Aaron...Spelling, Part II

In addition to the two documents cited previously, we also have an October 22, 1970, gun application that features the double-A spelling and the signature of Elvis A. Presley. This proves conclusively that Elvis was using the name "Aaron" long before Vernon used the double-A spelling on the grave marker.

UPDATE (9/27/10): Another example of the double-A spelling being used prior to August 1977 is posted below. This is from a Quitclaim Deed signed by Priscilla Presley on August 15, 1972.

Gladys Presley's Death Certificate

I recently obtained a copy of Gladys Presley's death certificate. The cause of death listed in the document is in line with the cause of death reported to the public.

Harvey Team Lead

I had the honor and privilege recently of discussing the resuscitation efforts on August 16, 1977, with the physician who led those efforts. I hope to be able to share his account in the future. The doctor was very generous with his description of the events, and the details he provided helped to clear up at least one long-standing question. Such a first-person account goes a long way in helping to understand what happened at Baptist Memorial Hospital that day.

Aaron...Spelling

Conventional wisdom in the world of Elvis-is-Alive theorizing tells us that Elvis spelled his middle name "Aron" throughout his life, and that Vernon Presley just pulled the double-A spelling ("Aaron") out of thin air when Elvis died and he used that spelling on the grave marker. So, all these years, the suspicion by those who are suspicious of such things is that the double-A spelling is a sign that Elvis is not buried there, or that Elvis didn't die...since Elvis supposedly never used the double-A spelling.

Right?

Recently, I came across two legal documents, one from July 19, 1973, and the other from August 12, 1977...and both feature the double-A spelling of Elvis's middle name. Elvis did not sign either document, and Vernon signed only the 1977 document. However, Vernon signed a document that included the double-A spelling, and this is important. As Elvis's attorney-in-fact, Vernon signed for Elvis on many legal documents, and in signing this document Vernon validated the spelling of the name as "Aaron." That is, by signing the document with the double-A spelling, he had to have known that the spelling was valid, and the only way he could have known the spelling was valid is if Elvis had told him that "Aaron" could be used in place of "Aron." This lends support to Marty Lacker's claim that Elvis instructed his father to use the "Aaron" spelling starting sometime around 1966. Obviously, by signing his name to this document, Vernon was not concerned by the double-A spelling.

NOTE: Elvis granted his father Power of Attorney ("attorney-in-fact") on February 6, 1968, and then confirmed the continuation of this designation on February 23, 1977.

And, assuming these documents, and other legal documents from that time period, were later reviewed by Elvis's attorneys, we can safely assume that no one else objected to the use of the name "Aaron," either.

So, Vernon did NOT misspell the name as the "alivers" have alleged for so many years, and because the double-A spelling was used in an official capacity (i.e., legal documents) prior to August 16, 1977, the name was not just pulled out of a hat when Vernon was ordering the grave marker. We have the double-A spelling used on a document signed by Vernon just 4 days prior to Elvis's death, so Vernon had recognized the name "Aaron" before Elvis died.

And, lest we forget, the name "Aaron" also appears on a legal document as early as July 19, 1973, and certainly this document was read and reviewed for accuracy by Elvis's attorneys.

Vernon Presley's use of "Aaron" on the grave marker, then, is perfectly justified and is supported by at least two previous examples of the use of the double-A spelling.

Article in "Skeptical Briefs"

UPDATE (7/13/10): The CSI article is now posted here, and is online at the CSI website here.

An article I wrote called "There's No Debate: Elvis Is Not Alive" has been published in The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry's December 2009 newsletter. The article in "Skeptical Briefs" will be posted here soon.

More Commentary on the Elvis-Is-Alive Claims

Recently I was contacted via AllExperts.com by two people who are adamant in their belief that Elvis is alive and that he faked his death in 1977. The first submission is from a person who claims to be friends with Elvis Presley today, in 2010, and the other is from a person supporting the idea that Elvis is alive. (Another short submission from someone else asking about the claims is also included.) I am posting these pieces because collectively they introduce several important topics/angles to the "Elvis is alive" school of thought, and they allow me to address what I believe to be serious issues that are not often discussed in the "aliver" world. The links to these AllExperts.com submissions are here: Part I, Part II, Part III.