Saturday, July 18, 2020

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2020, No.02 – Lurch Speaks!


























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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LURCH SPEAKS!

So . . . . query:

How does THIS… 



Become THIS…


























And THIS…



And yet… evolve into THIS???


One of the great, great, great ATO Brothers is MARK “LURCH” HEKTNER.  I have tried many times over the years to reach him, or “awaken the beast” as they say– but every email attempt yielded only an “automated reply”…sort of like: 

“Mr. Hektner is out of the office (peon), but Mr. Hektner will return on (some future date, if you are lucky enough to warrant his attention)…”  

Mark, I am not a fan of automated replies, but a big Lurch fan nevertheless.

Well - spank the Rain Man - Lurch actually sent me a reply:

“So, I never have any meaningful communication with you?  Here you go--me (edited), swaging and styling at Bill's daughter's beachside wedding at the Breakers hotel a few years ago.  The following year was a close repeat when Bill got married to Terry at the Sailfish Club.  Who is that self-important man?


Respectfully,
Mark W. Hektner, Esquire

Mark, great to hear from you, we love you and many of our guys want to see you in person, looks like 2021 could be the year.

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ATO REUNION CHAIR TISON KEEL - REPORT 2020
By Tison Keel

In case word has not reached one and all, your worthy reunion chairman is sad to report that the 45th reunion of Vandy class of 1975 has been "postponed" by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Since the usual campus-wide festivities are now delayed until some yet undetermined date in the fall of 2021, the football season is doubtful, and the plague probably unrelenting, I am recommending that we do NOT attempt a foolhardy and reckless ATO-only gathering of the kind recently held in Tulsa.  On the bright side, if in fact things get more under control by Q4 2021 we will have an opportunity for a dual reunion, classes of 1975 and 1976, with a potentially record-breaking turnout.






While I had just gotten started on corralling our classmates for the 2020 event, I was happy to report that there was high interest in participating from a Brother not seen on campus by his peers since 1985, when he was accompanied by his father and VU class of 1950, Smokey Stover; furthermore, he was potentially to be accompanied by mom Juanita, Ward Belmont College alumna famed for Tic House revelry when she visited us in 1974.  Hopefully, His Honor EARL STOVER will still feel like participating in 2021 and that Juanita will be as spry as ever and will join us too.  











I had so far failed to get a commitment from CHET BREWER, but I had not surrendered on that front. 


Otherwise, I was counting on attendance by BUCK BILLER, VINNY STARR and LARRY BOZINO SIMONS,











and a cameo appearance by J.D. STRICKLAND, as usual.  








JACK MUENCH, being a class-straddling alum graduating in the fall of 1974, was also invited and a hoped-for participant,










and MATT "Quien Sabe" BLANKENSHIP was on my hit list,

as was CLYDE DONUTS NOEL.  









Recent reunion appearances gave some hope for seeing LEAPIN' GENE YOUNG,











as well as JEFF OVERBY.  Attempts to locate Bob "Mole" Lichtenstein were unfruitful.










A combined 75-76 gathering offers the potentials for gathering in 1976 greats like STARVIN' ART LANDRY, DR Flower, Jimmy Grissett,























FRANK COLLINS and who knows what other luminaries might show?
















So, we will reboot, go back into isolation, and hope that all of the ATO Brotherhood (based upon eternal and immutable principles) remain healthy through the next, trying phase of the Plague of 2020. 

VTL!





















Tison

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“MICKEY-D” TELLS THE SORDID TALE OF . . .
TICK-A-LORS AT WOMEN’S PRISON

When the mass “Check-in” email went around back in March, to check in with everyone in the wake of COVID-19 crisis, a few of the guys used the opportunity to share old memories. A few such fellows were CRAIG WEBER, aka “Little Droop” ATO Class of 79, DAVID McDONALD, aka “Mickey-D” ATO Class of 79, and MARTY HEFLIN, ATO Class of 80, who shared this:

CRAIG "LITTLE DROOP" WEBER: “…. On another somewhat lighter note, does anyone have any photos from the infamous (and well-attended) ATO dance at the TN State Women's prison?? (circa 1978).
Little Droop


DAVID McDONALD: “I can elaborate regarding the 1978 Tic dance at the Tennessee Women’s Prison. I was having a brew at the Overcup Oak in Fall 1978 and in conversation with the student sitting next to me, well those guys are pretty crazy at the ATO house, would you guys want to have a dance at the TN Women’s prison? As Worthy Chaplain, I saw the opportunity to continue our compassionate outreach ministry and said, “yeah, why not?” We took about 50 guys there with huge speakers and they only allowed about 30 into a large cafeteria. Then maybe 100 women came in, the music started, and the boogying began. I recall conversation with an attractive young woman whose boyfriend had shot someone in a convenience store as they were driving south towards FL. She got to spend several years in TN as an accomplice to murder. This was way before phone cameras, and I do not recall seeing a camera there or any photos of the event.

As I said goodbye to the young woman and walked with her out of the cafeteria, I realized I was suddenly beyond the guards and in a grassy courtyard headed toward the lockdown cells. I turned back toward the free world.”

David McDonald











MARTY HEFLIN: “David - I remember it well!  Held on to the Hustler because NO ONE would believe we actually did this!”



(And Marty had the picture to prove it, and has shared it with the Blog, BIG, BIG THANKS TO MARTY, MICKEY-D and LITTLE DROOP!)

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THE EMAIL THREAD TO END ALL THREADS!

There were SO many great comments that came from that COVID check-in email, a few brothers have requested the entire thread be IMMORTALIZED on the Blog. There were simply too many responses to include, but here are a few of the interesting responses regarding the Women’s Prison Adventure:





FROM JIMMY GRISSETT TO ALL: 
Subject: Re: Beta Pi - Check-in, we are thinking of you

We're all still in jail trying to pick up those prison chicks that the younger guys didn't have any luck with - will let you know if it ever works out.  In the meantime, my son is here on spring break from college on a family visit weekend practicing social distancing in a new Walking Dead episode.  If you know exactly when and where to look, he actually was an extra on the Governor Returns episode and you can see about 1/4 of his head for a second if you have it on wide angle.






FROM TOM SOUDAN:
Subject: Re: Beta Pi - Check-in, we are thinking of you

I knew we were in trouble when the prisoners ran into the gym with uniforms on and had actual warm up drills.  Guys were slamming, which was quite a feat back in the late 70's.  I think we lost 110 to 17.

My most vivid memory of the dance was a very large older lady with blue hair kept eyeing me.  I was scared.

I think Alvin Harris was dating someone in the prison outreach program and was trying to get lucky, so he set this up. 










FROM RANDY “BUM-JAM” MARTIN TO DAVID McDONALD:
Subject: Re: Beta Pi - Check-in, we are thinking of you

Whenever I tell people about the prison dance, the basketball game against the men’s “Big House” prison team (The Vipers)at 8 am on a Sunday morning, and the softball game against the men’s minimum security team (several ladies from our dance attended the game and rooted against us), heads spin, jaws drop and “Holy Shit” is uttered repeatedly.
















FROM DAVE G. CHRISTOFFERSON
Subject: Re: Beta Pi - Check-in, we are thinking of you

You haven't lived until a chick says to you, "Do you want to come back to my cell with me?"  Yes.  it happened.












AND NOW....your Beta Pi Blog Judges have reached a DECISION.....
THE BETA PI BLOG AWARD FOR GREATEST COMMENT OF ALL TIME.....
goes to....
 D. GRAY CHRISTOFFERSON.
Congratulations D. Gray...your prize may arrive in the mail.












FROM JOEL “ITCHY” KADARAUCH:
Subject: Re: Beta Pi - Check-in, we are thinking of you

I would argue that you haven’t lived until you’ve taken her up on it. 














FROM TOM “LOVE-MAN” LOVINGGOOD:
Subject: Re: Beta Pi - Check-in, we are thinking of you

I would stay away from that woman. Just sayin'









FROM CRAIG WEBER:
Subject: Re: Beta Pi - Check-in, we are thinking of you

Very good, Marty!! I don't even remember us making it into the Hustler.  It's documented...we really did it (not just some alcohol-induced flashback).

No surprise that it was our Worthy Chaplain that got us into the arrangement at the state prison.  I remember dancing with some petite black woman, who told me she was in prison for KILLING HER WHOLE FAMILY...all eight of them.  What a great way to start a conversation; I was just happy they didn't allow slow dancing.  

The bus ride back to the frat house was interesting as well...quite a few of the guys said their 'dance partners' asked for their phone #s, because they 'would be getting out soon'!!!!

LD


This thread tops all in memory, thanks to all who responded. Apologies to anyone whose comments got left out. With all the replies, it was impossible to include them all.  J


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JACK NICHOLS DISCOVERS A TICK-A-LOR!








Out of the blue…. And I mean OUT OF THE BLUE… 

I get a very nice, but very random email from JACK “NICK” NICHOLS, the one-time protégé of FRANK J. BILLER.   Back in the day, we could not tell them apart…. Nick looked, dressed, behaved, and DRANK exactly like his Big Brother.  It was what it was.  So here is what the great NICK sent me:






“Larry on Saturday, the starter at our club put a guy with us who told me he was a Vandy grad, and after a playing a few holes, I asked him if he was in a fraternity, and low and behold he was a Tic. His name is Chuck McCleskey, class of ’81 if my memory is correct. I asked him if he gets your Blog and he said he doesn’t, so please add him to the distribution list. He is cc’d so you have his personal email address.

All the best,
Nick
Jack Nichols
Cell 678-576-2343”


So, without further “To-Do” …. Beta Pi Blog welcomes CHUCK McCLESKEY  cmuse44@bellsouth.net

Chuck, welcome to the Ship o’ Fools. 

Nick, thanks for finding Chuck!  You have followed in the footsteps of your Mentor and Big Brother FRANK J. BILLER, who is – I am certain – proud of you….for taking time out of your Golf game to notice the man standing next to you.


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KEEPING TABS: 

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

ANTHONY GUY MIRANDA, died June 18, 2019.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2019, No.04. Archive: ___ 2019
Obituary:

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:

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 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 July 18, 2020, there are 132 ATO’s on the blog email list, including 13 Brothers whose e-mail address is unknown, plus 19 ATO Gal-Pals. 

VTL,









Larry Simons
Beta Pi, 72