Beta Pi:
IS BETA PI BLOG without any redeeming social or artistic merit?
YEA . . . . or
NAY?Beta Pi Blog’s purpose: to bring ATO, Beta Pi Chapter Brothers and ATO Gal-Pals together. The blog is not to be taken seriously - it is meant for fun.
The Beta Pi Blog is non-political. It
includes
pictures, links, Archives of previous issues, and other timewasters.
To get there, go to web address: http://beta-pi-blog.blogspot.com
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You know something, there is an issue I want to set the record straight on. Two Brothers, over the years, Vinny Starr being one, and I will not name the other, have referred to the Reunion experience as being for “reliving the College experience." Vinny once admitted to me and Buck that he never brings his wife to Reunions because he wants to “relive” his college days. Each to his own. He and Buck then proceed, every year, to drink each other under the table. Not me.
As you may know, I am clean and sober now since June 1991, 34 years, the best years of my life. I am comfortable enough being around my friends who drink. Drink all you want, just be who you are I say.
For the record, the Beta-Pi-Blog, that’s me, I am all about promoting the idea of "living in the here and now." I write a lot in my poetry about “being in the moment.” Yeah, I like to toss around memories as much as the next bastard, but I try very hard to balance that with living in the moment in my Blog.
Hear that Buck, "Old Topper”. So, I like having women around. When this Blog started 19 years ago,
Matt Hart himself encouraged me to “invite the gal-pals.” So we do. And having the gals around makes life in the moment so much richer, Vinny.
Tison, thanks for inviting the Gal-Pals.
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POETRY CORNER
I don’t write about myself much in the blog. After this year I might continue Beta-Pi-Blog for a few years, there are guys in 76 and 77 that I want to write about.
I fell in love with poetry at CMA, Columbia Military Academy where I went to High School.
The first poet who enchanted me was Walt Whitman.
At Vanderbilt I studied poetry and poetry writing. (And played and sang and chased girls, using my songs to attract girls. Any guitar player who is honest will tell you the same.)
Mr. James Seay, the Resident Poet who wore a patch over his eye, called my best poem “archetypal” and it was published in Versus. That was a very real moment of realization in my life. My poetry mattered. I was, as you might imagine, thrilled and more determined than ever to be a writer and Poet. Writing. Doing what I loved, my passion.
I need to say, during my songwriting years, one of the greatest thrills I had was when my dear friend, Brother BEN PEDIGO, took me with him to John Hartford’s house (Gentle on My Mind). Ben was taking his music to John Hartford, I had the privilege of tagging along. I got to meet one of the greatest songwriters of our time, at his own house on the Cumberland River, thanks to my friend Ben. Ben and I also co-wrote a song when I visited him in Atlanta. I will always remember your support and kindnesses Ben, and I will always treasure that you thought enough of my writing to co-write with me. Also, thank you for turning me on to Emmy Lou Harris.
After college and my 2 years in the U.S. Army, in 1977 I moved to Nashville to write songs.
I managed to get in with a
great Songwriter, Mac Gayden who had a monster hit in the 60’s “Everlasting
Love”. Yeah. Mac liked my songs, and he
mentored me, we co-wrote a lot of songs. Mac liked my own songs so much that one
night I was in my studio recording my best song, Mac showed up uninvited and
played on it, and we stayed up all night. I played piano, guitar, vocals, Mac
played bass, dual slide guitars and goatskin drum. We mixed it, and next morning we drove
straight to the Publisher, Mac said “Larry, I think this is the one to get you
going.” So, I had the thrill of writing
and recording with Mac Gayden, one of the original “Nashville Cats.”
In 1982 when my son Andrew Taylor Simons (a very gifted Bassist and Guitarist) was born, I knew I had to get a real career. In 1983, I went to Night Law School, and in 1988 began my 37 year career as a Trial Lawyer. This month on August 1st, I stopped taking new clients and am winding my practice down.
A Poetry hero of mine, the great Wallace Stevens also had a day job, he was an Insurance Agent, he woke up at 5:00 a.m. every morning to write poetry. Yeah.
All this time, I wrote Poetry at night, I published 2 books, one in 2014, and the second in 2015. I have my manuscript for book 3 ready, my poems for the last 10 years, which I plan to publish later this year. I have always followed my dreams. My passion has always been writing, music and poetry. No regrets, I have “lived my life” as they say.
My closest and best friend STEVEN "VINNY" STARR surprised me by flying to Nashville to attend my first Book Release Event at Parnassus Book Store. Vinny, I will always treasure our friendship, and that you thought enough of my passion for poetry to make a special effort to be at my Book Event.
Here is a new poem, recently I put online that went “viral” – I got 1.7K views the first week, called
“I Need to Cry.” I guess folks must be interested in men “having feelings” -- who’d have ever imagined that? – HAAA! I have learned a thing or two over the years, depression is worry over the past. Anxiety is worry over the future. Think about it.
I fiddled with the video, couldn't get it to post here. If you are interested (I am guessing maybe 10% of you are interested in poetry, check out my poetry YouTube Channel @lawrencesimons2775, and do me a huge favor and subscribe (it's free).
Here is the poem, as it will appear in my 3rd Book of poetry:
“Billy would cry when he thought of the future.”
Sting, from “Island of Souls”
I NEED TO CRY
People
expect men
not
to have feelings,
not
to show feelings.
This
was the way of things
in
my childhood.
So
I worked at that,
on
having my feelings,
on
naming my feelings.
On
letting it be alright for me
to
have and express feelings.
Along
the way I learned
something
strange. Some feelings
are
just mysterious, and hard to name.
And
when I feel that way
I
can’t shake the feeling.
And
I can’t name the feeling.
It
is like being frozen stiff.
I
feel like I need to cry.
And
yet I cannot cry.
There
are no tears.
Only
the odd feeling that
I
need to cry.
Copyright 2025 Lawrence A. Simons
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TISON KEEL, STILL AT THE WHEEL, PART 2!
Tison has been one of our greatest
“Point Men”. Tison deserves our thanks
for working so hard to persuade our guys to come back. Thank you Tison!
Here is the latest from Brother Too Tall Tison on who is expected to show, and who are the “wafflers” for our 1975 ATO Class Reunion.
“Sorry for the delay, brother, some minor s### came up last night.
Confirmed: Larry, Buck, Vinny, Me, Earl, Matt B, Pedigo, Harpo.
Likely, but unconfirmed: Jeff
Overby, Arthur Landry, Frank Collins, Gene Y, Barb Miller, Katie Herrington,
Kell Toomay (my date Junior year).
Chet Brewer was the guy I offered
to drive up with from South Florida; he's still unconfirmed.
Out, but out, but out (or no response); Aylward, Noel, Yonge.
Tison
tison.keel@hotmail.com
+1-845-664-2431 (cell)
THANK YOU MIGHTY BRO TISON! YOU ARE
INDEED, A MAN AMONG MEN! WE ALL MISS CHESTER, I HOPE SINCERELY HE WILL CUT THE BULLSHIT AND SHOW.
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KEEPING TABS:
Here is a reminder of the brothers and sisters we have lost.
GEORGE WEST
CRAFTON, died June 18, 2025.
Obituary at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home..
CLAUDE CARR
CODY, IV, died February 8, 2022.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol. 2022, No. 01
Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/houstonchronicle/name/claude-cody-obituary?id=32988710
DAVID W. HAINES,
JR., died January 17, 2021.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2021, No.01
ROBERT LOUIS
CROSSLEY, JR., died October 24, 2019.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2021, No.03.
Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/knoxnews/name/robert-crossley-obituary?pid=194272149
MARK B. ROCKEY, died Sept. 27, 2020.
ANTHONY GUY
MIRANDA, died June 18, 2019
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2019, No.04. Archive: ___ 2019
Obituary: http://www.brinsfieldfuneral.com/obituary/anthony-guy-miranda
MARK McGANN,
died December 10, 2018.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2018, No.07. Archive: Dec. 2018
BECKY
BRUNING MANYAK, died October 19, 2017.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2017, No.07. Archive: Sept. 2017
Obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=rebecca-manyak&pid=187110606
ROB
BLANKENHORN, died December 2016.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2017, No.05, (See Comment by Dick Stoner). Archive: Sept. 2017
https://www.nashvillefuneralandcremation.com/obituaries/james-blankenhorn
EDWARD G.
“TED” STEPHANY, died January 20, 2016.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2016, No.01, Archive: Jan. 2016
J. NEAL
CRENSHAW, died November 12, 2014.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.08, Archive: Nov. 2014
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.10, Archive: Dec. 2014
MILES WALSH,
died in July 2013.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2013, No.05, Comments Section (over 50 comments), Archive: Aug.2013
DAVID HOWE,
died November 30, 2006.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2006, No.68, Archive: Dec. 2006.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2007, No.30, Archive: May. 2007
KURT WAGNER,
died in July 2002.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2016, No.02, Archive: Jan. 2016
ALEXANDER
WILSON, died April 9, 1977.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2006, No.25, Lowenstein Essay Contest. Archive: Aug. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.33, Honoring Alex and Laura. Archive: Sept. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.45, Tale-o-Pig-Roast. Archive: Sept. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.50, Winner Essay Contest. Archive: Oct. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.05, Alexander Wilson. Archive: Sept. 2017
Alex and Laura
are buried at the Nashville National Cemetery. The cemetery is at 1420 Gallatin
Pike South, Madison, TN 37115. Alex and Laura are at Section KK, Site 794.
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THE ARCHIVES
To explore the “Archives” in this Blog – go to the top of the latest “blog issue,” on the right. You access it by clicking on the Month and Year, and it will drop down with choices. For example, if you click on December 2006, a list will drop down listing all issues that were published that month. Click on an issue, and you can then post a comment to that issue. It’s never too late to post a comment, right?
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HOW TO POST OR READ COMMENTS: Just click the button - Comments – below my signature block.
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BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS:
As of August 4, 2025, there are 136 ATO’s on the blog email list,
including 15 Brothers whose e-mail address is unknown, plus 19 ATO Gal-Pals.
VTL,
Larry Simons
Beta Pi, 72
