His defining feature of course was his distinctive speech that is very difficult to imitate. One of my grade school classmates could do it perfectly and we who couldn't were in awe of him when he said something in that hilarious voice. Can you do it? Go ahead, give it a shot!
I had a Greg Johnson puzzle the day before Mother's Day this year but this one today fell much faster although my first real toehold was in the SE corner which filled in a hurry with ADESTE, NO DEAR, PYRE, ERODE and MEAT. Sigh, any port in a storm.
Then like the Phoenix I rose and finished with SCARES, META, etc. The entire experience was very satisfying.
Now eschewing Donald's "fowl" attitude, let's see what else Greg has for us:
Across:
1. Exercise activity: SWIM - If sinking counts as exercise, count me in
5. Foolish: DIPPY - In describing Major Burns' time in command, Hawkeye offers three adjectives and then Radar adds a fourth as an aside
10. Dance term literally meaning "thrown": JETE and a prime display of 16. Stylish energy: ELAN.
14. Officer's verb: CITE - I have been CITED for speeding three times by three different officer's
15. "That's so sweet!": OH YOU.
17. Exec's hire, perhaps: ASST - An advert by the British Lancashire County Council was looking for a "temporary part-time libraries North-West inter-library loan business unit administration ASSistanT."
18. Unlikely to become a decorator: COLOR BLIND - A test for red/green color blindness. And the number is...
20. ESPN.com post: RECAP.
22. Theoretical parallel world access: PORTAL - Mom is trying stop Carolyn from being drawn into a PORTAL in Poltergeist
24. Debt securities: LIENS.
26. Source of ancient wisdom: TORAH.
30. In order to: SO THAT.
32. Muffin topper: PAT
34. Full-body animal costume: APE.
35. Part of a gift that needs to be returned: CASSEROLE DISH - One way to remind people of the origin of a casserole
39. "I figured as much": WHAT A SURPRISE - Gee, Gary has a kitty picture below in his write-up! Sarcasm par excellence.
40. Skeptical words: THIS I GOTTA SEE.
41. It may look like a great deal: CON - You can't CON this kitty
42. It folds for easy storage: COT.
43. Textron Aviation brand: CESSNA = Kansas farm boy Clyde CESSNA started his company to build this cantilevered winged aircraft in 1927 that "could carry a half-ton load at 100 mph on a 110 hp engine"
46. __ touch: MAGIC - Any day is improved with the Platters
48. Bacon output: ESSAY - Aroma didn't cut it
51. User-created video game alteration: MOD - A mod (short for "modification") is an alteration that changes some aspects or one aspect of a video game, such as how it looks or behaves. Mods may range from small changes and tweaks to complete overhauls, and can extend the replay value and interest of the game. You're Welcome.
52. River rat: NUTRIA - A poor man's ermine
56. Kids may use them to make turkeys: HAND PRINTS.
60. Wad embellishers: ONES - The "Wad" inside could well be only ONES
61. Skin-healing aid: ALOE.
62. Get 'em all right: ACE IT - Some Nebraska honor students with the Governor
63. Good source of protein: MEAT.
64. It followed a postwar boom: GEN-X
65. Noticeably bored: YAWNY - I see lots of "teachers" in front of children that elicit this "gluey" response
66. Ceremonial pile: PYRE - "And our love become a fun'ral PYRE, C'mon baby light my fire"
Down:
1. Halloween inevitabilities: SCARES - Noun not verb. why do we seek these out?
2. Not tricked by: WISE TO.
3. Comment about contagion: IT'S CATCHING - My siblings and I went through the mumps and measles as a unit!
4. Like a movie about filmmakers making a movie: META - Okay
5. Animated miner: DOC - Which shirt would best represent you?
6. Longing words: I HOPE.
7. Aviation guide: PYLON - Racing markers or a structural component. The second PYLON might be 36. Things few understand: ESOTERICA.
8. One unlikely to shake hands: POOR SPORT - This losing MLS soccer coach was upset about the other team's play and refused to shake hands
9. Nomadic shelter: YURT - Here are some YURTS in Ulan Bato
10. Kraft Foods trademark: JELLO.
11. Fan of the Bulldogs: ELI.
12. Summer vacation "souvenir": TAN
13. Extreme: END.
19. Dark background that makes a pitched baseball easier to see: BATTER'S EYE - This one in Wrigley field is made up of juniper bushes
21. Party holder: PLASTIC CUP - I once needed some ping pong balls for my physics lab and was so surprised to be told they were over by the PLASTIC CUPS!
25. "We've got clearance": IT'S A GO - Var. - After the meteorologists gave him clearance on June 5, 1944 by saying the weather had broken, Ike said "OK,, Let's Go" for June 6
27. Holds a benefit, say: RAISES MONEY - On GoFundMe.com you can request money for your cause. I wonder how many thought this was a worthy cause.
28. Basilica recess: APSE.
29. Chuckle bit: HEH - HEH, HEH, HEH!
31. PGA Tour Champions golfer Jay: HAAS.
33. Wool source: ALPACA - Let's leave a little for cuteness. p.s. I thought ALPACA had two "C's"
37. Evidence of frequent travel: RUT.
38. Injection molding inventory: DIES - Can you even imagine how many DIES LEGO uses?
39. Stop on the trail: WHOA.
40. "Silent Sunday Nights" network: TCM - The director could shout at them all he wanted during shooting
44. Affectionate turndown: NO DEAR.
45. Holiday hymn opener: ADESTE - ADESTE, fideles, Laeti triumphantes, Venite, venite in Bethlehem!
47. Organize, in a way: INDEX - Rapid "unindexing" and any librarian's nightmare
49. Strength: SINEW.
50. Prom gown material: SATIN - Some today are using much less material than they used to!
53. Lunch __: TRAY - An alternate use
56. Witch: HAG.
57. Maugham's "Cakes and __": ALE - Same book with two different publishers who had two different ideas about how to sell it. Title comes from a Shakespeare line in Twelfth Night.
58. Exclusion prefix: NON.
59. Place for a mud bath: STY.
