Rob, the Peace Man of Lawrence

A Raw Tribute to Rob, the "Peace Man"

Rob Blank was the "Peace Man" of downtown Lawrence, Kansas. For years, he’d roam the streets, throwing up his iconic peace sign to anyone who’d look his way. That gesture—simple, quiet—meant something. It stitched people together, made strangers feel seen. But let’s be real: Rob’s life wasn’t all peace and light. He fought mental health demons that hit hard. Some days, he was on top—cracking jokes about rock ‘n’ roll, sketching wild impressionist paintings, bringing flowers, poems, and "treasures" to the locals with his long hair swinging as he walked. Other days, he was down, lost in his head, barely getting by. We’re not ashamed of that. It’s who he was—messy, human, real. And somehow, through all that noise in his mind, he still showed up for this town; not allowing the bad days to win. With his beard, rose-colored glasses, and that raspy laugh, he’d talk your ear off about Zeppelin or just nod and keep moving. When he died, Lawrence didn’t just mourn a legend—they mourned a guy who’d been there, in the grit with them. His niece, Kimberly Carter, said it best: "If you’ve been here long enough, you’ve flashed that peace sign back." Damn right we did.

We’re raising money for a memorial downtown because Rob deserves it—not just for the peace he spread, but for the fight he fought so visibly on Mass street. This memorial isn’t some polished statue to a saint. It’s for him—the real Rob, who pushed through his chaos to give us something good. It’ll be a spot to remember him, to keep his vibe alive, a place where we can all throw up a peace sign and feel him there. Pitch in if you can. Help us keep his messy, beautiful story going. Because even on his worst days, Rob showed us one person can change a whole town.

Thanks to John Clayton for these wonderful pictures of Rob.