Oregon Man, Sir William Trump Jr., Went to Court to Share Donald Trump's Name

He got half. Here are five things you should know about the hot-tub salesman who tried to become the Donald.

Whether they'll admit it or not, many Oregonians harbor a fondness for Donald Trump. But only one tried to become him.

William Trump Jr., 45, owns Spa World, a hot-tub store in Medford. He has been involved in a few scrapes. There was a car repossession gone bad that resulted in a criminal conviction. Hot-tub purchasers have also filed lawsuits periodically complaining about his products. But his biggest legal battle was in 2000—when he sought to take Trump's name.

1. He was born Chad Michael Milligan. Milligan stands 5-feet-5 and weighs 110 pounds, according to Oregon DMV records. But he dreamed big, opening his first hot-tub store in Brookings, on the south coast, back in 1989, when he was just 18.

2. His hero growing up was Donald J. Trump. He says he read all of Trump's books, and wore power suits and ties. That wardrobe stood out in Medford. "People used to call me 'Trump,'" he says.

3. He tried to change his name on Nov. 7, 2000. He went to Jackson County Court and filed the paperwork to change his name to Donald Trump Jr. But Oregon has a name-change waiting period, during which outside parties can object. "The court clerk said, 'You're never going to guess who objected—Donald Trump!"

4. They worked out a deal. Donald Trump wanted $30 million for the name. "He said he would concede if I'd choose a different first name," then-Milligan says. "I asked him what worked for him. He called me back and said 'William.'" Thus, on March 1, 2001, Medford's hot-tub king became William Trump Jr.

5. Sir William Trump Jr. is voting for Donald Trump. He proudly planted a Trump-Pence lawn sign in his yard. "It changed my life," William Trump says of his new name. "You have to live up to his standards—and some people, they're afraid of you."

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