Wayne's mother always delighted in telling this story about Wayne when he was a small boy. When Wayne was about three or four years old, she saw him playing in their driveway from the kitchen window. The road was down hill from the house and circled around a bend of the spring fed pond. She had a great view of the whole scenario that was taking place below from her kitchen window.

She watched Wayne curiously for some time. She could see that he was playing intently with a stick and something else that was on the ground in the driveway. She decided it might be time to find out what was so fascinating to him, so she stepped to the door and yelled "What are you doing Wayne?" He looked up at her and quipped "I's just a teasin’ this little ole rattle snake."

She hurried down the hill to where he was playing to check further. She found that he really was telling her the truth. It is no wonder he was nicknamed "Tuff."