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
Chuck and Karen Wharton with David
pictures, links, Archives of previous issues, and
David, with Dr. Phibes who looks like he ate a bad oyster, and Buck Biller.
I think maybe David was aware Phibes ate a bad oyster.
other
timewasters.
To get there, go to web address: http://beta-pi-blog.blogspot.com
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R.I.P. DAVID W. HAINES, JR., ATO CLASS OF 1979
I was on the phone with Vinny Starr when I got the sad news, our ATO Brother David Haines died on January 17, 2021 of a heart attack. Vinny got an email from Chip Heartfield. I had talked to David a year ago about with a legal question, and he was very helpful. David had worked for years with the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts. I met David in 1977 or 1978 – I had just moved back to Nashville after my stint in the Army, and Vinny Starr was still in Law School and at the House, so I hung out at the House on Vinny’s coat tails, and he introduced me to the fine group of guys there. It appeared to me David was a protege of Vinny.
I had the honor of sitting across the Tales Table from David, and you might see by the glossed over look in my eye, I was clearly out matched. Sean Walsh was also intent on nailing me.
So I asked Chuck Wharton to write a memorial. Here is what Chuck sent, edited by Chip Heartfield.
“Larry,
Tough duty to be remembering my friend David Haines ATO Beta Pi 1979 - I do miss him. He passed away Saturday, January 16 in the morning, from a heart attack. As many folks know, David had been stricken with leukemia following his time at Vanderbilt and went through an at-the-time experimental series of radiation treatments and a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother. This was extremely debilitating and yet he dealt with it better than I ever could have, then and over the years that followed.
He is survived by two sons David and Matthew and his wife of 41 years and VU ATO little sister Kathy Grainger Haines, all of whom live in Nashville. David and Kathy were married in the summer of 1979 as part of a trio of TIC weddings: one the weekend before in Savannah (my wife Karen and I), then the Haines in Tallahassee, followed by Jeff Reeder and his wife Trish the weekend after in Texas (I think). The stories from the Tics that attended all three and made various stops along the way are legendary.
David and I were friends from freshman hall - lord please put in that pic of the two of us leaning out the window of Dyer Hall watching all the coeds go to morning classes which we were happily skipping at that time.
After Rick Voss had been instrumental in getting me into the TIC house, David joined the next semester. David was an excellent athlete - loved the IM sports and played in both of the infamous games at the Nashville prison - basketball and softball. He could play cards with the best of us - bridge and gin rummy and he always had a good outlook and a story to tell you. When it came to Wales Tales - he was one of the best. He was a fine musician - learning and playing guitar and doing what might have been the best Mick Jagger imitation I've ever seen.
At that point in time - Vinnie was still around in law school and the upper classmen, Marlon, Scott Shephard, Ted Stephany and others were excellent at Tales. Over the course of the three years though David would become as good or better than all of them - he and I had more fun playing Tales then you could imagine. Perhaps his best moments were when the two of us would play with six in out ins - those calls were great fun, and we did like to put on a show when we could.
David at a VU football game with Randy Martin
David at a Tales game at the Tic house (it is a blur, the photographer was looped apparently)
David and Mark McGann
Over the years many reunions would revolve around David's love of the St. Louis Cardinals and Tennessee Titans as folks would travel to games and see old friends along the way. There's an attached pic of a nice group with a big batch of crabs in Maryland – our departed brother Marlon can also be seen in the photo. You have more pics from this trip somewhere in the Blog I just can't remember/find it.
Big batch of crabs in Maryland (I
think).
David on the beach, posing as Tonto
Man the Fireworks!! All Hands on Deck!
Chuck
* * *
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Today in the United States there are 26.5 Million cases of COVID-19, and 447,000 people have died. Someone recently remarked that the whole COVID-19 thing has been blown way out of proportion. I disagree. I know people who have been infected with COVID-19, and I would wager to say every one of us knows someone who has either been infected, or who has died. Two of our Brothers, that I know of have been infected, and yet have survived. As we make our way through this, I am praying that ALL of us survive.
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POETRY CORNER
These days, since January 6th, I have been deeply concerned. And with the limitations I have placed on this Blog, i.e., no political discourse, I think one way I might share my hopes and concerns is with one of my poems. This poem appeared in my first book “Water, Wind, Spirit, Stone” copyright 2014, Lawrence A. Simons. If you like it, please buy my book, it is available on Amazon. Or, next time you see me, ask me and I’ll give you a signed copy. If you doubt this, ask my friend Claude Cody.
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to
Yield, full of mercy and good
fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
James 3:17, 18
For Ann, on our third Anniversary
PEACE
To the wildflower, the mountain said I apologize -
For
the shadow I cast on you.
If
I did not stand over you,
The
sun would shine on you unceasingly.
To
the mountain, the raincloud said I apologize -
For
all of my leaning on your shoulder.
If
I did not cling to you so, the beauty of your great peak
Would
be visible for the sun to shine upon always.
To
the mountain, the sun said I apologize -
For
setting down on you every day, and leaving you to the darkness.
If
I did not leave you, you would cast no shadow
And
my warmth and light would freely bathe your wildflowers.
To
the raincloud, the wildflower said I apologize -
For
my selfishness.
For
I have never ceased
In
my craving of your rain water.
To the sun, the wildflower said I apologize -
For
my greed.
For
I have never felt satisfied enough,
I
always need more of your warmth and light.
To
the mountain, the wildflower said I apologize -
For
my hatred.
For
I have bitterly cursed you
With
every shadow you cast upon me.
Then
said the wildflower to the raincloud, the mountain, and the sun -
Of
all of us, I have the heaviest heart.
How
could I hope to be forgiven
After
the wrongs I have done to you?
To
the wildflower, the raincloud said –
My
rain water is your water.
The
sun said - my light is your light.
The mountain said - my love is your love.
Lawrence A.
Simons
* * *
KEEPING TABS:
Here is a reminder of the Brothers and
Sisters we have lost.
DAVID W. HAINES, JR., died January 17, 2021.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2021, No.01
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
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 February 3, 2021, 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
