Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2018, No.02 – ATO House Backyard

photo by Clark Thomas

Beta Pi:

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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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ATO House Backyard, R.I.P

I dislike being the bearer of sad news, but here it is.  Our beloved ATO House Backyard has died.  There is a huge construction project, which engulfed our Backyard, up to literally within several feet of the ATO House - it stretches from the back door of the House all the way to West End, and from 25^th Avenue all the way to (the doomed) Carmichael Towers.

Before I show you pictures of the mayhem, I thought it fitting to Memorialize the Backyard.  Let us bow our heads .....Here are a few memories.

 

The Fence.  In 1974, when I was Pledge Trainer, the Pledge Project was to build a new Fence around the Backyard.  We dug post holes, erected posts set in concrete, nailed up boards, and finished with a coat of Creosote (the foul s**t they coat telephone poles with).  Above is a shot of me and Don “Funky” Engleman working on it.

 

The Back Kitchen Door, and Laura Wilson.  At that time, there was no Deck, no Sliding Glass Doors, there was only the back Kitchen Entrance.  Here is a shot of Laura Wilson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pig Roast Pit.  In the back right-hand corner of the Backyard, is where we dug the Pig Roast Pit.  Every year, we would get a hog, and Alex would roast the Pig, it was an all-night party.  It smelled awesome, we hung out in the Backyard while Alex roasted the pig, and had a Keg party.  For other Tales of Pig Roast, go to Archives, Vol.2006, No.45, (September, 2006).

 

The House Dining Room.  In the old days, we had two meals a day, Lunch and Dinner, prepared by our great Cook and Brother Alexander Wilson and his wife, Laura Wilson.  Alex and Laura were like parents to us, that is how they loved us.  There were no sliding glass doors leading to a Deck. 

When we weren't eating meals, we used the Dining Room for other purposes, like playing Wales Tales.  Yes, our Dining Room used to be a place to “get blasted.”  And blasted we got.

This is a Tales Game, in 1978, when Vinny was a 3^rd Year Law Student at Vanderbilt Law School, and I was living in Nashville.  Pictured next to me is Sean “G-Man” Walsh, the Prince Ken Mansfield, and across from me David Haines. Doug Qualls is at the other end.  I think that is Mark Adams and Jimmy Grissett standing to the right.

Back then, we could play a quiet game of Tales. .....

 

Now, just behind the House, it is a frickin' “Blasting Zone.”

 

 

It stretches from the ATO House to West End, and from 25th Avenue to Carmichael Towers...

“Ole bricks-n-mortar” Zeppo had them build ...

a protective Fence, ...

after they took chain saws ...

and butchered our Deck.

 

No more Deck ...

to have great parties on.

Here are a few pictures from 2016......

 of a Great Party the ATO's put on the Deck, during Homecoming ....

a few years ago, before Zeppo butchered it.... I am so pissed!

One of the colorful signs - on the Wall marking the construction area - along 25th Avenue says:

 

“Residential Colleges are a physical manifestation of our vision of educating the whole person.” Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos.  ---

Pardon me?  Who talks like that?  Oh yeah right....that is the sniff-sniff style with which they dialogue in the Ivory-frickin-Tower.  WHAT A CROCK! 

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THE BUCK BILLER SPORTS PAGE

By Frank J. Biller, Beta Pi Blog Sports Correspondent

Coach Bryce Drew has a great recruiting class coming to Vandy next year.  We are currently ranked #7 in the country for recruiting.  We are still working on 2 additional guys who would put us at #2 behind only Duke who signed the Numbers 1, 2 and 3 players in the country.  Below are my comments:

I am watching the McDonalds High School All Star Basketball game tonight.  I wanted to see what Coach Bryce Drew’s incoming All Stars look like.  Simi Shittu is unfortunately injured and unable to play tonight.  Darius Garland is the real deal.  He is high twitch, super quick and deadly assassin with the jump shot. 

E.J. Montgomery who recommitted from Auburn is looking at Vandy now, and Romeo Langford are also playing.  Langford is down to a final 3 and Vandy is the leader.  Garland is recruiting both of them this week at the McDonalds.  Langford is the best looking scorer I have ever seen.  No matter what happens, we will win the SEC next year just with the guys we have signed now (including Garland, Shittu, our great signee Aaron Nesmith and two “plug and play” transfers).  If we get Langford and/or Montgomery, we will contend for the national title. 

NOTE:  Saben Lee had a solid year as a freshman in 2017-18.  He could lead the SEC in assists with all these high [powered scoring machines coming in.  He has got to be as excited as anyone.

Bottom line folks- Get your season tickets and start saving up for tickets to March Madness next spring.

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KEEPING TABS: 

Here is a reminder of the Brothers and Sisters we have lost.

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

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 April 6, 2018, there are 37 Blog Website Members; there are 131 ATO’s on the blog list, plus 21 ATO Gal-Pals.  And, there are 12 Brothers whose e-mail address is unknown. 

VTL,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, 72