It's a Goode Thing!

Last night, I went to dinner with my family. We took my mother to Edward's Drive In here in Indianapolis. We had a wonderful meal and then went for a ride. We stopped off at the home of my great aunt and uncle, Lonnie and Norma Rigney. They re both 82 years old and full of life and stories. My grandfather, Virgil Rigney, and Uncle Lonnie came to Indianapolis in the 1940s. they were a huge part of starting the Teamster's union on the trucking docks in Central Indiana. I sat for two hours and listened to stories about Jimmy Hoffa and Frank Fitzsimmons, both legends in the Teamsters lore. What a night!

I got to thinking about my last name. Are there any famous Goode's or Rigney's? I went to Wikipedia and researched both. Here is the information on the last name Goode:

• Alex Goode (Born 1988), British rugby union player
• Alexander D. Goode (1911-1943), US Army chaplain
• Andy Goode (born 1980), British rugby union player
• Coleridge Goode (born 1914), Jamaican British jazz musician
• Daniel Goode (born 1936), American composer and clarinetist
• David Goode (born 1971), British organist
• David R. Goode, retired CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation
• Elena Goode (born 1982), American actress who stars on the daytime soap As The World Turns
• Erich Goode, American sociologist
• George Brown Goode (1851–1896), American ichthyologist
• Harry H. Goode (1909-1960), American engineer
• Harry King Goode (1892 - 1942), British World War I flying ace
• Jeff Goode, American television show creator
• Jamie Goode, British wine writer
• Joanne Goode, former British badminton player
• John Goode (1829–1909), American politician
• John Paul Goode (1862–1932), American geographer
• John J. Goode (born 1956), Irish shipping magnate
• Lynda Tolbert-Goode (born 1967), American hurdler
• Malvin Russell Goode (born 1908), African-American television journalist
• Mary Goode (born 1979), field hockey goalkeeper from Ireland
• Matthew Goode (born 1978), British actor
• Milton Goode (born 1960), American high jumper
• Patrick Gaines Goode (born 1798), American lawyer, and legislator
• Richard Goode (born 1943), American classical pianist
• Roger Goode, South African DJ
• Roy Goode (born 1933), British lawyer
• Sarah E. Goode (born 1850), first African American woman to get a US patent
• Virgil Goode (born 1946), American politician
• W. Wilson Goode, Jr. (born 1965), Philadelphia City Councilman
• Wilson Goode (born 1938), former Mayor of Philadelphia

Fictional characters:

• Ebeneezer Goode

And we all know about Chuck Berry's famous little diddy, "Johnny B. Goode". I find it intriguing that my last name has appeared in so many walks of life. My cousin Roger is a South African DJ! So, that's where I get my love for music from...A mayor, a lawyer, an actor, and a wine writer too!!! I am overwhelmed!

So...now back to Wikipedia. The last name Rigney did not yield as much information. I found one famous Rigney. Bill Rigney, baseball player for the New York Giants (prior to the move San Francisco). Check this out:

William Joseph Rigney (January 29, 1918 — February 20, 2001) was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. A native of Alameda, California, he batted and threw right-handed.
A 26-season major league veteran, Rigney played for the New York Giants from 1946 through 1953. His most productive season came in 1947, when he collected career-highs in home runs (17), RBI (59), runs (84), hits (142), doubles (24) and games played (130). An All-Star in 1948, he was a .259 career hitter with 41 home runs and 212 RBI in 654 games.
Following his playing career, Rigney served as the Giants manager from 1956-60, leading the club in its first season after moving from New York to San Francisco in 1958. He then became the expansion Los Angeles Angels' first manager in 1961, moved with them to Anaheim, and remained until the 1969 season, winning the AL Manager of the Year Award in 1962.

Isn't that cool! My son Perry Walls wants to take my name when he turns 18. That will be the biggest honor in my life! He is my legacy. It is Goode to be me. I love you all more!