He worked as an occasional gardener, but adopted the daily habit of standing on a street corner to greet every car and passerby.

[2] His younger brother, Svend Unmack Larsen,[3] said growing up among the poor was "this mixture of tragedy and baroque, macabre comedy" that gave him an early understanding of social problems and the dark sides of society.

After a brief stint of mandatory service in the Danish Army, Larsen traveled to South America and hiked through Argentina and Chile.

After returning to the United States, Larsen worked as a Wall Street messenger before wandering the eastern seaboard.

While living in San Francisco, Larsen was intrigued to hear about the Pageant of the Masters festival in the artist community of Laguna Beach.

In spare moments, Larsen pursued his lifelong habit of choosing a vantage point and welcoming people.

To every car and pedestrian that passed by, Larsen grinned, waved, pointed his wooden cane and shouted his catch phrases of "Hallooo!

The shaggy-haired and heavily bearded Larsen, usually dressed in a red shirt, slacks and sandals, became an iconic image for Laguna Beach tourists.

[15] In response to one well-publicized complaint in 1959, the mayor said Larsen could be the unofficial town greeter so long as he did not interfere with traffic.

[18] Each Spring, Larsen hiked 30 miles over the mountains to attend the Easter sunrise service at Mount Rubidoux in Riverside.

[23] He was celebrated in Denmark and met the mayors of Copenhagen and Aarhus, then returned to Laguna Beach after the six-week visit.

The Eiler Larsen Tribute Fund was created to supplement his World War I veteran's pension and pay for any needs.

[24] His friends moved him to the Beverly Manor convalescent home in Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, California.

[26] The first, titled Hello-o-o-o-o-o-o- How Ar-r-re You?, is a painted cement casting created by sculptor Charles Beauvais in the 1960s, that stands outside the Pottery Place along Pacific Coast Highway.

The plaque is dedicated to the "...philosopher, gardener and friend of man who devoted all his spare time spreading goodwill and cheer..."[27] The second, created in 1986, is a life-sized redwood carving by Guy Angelo Wilson that stands at a downtown corner outside Greeter's Corner restaurant, named in Larsen's honor.

[28] During a ceremony in February 1964, Larsen's footprints were impressed into the sidewalk at the intersection of Coast Highway and El Paseo Drive by Laguna's Main Beach .

Composed by local artist Paul Blaine Henrie, the Bossa Nova song was sung by Rochelle Battat and featured Eiler Larsen shouting his catchphrases.

Although Larsen was the most famous town greeter in Laguna Beach, the unofficial role dates back to Old Joe Lucas in the 1880s.

[1] The long-haired white-bearded Lucas, who spoke little English except for swear words and carried a trident, took up the habit of welcoming the thrice-weekly arrivals and departures of the stage coach from El Toro, California.