I ran into him a handful of times over the years, publically and privately (parties at mutual friends). He certainly seemed at least relatvely sane, as I had a couple of conversations with him and you could have a consersation with him. But at the same time, he could throw thing into a conversation that made you raise an eyebrow.
When I first became aware of him in the late 70s he just seemed like a non-conformist raging against the machine, but I wasn't sure at the time if he was serious or he was trying to find a niche in Memphis politics. I left Memphis in '80 for awhile and returned in '91 and damned if he wasn't playing the same oddball role, except he seemed to have double-downed and was filling his front yard with old appliances, toilets, etc. I was 40ish by then and he was in his mid-40s, and it seemed he hadn't grown out of his non-conformist youth. I never understood what he was trying to accomplish, pissing off his neighbors by trashing up his yard (and being sued and dragged into court all the time), and continually running for mayor when he never could muster much support other than from younger non-conformists.
I don't think he was a pyscho, but I don't think it was all just an act either.