Darthvader Devon Williamson Uses the Force for Good
Darthvader doesn't care for Star Wars.
The story never really resonated, the characters were simply OK, and he's never bothered to see any of the movies past 1983's Return of the Jedi.
"It's strange, because I am a science fiction guy," he said. "But you don't want to hear your name on television all the time."
Darthvader Devon Williamson-a birth certificate for him reads "Darth Vader," but he's changed it to one word-has a name that makes people pause, instantly bringing to mind images of the black-clad Jedi Knight-turned-Sith Lord. But May the Fourth, the Star Wars-themed holiday being celebrated Thursday, means little to him.
It's just another day in which the 39-year-old Tennessee man will go about the work he takes pride in-helping patients as an orthopedic surgery tech at Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett outside of Memphis.
That's right: This Darth has no interest in the dark side of the Force.
"I enjoy giving people a better outcome than they have when they first come into the hospital," said Williamson, who started his career in medicine while in the Army from 1996 to 2000.
Before that-a long time ago in a city far, far away-Williamson was a newborn in an Austin, Texas hospital, and his parents were looking for a name.
"They came up with the best plan to ruin their child's life," he said with a laugh.
"My mother wanted me to be Junior, which was after my father, Anthony Williamson," he said. "But him being a Star Wars buff, he was so enamored with the character Darth Vader, he said 'This would be one bad name for our son.'
"And under the effects of anesthesia, she would agree to anything. When she realized what she had done afterward, she was like 'Uh, what have we done?' (My dad) was like 'No no, it's cool, he'll be OK,' and it just stuck."
Williamson's mom did, at least, talk his dad out of adding the honorific "Lord" to the birth certificate.
Since then, it's been a normal name for the most part. Sure, Williamson has to explain his muted interest in his namesake to new acquaintances, but around the hospital, he's just Darth. At home, his wife calls him "Pootie," his kids use "Booba," and a grandfather likes the nickname "Pop Tart."
It's not all easy, though.
"If I'm conducting business, or I'm on the phone and tell them my name, they'll hang up," Williamson said. "When I introduce myself, I'll call myself Darth Williamson. They'll be surprised by the name and go into a spiel about the movies."
Just because he's not a big fan of the series, however, doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate one villainous character with a helmet and cape: bounty hunter Boba Fett.
"Darth Vader is always talking," Williamson said. "Boba doesn't do much talking. When you see him, you know it's going down."
Still, he can't help but feel a connection to the heavy-breathing, red lightsaber-wielding menace.
"Me and my wife, we do a lot of traveling," he said. "If I see a Darth Vader something, I might pick it up, just because it's Darth Vader. "
Darthvader doesn't care for Star Wars.
The story never really resonated, the characters were simply OK, and he's never bothered to see any of the movies past 1983's Return of the Jedi.
"It's strange, because I am a science fiction guy," he said. "But you don't want to hear your name on television all the time."
Darthvader Devon Williamson-a birth certificate for him reads "Darth Vader," but he's changed it to one word-has a name that makes people pause, instantly bringing to mind images of the black-clad Jedi Knight-turned-Sith Lord. But May the Fourth, the Star Wars-themed holiday being celebrated Thursday, means little to him.
It's just another day in which the 39-year-old Tennessee man will go about the work he takes pride in-helping patients as an orthopedic surgery tech at Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett outside of Memphis.
That's right: This Darth has no interest in the dark side of the Force.
"I enjoy giving people a better outcome than they have when they first come into the hospital," said Williamson, who started his career in medicine while in the Army from 1996 to 2000.
Before that-a long time ago in a city far, far away-Williamson was a newborn in an Austin, Texas hospital, and his parents were looking for a name.
"They came up with the best plan to ruin their child's life," he said with a laugh.
"My mother wanted me to be Junior, which was after my father, Anthony Williamson," he said. "But him being a Star Wars buff, he was so enamored with the character Darth Vader, he said 'This would be one bad name for our son.'
"And under the effects of anesthesia, she would agree to anything. When she realized what she had done afterward, she was like 'Uh, what have we done?' (My dad) was like 'No no, it's cool, he'll be OK,' and it just stuck."
Williamson's mom did, at least, talk his dad out of adding the honorific "Lord" to the birth certificate.
Since then, it's been a normal name for the most part. Sure, Williamson has to explain his muted interest in his namesake to new acquaintances, but around the hospital, he's just Darth. At home, his wife calls him "Pootie," his kids use "Booba," and a grandfather likes the nickname "Pop Tart."
It's not all easy, though.
"If I'm conducting business, or I'm on the phone and tell them my name, they'll hang up," Williamson said. "When I introduce myself, I'll call myself Darth Williamson. They'll be surprised by the name and go into a spiel about the movies."
Just because he's not a big fan of the series, however, doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate one villainous character with a helmet and cape: bounty hunter Boba Fett.
"Darth Vader is always talking," Williamson said. "Boba doesn't do much talking. When you see him, you know it's going down."
Still, he can't help but feel a connection to the heavy-breathing, red lightsaber-wielding menace.
"Me and my wife, we do a lot of traveling," he said. "If I see a Darth Vader something, I might pick it up, just because it's Darth Vader. "
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