Beta Pi:
IS BETA PI BLOG without any redeeming social or artistic merit?
YEA . . . . Festus, or
NAY. . . . Chestus?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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VANDERBILT CONSTRUCTION ZONE – CASTLE VON ZEPPO UPDATE
Breath taking! Cranes everywhere. No end in sight. Two of the former Carmichael Towers remain standing, their days numbered. Construction stopping traffic on West End. Coeds standing around gawking. Construction workers gawking at Coeds. But the big scoop is this.
Rumor has it that the powers-that-be (the Ivory Tower set) have selected a name for the….well, you decide what-to-call-it Tower. It is to be named after a little-known Vanderbilt Alum . . . .
HUGH G. RICHTSHUN who during his lifetime invented the very popular children’s toy, the “Erector Set” and became wealthy, and did many “uplifting” things.
The Tower is to be unofficially named . . . wait for it . . .
“The Hugh G. Richtshun Memorial Tower.” The Tower stands far higher than any other building at Vanderbilt, and far higher than any other building in the West End area, and never mind that some have said it stands out, and up, like a “sore thumb”, never mind all that. Before Chancellor Zeppo left, he was captured on video gleefully pushing the Demolition Plunger which ignited the explosives that felled Carmichael Towers, we now know – now that the in-your-face tower is complete- that he had a master plan to erect the biggest, sorest-thumb-tower ever, just because he could. And isn’t it glorious, the new “Hugh G. Richtshun Memorial Tower?”
TISON KEEL, BLOG CORRESPONDENT
One thing for sure about Tison, he always comes bearing gifts! Tison sent me a text message about a recent meeting he arranged with two of our Notable Potentates……OLLIE GRACE and CHESTER BREWER! Tison, thank you for setting an example for us with the COVID Masks, I sincerely appreciate it.
Awesome! I had the honor of being Big Brother to OLLIE "Master Ollie" GRACE, back in the day, during which time I also acted as an interpreter-of-sorts for Ollie. Why did Ollie need an interpreter? When Ollie heard the various Tick-a-lor crudities, profanities, and indiscretions - of which there were many - he got a puzzled look on his face, as if to say, “what does that mean?” Naturally, it is the duty of a Big Brother to translate such crudities into language suitable to the more refined taste … for which Ollie was appreciative. A few years back, we got to share a meal with Ollie at a recent Reunion, and it was great! Ollie, we love you Brother!!
Speaking of crudities . . . I had the honor of being the butt of many such Tick-a-lor crudities, profanities and indiscretions leveled at me by my friend CHESTER BREWER, who seemed to take a particular pleasure in his attempts to humiliate me. Chester once accused me of being a “slack-jaw.”
Explanation is in order. All my life I have had allergies and nasal problems. Back then, there were few medicines, Benadryl and a few others, all of which caused drowsiness. So, I avoided it. Essentially, I had to live with a chronic nasal congestion. This meant that to breath, I had to breath through my mouth. Today of course, they have many good medicines to clear up nasal congestion, but back then, you just lived with it, or drowsed out on Benadryl. So, back then I had a bad – but medically understandable – habit of breathing through my mouth. Chet did not realize any of that - and why should he? - what Chet saw was me with my mouth open. A “slack-jaw.” In Chet’s rhetorical arsenal this was in the same category as a moron. But this was how ATO was at that time, we all called each other names, nicknames, in fun. Dr. Phibes set the example, we have documentary video evidence that Matt Hart nick-named a hometown friend of his "dogshit." For short, Matt called him "the shit." Yes, that is odd. And odd, the way certain memories are more vivid than others. Chester, we love you Brother!
The nasal congestion/benadryl thing also resulted in another nick name for me. Frank “Buck” Biller nick named me “DO-ZO” due to me frequently dozing off in class, probably due to Benadryl, and late-night partying. This was a derivation of the nick name Phibes gave me: "BOZO." A later derivation was given me by Art Landry: "RICARDO MONTAL-DOZO" . . . something to do with Ricardo Montalban. Who understands that?
This rampant nicknaming of me pretty much continued until FIGHT NIGHT in 1973.
On that occasion I gave a little gift to Frank Biller, from the heart . . .
after which ABER declared my new nick name “CHAMP”.
After this, Chester seemed to back
off his attempted humiliations, and after Buck’s bloody nose, and wounded pride
healed, he made valiant efforts to reform his habit of constantly nick-naming
me. And as you know, Buck is – along with Vinny- my closest and dearest
friend. Chester, I continue to work on your return…
I have in the last years since made several efforts, by telephone to persuade you - Chester to
return, and Chester, I hope you do my friend!
Tison also sent a picture of JACK “NICK-THE-NICK” NICHOLSON that appeared in a Vanderbilt publication.
Go Nick-the-Nick! Hope to see you this Fall!
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THE HEME REPORTS
GEORGE “THE HEME” TOMLINSON also texted me a great picture entitled . . . .
“JOCK-GREATS-OF-YORE” which included George Tomlinson, Mark Ilgenfritz, George “Aber” Abernathy, Greg Williams, and Mark “Cheeks” Reed.
Thanks to HEME for keeping us in the loop. Geez, Heme....I just turned 68, that means you guys must be 70 . . . wow, surreal. You guys all look 10 years younger than I feel.
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FRANK COLLINS IS ON-THE-AIR!
And Frank also sent a great picture of himself and the great CHARLY “RALPH” McGIBONY on Graduation Day. Charly and Frank are two of the All-Time-Greats.
Thanks Frank, looking forward to seeing you and Ralph both this Fall.
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REUNION 2021 UPDATE:
Everything looks like a “go” for Vanderbilt Reunion this Fall. It will be October 22-23, 2021, a joint Reunion to make up for the lost Reunion of 2020. So, for us, that will mean my Class of 1975 will join with the Class of 1976. I have asked TISON KEEL to be Point Man for ATO Class of 75, and FRANK COLLINS to be Point Man for ATO Class of 76. Guys, thank you SO much for your dedication and assistance! Frank Biller recently said he believes this joint reunion will be “the biggest Reunion Party in the History of Mankind!”
The Agenda:
Vanderbilt
Reunion this fall will be Friday, October 22-23. I hope you can make
it.
- Friday afternoon, 1:30
p.m. we will visit Alex and Laura
Wilson’s graves.
- Friday night - Vanderbilt Class parties, and All Class Party in the Big Tent.
- Saturday VU Tailgate, Homecoming Game, TBA
- Our annual ATO Cocktail and Dinner Party at
Cabana, after the Game Saturday evening, TBA.
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COVID-19 PANDEMIC
I have been worried, not just about myself and my family, but worried for you and your families. It is so good that vaccinations have been increasing, and COVID-related deaths decreasing. We have made it...so far. Now is not the time to drop our guard. The Nashville Tennessean recently reported that several Southern States, Tennessee included, are 33% below the National average for vaccinations. That is concerning. There are pockets of “Vaccination Hesitancy” and Tennessee is one of those pockets.
At our ATO Party this fall, we will be observing CDC Guidelines. I want to encourage everyone in our group to please get vaccinated. I know people who have been infected with COVID-19, and I am sure you know 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. Very, very thankful for that. I continue praying that ALL of us survive.
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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 June 27, 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
