Single Olive
Last Meal

Victor Feguer's Single Olive

Associated With Victor Harry Feguer
Prep Time 0 min
Cook Time 0 min
Servings 1

The most minimalist last meal in American history. Victor Feguer requested just one olive with the pit still inside, hoping an olive tree would sprout from his body as a sign of peace. This guide explores the olive and offers recipes to honor its symbolism.

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Instructions

While Feguer's last meal cannot truly be "prepared," we offer two recipes that honor the olive's significance.

Warm Marinated Olives

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a small saucepan, combine olive oil, smashed garlic, red pepper flakes, citrus zests, rosemary, thyme, fennel seeds, and peppercorns.
  2. Warm the Oil: Heat over low heat until the oil is fragrant and just begins to bubble gently around the garlic, about 5-7 minutes. Do not let the garlic brown.
  3. Add Olives: Add the mixed olives to the warm oil. Stir gently to coat. Continue warming for another 5 minutes.
  4. Serve or Store: Serve warm with crusty bread, or transfer to a jar and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. The flavors will deepen over time. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Classic Olive Tapenade

  1. Process Ingredients: Add olives, capers, anchovies, and garlic to a food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped.
  2. Add Liquid: With the processor running, drizzle in lemon juice and olive oil until the mixture forms a rough paste. Leave some texture - it shouldn't be completely smooth.
  3. Season: Add fresh ground black pepper to taste. The olives, capers, and anchovies provide plenty of salt.
  4. Serve: Spread on crostini, use as a sandwich condiment, or serve alongside grilled fish or lamb. Store refrigerated for up to 1 week.

The Story Behind the Meal

Victor Harry Feguer was a drifter who in 1960 kidnapped and murdered Dr. Edward Bartels, a physician from Dubuque, Iowa. Feguer had lured the doctor out on a fake house call, then shot him and dumped his body in a cornfield across the state line in Illinois.

Because the crime crossed state lines, Feguer was tried in federal court and sentenced to death. On March 15, 1963, he became the last person executed in Iowa and one of the last people executed by the federal government until Timothy McVeigh in 2001 - a gap of 38 years.

When asked for his last meal request, Feguer asked for a single olive with the pit still inside. He reportedly hoped that an olive tree would sprout from his body after burial, serving as a sign of peace. The olive was found in his suit pocket after his execution by hanging.

Whether this request was genuine remorse, a final act of symbolism, or something else entirely remains unknown. The simplicity of the request has made it legendary among last meal historians - a stark contrast to the elaborate feasts often requested by the condemned.

No olive tree has ever been reported growing at Feguer's unmarked grave.

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