By John Hayden
We’ve all seen pageants where they announce that the first runner up will accede if the original winner is unable or unwilling to fulfill their duties. It seems perfunctory and pro forma.
However, sometimes the unexpected happens.
That was the case with Mr. Ramrod 2024. Just a couple of weeks after being crowned, Scott Jordan resigned his title. Leatherman Will was ready and willing to step up.
“Shock. Why? I could not believe it. Followed by overwhelming joy. Then I was concerned, what happened? Plus, I thought what a gift it was to come in the first runner up, because if I had not done that, I would never know the weaknesses that I have.”
During the competition in October, Will campaigned on increasing fellowship in the leather community. “Fellowship creates family. Families create attraction for the younger people. Everyone wants to be loved.” Now that he has the title, he has an action plan. “I have every intention and desire to expand our leather community through a set of inclusive and diverse events, groups, and gatherings. These efforts will create fellowships which in turn will promote unity for more families and volunteer work in our leather community.”
While he has lived in several cities in his life, his connection to the Ramrod goes back to his youth. “The first leather bar I walked into was the Ramrod. I was 22 and visiting here,” he told OutClique.
Will is also a very visible member of South Florida’s larger LGBTQIA+ community. For the past eight years, he’s run Mint Massage. He has also done layout work for nonprofits, specializing in business and development.
“At the nonprofit I got to help a lot of people. I also realize I like the personal one-on-one relationship building too.”
One of his key duties is representing Ramrod at International Mister Leather (IML) in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend. Mr. Ramrod titleholders have a long history of finishing in the top ten. Will knows expectations are high. “I had an idea in my head prior to this Mr. Ramrod title of what I want to do and what I want to present at IML. The first goal was to achieve a title in our community. After that, with the strength and knowledge that we have in our south Florida leather community, I will listen and apply their experience to fine tune my platform to presentation level. Without the community, this platform has no meaning. This platform represents all of us on how we grow and strengthen our community more through love.”
