That Mitt Romney’s real first name is Willard.
He was named in honor of his father’s friend J. Willard Marriott, the hotelier and noted Mormon, whose real first name was John. The young Romney went by “Billy” until he entered kindergarten. He then started using Mitt, his middle name, one that had been given him to honor his father’s cousin Milton “Mitt” Romney, a University of Chicago graduate who played quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 1925-1929.
I can’t decide which is better/worst – Mitt or Willard? Of course the only other Willard I know is Willard Scott.
One of the most special people in my life was named Willard. Willard Elliot was the principal bassoonist in the Chicago symphony for 33 years, and he retired in Ft. Worth. He took on two students when he was here, one that attended TCU, and me… a sophomore in high school. Our lessons were at least 2 hours long, most of the time more like 3. He made such a huge impact on my life, and I got to tell him while he was still living that I wanted to name my children after him. I now have a husband who will have a say in whether or not that happens, but if I do name my children after him… they will NOT be named Willard. His middle name is Somers (so the middle name Summer for a girl), and I think his last name would make a good boys middle name: Elliot.
I know this isn’t interesting for your readers… but any chance I get to talk about Mr. Elliot, I’ll take!!!! I miss him all the time.
Christopher Penn played a character named Willard in Footloose