You never know what you're going to read in the morning newspaper.

There I was in Phoenix, AZ. sipping a cup of Kona Coffee at a gourmet coffee shop, when I came across a story in the Arizona Republic that grabbed my attention. A student at the University of Nevada campus in Reno, NF. had just won the 'Ugliest Man on Campus' award.

His name was Ed Feinhandler. When a reporter interviewed him, Feinhandler said he not only was proud of being the ugliest man on campus -- he wanted to be known as the 'Ugliest Man in the World.'

Said Feinhandler, 'Most people make their fortune by being handsome or beautiful. Not me. I want to earn my first million dollars by being ugly.'

My friend Dave Molina came through the door and I grabbed him excitedly.

'Buddy,' I said, 'here is a story that's going to make us some money!'

Dave read the article and said, 'Count me in.'

I called the university and after an hour, Feinhandler called me back. He was excited about doing an interview with a couple of freelance magazine writers and agreed to meet us at the airport when we arrived in Reno. The following Saturday, we boarded a commercial jetliner and flew to Reno.

Eddie was waiting for us. He carried a sign that identified him as 'Mr. Ugly.' Two attractive girls were standing next to him.

One asked me, 'Is he really the ugliest guy in the world? He said if we went out with him, we'd become famous.'

I gave Eddie a long look. He wore a beard and glasses and was missing two front teeth. (I found out later the teeth had been blackened out to enhance his ugly appearance). 'Well, my partner and I are going to write a story about him for a magazine, so I guess you could become famous by going out with him. Sort of.'

The girls gave each other a high five and snuggled up next to Feinhandler who gave each of them a big squeeze.

One said, 'Where do you plan to take us, Eddie darling?' Eddie swelled with pride.

He drove us back to the hotel where we were staying in an ugly brown Datsun with a license plate on it that read 'Mr. Ugly.' As we drove down the street, people waved at the car and girls blew kisses.

David asked him, 'Eddie, just how ugly are you?'

He said, 'Once I invited a girl to my apartment. It was on the sixth floor of a high rise building. I opened the window and told her, 'Either make love to me or jump.' She jumped.'

We conducted the interview next to the swimming pool at our hotel resort. Beautiful girls in bikinis came up to the scrawny Eddie who was wearing swimming trunks. When they found out Molina and I worked for a magazine, they insisted on being photographed with Feinhandler.

Eddie was beyond happy.

'I am going to become famous and make a million dollars by being ugly,' he said. 'You'll see.'

Pam, one of the bikini girls, said, 'Eddie, I don't think you're ugly. I think you're kind of cute.'

Feinhandler scowled.

'Stop that,' he whispered. 'You'll ruin my reputation.'

While I took notes, Dave snapped photos and drank Coors beer. After we were finished with the interview, the two of them entered the casino and began shooting dice while I found a seat at a poker table.

After we returned to Phoenix, Dave and I sold the story about Ugly Eddie Feinhandler to three different magazines. A couple of weeks later he gave us a call. He had been signed to appear in a movie called 'Apple Annie.'

'Who are you going to play, Eddie?' I wanted to know.

'Myself, of course,' he said. 'That's the only part I'm trying to sell.'

I lost track of Eddie over the years. I have no idea if he made that million dollars, fame is as fleeting as it is. But he had a million dollar personality and in today's world, that counts for something.