VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (WVEC) -- They call Gary Duschl of Virginia Beach the world's greatest wrap artist, but Jay-Z and Eminem have nothing to worry about, unless they love gum.
Gary is in the Guinness Book of World Records for building the largest chain in the world made of gum wrappers! It includes more than 2 million wrappers.
"It's about 40 Empire State Buildings, 287 football fields," Gary said. "Right now it's about 16 and-a-half miles long."
He started making the chain March 11, 1965 during a 9th grade project at his school in Ontario, Canada.
"My competitive pride kicked in," Gary said. "First it was longest in the class, then longest in the school, that led to longest in the town and now it's the longest in the world."
And he's gotten praise from all over the world, including celebrities like Rosie O'Donnell. He even appeared on her talk show. He's also been certified by Ripley's Believe It Or Not, and he's even gotten a sponsorship from Wrigley's so he doesn't have to eat the costs of all that gum.
He estimates his chain has the equivalent of $150,000 worth of gum.
"I love gum," Gary said. "I love wrappers more."
His wife loves his dedication to his craft. She says it symbolizes his strong work ethic.
"He's a go-getter," Deborah Duschl said. "The most disciplined man I ever met."
That discipline will keep him in the record books, because he's going to keep adding to it.
"I'm very proud to be the best in the world at something," Gary said. "It's an exhilarating feeling."
