History with ‘Hud’: Remembering Southport’s ‘gentleman giant’ fisherman, who stood nearly 8 feet tall
SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — Some figures in the Cape Fear’s storied history are truly larger than life. That’s the case with Elias Gore, known in the early 20th century as “the gentleman giant” of Southport.
Gore was a fisherman who stood well over seven feet tall (reports range him from 7’8″ to 7’11”) and weighed around 400 pounds, with a shoe size of 16. He was born in 1906 to Alexander and Lilly Parker Gore, who would have eleven total children together. Elias Gore reached his amazing size much larger than his siblings due to an abnormal pituitary gland.
Gore’s daughter, Mattie Williams, still lives in Southport.
Although she doesn’t have many first-hand memories of her father, who died when she was just 2 years old, Williams recalls hearing numerous stories growing up.
“When they would come in on the water front downtown, the children would be in the park waiting for the men to come up the street so they could get to look at my father,” Williams recalled.
“His hands were so big he could take his hand and pick the children up by their heads, and they wanted to get the rides [laughs].”
Affectionately known as “Nehi,” Gore worked for the Driller-Shipbuilding Company. Gore was so strong it was said he could pull in a net full of fish by himself, something that usually took several men to accomplish.
Despite his intimidating stature, Gore was known for his gentle spirit, being kind to people of all sizes.
“His hands were so big he could take his hand and pick the children up by their heads, and they wanted to get the rides [laughs],” Williams said.
Gore died in 1944 at the age of 38 and was buried in the second oldest cemetery, and the only African American cemetery, in Southport, the John N Smith Cemetery, with Gore having a simple headstone next to a plaque highlinghtin his story.
A life-sized cut-out of Elias Gore was put on display at the Maritime Museum in Southport in 2013, continuing the story and legacy of a man who truly stood out.
Mattie Williams says she feels happy Gore’s legacy is still going strong.
“I just think it’s amazing,” Williams said. “It makes us proud people recognize him and appreciate the way he was.”
Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston (‘Hud’) has always had two major loves – weather and history. While you can watch him talk about weather each evening on WWAY, he looks forward to bringing you a little piece of history each Thursday on WWAY’s website.
To read other History with ‘Hud’ segments, click HERE.
