Fueled with a zest largely unknown outside of World War Two combat veterans, William Clyde "Wino Willie" Forkner, Jr., and other early members of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club partied with other clubs and the citizens of Hollister at its famous 1947 Gypsy Tour. Prominent at the party, Wino Willie later taught the cast of "The Wild One," a movie inspired vaguely by that event, how to dress and act as bikers. Although the movie in general did not depict Wino Willie's values, its impact enshrined Hollister as the birthplace of the American biker, and Wino Willie Forkner as its model. As befits a social catalyst, Wino Willie remained unchanged amidst the changes he helped provoke. His parting words to the biker community were: "As we now go together on this last phase of our journey on Earth, we must remind you, the destination was never in question - but the trip getting here we will cherish in our hearts forever. Our memories, our friends and family, well it doesn't get any better than that! So Ride free, be loved and God Bless."