By Glenn Dromgoole

I was on Facebook the other day with some people from my hometown, people that I hadn’t seen in person in years. And I was reminded that, to them, I will always be Glenn Allen. Not Glenn. Glenn Allen.

And I suspect that is true of a good many people, especially from small towns, who were called by their first and middle names when growing up. My wife Carol is still Carol May in Albany.

Among the girls in our town were Mary Ann, Mary Sue, Mary Jane, Mary Frances, Mary Lou, and Mary Alice. 

Linda Sue, Donna Sue, Bonnie Sue, Carol Sue, Sammie Sue, Billie Sue. 

Linda Kay, Winnie Kay, Linda Rae, Johnnie Rae. 

I knew a Bobby Wayne, Bobby Joe, Joe Bob, Joe Don, Billy Joe, Billy Bob, Billy Glenn, Billy John. 

James Lee, Ray Lee, Roy Lynn, Roy Lee, and Lee Roy. 

Joe Neal, Jo Ann, Jo Carrol, Sara Jo.  Nita Lou, Linda Lou, Betty Lou. 

Lou Ann, Betty Ann, Beth Ann, Barbara Ann, Cheryl Ann, Carol Ann. 

Carol Jean, Barbara Jean, Annie Mae, Lettie Mae.  

There was Jack Wayne, Carl Wayne, Donald Ray, John Ray, John Henry. 

And the Earls — John Earl, Dallas Earl, Robert Earl, Henry Earl, Joe Earl.  

The Belles and Nells — Lula Belle, Annie Belle, Bertha Belle, Olga Nell, Adria Nell, Birdie Nell. 

And Frank Stanley, Minnie Lee, Martha Faye, Thelma Lois, and even a Dinkie Ruth.

When I was editor of the Abilene Reporter-News, my secretary knew that if someone called for “Glenn Allen,” it was either a cousin or someone from my hometown of Sour Lake. She put them right through.

How about you? Were you called by your first and middle names growing up (well, not counting when your mother was mad at you)?  

Glenn Allen and Carol May Dromgoole own Texas Star Trading Company downtown.