The Life of George "Goober" Lindsey
George Lindsey was born on December 17, Alabama Statehood Day, in the Tennessee
Coal and Iron Hospital in Fairfield, Alabama. When he was six weeks old, he
accompanied his family to the town of Jasper, Alabama, where he remained a resident
while living in Alabama. Although Lindsey's life appears to be picture perfect,
his struggle from a lower class family to stardom is a success story itself.
Lindsey's parents were named George Ross Lindsey and Alice Smith Lindsey. His
father started out playing baseball for one of the local teams but never made
it to the minors. He had several jobs but never succeeded in any of them. His
mother was crippled, suffering from a disease known as osteomyelitis , a painful
inflammation of the bone marrow. Lindsey was an only child and the only boy
to be born in the whole generation on either side of the family.
Even though he came from a lower class family, he managed to complete school
and continue his education at college. He first enrolled at Walker Junior College
in Jasper, Alabama. It was the school's first year to field a football team,
and little did Lindsey know that football would be his meal ticket to a college
degree. After one semester, Lindsey left and enrolled in Kemper Military School
in Booneville, Missouri. He was not so sure that the military was made for him,
so after one year, he decided to try Florence State Teachers College, in Florence,
Alabama (better known today as the University of North Alabama). There he as
able to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education, with a specialty
in the field of physical education.
After graduating from college, Lindsey had no job or money and decided to join
the Air Force for four years. During that time, he met his future wife, Joyanne
Herbert, and they married. Together they would have two children, Camden and
George Jr. Lindsey's marriage eventually failed.
After being discharged from the Air Force, George and his wife moved to Huntsville,
where he landed a job as head basketball coach at Hazel Green School in Madison
County. As his first year of teaching grew to a close, he decided to attend
the American Theater Wing acting school in New York City. Through many different
trials of acting, George Lindsey made it to what would be his success on "The
Andy Griffith Show."
Lindsey first auditioned for the part of "Gomer Pyle" but Jim Nabors,
also an Alabamian, received it. When Nabors decided to carry his career further
with his own show, Lindsey received the part as "Goober Pyle," Gomer's
cousin. His first episode was titled "Fun Girls," the only episode
containing both Lindsey and Nabors. People often seem to associate the two together
because of their being cousins on the show and appearing in other televison
programs such as "Hee-Haw." During his first episode and the probably
most remembered, Lindsey does his impersonation of Cary Grant ("Judy, Judy,
Judy, Judy") and Edward G. Robinson ("All right, you guys. Come on,
you guys. Let's go, you guys. Beat it, you guys."). After the episode,
Lindsey learned that Andy Griffith didn't like it. Griffith was looked upon
as the man in charge, and everyone wanted to please him. Lindsey went to him
for advice about the character, and Griffith told him simply to stop acting.
Andy described the character of Goober as the type of person who would sit down
at a table and say, "Hey, this is great salt." Lindsey listened to
him because he felt as though he knew more about "Mayberry" than anyone
did.
Lindsey's schedule was tight. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, they would
film, on Thursday, they would go over scripts and make any possible changes,
and on Fridays, they would walk through it and prepare for the upcoming filming
that would take place. Lindsey drew upon everybody he knew back home to help
build his character. He began mentioning names and naming things from items
back home as a way to say hello. Alabama is proud of Lindsey, and his fans let
him know on his returns home.
Alabama is also proud of all his hard work and dedication involving the Special
Olympics. Alabama's Special Olympics was greatly uplifted with the help of George
Lindsey. He has been actively involved with the Special Olympics since 1971,
especially with the annual golf tournament. Called "The George Lindsey
Celebrity Golf Weekend," it is filled with parades, entertainment, and
various celebrities each year. Roy Clark was among those celebrities who has
helped faithfully for fifteen years with entertainment. Lindsey was inspired
by a young lady who was struggling in a swimming race. When he tried to help
her, she replied by saying, "Don't help me, I'm just slow." At that
point Lindsey knew what he wanted to devote his time and effort to. With the
help of various friends, in sixteen years the tournament has raised more than
$1 million dollars for Special Olympics and has greatly increased the number
of Olympians involved in the state. A lot of the people in Alabama are unaware
of what Special Olympics is, and Lindsey has helped to educate the state, financially
and emotionally. Lindsey feels as though this may be the greatest achievement
of his life and it certainly continues to give him one of the warmest feelings
he has ever known. He will always have some connection with the Special Olympics.