Ritzville man known as 'The Seahulk'

RITZVILLE - Is he wearing a suit? Nope.

Tim Froemke, of Ritzville, has spent 30 years body building his way into a hulk-like canvas.

In 2005, when the Seattle Seahawks went to the Superbowl, Tim Froemke's wife, Eva, began painting his body to look like the Hulk for the games.

It is impossible to say how many photos and videos have been taken of 'The Seahulk' since then.

In 2013 The Seahulk was featured in Sports Illustrated. The Seattle Times then made a time-lapse video of the three-hour transformation from man to immortal and put the Seahulk and Eva Froemke as 'Shehulk,' in a superfan poster of the 'Hawks.

However, what the photos don't show is the man beneath the hulk.

Tim Froemke is a national body building competition winner, earning third in the over 40 and over 50 categories. He was also Mr. Washington, Mr. Oregon, Mr. Northwest, and the vanity trophy list goes on.

Today, Tim is also 20 years sober.

He said he is hoping people start to remember him as Tim Froemke, the Seahulk, Tim Froemke, the good guy, rather than Tim Froemke, the self-centered or egotistical or drug-addict looser.

"Now I know why I do it," Tim said, "When I started it was about me. But my wife reminded me it was about the Seahawks. Now, it's about the kids."

He said he gets asked for so many photos, sometimes he cannot get to his seat to watch the game. Before the game, during the game, after the game, people ask him for just, "One more picture," he said.

"So I can't always take the time to get a photo with everyone who wants one," he said.

But when he does pose, it is often Froemke who gets the most from the encounter.

"Last week this guy asked me to take a photo with his friend who had cancer," he said, "When I walked over to his friend, he just lit up. He was so happy."

"That was the highlight of the season for me," he said. "And that is why I do this. I do it for the kids and for the handicap people who may not have a lot of time left."

He said the expenses and effort to be the Seahulk are adding up; $400 a game for the professional paint job, the expensive front-row tickets, a 700-mile round trip for the game. But he said it is all worth it.

"I'm trying to do some good out of this. Instead of being all about Tim and all pumped up on T.V. Like Russell Wilson, man, he is an amazing guy!"

Check for the Seahulk at Sunday game against the 49ers. He'll be in the front row.

Staff writer Justin Brimer contributed to this report.