Steve I was reading a blog from Karen Clark Rasberry from Laurel, Ms (her daughter is Erin on the new hit HGTV HOME TOWN) and being a curious Southerner I was thinking I'll ask Steve if he is kin to her. I love going to Laurel and seeing all the neat new stores and the new improvements that have been made to that town. I met Karen Clark Rasberry last summer at her daughter's new shop, Laurel Mercantile and she autographed some of her books for our sweet Kaye.(She was called by the store clerk to please come to town because a lady wants your books personally signed for a Friend) She was there in 10 minutes along with her grandson and we met and you would have thought we had known one another for years. I introduced her to my grandchildren and we even took pictures together. She didn't think I was crazy for wanting her to sign two of her books for Kaye. She was truly intrigued by our Coke/Nab Reunions. I thought well I'll just have to go to Laurel & ask her if she is kin to Boots Clark. Then it struck me, is that really his name? I couldn't think of any other name that I knew Mr. Clark by. So my question to Steve, is that really his name or was it a nickname? Growing up I never even thought about another name it was just Boots Clark. My mother's brother was called Popeye. Most people in my family would be hard pressed to know my uncle's real name! It was just Popeye, not even Uncle Popeye, just Popeye. I was just curious Steve. I did not think it was an odd name when I was younger, nor do I now, it just made me start thinking about some of our southern names and how we got them (I'm sure you must be kin, she is as sweet as you)
Lu Ann, Boots birth name was Clemmie Ethiel( not sure about the spelling of the 2nd name) but at some point he actually had it changed to Boots. As far as I know the lady in Laurel is no relation to us.
I think all of the South was deeply entrenched in nicknames which became the name most directly associated with the person. I don’t have any idea how most of them came about...and there might be interesting stories behind them.
For instance most of you know my daddy was known as “Pud” Smith. (Pud rhymes with “could.”) I have no idea how that developed. His real name...Malcolm Sirous Smith.
Kelly was called “Melvin.” Pretty easy to figure that one out since his first name is Melvin and it was used by his buddies to torment him...lol. Also “Little Kelly” by friends of the family since his dad was “Big Kelly.” “Little Kelly” remains to this day in some circles.
And I think we know two Cooters. Cooter Risher and Cooter Hawkins? In the case of Bill Hawkins’ dad, might that have been his real name?? We were even next door neighbors in our very early years and I don’t know the answer.
Cooter's given name was Ellis Moulder. He sometimes in business he went by E.M. I don't remember him saying how he got 'Cooter' except that it was a nickname for some kind of turtle. Everyone including Mother called him Cooter.