Jeannie Juul of the College of Medicine was the first with the correct response on Friday that the “S” in President Harry S. Truman’s name stood for no name at all.
Truman’s parents selected “S” for his middle initial to please grandparents on both sides of the family who had the letter in their respective names. But the “S” itself doesn’t stand for anything.
Juul just beat a flood of respondees on Friday morning that included University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken who e-mailed his correct response in at 7:27 a.m.
As such, she gets a free lapel pin.
Thanks to all those who responded and to those who attended Friday’s Durham museum on campus that featured Truman impersonator Dr. William Worley.