Joe Magarac (jackass) In American literary folklore, a superhuman steelworker and folk hero of the Pittsburgh area steel mills, invented by Owen Francis, who published his Joe Magarac tales in 1931. Joe, born inside an ore mountain, was seven feet tall and made of steel. He worked day and night, only taking time out
to eat five meals a day. He ended his life when he melted down his body to make steel for a new mill. He explains his name when he says: “Dat’s me. All I do is eatit and workit same lak jackass donkey.”
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante