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
Brigette Bardot
other timewasters.
To get there, go to web address: http://beta-pi-blog.blogspot.com
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JEFF PEROUT, ANNOINTED MAN OF 74!
It has taken some time and
effort to find a Point Man for Class of 74.
Face it, the guys in Class of 74 are nomadic, squatting occasionally under shade trees, aimlessly wandering . . . except one.
That man has distinguished himself from the pack, that man is . . .
JEFF PEROUT, Point Man of 74!
The Search. Initially, it was a question of which guys would be good candidates for Point Man. I knew who my first choice was, but I needed a backup plan.
In years past, I have consulted with my fellow Three Stooges, they have been a resource, an asset, but not always. This year, consulting with my fellow Stooges, FRANK “BUCK” BILLER and STEVEN “VINNY” STARR, was like a trip through the looking glass.
Predictably, 3 weeks were wasted because of the continual impossibility of getting Vinny on the phone. Because just like back in the day, Vinny is still notorious for letting his “code-a-phone” answer his calls, then NOT returning them promptly.
Buck, however, had lots of interesting (uninteresting) ideas….ideas that proved worthless. Kidding, of course.
I also texted with TISON KEEL, Point Man of 75 and
FRANK COLLINS, Point Man of 76, for moral support, after the debacle the Stooges put me through.
In the end, I got my wish, my first choice for Point Man of 74 . . . none-other-than JEFF PEROUT, and Jeff has graciously accepted! I am excited that Jeff will be at the wheel! There are so many great guys in Class of 74, this could be the greatest Reunion ever, thank you Jeff!
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RENDEZVOUS OF THE POINT MEN!
Recently, TISON KEEL, Point Man of 75 and FRANK COLLINS, Point Man of 76 sent me a picture.
These two guys have done such an outstanding job of marshalling their Classes. Guys, I love you!
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18th
ANNIVERSARY OF BETA-PI-BLOG!
Claude, Heme and Aber at The first Annual ATO Dinner, 2008, at Rumba Restaurant
The first issue of Beta Pi Blog came out June 25, 2006. The Blog just turned 18, Happy Anniversary! A little history . . .
I swear before the Elders that my memory is still clear. . . it was just after our 30th Reunion in 2005, Buck and I were talking. He said
“Hey Larry, we need to get an
email list together of our guys.”
I got to thinking, that is a really good idea, but Buck will not act on this. As Vinny will attest, Buck never acts on anything. Well . . . almost anything!
From The Fight, 1973
But Buck is an idea man, his genius is in coming up with ideas (for example, The Fight).
So, I took Buck’s idea and ran with it, and started gathering names and emails. I knew I would be writing to guys, and that is where the idea for a blog came from.
This was in 2006. Blogging was a relatively new "thing." I had heard of “bloggers” but never actually read a “blog.”
So, I wrote a letter to Matt Hart, Marc Darling, and a few other guys, to run the idea by them, to get their feedback.
I couldn’t find the letter, but I recall Matt saying
“be sure to invite the women.” Outstanding idea.
And I recall getting a response from Marc Darling that he’d love to actually see this “blog”, the inference being there might be some doubt it would actually come to pass. Was Rat born in the "Show Me State"? I took that as a challenge.
I found a free blog service and started “blogging”. But how to get guys interested?
ATO’s, in my view are highly motivated, highly focused, highly skeptical, frugal, and somewhat self-centered, (some have said a-holes). I figured the best way to get guys on board was
1) to write something about them; and
2) give assurances I was not soliciting money.
IT WORKED! At first we only had a few email addresses. I looked at the Vanderbilt Alumni Site Directory and found some guys, and word of mouth helped.
Today we have a total of 136 Brothers on our list, however 15 of those names have no email address (for various reasons). One Brother told me he did not want his name to be on the Blog (for professional reasons) even though I assured him of our no profanity, no politics rule, and I have honored his request. One outright rejection . . . not bad!
Our
list includes the following Classes:
1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, and a few from 1979.
We know of only a few Brothers from 1980, let me tell you about one great guy,
his name is none-other-than
ROD YANKER, I swear it. Perhaps the greatest nick name and also actual name in ATO history. And, Rod truly is a great guy, even though his face has a slightly “guilty” look about it!
Another great guy from 1980 is
MARTY HEFLIN! Marty is from Nashville, we share similar tastes, our paths cross usually at Starbucks.
We also have 5 Veterans, including
ROB ANDERSON. Rob attended Reunion a few years back, great to see you Rob. I still have PTSD from when you kicked-the-s**t out of me in Tae Kwon Do!
THE GAL-PALS! And in keeping with Phibe’s suggestion, we also keep a separate list of 26 “Girl-Friends-of-Yore” a.k.a “Gal-Pals.” We have had great success in Reunions past, our attendee’s have included
ANN POLK SIMONS, my lovely wife
BECKY
DENIM
KINGSLEY KAMINER, third from left
KATIE HERRINGTON TAFT and SNAKE-MAN
BETH STEIN
KAREN DEGERBERG
SALLY TUCKER JASPER
RENA DABNE SARTAIN and JEANNIE URICH, Reunion 2019
By the way, Rena & Jeannie have commited to attend this year! RENA. . . BE-HAVE!
The Blog has been so rewarding for me, truly an honor, I have had the privilege of keeping in touch with lots of great guys and gals.
It was in 2006, a sudden shock. My good friend David Howe, Class of 75 died
unexpectedly November 30, 2006. We were
53, this came as a huge shock. David and Dara lived close to us, David was
a close friend, and Dara is a close friend to this day. I went to their wedding, and we had many good times. David's death was the first time we used the Blog to notify
everyone of the death of a Brother. Notifying
guys of the loss of a Brother is the most difficult part of writing the Blog.
Several
years ago, my good friend CLAUDE CODY took an interest in the Blog. We had many
long phone conversations. Claude loved
to talk by phone, a lot, and so do I. Claude
was an idea man, he offered me several ideas to improve the Blog.
The best idea Claude had was that during Reunion Weekend, we should gather ATO Brothers at Alex & Laura Wilson’s graves.
Claude attended the very first one, and I will never ever forget how spiritual it was.
And if you didn’t know, it was Claude who had the idea that Alex should say the ATO Prayer at each meal. Yeah.
ATO REUNION EVENTS. So,
each Reunion there are two events that the Blog promotes:
Visit Alex & Laura’s Graves at National Cemetery. On Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., we meet at the House and caravan to the National Cemetery to visit Alex & Laura’s graves. We say words about Alex & Laura, but also words about every Brother who is deceased. This event has been moving for guys, and proved to be most popular.
The Annual ATO Dinner & Cocktail Party. This happens Saturday evening, after the Homecoming Game, usually 7:30 p.m.
It has been an honor for me to be an ATO, and an honor to do this Blog. The love and good wishes and thanks I have received mean everything to me.
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*
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.
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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 25, 2024, there are 136 ATO’s on the blog email list, including 15 Brothers whose e-mail address is unknown, plus 19 ATO Gal-Pals.
VTL,
Larry Simons
Beta Pi, 72
2 comments:
Thank you from all us Tics, Larry, for your devotion and loyalty. I for on love reading your blog and hearing about the men (and women) who played such an important part in my years at Vanderbilt. VTL!
Anonymous A/K/A Frank Collins
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