I hope everyone is having fun trying to come up with middle names or middle initials of people in Mayberry. Remember that I said up front that maiden names used as middle names (as in Clara Edwards Johnson) do not count, nor do the names of people who never visited Mayberry (such as C. J. Hasler or John Judson Bailey).
Ellie Walker's middle name is never seen or mentioned at any time in any episode. Some of the TAGS books give it as Ellie Mae Walker, but they are in error. If anyone can point out a specific scene in a specific episode in which any middle name is given for Ellie, I will eat my words, and I'll bet they'll taste "silly." The confusion most likely comes from a line at about the 16:00 mark in Cyrano Andy, in which Andy says, "Ellie, may I say, behind that pretty face you've got a awful handsome brain." Now suppose Andy had said something like the following to Barney: "Barney, may I say you're the best deputy in town." Would you conclude that Barney's full name was Barney May Fife? Of course you wouldn't. Folks may also be thinking of the character of Elly May Clampett, from The Beverly Hillbillies. Mike, good catch on Dudley A. Wash. I knew that J didn't sound quite right. Here's a more or less complete list of all of the characters mentioned so far (in some cases, I've had to guess at spelling). I've given notes on most of them, and I hope some electronal marvel somewhere doesn't insert a whole bunch of question marks like what happened last time (I had typed dashes). Ernest T. Bass James Arthur Beaslow -- butcher shop employee whose truck was parked in front of Lydia's house for hours Samuel W. Becker -- farmer whose baby son is delivered by Andy during a violent storm Dr. Harrison Everett Breen -- visiting clergyman from New York City Mary Alice Carter -- girl Opie has a crush on Jaylene Naomi Connors -- escaped convict Helene Alexian DuBois -- pen name of Helen Crump (I too come from Kansas, however I never thought the name Crump had much class myself) Pearly Mae DuBois -- a girl in Barney's high school yearbook, apparently very attractive Dixie Belle Edwards -- went to Great Dismal Swamp to hunt black bear Bernard Milton Fife -- Barney's name in his high school yearbook Bernard Oliver Fife -- When Barney works on his family tree, Andy thinks Barney's middle name is Oliver Bernard P. Fife -- (note that Barney always refers to himself as Bernard P. Fife, and never as Milton or Oliver) Fred H. Goss -- dry cleaner Mary Grace Gossage -- if you call her a dog again I'll never speak to you Jesse Earle Hagen -- bass (tuba, probably) player coming to play with the Mayberry band Laura Lee Hobbs -- dime store employee who told Gomer about the gold truck J. Howard Jackson -- vengeful publisher who prints a vicious story about Andy Johnny Paul Jason Edna Sue Larch -- I haven't confirmed her middle name yet but I'll check the relevant episodes ASAP Barbara Sue Lindsey -- beauty contest participant (some mishear her last name as Lincoln, but in other episodes her parents are named Sam Lindsey and Clara Lindsey) Thomas A. Moody -- guest of honor who turns out to be a criminal Violet Rose Schumacher -- competed with Aunt Bee for a job at the print shop Andrew Jackson Taylor Bradford J. Taylor -- Aunt Bee's cousin whose big plans never quite work out Rev. Hobart M. Tucker -- Mayberry pastor Maude Clarice Tyler -- escaped convict Tyla Lee Vernon -- woman in story Andy tells the "prisoner of love" PFC Dudley A. Wash Thelma Lou Whitfield -- we are never told Thelma Lou's last name, but in the second class reunion episode she comes back married to a Mr. Whitfield Halcyon Loretta Winslow -- still ugly, single, and pitting prunes Signed, Paul T. Mulik, attorney at law P. S. the first time we see Goober, Andy calls him Goober Beasley, but I don't believe that's his middle name. _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/