IS BETA PI BLOG without any redeeming social or
artistic merit?:
YEA . . . . or
The
Beta Pi Blog is non-political. It
includes
Photo by Clark Thomas
Archives of previous issues, and other time-wasters.
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STOOGE DINNER
AT JIMMY’S
“I'll have a dry martini…in a deep champaign goblet…three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?”
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VISIT
TO ALEX & LAURA WILSON’S GRAVE
So we met as planned, piled into Claude Cody’s Van and headed up
to visit to Alex & Laura Wilson’s grave.
George Joe was there when we arrived!
It was a gorgeous autumn day. All of the beautiful headstones in Nashville National Cemetery...
GEORGE JOE: ".....Alex and Laura were father and mother figures to all of us, loving unconditionally, and not afraid to give wise advise when we needed it the most."
CLAUDE
CODY: …”My
favorite remembrance of Alex Wilson was the time he brought some civility to
the ATO house. In the early 70’s when it was mealtime, especially for dinner,
Alex would announce that the food was on the tables. As soon as the
announcement was made, there was a stampede for the dining area and the ATO’s
would proceed to start stuffing food in their mouths. At least everyone waited
till Alex made the announcement. Since I doubted anyone acted this way outside
the ATO house, I figured we should try to change the behavior. I sat down with
Alex and asked him if he had any ideas of how to accomplish this. He suggested
a prayer at every meal. Some other ATO’s in attendance (officers) scoffed at
the idea. Why would anyone sit still for a prayer? If Alex gave the prayer,
everyone would listen. At the next dinner, Alex announced that the food was
ready and the usual stampede occurred. After a few moments, Alex came out of
the kitchen and asked everyone to bow their heads. There was a stunned silence.
Everyone stopped eating and bowed their heads. Alex gave the ATO prayer. About
a week later, Alex started asking others to give the prayer. From that time on,
no one started eating until the prayer was said.”
At the church, I nervously held out my loose leaf
paper, shaking such that I could barely read it, but I started out
saying.....
"Alex
Wilson was not the cook at the ATO Fraternity House, he was our brother."
..... a voice in the audience yelled out "Tell it Brother!"
I continued… "Alex was initiated by our brothers in 1973 and
he was truly a member of this organization" ... another voice said "Amen,
brother!"
My
confidence was rising... as a different member of the North Nashville
Congregation supported and encouraged me to continue with each line that I
delivered. I spoke louder and with more confidence until I think I may have
sounded a little bit like a southern preacher, in this delivery...
I felt energized by the positive energy in the room, and I spoke
about how important Alex had become to all the young men who were members and
shared food and fellowship during their college years at Vanderbilt. I
remember being truly uplifted by the experience, and Laura thanked me, as you
can imagine she would have.
It was a huge and very moving moment in my Vanderbilt
experience. As a white guy from a mostly white area of suburban
Washington, DC, I was honored to have delivered an eulogy at a black man's
funeral in North Nashville. To this day, I feel honored to have done this
and I will always remember how we all made the best of the passing of Alexander
Wilson in April 1977."
LAWRENCE SIMONS: "…..I was living at the House and I was the House Manager. My job was to take care of the House, maintenance, replace broken ceiling tiles, and to clean up after parties.
Well,
we had a party, and I got really drunk, and next morning I slept through my
morning Class. When I stumbled out into
the living room, I saw Alex was cleaning up the House, and immediately I got
this awful feeling of guilt, because there was Alex doing my job, I felt
awful. So, I walked up to him and said “Alex,
that is my job, you shouldn’t be doing that, I’ll do it.” And Alex looked at me, and smiled, and said “Mr.
Larry, it’s alright, I’m glad to help out.”
And I learned that day what it feels like when a brother has your back,
Alex had my back."
FRANK
BILLER: “…On a warm Spring afternoon in late April of
my senior year I was lounging in the kitchen of the ATO house enjoying a
Marlboro and having a casual conversation with Laura Wilson. Laura took a
drag on one of those really long cigarettes she and Alexander used to smoke and
asked me in a suddenly serious tone “Mr. Buck, what are you going to do when you
graduate from college?”. I had spent a great deal of time working out
several solid plans and I was both challenged and eager to share “Plan A” with
my surrogate Mother. Laura, said I, My plan is to move to the Atlantic
side of Florida. There I will seek daytime employment as a construction
worker. Construction workers make good pay and I will keep in shape and
have a great tan. In addition, I will get a job at night as a
bartender. I love bars and I will meet many beautiful women. With
all the money I make from 2 jobs I will buy a really nice trailer on the
intercostal waterway and buy a “state of the art” waterskiing boat. I
will waterski to my heart’s content and entertain the young ladies I meet in my
bartending on the boat and in my trailer.
Laura always held
her cards very close to her vest but it was evident immediately that she was
going to sound in on this. She looked at me after a pregnant pause and
remarked, “Mr. Buck, you may want to talk to your Momma and Daddy about that.
I am not sure they want you to become a construction worker. I am worried
about you too. If you become a bartender, I fear that you may become your
own best customer!
SPECIAL THANKS to Claude Cody. Claude, some folks may not know it, our gathering here at Alex and Laura's graves - for the second year in a row - was originally your idea. And, I did not know - until you said it graveside - that our ATO tradition of saying the ATO at mealtime was started by you and it was your suggestion that Alex say the prayer. Personally, I cannot thank you enough for that. I want to thank you, very sincerely, because to me, the ATO prayer, and my memories of Alex, and the dignity he imparted to us as individuals and as a group is the single most meaningful thing we have in ATO, apart from our dear friendships. Claude, to you my dear friend, and to Alex.
Lord of Mankind,
Master Divine,
Keep us pure in heart and mind,
And so that we may know Thee,
Thy presence show,
Guard and guide us, in ATO.
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CLASS OF 1973 CLASS PARTY
The Stooges did not attend this shindig, but Claude Cody provided some great pictures. Having been to a few of these "Class Parties"...they are great, super laid back, food always good..."take your shoes off, set a spell"...just kidding, not that laid back.
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ALL CLASS “BIG TENT” PARTY
Well, when we got there, and realized there was a “DJ” instead of a Live Band…well, let’s just say I am a fan of Live Music. But I didn't come to dance...I came to be in the presence of THE GREATS!
The incomparable Lisa, the gorgeous Kimberly Abernathy, and The Heme
Buck Biller..."What is happening here, where am I, and why is Aber behind me?"
So here is me...between two of the ALL-TIME-GREATS...ABER and BUCK
As it turned out, the DJ was supercharged, playing a set of electronic drums to the songs he played. It was danceable...dude had a groove going...so we danced!
You know how...sometimes something can seem so LAME that it becomes FUN? Well, that is what the Vanderbilt Alumni people dreamed up for this party, a really lame Photo Booth, with a green screen, and they take your picture and make it look like you are standing in front of something...well, people LOVED it, it was very popular, and people were lining up to get their picture made, so what the hell? As it turns out, the background they superimposed was "Nashville News Channel 9 Skyline" ...so what could be more fun? And here we are.... your "News Channel 9 Team"...
You know how...sometimes something can seem so LAME that it becomes FUN? Well, that is what the Vanderbilt Alumni people dreamed up for this party, a really lame Photo Booth, with a green screen, and they take your picture and make it look like you are standing in front of something...well, people LOVED it, it was very popular, and people were lining up to get their picture made, so what the hell? As it turns out, the background they superimposed was "Nashville News Channel 9 Skyline" ...so what could be more fun? And here we are.... your "News Channel 9 Team"...
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TAILGATE
This is always a joyous event, because of the friends, and the food is always good. And it is 9:00 a.m., and... none of us are awake yet.
Claude and lovely Anne Cody
George Tomlinson and lovely Lisa
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VANDY
vs FLORIDA
Larry Simons, Steven Starr and Frank Biller..."The Three Stooges"
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12th
ANNUAL ATO DINNER & COCKTAIL PARTY
Claude Cody, Clark Thomas, John Stein, Frank Biller, Steven Starr
Claude and Clark
Buck: "...so Boss, I mean, look at my head...come clean here, I'm desperate...you've got to tell me what kind of potion or supplement you take to get that full, thick, healthy head of hair, is it Rhinocerous Horn, Essence of Salamander, or Snake Oil?"
Buck: "Gentlemen....I have decided to call HAIR CLUB FOR MEN!!"
And a fine time was had by all.
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PRAYERS FOR MARK McGANN:
On October 17th, I got an email from Tison Keel, with this news about our dear friend MARK "MARLON" McGANN:
"Mark McGann, affectionately known as "Marlon" to his Tic brothers, underwent brain surgery on the 16th in Fort Pierce, Florida to remove a tumor, his second such episode fifteen years after the first. This was a surprise and an unpleasant one at that, because Marlon recovered fully from the first bout, and was declared cancer free ten years ago, beating the odds, so we pray for a repeat outcome now. I spoke with his sister, Wendy, today, and she said Mark is upbeat and unquestionably elected to undergo the surgery and subsequent radiation therapy, even though he knows all too well the discomfort and difficulties involved. We know Mark is willful and stubborn; that was a good thing the first go-round, so should hold him in good stead now. The surgery was successful, and according to Wendy, Mark is resting comfortably, though still sedated, with hopes to be out of the ICU and into PT by early next week. The prognosis will not be known until after the radiation treatments, to which he responded quite positively last time. Wendy suggested, and I agree that it would boost his spirits if his ATO brothers could send cards and letters to his home address, so he will have a friendly welcome when he gets back home. Please do NOT call Mark's cell phone, because that is being held by Wendy until he is able to take calls.
Vero Beach, FL 32963"
Mark, we love you and are praying for you.
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On October 17th, I got an email from Tison Keel, with this news about our dear friend MARK "MARLON" McGANN:
"Mark McGann, affectionately known as "Marlon" to his Tic brothers, underwent brain surgery on the 16th in Fort Pierce, Florida to remove a tumor, his second such episode fifteen years after the first. This was a surprise and an unpleasant one at that, because Marlon recovered fully from the first bout, and was declared cancer free ten years ago, beating the odds, so we pray for a repeat outcome now. I spoke with his sister, Wendy, today, and she said Mark is upbeat and unquestionably elected to undergo the surgery and subsequent radiation therapy, even though he knows all too well the discomfort and difficulties involved. We know Mark is willful and stubborn; that was a good thing the first go-round, so should hold him in good stead now. The surgery was successful, and according to Wendy, Mark is resting comfortably, though still sedated, with hopes to be out of the ICU and into PT by early next week. The prognosis will not be known until after the radiation treatments, to which he responded quite positively last time. Wendy suggested, and I agree that it would boost his spirits if his ATO brothers could send cards and letters to his home address, so he will have a friendly welcome when he gets back home. Please do NOT call Mark's cell phone, because that is being held by Wendy until he is able to take calls.
Let's step up brothers!
Please send your well-wishes to
Mark at:
1970 Coco PlumVero Beach, FL 32963"
Mark, we love you and are praying for you.
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. 2017Obituary:
ROB BLANKENHORN, died
December, 2016.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.05, (See Comment by Dick
Stoner). Archive: Sept. 2017EDWARD 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
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. 2006Beta 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
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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POST, OR READ COMMENTS: Just
click the button - Comments – below my signature block.
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BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of October 26, 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
