Greg Packer

Greg Packer

Gregory F. Packer (born December 18, 1963), is a retired American highway maintenance worker from Huntington, New York, best known for frequently being quoted as a "man on the street" in newspapers, magazines and television broadcasts from 1995 to the present. He has been quoted in more than 100 articles and television broadcasts as a member of the public (that is, a "man on the street" rather than a newsmaker or expert). According to the Nexis database, from 1994 through 2004 Packer was quoted or photographed at least 16 separate times by the Associated Press, 14 times by Newsday, 13 times by the New York Daily News, and 12 times by the New York Post. Although he always gives his real name, he has admitted to making things up to get into the paper.Packer's status as a frequent interviewee is mostly due to his hobby of attending public appearances of celebrities and other media events and being first in line on such occasions, leading to him being dubbed a professional line sitter. He has consequently had the opportunity to meet people including Mariah Carey, Garth Brooks, Phil Lavrovsky, Dennis Rodman and Ringo Starr, as well as at least three presidents of the United States: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.He is credited as being the first in line to purchase an iPhone at the Apple Store at Fifth Avenue in New York. He began camping in front of the store at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, June 25, 2007, 110 hours before the iPhone went on sale. He performed a similar stunt at the same Apple Store for the release of the iPad, but was bumped from the first position in line due to not having a reservation.

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