By Joe Hadsall

jhadsall@joplinglobe.com

To most people, she is Shirley Kirk, 72, of Joplin. But to one group of people, she is called “MO-8.”

The numerical designation is important for this new group — everyone is named “Shirley.”

Kirk is a member of a new group called the Shirley Club USA. Formed in 2008, the club is an offshoot of an Australian organization dedicated to the same purpose.

Kirk became a member last year.

Popular name

Kirk, 73, said her parents were likely influenced by a famous little star. She was born Shirley Sue Clark in 1937 in Neck City.

“I was born about the same time as Shirley Temple,” Kirk said. “She was pretty popular, and that affected a lot of name choices.”

She grew up in Neck City right down the street from another girl named Shirley. Eventually moving to Webb City, then Joplin, she married her husband, Dan, in 1961.

After her marriage, she discovered that her new last name was also common.

“I think there were a couple of Shirley Kirks in the area,” Kirk said. “One of them died about two years ago. I had a hard time when I went to vote, because they had me listed as deceased.”

She worked in dry cleaning for more than 30 years, but is now retired.

Surfing the Internet one day last year, she came across a blog maintained by the Brisbane Butterflies, an Australian branch of the Shirley Club. She became an honorary member of that club, then afterwards, was contacted by Shirley Rose, organizer of the American club.

Club beginnings

In 1996, Shirley Brown from western Australia put an invitation in a newspaper, according to the American club’s Web site. Brown invited anyone named Shirley to join her for lunch.

The turnout was more than Brown expected: 62 Shirleys joined her for lunch. The group kept growing after that first lunch, to the point where the first convention for the Shirley Club was held in 2001. The club set a Guinness world record in 2004 for the largest “same name gathering.”

Shirley Rose, of New Florence, Mo., in 2008 thought an American version of the club, which has branches in every Australian state and two in New Zealand, would be an outstanding idea. She contacted Kirk, who became the eighth member of the Missouri club: Hence her designation, “MO-8.”

The Shirley Club USA has members in five states now, including Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota and Texas. Members get a T-shirt, personalized name badge, social cards and a quarterly newsletter.

The membership qualifications are few, but strict. To qualify, you must be the type of person who looks up when someone says “Shirley.” Pictures of the club’s outings can be found on its Web site, www.shirleyclubusa.com.

Kirk regularly e-mails several of the Shirleys in the club, and even more the ones in Australia. She said she has developed many friendships, and hears from fellow Shirleys weekly.

“We have a great sense of humor, I’ve found that out,” Kirk said. “From talking to all the different ones, they all have a great sense of humor.”

But Kirk hasn’t gotten to meet any of her fellow Shirleys face to face yet. Most of the club’s 25 members live in the St. Louis area and northern Missouri, making attendance at regular meetings difficult.

Kirk hopes to meet her fellow Shirleys soon. The group has been discussing a trip to Branson in the near future. She is also looking forward to the club’s growth, so she can bond with some local Shirleys.

“When I meet them, I’ll play it by ear,” Kirk said. “I know that probably the only thing we will have in common is the name. I’m sure the personalities will be different. But I’m looking forward to it.”



Sensational Shirleys

Child actress Shirley Temple is not the only girl to bring fame to the name Shirley. Some other famous Shirleys include:

• Shirley McClaine, the Oscar-winning actress, dancer and author. She debuted in 1955’s “The Trouble with Harry,” and plays a role in the upcoming “Valentine’s Day.”

• Shirley Chisholm, the New York political pioneer who became the first black woman elected to Congress (1968), the first major-party black candidate for president and the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination (1972).

• Shirley Bassey, Britain’s legendary sultry singer who lent her voice to the title songs for three James Bond movies: “Goldfinger,” “Diamonds are Forever” and “Moonraker.” The gold-painted girl from Goldfinger was played by Shirley Eaton.

• Cindy Williams, who brought the character Shirley Feeney in “Laverne & Shirley” to life. Williams also made “Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” famous.

• Leslie Nielsen also gave fame to the name with his legendary answer to the question, “Surely you can’t be serious?” in 1980’s “Airplane!” As Dr. Rumack, he replied, “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”