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 -
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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BEN PEDIGO BREAKDOWN
I had a nice conversation with our friend and Brother BEN PEDIGO. As you know, Ben is a World Class Banjo Master, and that is no exaggeration, Ben took a Semester off to play with Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys, and Ben has played on Norman Blake recordings. Yeah.
Well, never one to shy away from a challenge, Ben has taken up playing Pedal Steel Guitar! For those who are not musicians, let’s just say Pedal Steel Guitar is a very difficult instrument, you have both hands working the strings, and both feet working foot pedals, and as if that is not enough, both knees working knee levers.
Anyway, Ben and his son, and Fiddler Harrison Pedigo have formed a Band they call The Harry Pedigo Band, and Ben said last year they did 40 dates!
Ben sent some great pictures from the old days.
Thanks for the pics Ben!
I asked Ben to give us a little background on his music and his son Harrison’s band, and he sent this note:
Larry-
. . . You are right, initially we started out as an acoustic trio and had a Bluegrass repertoire. With Harry's interest in R&R/Americana we shifted to more of an electric set up and added a drummer. As we developed a more electric centered song list, I initially added a pickup on my banjo.
Then about 2 years ago I found an older pedal steel guitar and started playing on sets. As we focused more on country music we added an electric guitarist.
We have a 5-piece band now -- Harry's song writing is more of a country base -- maybe more Bakersfield/LA than Nashville right now but we are starting to incorporate more songs that have that Nashville sound.
Thanks Ben, that is frickin' awesome! It blows my mind that you just picked up pedal steel! What an amazing gift you have. . . looking forward to seeing you in November!
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BILL PRICE REPORTING!
Blog Correspondent BILL PRICE reports that CHESTER BREWER has survived the Liver Transplant he underwent in May 2024.
Bill said Chet is almost off the Organ Rejection Medicine, and is feeling strong. Bill said Chet welcomes all calls of encouragement. You can reach Chet at WCBLAW@AOL.COM, and (561) 308-3681.
Bill thanks for this update.
Chet, we are praying for you and hope to see you in November!
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TISON KEEL, STILL AT THE WHEEL!
Few guys who have served as Point Man have done so as enthusiastically as TISON KEEL. Several weeks after serving as Point Man for our 2020 CLASS OF 75 REUNION (which didn’t happen until 2022 due to COVID), Tison contacted me and said he wanted to be permanent 1975 Point Man! Tison, I love your dedication to Beta Pi, we are fortunate to have you at the wheel!
So, Tison sends us this feature!
What were you doing 50 years ago in February 1975? Besides delving into what might have been your last semester of classwork at Vandy, were you enjoying the companionship of your ATO brothers for dinners and
Photo by Clark Thomas
Or, perhaps you were looking forward to your last Shipwreck party, which was shaping up to be the most spectacular ever. The basement pool had been enlarged, with a larger frame and custom-made lining thanks to generous alums; no more old tarp from under the dusty bleachers of Dudley Field, as the tradition had begun. The pool would be filled and warmed up through the efforts of Worthy House Manager, Matt (Maaaatt) Yonge. The brothers had enjoyed, but tired, of the formal bash being held at the mystic country party-place, Riverwood Riding Academy.
The build-up was exciting, and event certainly did not disappoint. We had a good band in the old, beautiful (if dingy) ballroom, plenty of artificial stimulants, and rooms upstairs where we could retire for mid-revel and after-hours communing with our Tic brothers and their wenches. What a blast! No doubt we could not afford the same kind of evening at the Hermitage, nor would they even consider having us there, since the place has cleaned up, and is a classic gem of a boutique hotel.
Here's what the Lobby and Ballroom; where we imbibed, danced with our dates, smoked cigars and generally reveled as only Tics could do; look like now - vaguely familiar, but cleaned up nicely, I would say.
Be a Quinq: Reminisce these and many other wonderful memories with many of your beloved (ILAMATOB😎) Beta Pi mateys on the weekend of November 6-9, 2025 at the 50-year reunion for the VU Class of 1975. We were the 100th graduating class at Vandy, so they and we will be celebrating 150 years of Vandy men and women.
We already are building a stellar lineup of notables, many of whom have rarely or never attended a reunion:
“Earl S” Stover,
“Matt B” Blankenship,
“Ben P” Pedigo have indicated high probability, along with the usual suspects:
Bozo, Vinny, Buck,
“Leapin'” Gene Young,
Hoping to rope in
Chet
Brewer, Harpo, Ralph & Ed,
Jack “Muenchy” Muench & Pierce Hodnette
along with some cameo appearances by frequent past legendary attendees from the classes of '73, '74, '76, and '77.
The calendar will include the traditional ATO events: House drop-in, Gravesite Memorial for Alex and Laura, post-game 18th Annual ATO Dinner, in addition to the Vandy-sponsored get-togethers centered around the VU-Auburn football game on Saturday.
Please show up! We've few future opportunities to renew our old and lasting friendships, in a brotherhood based upon eternal and immutable principles, with a bond as strong as right itself, and as lasting as humanity. Besides, it will be a gas!
Tison
tison.keel@hotmail.com
+1-845-664-2431 (cell)
Thanks Tison, awesome Feature!
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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
https://www.nashvillefuneralandcremation.com/obituaries/james-blankenhorn
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 21, 2025, 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
