Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.06 – A New Tradition

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 time-wasters.

To get there, go to web address: http://beta-pi-blog.blogspot.com

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A NEW TRADITION

Ever since George Joe found Alex’s obituary, the responses have been amazing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claude Cody called me and said next year he is coming, and said he wants to visit Alex and Laura’s grave.  Claude also had the idea that we do this annually as a tradition – which is a truly great idea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, last Friday we met at the House.  Cheeks Reed showed up!  We got to meet Worthy Master Xavier Idriss. Clark Thomas brought his camera.

Cheeks Reed, Vinny Starr, Buck Biller and Clark Thomas

 Photo by Clark Thomas

So we headed up to the National Cemetery on Gallatin Road, and had no trouble finding Alex and Laura’s Grave.

 Photo by Clark Thomas

 

Photo by Clark Thomas

 

On the front of the headstone is Alex’s markings, and on the back side of the headstone is Laura’s markings. 

It was a beautiful day, and Buck and Vinny and I and Clark held hands and recited the ATO Prayer.  It felt right, and after all of the love Alex and Laura gave us, coming to visit every year is a fitting tradition.

Next Reunion, we shall return.

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REUNION RECAP

Friday evening, Buck, Vinny, Ann and I had dinner together at Jimmy Kelly’s,

 

and had such a good time that we arrived at the Big Tent Party too late, around 11:00 p.m., and we missed seeing any ATO’s from Class of 1977.  We heard Bill Price showed up, Bill sorry we missed you.

Saturday, the Tailgate was fun, breakfast-style chow – and we ran into JAY NYHART and his lovely wife Terry, and of course J.D. STRICKLAND

 

 Buck, J.D., Bozino and Jay

 

The Game was . . . well . . . as you know, Vandy got wasted by Georgia.

Our Annual ATO Dinner/Cocktail Party was great fun.  Present were Jay and Terry Nyhart, Van and Jane Sayler, Ollie Grace and his son Frederick, J.D. Strickland,  Frank Biller, Larry Simons and Steve Starr. And the huge surprise that nobody saw coming . . .LEAPIN’ GENE YOUNG showed up.  We were floored!

 Jane Sayler, Vinny Leapin' Gene and J.D.

 Buck tells Van "I don't have an R.V., I hitch-hike."

 Ann Polk Simons and Buck

 Leapin' Gene and J.D.



 J.D.

 Jane Sayler

 Ollie Grace, Larry Simons and Clark Thomas

 

 J.D., Leapin Gene Young and Buck Biller

 Ann Polk Simons and Terry Nyhart

  

 J.D., Leapin Gene, Buck, Vinny Bozino, Jay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have come to the conclusion that Vinny uses a tanning bed - the tan is too perfect.  Then again, taking 8 vacations a year could also account for it.  :-)



 

 

Photo by Clark Thomas

A good time was had by all.

 

 

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KEEPING TABS: 

 

 

Here is a reminder of the Brothers we have lost.

 

 

ROB BLANKENHORN, died December, 2016.

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.05, (See Comment by Dick Stoner). Archive: Sept. 2017

 

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 at 1420 Gallatin Pike South, Madison, TN 37115.  Alex and Laura are at Section KK,  Site 794. 

 

 

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THE ARCHIVES

 

 

If you have never explored the “Archives” in this Blog – it is toward 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, it will drop down and list all issues that were published that month.  If you want Issue No. 68, you click on that, and it takes you to that issue.  You can then post a comment to that issue.  It’s never too late to post a comment, right? 

 

 

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BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS:   As of October 14, 2017, there are 37 Blog Website Members; there are 129 ATO’s on the blog list, plus 22 ATO Gal-Pals.  And, there are 12 Brothers whose e-mail address is unknown. 

VTL,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, 72