A memorial for Robert Maddox, who co-owned Male Hide Leathers, will take place Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview, at 6 p.m.
Maddox, co-founder of the legendary Male Hide Leathers, Inc., passed away suddenly Oct. 25; he was 74. With his lover and partner, Frank Goley, Maddox began making leather attire for friends at their kitchen table before opening their first store.
Maddox was the loving son of Livonia and the late Lon Maddox; dear brother of Ronald (Frieda) and Ted (Betty) ; fond uncle of David and Matthew Maddox and Nancy Lee Maloney. He was a member of the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
In 1972, Bob and Frank set up shop in the basement of the Gold Coast bar at 501 N. Clark, and which was itself internationally known as a center of gay male leather culture. In August 1974, the store expanded into a street-level storefront adjacent to the Gold Coast at 66 W. Illinois. Maddox and Goley remained there until 1984, when the building was converted to offices and Male Hide had to move. They relocated to 2816 N. Lincoln, bought the building and remodeled it.
During these years, Maddox and Goley supported the burgeoning gay and leather community with donations of merchandise and financial support. Maddox would set up temporary shop at motorcycle events, club runs and leather pageants nationwide.
Gary Chichester told Windy City Times, “I always respected Bob for being a great businessman. At the time, there weren’t many gay businesses. [Bob and business partner Frank Goley] made some inroads. He was a great guy and I’m going to miss him. I’ve known him over 40 years. … We’re going to miss Bob a lot.”
Chuck Renslow—who originally approached Maddox and partner Frank Goley about opening Male Hide, according to the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame’s Web site—said, “He was a great man—a wonderful man. Bob was a man of great integrity. We were very good friends.”
Maddox was interred next to Goley in Pineville, Ky., Oct. 30. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Leather Archives & Museum or Season of Concern in Maddox’s memory are encouraged.