In the early 80’s I visited relatives in Phoenix. While out and about, we passed a large orange grove. My uncle said, “See those trees? They belong to Barry Goldwater.”
So, um, yeah. There’s that.
A few months ago I got to meet Joseph Csatari.
Who? you ask.
He was Norman Rockwell’s assistant. after Rockwell’s death he took over his commissions, notably including paintings for the Boy Scouts. He paints in exactly the same realistic style as Rockwell.
He grew up in my home town. My mother knew him. I used to pass his home and studio walking to and from junior high. a relative of his (with the same last name) was my junior high gym teacher. But I never met him until last year.
I once had dinner in a restaurant where the weatherman for the local CBS affiliate was also having dinner.
Other than that… whenever I look in the mirror?
I shook Pat Paulsen’s hand at a rally for his Presidential Campaign in 1968.
Similar I was at a call at work and I nudged my partner and said “Isn’t that the guy from NBC?” Yes it was, local weatherman and sometimes substitute on the today show Chris Cimino.
It was a custody dispute call and he was there to support a family member, he wasn’t involved. He seemed like a really nice guy. He is a tiny tiny man.
I saw the coroner’s car used on the Quincy, M.E. TV series. Can’t remember if I touched it or not.
I have autographs from actors “Don 'The Hoodlum Priest’ Murray” and “John Considine (‘Balu’ from The Thirsty Dead)”.
I almost impaled Roger Corman with a tripod. Twice.
A friend and I sat down to lunch at a restaurant just as Fabio was leaving.
A different friend of mine claimed he once urinated in a stall next to Bill Nye, the Science Guy. Hearing him tell it, it was almost like I was there myself.
C.S. ???
Can anyone decode for the uninitiated?
C.S. = Computer Science
I heard Paul Tsongas speak at a campaign event - far too small to be called a “rally” - at Manuel’s Tavern when he was running in ‘92. Manuel Maloof, the owner of the tavern and a bigwig in Georgia Democratic politics, had endorsed him, and he spoke to a crowd of about thirty. Impressed me enough that I voted for him in the primary.
I glimpsed Gerald Ford during a tour of the White House and once saw Reagan’s motorcade go by. I also met Geraldo Rivera in the Kabul airport shortly after 9/11.
I had Funkmaster V drive me to the airport. For those who don’t recognize the name he is a former libertarian candidate for governor of Tennessee and co-star of Wrestling with Ghosts. We spent a solid hour in his cab and he was quite entertaining.
“What this country needs is a good five-cent nickel.”
ive met several pro wrestlers before they were really famous and a few more that was actually famous ….
I snubbed Harlan Ellison.
Didn’t want his autograph. Ran into him in a store when he was in Madison, Wisconsin for what was his last sci-fi convention (WisCon)…
*“But, you DO know who I am?” *
“Yeah, THE Harlan Ellison. City On the Edge of Forever, Demon with a Glass Hand, A Boy and His Dog…”
*“Yet… YET, you don’t you want my autograph.” *
“Naah, I’m fine. Thanks.”
*“But I’m olllld… I’m doing my last con tomorrow. I could drop dead at the microphone, and you’d have my last autograph.”
*“Well, then I’ll kick myself for just chatting. Anyhow, don’t eat breakfast at your hotel. You want to head downtown to Mickie’s Dairy Bar…”
Me too: I met Barry Goldwater in line at Honey Bear’s BBQ.
I met Stanly Kramer at a dry cleaners.
I met Mike The Dog from Down & Out in Beverly Hills.
I met Peter Lupas at some gym opening.
I waved and yelled at Richard Simmons at an airport (He was also doing the same).
My favorite: I went to a funeral of a friend, and got to talking with the minister who conducted the service. The Reverend and I had known each other probably 40 years and were catching up. I looked over and Janet Napolitano was glaring at me to get the hell out of the way so she could talk with the Reverend. Yikes, she had laser eyes, I swear! In retrospect, I was probably hogging the good Reverend. 
I was at the gate at Mccarran airport to fly out of Vegas. When I showed up, my plane hadn’t yet pulled up and the previous outgoing plane was still there with the passengers waiting to board it. One of them bore a striking resemblance to Bob Eubanks - because it was him. Virtually the perfect example of a minor celebrity but it was till cool to see him.
In line at the bank in Murrells Inlet, SC. The guy in front of me says to the guy in front of him, “Hey, you’re Mickey Spillane.” Mr. Spillane replied, No shit.”
Back when people used to buy CDs and DVDs in shops, I sold some to some very minor Australian TV celebrities.
My favorite brush with mediocrity was back when former Texas governor John Connally was running for President (circa 1980), and I royally pissed him off at a press conference by asking about his alleged involvement in a milk price bribery case.*
*"Connally was not found guilty. He later said that: “To be accused of taking a goddamned $10,000 bribe offended me beyond all reason.” According to Evan Thomas (The Man to See: Edward Bennett Williams): "Among cynics in the firm, there was a sneaking suspicion that Connally’s indignation stemmed from the fact that he had been indicted for taking such a small payoff. " 
When my gf (actually, ex, but we were still friendly) and I went to a Pete Seeger concert at Carnegie Hall, he came out into the front at intermission and she insisted we go down and talk to him. Which we did for a couple minutes. About what you’s expect.
When I was maybe 6 or 7, my father took me to a Gene Autry show. After we went to the performer’s and waited for him. The only thing I recall was that I was too shy and hid behind my father.
Someone upthread mentioned Donald Knuth. I object to calling him a mediocrity. I have met him and talked with him and he is a great man.