The mystery of Clifford Max’s father has been one of my most stubborn brick wall revisited genealogy cases for years. Clifford was born June 18, 1929, to Myrtle June Thompson in Edwardsville, Illinois. His father was never named on any record. DNA testing points clearly to the Pitts family of North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania — specifically to the sons of Abel Montezuma Pitts. About a month ago, my son and I spent ten hours working through all seven of Abel’s sons, record by record, placing each man geographically at the time of conception. We eliminated five with confidence. One remains an open question. And one — Clifford McDowell Pitts — remains our strongest suspect, with a nickname that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.