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
A RARE PICTURE
So, our wonderful Gal-Pal KINGSLEY
KAMINER sent me this picture – of All Time Great Gal-Pal BECKY DENHAM. . . surrounded by all the young dudes!
Kingsley, thank you so much for sending me this awesome picture!
There are so many things that come to mind in this picture – so many things I decided not to write. I rely instead on my mother’s advice “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything.” Somebody call the Florist!
Pictured to Becky's left is my Columbus, Ohio buddy RICK “BOO BOO” ZISKA! What a great guy…whose legacy was tarnished only by an exceedingly drunk FRANK BILLER - who hypnotized him into painting the E’s and their dates decked out in formal attire. Ah...the abilty to lead men to greatness... Rick, I say that from experience, Buck has had me in a state of continual hypnosis since we met in 1972.
My hat is off to my friend HERB LADLEY, who coached me in The Fight against my greatest best friend BUCK BILLER. Herb I remember you as always kind, always a gentleman, always generous with a smile - even though surrounded by raving heathens. I hope we will see you again soon! Love you bro.
I am realizing that in every great memory I have of
PIERCE “WIMP” HODNETTE, including our Clarksdale BYOG bash, Pierce always has a twinkle in his eye, which tells on his huge spirit. I love that about you Pierce, and miss you my friend.
GREATS, ONE AND ALL!
* * *
PRESENTING THE 2023 POINT MEN
We have two Classes of our guys
converging on Vanderbilt Reunion this Fall, Class of 1973 (for their 50th
Reunion) and Class of 1978 (for their 45th Reunion)!
JOHN STEIN has agreed to be POINT MAN, CLASS OF 73. There are “known greats” (guys on our radar) and unknown greats (guys who have evaded our radar). Here are the known greats, who might attend, if Boss persuades them: George Abernathy, Rob Anderson, Tim Cusack, George Joe, Mike McCarty, Mark Reed, Lance Reising and George Tomlinson. A truly stellar group of guys.
DICK STONER has agreed to be POINT MAN, CLASS OF 78. The known greats from this tribe include: Bob Balaka, Don Engleman, D.R. Flower, Jimmy Grissett, Chip Heartfield, Ed Oppenheimer, James Qualls, Don Scott and Sean Walsh. If Dick can light a fire under these guys, we hope to see them. I had the privilege of meeting these guys in 1977-1978, after my Army stint, I moved to Nashville in June 1977. And since Vinny Starr was still in Law School at Vanderbilt, I hung out with him at the ATO House, where I met these wonderful guys…and I also met Ed Oppenheimer, a man in a class all his own.
HERE IS OUR AGENDA:
As is our tradition, the ATO events
are being planned as follows:
Friday afternoon, November 3rd, 1:30 p.m. – meet at the House, we will caravan to visit Alex & Laura’s Graves.
We will remember Alex & Laura, and we have a new tradition started last year –
“Reading of the Names” – we pass a list of the names of all of our Brothers passed away, and each guy reads a name, and everyone has opportunity to speak about that Brother, then the list is passed, and so on until all names are read. I had several guys tell me afterwards that this was very meaningful to them.
Friday evening – Class Parties, possibly followed by Big Tent All Class Bash (in 2022 VU cancelled the Big Tent Party, which sucked).
Saturday, November 4th, Homecoming Game.
Saturday evening following the Game – ATO Cocktail Party & Dinner.
Date: November 4, 2023
Time: approximately 7:00 pm, depending on Game time.
Place: TO BE ANNOUNCED.
As you may know, the Cabana, where
we held our event for several years, went out of business. I am in consultations with John Stein, and we
are looking at several restaurants in the area, for our new venue. Our priority
is that it be close to campus, reasonably priced, good food and a bar.
* * *
BLOG ALL-POINTS-BULLETIN
GEORGE JOE wrote to inquire if anyone had heard from the following guys: Jim Fish, Hugh Hamilton, David McMillan and Dennis Fite. These guys are not on our radar.
George, thanks for alerting us to these guys. I hope we find them before your big 5-0.
IF ANYONE HAS A PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL FOR THESE GUYS, PLEASE send it to me, at lawrence.a.simons53@gmail.com.
I will make sure they get added to our roster.
KEEPING TABS:
Here is a reminder of the brothers and sisters we have lost.
CLAUDE CARR
CODY, IV, died February 8, 2022.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol. 2022, No. 01
Obituary:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/houstonchronicle/name/claude-cody-obituary?id=32988710
DAVID W. HAINES, JR., died January 17, 2021.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2021, No.01
ROBERT LOUIS CROSSLEY, JR., died October 24, 2019.
Beta Pi Blog,
Vol.2021, No.03.
Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/knoxnews/name/robert-crossley-obituary?pid=194272149
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.
* * *
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?
* *
*
HOW TO POST OR READ COMMENTS: Just click the button - Comments – below my signature block.
* *
*
BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of May 4, 2023, 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
