The highest political office held by a sleepwalking sleepwalker

The highest political office held by a sleepwalker while sleepwalking was that of Chair of the District Council of Turlington Ohio, which was held by Noel Thursen between October 1976 and June the following year. Thursen only found out he had the position in May of 1977, and decided to step down so that he could attend a sleep clinic to treat his condition. The Mayor of Turlington, Chrissie Swank, told the local newspaper, “Initially we only let Noel keep the position because we were worried of what may happen if we woke him up, but we’ve actually lost a darn good Chairman.”

Noel Thursen(left), pictured with the Turlington District Comptroller, Jackson McKauleigh, discussing sanitation budgets in February 1977. It later transpired that Thursen had been asleep for 7 hours at the time, and was actually wearing his pyjamas under his suit. Photograph by juggernautco.

©2012 James Mathurin