and anti-sociality In January 2004, an OC Weekly article alleged Howard's violent and racist tendencies. Robert Williams, a friend and fellow artist, said Howard was "...quite a racist; didn't like anybody. Howard was accused of having all the trappings of being a neo-Nazi. Another accusation suggested he could not tolerate black people." The article alleges that a letter written shortly before Howard's death in 1992, when he was in the hospital, closed with “Bye, Heil Hitler.” After the publication of the article, a number of retailers removed Von Dutch from their inventory despite its profitability. In May 2004, Los Angeles Magazine profiled Howard similarly, describing his alcoholism and anti-social behaviour. Von Dutch clothing founder Ed Boswell described Howard as "...as an avid military enthusiast enamored of German Military esthetics. But he was not a white power guy. He hated everybody too much to be one of those. He was a provocateur." See also Hot rod Ed Roth References Further reading External links A documentary of the life of Kenneth Howard, a.k.a. Von Dutch Rumpsville's Kenneth Howard Page 1929 births 1992 deaths People from Los Angeles County, California American artists Motorcycle builders Vehicle modification people Kustom Kulture artists Gunsmiths