Ohio man routinely mistaken for famous astronaut

[July 27, 2009]  CINCINNATI (AP) -- Sharing a name with someone who lives in your area isn't usually a big deal -- unless your name is Neil Armstrong.

Thirty-eight-year-old Neil Allen Armstrong, a financial services professional from Symmes Township in suburban Cincinnati, says he constantly gets calls and packages from autograph seekers, school kids and reporters. He tries to explain he's not the Neil Armstrong who was the first man to walk on the moon. But people don't always believe him.

Neil Alden Armstrong, the 78-year-old former astronaut, lives in nearby Indian Hills. He rarely appears in public but was back in the news recently with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.

Armstrong, the non-astronaut, says he has never met his namesake but would welcome the opportunity. For now, he'll continue telling people he's not that Neil -- just an average Joe.

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Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.com/

[Associated Press]

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