Before gluttony became a sport, Penrose was a champion eater. He stood about 6-foot-4 and hit 350-pounds as a senior master glutton. Several people recorded a typical Penrose breakfast: a dozen fried eggs, a dozen rolls, a one-pound slab of ham and a quart of coffee.
He loved oysters. The story is told how a customer in one of his favorite bars challenged Penrose to an oyster-eating contest. The challenger got sick and quit at about 35 oysters. Penrose decided to stop at 50.
It’s not clear whether the following story of Penrose’s eating prowess happened at banquet or fancy restaurant. It involved squabs (or similar fowl called rail birds).....
A large platter was delivered to the table with 26 birds arranged around a bowl of wild rice and another bowl of gravy. Penrose attacked the entire platter. He proceeded to eat every bird, all the rice and drink the gravy.
If this story of heroic gluttony seems exaggerated, it must be pointed out that several witnesses said the Senator could polish off an entire turkey.