked details on He-man loin cloth and boots
• Skeletor’s jaw is even articulated!!!
• DIE CAST accessories that make that clank clank sound when you hit them together 
• Die cast skull ring with the 40th anniversary logo on the inside
• Original mini comics that came with the original 2 figures

Unboxing Images

Attention to Detail

Diecast Weapons and Accessories

Vintage Mini Comics

Official Images

The box that these two come in amazing!!! You can see all of the weapons, accessories, and even a mini comic for each!

The box front looks amazing and harkens back to the vintage Masters of the Universe cardbacks as you can see both figures proudly displayed with the 40th Anniversary logo in the upper right corner. He-Man also looks amazing as he raises aloft his magic sword!

We also get two mini comics that are reprints of the vintage comics with the 40th anniversary logo on them! We also see a ring that looks metallic in color and it even opens up to reveal a secret compartment to hide your powers lol..I don’t know…we are just giddy about this set!!!

The shots of He-Man and Skeletor are FANTASTIC as we get to see, up close, and personal, what the figures look like! He-Man looks amazing as they have toned down or completely removed the dark brown wash that we saw in the first set of official images! Skeletor has a cool freakish grin on this boney face that only he can rock! It’s great to see him with 3 toes again lol!!!

When and Where to Preorder

Here is the official word from Mattel from the IG page:

Seven-inch scale with astounding vintage detail. Die-cast weapons and armor. 30 points of articulation. Our  @Masters  of the Universe Masterverse He-Man vs. Skeletor 40th Anniversary 2-Pack is the ultimate pairing of these opposing good and evil forces! And the Skeletor figure is currently only available in this 2-Pack. Available at SDCC on 7/20 and MattelCreations.com on 7/22 at 9am PT. Mattel Creations IG Page

40th Anniversary Promo Videos

He-man and skeletor 40th anniversary 2-pack sdcc 2022 exclusive, 40th anniversary skeletor.

Skeletor is joined by his former and current selves in this look back through time shot! From the left, you have the New Adventures of He-Man , 200x, 40th Anniversary, Revelation, vintage, and, in the back, the CGI version!

The 40th Anniversary Skeletor looks amazing and he features a laughing face and his classic armor that looks very similar the New Eternia Barbarian Skeletor version but with some changes. There is now a Horde symbol on his armor and the rivets in the straps are painted silver. He also has a stunning, grinning open mouth head sculpt. The boots and feet have also been changed up, giving Skeletor the vintage 3 toe look that we grew up with.

40th Anniversary He-Man

He-Man is joined by his former and current selves in this look back through time shot! From the left, you have the CGI Netflix Animated Masterverse, New Adventures of He-Man , 40th Anniversary, 200x, and vintage, and, in the back, the Revelation version!

The 40th Anniversary He-Man figure has gone through some changes since it was first announced (read more about this change below)! He features his classic head sculpt, which looks amazing! His armor is traditional, like the vintage figure and he has no brown washing applied to his skin. You can see in the action shot that he also comes with his Axe and his shield that has a handle that he can grip!

March 2022 40th Anniversary He-Man Reveal

Harkening back to the 1982 Vintage version of the He-Man we all know and love, Mattel unveiled Masterverse Anniversary Edition He-Man! Celebrating 40 years of MOTU, the most powerful man in the Universe returns in truly glorious fashion with this Masterverse rendition of the 1982 vintage He-Man! This reveal is very exciting because not only does this figure look amazing, but this opens the door for more vintage style Masterverse figures! I can’t tell you how excited I am for this one! Let’s take a closer look below.

June 30, 2022 Revisions to the 40th Anniversary He-Man

Back in June, we covered an image of an updated version of the figure that was circling around the net with some notable changes afoot for the most powerful man in the universe! Check out the story here:

April 2022 40th Anniversary He-Man Official Images and Preorder

Back on April xxx Anniversary He-Man comes packaged artwork is a direct homage to Mattel’s 1982 He-Man, complete with the red rock burst, blue sky and classic Masters of the Universe logo! The nostalgia feels are happening all of this package! Paying tribute to the 1982 vintage He-Man Action figure we all know and love, He-Man includes a vintage style power sword, axe and shield and 2 swappable hands. He is also sporting a brown dry bush to accent his muscles. It looks kind of cool, but I am not too sure how I feel about it as it is a bit heavy in the bicep area, but perhaps that is just this prototype figure.

40th Anniversary He-Man Preorder Roundup

With the drop of the 40th Anniversary He-Man, we are not sure if he will be a single box figure release or if they are scrapping this for the 2-Pack exclusive but below you will find the places where he went up for preorder.

Entertainment Earth Update (July 1, 2022)

Entertainment Earth has added the 40th Anniversary He-Man Masterverse figure to a case assortment with Catra and Zodac. The case assortment is as follows: 1 x Catra, 1 x Zodac, and 2 40th Anniversary He-Man figures with an estimated ship date of September 2022.

UPDATE: We noticed on May 7, 2022, that both BigBadToyStore and Entertainment Earth removed the product pages for the single figure preorder. We don’t know when the pages will be back or when preorders will resume so please check back.

Entertainment Earth Preorder (May 4, 2022)

For those who enjoy buying the Entertainment Earth, they have put the Masters of the Universe 40th Anniversary Masterverse He-Man up for preorder!

BBTS Preorder (April 30, 2022)

For those you who live in the U.S., The Big Bad Toy Store has put the Masters of the Universe 40th Anniversary Masterverse He-Man up for preorder!

Amazon and Zed Collectibles (April 29, 2022)

In 40th Anniversary He-Man news, an Amazon listing has surfaced and the Canadian website, Zed Collectibles, has a preorder available. Canadian website, Zed Collectibles lists the potential ship date as September 2022 amd Amazon lists a potential ship date of July 2022 but we always take these dates with a grain of salt and as soon as we get any official intel on when Amazon may have it available, we will be sure to let you know! In the meantime, the Amazon Link is available below.

Since the 40th Anniversary Masterverse He-Man is not available to buy yet and it’s not even searchable, we put the link to the Amazon listing on the Masterverse Shop page so keep checking back to see when this figure becomes officially in stock, and we will also keep you posted if this figure actually comes in stock too!

Mattel 12 Days of Fandom

Leading up to San Diego Comic Con 2022, Mattel will be hosting a 288-hour sale known as the “12 days of Fandom, which will feature exclusive new collectibles from properties including Hot Wheels, WWE, Jurassic World, and, of course, Masters of the Universe , and more! The first Day of Fandom begins on July 11 and will continue through July 24, 2022. Fans can secure these exclusives in two ways! They will be available online and on the show floor at their booths #3029 and #2945 at SDCC 2022. Collectors can also stay up to date here and on the Mattel Creations website. Of course, we will only be coving the Masters of the Universe reveals here and will be updating this article as the days go by so check back often for updates!

Mattel is itching to get back in touch with fans live at SDCC, according to PJ Lewis, VP of Global Marketing for Mattel:

“We’re excited to reconnect with our fans at San Diego Comic-Con and further celebrate the world-renowned pop culture events with our fans who can’t attend in person. With this year’s ‘12 Days of Fandom’, Mattel will honor several iconic properties that have built an incredible fan legacy. With exclusive products and more, we will certainly appeal to a wide range of fandoms and we’re thrilled to formally debut them during our ‘12 Days of Fandom’ event.” PJ Lewis, VP of Global Marketing for Mattel:

Be sure to complete your Masters of the Universe collection and visit our curated shopping experience!

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Inside the renovation that couldn’t fail at Colonial Country Club 

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FORT WORTH, Texas – It was a late-June morning and the sun was well below the horizon when Rich McIntosh, Oscar Lazaro and Josh McFadden piled into a small, dimly lit trailer at the center of Colonial Country Club.  

The men sat around a plastic folding table, analyzing a large map of the course and planning the day ahead. Filled with markings and highlights, the map showed tangible progress that was hard to grasp when looking at the setting that surrounded them. The historic Colonial Country Club, where Ben Hogan once ruled, barely looked like a golf course. Every blade of grass on the back nine was gone. Only giant mounds of dirt remained. The front nine would soon look the same.  

Lazaro, the lead man for LaBar Golf Renovations, discussed plans to fortify drain lines near the 15th tee and 17th green. McFadden, one of the shapers, had work to do on the 12th fairway, adjusting sightlines that would affect the tee shot. McIntosh, Colonial’s director of agronomy and project manager for the renovation, directed traffic. Other crews were ready to laser-scan the front nine greens and prep for the demo. 

“Another busy day,” Lazaro said.  

There would be many more like it. Still 10 months from their deadline, a quiet intensity loomed over every decision and action. Crews began ripping up Colonial less than 24 hours after Emiliano Grillo beat Adam Schenk in a playoff to claim the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge, and they did so with an ambitious directive: fully renovate one of the most historic courses in America in time for the PGA TOUR’s annual visit the following May.  

A project of such scale normally takes at least 18 months to complete; Colonial had little less than a year, though. As the venue for the Charles Schwab Challenge since 1946, Colonial hosts the longest-running TOUR event held annually at the same site. The club had no intention of interrupting that streak. The renovation had to fit its schedule.  

Gil Hanse, the renowned architect in charge of restoring the 1936 Perry Maxwell design, had worked under similar time constraints only a handful of times before. Each of those had more favorable growing seasons. Colonial’s renovation banked on the course surviving the winter.  

Hanse, McIntosh and their teams had spent the last year with those stakes as their backdrop. The $20 million renovation, designed to reinvigorate the classic design and maintain Colonial’s reputation as one of the top clubs in the country, was accompanied by an unforgiving timeline. The world would know if the course wasn’t ready, and there would be no time for adjustments. The pros playing Colonial this week are the first to play the course. Members won’t play it for another month.  

“When you have a deadline like this, you really can’t fail,” Hanse said. “There’s so much riding on it.”

For weeks, Colonial's fairways looked like thoroughfares in Texas’ scorching, late-summer sun.  

McIntosh set an Oct. 1 deadline to re-sod the entire course. That would give the roots enough time to catch the underlying soil before winter hit. The grass wouldn't survive the cold conditions if given too short of a growing window. But installation doesn’t just happen over a few days. Crews laid down 118 acres of grass, the equivalent of more than 89 football fields. It took somewhere between 600-650 trucks to carry in every piece of sod, McIntosh said, and crews could only install about 10 trucks worth of sod a day.  

Simple math meant they needed to budget about two months for turf installation, which meant any work to the underlying ground – irrigation, new hydronic systems in the greens or significant changes to the terrain – had to be completed in the three months prior.  

From June to October, the project could hardly afford any hiccups. If one critical piece of the puzzle was delayed, it could throw off the whole plan. The margin for error was slim. McIntosh had previously worked on renovations at Torrey Pines and Muirfield Village, but those were nothing compared to Colonial.

“It's one of the biggest and tightest timeline projects anywhere,” he said. “I haven't been a part of something where we've completely redone everything and moved the amount of dirt that we have.” 

It was an unnerving proposition for every party, including the membership. Longtime Colonial member Ryan Palmer, who’s won four times in 21 seasons on the PGA TOUR, was entrenched in the renovation talks from the beginning.  

“It was shocking, to be honest with you,” Palmer said of the proposed timeline.  

“We couldn’t miss,” McIntosh said.  

That was clear in more ways than one. In 2008, Keith Foster partially renovated Colonial, but the membership quickly realized it didn’t go far enough in restoring the course to its original Perry Maxwell design. Within eight years, the club was mulling its options, uninterested in half-measures. They needed to do it right this time, and could ill afford to go back to the drawing board again. This renovation needed to set them up for decades.  

That led Colonial to Hanse, who they believed could meet their standards. And schedule.

A mutual friend connected club executives with Hanse in 2016, when he was re-doing the Black Course at the Streamsong Resort in central Florida. Colonial’s membership took some convincing, though. Especially Palmer, who infamously spent an entire evening grilling Hanse on his previous renovation work, hoping to get some clarity about the architect’s design philosophy and his plans for Colonial.

Hanse’s vision eventually won over the members, including the PGA TOUR winner in their midst, but figuring out when the renovation would happen took much longer than expected. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing supply chain issues, which would have jeopardized the short timeline, delayed the project.

Waiting proved wise, as the project went through without any snafus.  

The greens were finished by Sept. 1, 2023, and the final piece of sod was planted in the first week of November. They hit every mark, yet they still weren’t in the clear.  

The weather was the last hurdle. The renovation team did everything right, but the course was susceptible if the Dallas-Fort Worth area had a harsh winter. An extended freeze could thwart all the growing progress that was made in the fall. McIntosh was alarmed by a five-day freeze in January that left the entire course dormant, but the winter remained mostly mild from there. Three weeks before the Charles Schwab Challenge, the greens looked “immaculate,” he said, with only a few patchy fairway areas left to clean up.  

“I'd be lying if I said I was 100% confident we'd be standing here three weeks from now getting ready for a golf tournament on a perfectly presented golf course,” Hanse said. “The vast majority of the space is ready to go.” 

Hanse was always the man for the job.

Before being hired by Colonial, he’d established himself as the go-to architect for prestigious clubs seeking to breathe life into aging layouts and bring them back to their golden age. Several of the top courses in the country had already entrusted Hanse to rejuvenate their courses and restore the vision of the original architect. Hanse was known for not forcing a new philosophy onto these historic grounds; instead, he mined the club’s history to uncover what made the course great, then worked to bring that vision back to life while making it fit into the modern game.

Hanse has restored three of the last four U.S. Open host sites – The Los Angeles Country Club, The Country Club in Brookline (Massachusetts) and Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York – along with the 2022 PGA Championship venue, Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hanse’s resume also includes restorations at Oakmont, Merion, The Olympic Club and Baltusrol, all of which are slated to host upcoming majors.

Hanse and business partner Jim Wagner are best known for their vast Rolodex of restoration and renovation projects, though they do have several notable original designs, including Fields Ranch East at the PGA of America’s headquarters in Frisco, Texas, the Olympic Golf Course used in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Games, Scotland’s Castle Stuart Golf Links, Pinehurst No. 4, Boston Golf Club and Rustic Canyon Golf Course in California.

Unsurprisingly, Hanse was at the top of Colonial’s wish list. The club also had the ideal piece of history to help Hanse develop his plan – a program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. It quickly became Hanse’s north star and the key to unlocking the Colonial of yesteryear.  

An aerial view of Colonial in the program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. (Credit Colonial Country Club)

Holes 1 and 2 in the program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. (Credit Colonial Country Club)

Holes 3 and 4 in the program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. (Credit Colonial Country Club)

Holes 5 and 6 in the program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. (Credit Colonial Country Club)

Holes 7 and 8 in the program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. (Credit Colonial Country Club)

Holes 9 and 10 in the program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. (Credit Colonial Country Club)

Holes 11 and 12 in the program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. (Credit Colonial Country Club)

Holes 13 and 14 in the program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. (Credit Colonial Country Club)

Holes 15 and 16 in the program from the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial. (Credit Colonial Country Club)

The program had photos of every hole and detailed a rugged Colonial much more in tune with the natural landscape. Over the years, those ragged edges were sharpened as the prevailing course conditioning trends in the '80s and '90s shifted to clean lines and neatly tended greenery. The course was perfectly coiffed but lacked the gritty character of the original design. Returning the course to its rustic roots became top of mind. 

The program also declared Colonial’s par 3s some of the best in the world. That prestige was eroded over the decades as members and pros found the par 3s slowly morphed into one-dimensional holes, with most requiring almost the exact same club and shot shape. That gave Hanse another objective.  

The skeleton key that helped unlock all of it was the discovery that water hazards were much more prevalent in the 1940s. That led to some of the biggest changes to Colonial.  

A view of Colonial Country Club during the 1941 U.S. Open. (Courtesy USGA Museum)

A view of the ninth hole during the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas. (Courtesy USGA Museum)

“(The program) talked about all the water holes that Colonial has,” Hanse said. “When I first got here, I thought, ‘Well, there aren't that many of them,’ really (No.) 9, obviously 13. But then as you start to really look at the landscape and the way the water used to run through the landscape, it became much more apparent that, you know, 16, 17, 10, all these areas, 11, eight had water being an integral part of them.” 

Hanse’s most noticeable change came at the par-3 eighth, which used to have the Trinity River running tight along its right side.

The original design was disrupted after a historic flood in 1949 forced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reroute and dam the river. The water was pushed farther away from the eighth green, eliminating the risk of potentially hitting it into the hazard. Over time, trees were planted, and the view of the river was blocked out.  

Hanse shifted the green some 30 yards left, reintroducing a creek along the left side of the hole. It’s one of the few times that Hanse didn’t fully rekindle the original design, though that was out of necessity.  

An aerial view of hole 8 at Colonial. (Matt Hahn/PGA TOUR)

By moving the green left, Hanse brought an existing creek into play that now hugs the left side of the hole and rekindles the hole's risk-reward nature. The hole's presence in the landscape, its clinging to a cliff’s edge and its fall down to the creek are all reminiscent of the old eighth hole, albeit with the water running on the opposite side.   

The 13th hole also was affected by the Trinity's rerouting. The Trinity used to weave in front of the tee box and swaddle the green. Today, a pond guards the front of the green. Hanse lifted the hole, elevating the green by about 10 feet and moving it back to encapsulate how the green played in the 1940s. Hanse also expanded the tee box, which spans 70 yards and will create variety in how the tee shot is played.  

A view of hole 13 on the newly-renovated Colonial. (Matt Hahn/PGA TOUR)

A view of the creek by the 13th hole at Colonial. (Matt Mramer/Matt Hahn/PGA TOUR)

An aerial view of Colonial showing the 13th hole and the creek nearby. (Matt Hahn/PGA TOUR)

The other change that will be widely recognized is the removal of the concrete spillway that runs from the par-3 16th and intersects between the 17th and 18th fairway. Grillo famously found the area right of the 18th fairway, which caught the small current and floated back toward the 18th tee box.  

Before the renovation, the concrete spillway started just in front of the 16th tee box and veered along the left side of the hole before breaking left and lining the right side of the adjoining 17th and 18th holes, which run in opposite directions. All the concrete was removed, and replaced with a natural creek bed that will render Grillo’s situation unrepeatable and spruce up the look of Colonial’s closing stretch.  

“I think, without a doubt, we will be excited that CBS won't be showing any scenes of the golf ball rolling down the concrete spillway,” Hanse said with a chuckle.  

An aerial view of hole 16 at Colonial. (Matt Hahn/PGA TOUR)

An aerial view of hole 16 with a creek to the left at Colonial. (Matt Hahn/PGA TOUR)

The creek will still be involved in the drama of the closing stretch. Hanse moved the 16th green left to bring the creek further into play. Water now tightly guards the left and right sides of the green.  

The trio of holes famously nicknamed the "Horrible Horseshoe" remained largely untouched. Colonial’s third, fourth and fifth holes were given that moniker because of their difficulty and the shape they form as they wrap around the driving range. Hanse removed greenside bunkers on the fourth and fifth holes while slightly tweaking the green contours. The left side of the fifth hole also features a shallow drop-off into a native area. Otherwise, the holes closely resemble their pre-renovation form.  

“You don't want to mess with something that's already established and plays very well,” McIntosh said.  

An aerial view of hole 5 at Colonial. (Matt Hahn/PGA TOUR)

It’s a sentiment Hanse handled carefully throughout the process. He made several distinct changes to the course, re-establishing the rugged aesthetic and opening up ways to make the water hazards more prevalent. The course was also modernized, with the installation of new hydronic systems that can run cold water under every green during Texas’ scorching summers. Colonial’s bentgrass greens are better suited for cooler climes, but also an important part of the club’s history.

Fort Worth businessman Marvin Leonard created Colonial because he did not like putting on the grainy Bermudagrass greens found throughout the South. He wanted a course that utilized the smoother putting surfaces that he encountered while playing in the Northeast. That’s why Colonial became the first course in Texas with bentgrass greens, one reason the club became the first club south of the Mason-Dixon Line to host a U.S. Open. The recent renovation also improved Colonial’s drainage.

The bones of Colonial remain the same, however. The corridors look familiar on almost every hole. There was hardly any tree removal or added distance, the two most prominent features in modern course renovation. Two trees died while replacing the irrigation system, but they’re the only ones missing post-renovation. A few holes were lengthened ever-so-slightly, while some fairway bunkers were moved to combat modern distance gains.

Colonial is still very much a club under construction. Though the heaviest lift – the course – is done, half of the clubhouse is gone, as is the Wall of Champions and the famous Ben Hogan statue. The renovated clubhouse will be completed in time for the 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge.  

A view of hole 18 with the clubhouse behind at Colonial. (Matt Hahn/PGA TOUR)

McIntosh chuckled when asked about it. “Lucky that’s not my problem,” he said. 

For the first time in the last year, he can say that. That’s for a different crew and project manager to handle.  

As McIntosh looked over the course, just three weeks from the start of the Charles Schwab Challenge, he looked forward to that first exhale. Maybe it’ll come around July 4, he wonders aloud, after the tournament is finished and members can finally play. “But we’ll see,” McIntosh said.  

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Soak up the sun: jackson park pool opens for ‘soft launch.’.

A local child jumps off the diving board into the pool after Jackson Park Pool opened to the public for its soft launch Saturday. Parts for the slide are anticipated to arrive around June 5. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

After a multi-million dollar renovation and two-year closure, Vienna residents can soak up the sun and water at the Jackson Park Pool once more.

The Jackson Park Pool held a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday to celebrate its opening for a soft launch phase. It was attended by city officials and community members alike.

Vienna Recreational Improvement Association president Jeff Slusher presented a brief history of the pool. When the organization started in 1953, the founders wanted to create a community park, sports and a pool. A bond levy to build the original pool was passed in 1961 with an 82% approval rating. The pool opened in 1962 and was operated by volunteers until 1965, when the official deed for Jackson Memorial Park was signed and created the Parks and Recreation Board, of which Slusher is now the president.

Project lead and City Recorder Melissa Elam said the pool project is the biggest project she had ever done. She started by thanking God for sustaining her and her sons Chaz and Tyson for their patience.

“I’ve had a lot of meetings. I’ve been at the table with my computer a lot. You’ve seen the ups and downs. But I hope that I’ve been an example of doing hard things and perseverance. You guys and your friends have inspired me and it really gave me strength along the way to continue and finish strong,” she said.

Chaz Elam, front row left, and Tyson Elam, front right right, hold the ribbon as Caleb Dawson, front row second from left, Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp, front row center, and Vienna City Recorder Melissa Elam, front row fourth from left, cut the ribbon at the opening of the Jackson Park Pool Saturday. Behind them are, from left, Vienna City Council Member Kim Williams, Vienna Recreation and Improvement Association President Jeff Slusher, United Construction Co. Inc. representativesCharlie Taylor and Randy Burke, Omni Associates - Architects representative Reuben Losh, Jackson Park Pool’s first manager from 1962 Buddy James and Vienna City Council Member Jim Leach. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

Elam said she had update meetings every two weeks with city officials and various players in the project, such as Reuben Losh, senior project manager for Omni Associates – Architects and Charlie Taylor and Randy Burke with United Construction Co. Inc. (UCCI).

Elam said supplies for the slide were ordered with plenty of lead time but delays happen in production. With that information, she and officials from Omni and UCCI decided to open the pool as planned with the main pool and baby pool finished. Slide supplies are estimated to arrive around June 5, which will require closure of the pool for construction and testing.

“We’ll have to shut down for a couple of weeks or so to get everything together and get everything tested and inspected and all that, so please be patient with that,” she said.

The pool was open from noon to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Elam announced at the end of the press conference that admission was free for the first day.

Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp commended Elam for her leadership throughout the remodel.

“It got kind of hectic there at the end but, you know, we ordered so much stuff and kept our people busy. And so I think that, I think that she’s done an absolutely outstanding job,” he said.

Losh said the city knew what they wanted with the pool project and it will benefit the community for a long time.

“It’s great to be involved with a project like this. You see how it impacts the community. It will serve them for a long time to come,” he said.

Jodi Leach, one of the managers for Professional Pool Management, who will handle pool management, lifeguards and concessions, said she was happy to see the end of a two-year closure.

“With the pool being closed for two years, I was excited to get on it on its feet again,” she said.

The $6.8 million renovation bid was awarded to UCCI in August 2023 after two weeks of extensive discussion by the council and a tie-breaker vote in favor of the renovation by Council Member Roger Bibbee.

Elam mentioned this in her remarks, thanking council members for their efforts.

“It’s not easy to make decisions on behalf of the city and decisions that are consequential and that affect so many people. But we all do it thoughtfully. Sometimes we don’t agree and that’s okay. Because I believe that in the end, the best decisions are reached even through conflict,” she said.

Council Member Jim Leach said he is pleased with the end result.

“Conflict happens when you don’t know how the plans are going to turn out. The pool is here and delivered on time as promised, aside from the slide. It’s a fantastic facility. Now that it’s here, we need to maximize its use.”

Rapp said the pool is worth the investment the city has put into it.

“We won’t touch this one again for 30 or 40 years. And so yes, it’s a huge investment for the city. But when you look at that over the number of years and stretch out, it’s worth every penny of it,” he said.

Elam said the Vienna nonprofit Spartan Foundation donated $250,000 towards the pool.

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After over three decades, a skeleton found in a Madison chimney has been identified

For almost 3½ decades, the mystery of a Madison skeleton that became colloquially known as “Chimney Doe” lingered. This week, it finally ended as investigators announced they identified the remains.

Found in 1989 in the now-closed Madison store Good ‘n Loud Music, representatives of a nonprofit organization identified the skeletal remain as those of Ronnie Joe Kirk, a man from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The work came two years after Madison Police Department began to work with the DNA Doe Project , a nonprofit organization that aims to help identify remains through DNA techniques.

A Sept. 7, 1989, Milwaukee Journal story said the skeleton was found earlier that week in a 12-inch chimney flue. It came during “routine boiler maintenance” and that police the next day worked with a construction crew to uncover the lower part of the building’s chimney and retrieve the skeletal remains.

That article said authorities' two theories were that he was either murdered and dumped in the chimney or he was a burglar who got stuck.

A 2012 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article noted that, in 1990, experts at the Smithsonian Institution sculpted a reconstruction of the body's face. In 2012, a woman told police she believed the face resembled a former Capitol page and Madison police investigated the tip.

Here’s what to know about the recent breakthrough in the case:

Who was in the chimney at the former Good ‘n Loud Music in Madison?

The DNA Doe Project identified the man as Ronnie Joe Kirk from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kirk’s skeleton was found in 1989 and was found with rotting clothing, an iron cross necklace and a butter knife.

In a summary of the case on its website, The DNA Doe Project said the clothing, which has been identified as a dress, was mislabeled as “we have found no further evidence to suggest Ronnie ever identified as anything but male.”

Who found the skeleton at the former Good ‘n Loud Music in Madison?

The Wisconsin State Journal, Madison’s newspaper, reported that Steve Liethen, the former owner of the building and music store, found it on Sept. 3, 1989.

The newspaper reported that 1970 divorce documents showed Kirk was a factory worker and had deserted his wife and child. He never appeared in court.

How was the skeleton at the former Good ‘n Loud Music in Madison identified?

According to the DNA Doe Project, the organization was contacted by Madison police in 2019. Over two years, the organization worked with the Astrea Forensics Laboratory of Santa Cruz. The lab took DNA from rootless hair to develop a DNA profile for Kirk and identify his remains.

The organization’s website said it uses new DNA techniques to analyze samples and build out family trees to help identify remains.

“In Kirk’s case, the project’s expertise shed light on his origins and paved the way for closure in a long-standing mystery,” the group’s website reads. “Ronnie Joe Kirk, who had been adopted, presented a unique challenge in tracing his familial connections.”

How did the skeleton get in the chimney at the former Good ‘n Loud Music in Madison?

It’s unclear. The DNA Doe Project and other organizations have reported that there was no way for someone to have gotten into the pipe from within the building.

The Doe Network , a nonprofit volunteer organization that aims to solve John/Jane Doe cases, said on its website that detectives it's unlikely Kirk voluntarily entered the chimney, and speculated that he may have been a burglar and became stuck before dying. Another theory is that Kirk was a murder victim and was hidden in the chimney pipe.

In the May 15 Wisconsin State Journal story, Liethen said he didn’t believe it was burglary-related.

How was Ronnie Joe Kirk killed?

That’s also unclear. However, The Doe Network said that an autopsy of the bones showed that the pelvic bones were severely fractured and appeared to have been caused when he died. It said that “some speculate the injuries were inflicted by the killer stomping” on that part of Kirk’s body.

How long was it until Ronnie Joe Kirk was found?

The State Journal reported that investigators believe Kirk’s remains were in the chimney between two months and two years.

Are there other unidentified skeletons or remains in Wisconsin?

Yes. The Wisconsin Department of Justice keeps a database of unidentified cases that lists seven, plus the previously unidentified Dane County chimney skeleton.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, a federal database of unidentified, unclaimed or missing people, lists 48 unidentified persons cases in Wisconsin.

The DNA Doe Project also keeps a database of pending and past cases.

Remains found in Newark identified as missing man

Skeletal remains found by a survey crew in Newark, Wayne County, last week have been linked to those of a missing man, according to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office.

Kevin Heise was 44 when he was reported missing in September 2022. Richard Martin, chief of the Village of Newark Police Department, said investigators extensively searched the Erie Canal and the canal's shoreline at the time, but did not find him.

Heise's remains were found Friday afternoon by a crew surveying a property at East Union Street in the village, Martin said. The remains were identified as Heise, the department announced on Monday.

According to the National Missing and Unidentified persons database, Heise was last seen by his family on Sept. 2, 2022 in the village.

Officers continue to investigate the incident.

UPDATE: Family confirms PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray died by suicide, CBS SPORTS says

CBS SPORTS, Kyle Porter, CBS Sports Writer -Professional golfer Grayson Murray has died. He was 30 years old. Murray’s death comes after he withdrew Friday during the second round of the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge, citing an illness.

A day after Murray’s death rocked the larger sporting world, his parents announced in a statement through the PGA Tour that he died by suicide.

“We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support,” Eric and Terry Murray said. “Life wasn’t always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now.”

An undeniable talent, Murray was the second-youngest golfer in history to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour before turning eventually pro in 2015. He bounced up and down between the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour over the course of his career, becoming a polarizing figure at times because of frequent outbursts on the course.

Still, his potential consistently flashed as he won twice on the PGA Tour -- capturing the 2017 Barbasol Championship and 2024 Sony Open in Hawaii -- and three times on the Korn Ferry Tour.

When he won the Sony Open, it seemed as if Murray had turned a corner after battling anxiety, depression and alcohol abuse throughout his young career. He said in January that he had been sober since early 2023. He also shared that he was unprepared for life as a pro when he first got out of college and began traveling.

“Yes, I would drink during tournament weeks,” Murray said after his Sony Open win. “It was my outlet. I thought I was invincible coming out here as a 22-year-old, winning as a rookie, played three days hungover when I won. Best thing and worst thing that ever happened to me was winning my rookie year -- but also feeling like I was invincible.”

Murray cited his faith and his fiancee as helping ground him, and he spoke about his road to recovery.

“It took me a long time to get to this point,” he said. “… I’m a different man now. I would not be in this position right now today if I didn’t put that drink down eight months ago.”

Murray added: “People who don’t know me, I’ll have to show it through my actions, and they’ll get back on Grayson’s side. My demeanor is so much better. It’s really a lot of fun now. I really don’t live and die by a golf shot anymore. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s going to be all glory and roses, but it’s going to be a lot better.”

The PGA Tour considered postponing play at the Charles Schwab Challenge as the  golf world was rocked by Murray’s death . However, his parents insisted the tournament continue as scheduled as it was what their son would have wanted.

“We were devastated to learn -- and are heartbroken to share -- that PGA Tour player Grayson Murray passed away this morning. I am at a loss for words,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan in a Saturday statement. “The PGA Tour is a family, and when you lose a member of your family, you are never the same. We mourn Grayson and pray for comfort for his loved ones.

“I reached out to Grayson’s parents to offer our deepest condolences, and during that conversation, they asked that we continue with tournament play. They were adamant that Grayson would want us to do so. As difficult as it will be, we want to respect their wishes.”

A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Murray attended Wake Forest, East Carolina and Arizona State where he played golf before turning pro. In 141 career PGA Tour starts, Murray had 10 top-10 finishes, including those two victories.

The PGA Tour has sent grief counselors to both tournament sites this week and made others available virtually for its members.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

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Skeleteen is the son of Skeletor and Evil-Lyn . His character was supposed to appear in the unproduced He-Ro Son of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe .

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‘Chimney Doe’ skeleton found in music store chimney identified after nearly 35 years

MADISON, Wis. ( WMTV /Gray News) - The identity of a man found dead in a chimney nearly 35 years ago was finally identified.

Madison Police Department Chief Shon Barnes said investigative genetic genealogy aided in identifying the man as Ronnie Joe Kirk. His remains were found on Sept. 3, 1989, at the Good ‘n Loud music store by a construction contractor in Madison, Wisconsin.

“This unsolved case has puzzled people across the country for more than three decades, a human skeleton found in the chimney of a Madison music store way back in 1989,” Barnes said.

At the time, police reported that an autopsy determined the individual was a white man between the ages of 18-35 and was 5 feet, 7 inches tall. Authorities also noted there was no way he could have gotten into the pipe on his own where his remains were found from within the building.

In 2019, Madison Police Detective Lindsey Ludden submitted the case to the DNA Doe Project. DNA Doe Project Team Leader Gwenn Knapp said it took two years to develop a DNA profile from a rootless hair as their sample.

Volunteers at the nonprofit were able to determine Kirk was originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was born in 1942, and was adopted. Knapp explained that adoption can make genealogy work challenging.

“This was such a unique case with adoption, and multiple generations of different marriages, despite having a relatively close DNA relative match in the family,” Knapp said. “The shrewd genealogy work done by my team was amazing to tease out the various relationships. We’re so excited that we can give Ronnie Kirk his name back, and hope his family has some closure for Ronnie being missing for so long.”

Authorities still do not know Kirk’s approximate age or when he died. They are also still trying to piece together why he was in Madison, Wisconsin. At the time when he was found, investigators noted he was wearing what was thought to be a dress and an iron cross necklace.

The music store where Kirk’s remains were found was torn down years later and replaced by a Moka coffee shop.

Barnes hopes now that Kirk has his name back, people who may recognize him or have information about him will come forward to investigators.

“Someone will remember him and we’ll do everything that we can to try to trace down if he worked here, if he lived here or if he was just passing through, or going somewhere else,” Chief Barnes said. “We don’t know.”

Officials noted Kirk had connections to Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and Wisconsin.

Copyright 2024 WMTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Two-time pga tour winner grayson murray dies saturday morning.

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Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, the Tour confirmed.

Murray withdrew Friday late in his second round at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, citing an illness.

There were no immediate details on the circumstances surrounding his death. (Update: The family released a statement Sunday morning related to Murray’s death.)

In a memo to the membership that was released Saturday afternoon, commissioner Jay Monahan wrote: “I am at a loss for words. The PGA Tour is a family, and when you lose a member of your family, you are never the same. There is nothing we can do but mourn Grayson and pray for comfort for his loved ones.”

Monahan said that, after a conversation with Murray’s parents, tournament play at Colonial would continue.

“They were adamant that Grayson would want us to do so,” said Monahan, who flew to Texas to meet with players. “As difficult as it will be, we want to respect their wishes.”

Murray won the Sony Open in a playoff earlier this year, ending a six-year winless drought during which he’d struggled both mentally and physically.

Murray, who was profiled in this in-depth piece by Golf Channel in 2017, had been open about his battles with anxiety and depression. He said in January that he sought treatment in the past few years for alcohol abuse but had been sober for several months.

“Grayson was the absolute best,” his caddie, Jay Green, told GolfChannel.com via text message. “Not only was he an incredible, thoughtful and generous boss, he was an even better friend. He truly would do anything for anyone. He has the best family, and my heart goes out to them. We will all miss him deeply.”

Following his victory at Waialae, Murray spoke optimistically about his future, saying that he had rediscovered his faith and was engaged to be married to Christiana Ritchie, whom he met in 2021.

“I wouldn’t trade anything,” Murray said at the time. “I have a beautiful fiancée. I have beautiful parents. I have beautiful nephews, siblings. Everyone in my life right now who is close to me, who has been through the struggles with me, it’s all a team effort. I think this is just the start of something really special.”

Growing up, Murray was one of the best prospects in the country, winning the prestigious Junior Worlds three times and becoming, at age 16, then the second-youngest to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour. Though he bounced around in college, Murray made an immediate impact once he landed on the PGA Tour, claiming the 2017 Barbasol Championship as a 22-year-old rookie.

“Best thing and worst thing that ever happened to me was winning my rookie year but also feeling like I was invincible,” Murray said in January. He said he often drank to excess while at tournaments while battling his personal demons.

Murray, who spent time on the PGA and Korn Ferry tours over the last five years, regained his PGA Tour status this year after winning twice on the secondary circuit in 2023 and believed he was better equipped to handle the challenges of Tour life.

“It took me a long time to get to this point,” he said. “That was over seven years ago. I’m a different man now.”

Ranked 58th in the world, Murray had made the cut in the first two majors of the year, including last week at the PGA Championship, where he tied for 43 rd . He was exempt into next month’s U.S. Open.

“We will hold off on commenting until we learn further details,” said his management company, GSE, in a statement, “but our heart aches for his family, his friends and all who loved him during this very difficult time.”