It is a sad day for all hobbyists worldwide as one of the pinnacles of our society and one of the key players in the liberation of sexual freedom in the 50s, Hugh Hefner, has passed away at 91 years of age. The King of Sex, The Hef, Hughie, Hugh Hefner has left this world and with him signals the end of an era where America learned to love and accept its sexual desires, with the help and influence of his Playboy enterprise.

I still remember my first Playboy I bought with my hard-earned money. It was the April 89 issue with Erika Eleniak on the cover spinning a basketball while bottomless and had a really good interview with Mario Lemieux. My favorite Baywatch babe and my favorite hockey player all in one single issue. Looking through my collection I also found one I stole from dad’s collection back in the day, Farrah Fawcett on the cover, imagine that!

But Hugh made it all possible, he was everything, a savvy businessman, a ladies man, an entrepreneur and a real American hero. A sex symbol women loved and men aspired to be, we would need another sexual revolution to happen for us to ever have a sex symbol as grandiose and enchanting as Hugh. Anytime I go into any kind of club or party and see a girl wearing those bunny ears and the bunny suit I give a small prayer for Hugh and can’t thank him enough for what he’s done.

It’s not hard to imagine all that he’s done for all of us in the hobby, he removed many taboos, spoke up on issues no one would have even looked at or published and helped make sex a fun, relaxing and leisurely activity for all Americans, and then all the people in the civilized world. This one goes out to you Hugh, the whole world mourns you today but we will all smile tomorrow, thanks to the world you helped create.