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“Bull” Teel

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If it’s your birthday and the phone rings, it could be ‘Bull’

by Wanda Combs
Editor

Seated on a picnic table in Riner, “Bull” Teel feels right at home. Friends and even a relative stop to say “hi,” and usually a brief exchange of friendly conversation follows.
If you didn’t know him, you would soon figure it out. The name “Bull” is airbrushed across his t-shirt.
But it seems many do know “Bull” or at least know of him in Montgomery and Floyd counties.
He has the names of over 2,400 birthdays etched in his memory. As he puts it, he may not remember your name, but he will usually be able to recollect the “anniversary” of your birth date.
He says a teacher noticed his unique “gift” when he was in first grade. She wrote on his report card: “Gene (his given name) amazes me with his ability to work with numbers.”
The tradition of trying to remember people’s birthdays started after he graduated from Auburn High School. He is quick to say there are others who do greater things than he. Calling people on the phone and wishing others a “Happy Birthday” is just his thing. He says he wants people to know that someone is thinking of them on their birthday.
In 1999, after one person asked him how many birthdays he did know and he replied “probably 200-300,” “Bull” decided to write them down. He began one night by writing the names of relatives” birthdays. “I worked an hour and already had 500 names on the list.” The next night he added the birthdays of guests who attended his wife’s Tupperware parties, and from there other names were added, until he had over 1,700. But that was then. The list has kept on growing. Now “Bull” says if he can remember a birthday six months, he will add it to his list.
The unusual hobby, he comments, gives him something to think of especially when he is carrying in hay.
“Bull” has been on the farm all of his life. He started feeding calves when he was four or five years old. Then it was a dairy operation.
At one point, the family was milking 200 cows a day. “Bull” remembers when he was a senior in high school, classes started early that year, and he was always late. Fortunately, his first class was a study hall.
The last dairy cows left the Teel farm in 1986, and the farm switched to raising cattle. “It was still hard work, but not as confining as dairy,” “Bull” notes. One time, he recalled, “I went a streak of 13 years and missed (only) one milking.”
The Teel farm is now operated by “Bull,” his brother Lee, and Lee’s son, Randy. “Bull” says his brother and nephew “do most of the work,” and “Bull” has the highest regard for both of them. Lee, he comments, will talk as much as him when you get to know him. “I sure am glad I’ve got him for a brother.”
“Bull’s” love of numbers also involves him in other interests, including participation in trivial sports games. He can tell you all of the World Series winners since 1955 and the NBA and the NCAA champs since 1960. Up until a few years ago, he could recite the Super Bowl “scores”.
At the Auburn girls’ and boys’ basketball home games, “Bull” keeps the clock. (He’s been doing that since his graduation from high school in 1971.) His wife has been keeping the books since 1994. She also travels for the away games. “Bull” has worked at 900 games, and Sue has been bookkeeper for 760 games. “Bull’s” brother Lee also volunteers at the school, where he helps take care of the football field and gym for after hours basketball.
Sue and “Bull” have four Schnauzers at home that also keep them busy: Maggie, Bucky, Sam and Sally.
As for that nickname, “Bull” said he has had it since 1967. A high school friend, Marvin Page, gets the credit. It seems the honoree was performing a task, and it was observed he was “strong as a bull.” It stuck throughout the years.
“Bull’s” birthday book includes several Floyd Countians, as well as those from his home community. His mother, Mary, came from Floyd County, where her father owned and ran a store, the W.E. Mangus Store, on Rt. 730 in Willis.
Sue says her husband has never met a stranger. “Bull” says he enjoys talking to people and he likes “to pick and carry on”.
When he calls on people’s birthdays, he likes to ask them “what time is the cake and ice cream?”
Most of the responses to his greetings are “thank you’s”. Occasionally, he’ll get a “oh yea, you did have to remind me.”
Sometimes (and this one surprises him), the birthday person will reply, “I hadn’t even thought about it.”
Now “Bull” doesn’t call everyone every year, but he will call you if he thinks of it.
He hopes that one of his birthday calls might pick someone up if they’re having a bad day. “I want to be known as a kind, caring person.”