April 21, 2008

Letter from Logan Likes

 

April 14, 2008

From my daughter Ginger Beeman

Dear Wagonmasters music fans,

Thank you so much for being one of my sponsor's on our walk for M.S. Our team raised over $7,000 and our little walk in Murietta raised over $60,000.00!!!! This was more than was raised in our area all year last year!!!  Daddy has told me of how ya'll met on line and how you were introduced to his music. You have brought him great joy in the time you have been corresponding. Thank you for all you have brought to our lives,

Ginger Beeman

March 26, 2008 from www.lovelandConnection.com  web site

Logan Likes

Likes also performs community service in Northern Colorado, including organizing a stuffed animal drive for Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Houston Astrodome when he was a fifth-grader at Mary Blair Elementary School. One of his student organizations is the People to People Student Ambassador Programs. Founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the ambassador program is an effort to bring about peace through understanding.

As an ambassador, Likes and 15 other students in his delegation are learning about the traditions and customs of other cultures, as well as civics. “To watch the level of seventh-graders actually get it is amazing. Some of their opinions you expect out of adults," said Jenny Likes, Logan's mother.
As a culmination of all they have learned, the delegates will travel to Europe for two weeks this summer and immerse themselves in new cultures.

The delegates will travel to London, Paris, Normandy, Holland and the Netherlands.
"I'm most excited about visiting France," Logan said. "We're going to be on top of the Eiffel Tower and go to the Louvre Museum. We will travel to Normandy and be there for one or two days."
The delegates also will visit the hiding place of Anne Frank, learn how to make Belgian chocolate and meet with a member of British parliament.

"(I like it because of) the fact that I get to go places and meet people that some people never get to even though they live there," Likes said. Likes and other delegates also are learning some French from sponsor Thomas Gillis, a teacher at Brentwood Middle School in Greeley.

Although he's not sure how he'll do, Likes wants to try to speak the local language when he is in France. But the cost of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure is steep, totaling almost $6,000.
Jenny Likes works part-time and is going to school to support her four boys, and Logan's dad is disabled after an on-the-job injury years ago.

"I told him once we got him in, then we'd start fundraising and praying," Jenny said. "We're in, and now we're praying. We've written everyone in our family for help. "Likes has made some money doing odd jobs for neighbors like baby sitting, shoveling snow and soon will start mowing lawns.

But it's not enough. That's why the family established a scholarship fund for Logan at First National Bank. The Likes have until May 31 to raise the money for Logan's trip. "I just know Logan has so much inside him to offer," Jenny said. "I want to make (this) happen for him.”    

 

First National Bank c/o The Logan Likes Student Ambassadorship Fund Account number: 37008161 Centerra Office 1450 North Boyd Lake Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538

 

March 26, 2008

From my Daughter Ginger

Dear Friends and Family,

As most of you know, mom passed April 12th of last year and I was wondering what I could do to help get through a day that will not be easy. I currently have as one of my home health care clients a young woman, Jeanne Kelly. I help by taking care of her daughters (Meghan and Quinn) because their 36year old mother has MS. I decided to do the MS walk as part of her team in honor of Mom. I hope that any of you that are able to will donate, but most importantly think of us on this day. Every hour of every day, someone is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I registered for Walk MS: Southwest Riverside, County because I want to do something about MS now, and I'm asking you to support my efforts with a tax-deductible donation.

I want to do something about multiple sclerosis now. Please help by supporting my upcoming walk in Walk MS: Southwest County.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to moving us towards a world free of MS. They fund research into effective MS therapies and also help people with MS to live powerful, meaningful lives. I believe in the work they do.

Please help by making a donation. Or, why not join me on the day of the event? Join the Movement and side-by-side, we will work together to create a world free of MS. Whatever you can do will help!

I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Your contribution will allow the Society to fund research, help people with MS lead powerful lives, and advocate for change. I appreciate your support and promise to update you on how I do.

For more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from Walk MS: Southwest County are used, or the other ways you can do something about MS now.

Thank you for joining the Movement!

All my love, Ginger Beeman

Click here to get to my personal page and make a secure, online donation. http://www.nationalMSsociety.org.  

To send a donation: Make all checks payable to: National MS Society

Mail to:
National MS Society, So. Cal Chapter
Walk MS: Ginger Beeman
2440 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 115
Los Angeles, CA 90064   

 

December 23,2007

Latest report on the youngest of the seven Beeman children, Rita Lakin:

Rita underwent successful open heart surgery on Friday December 21. She should be returning home the day after Christmas. I will post any updates on her progress.

Thank you for keeping Rita in your prayers.

Merry Christmas to all,

Billy

 

October 29, 07

Flora Lee (Godfrey) Beeman

Knitting for each of her children and grandchildren

Born October 8, 1905 Commerce, Texas

Died October 31, 1986 Westminster, California

Buried Loma Vista Memorial Park, Fullerton, California

Vern Jackson of TBN and Larry Kurt of original Broadway cast Westside Story

Sang for the Memorial Service.

 

Halloween was one of Grandma Flora’s favorite Holidays

And before her passing, each of her grandchildren wore Halloween

Costumes and visited her in her Hospital room.

 

All of her surviving Children, Billy Beeman, Bobby Beeman, Don Beeman

Shirley Pullen, Jean Wortley, Judy Nelson and Rita Lakin

held her hands in a prayer circle until her last breath.

 

We will remember her in our prayers on this anniversary of her passing.

 

October 24, 07

Hi,

I found your site about the wagonmasters and all the great photos of Knott's in those "glory days"!

I was wondering if you had any photos of the old town clock that used to be in the Rose Garden or in front of the ticket booths in later years (or a map of the park which might show the clock!)

I am the Great Grandson of the man who built that clock, and I have a website to promote restoring the clock and setting it up again (it is no longer at Knotts). I am working with the Buena Park Historical Society on this project.

If you could place a link to our website on yours... that would be a big help too!

here is the site... http://www.dregerclock.org

Thanks,

Glenn Frank

Task Force Leader - Dreger Clock Restoration Project
gfrank@DregerClock.org
http://dregerClock.org

July 21, 07

Wagonmasters,

 

I got home with a really good sounding 42:51 CD of Vern, Eldon, Billy, Bobby and Harvey doing 13 songs from the 1990 Wagonmasters Reunion in The Wagon Camp at Knotts.

Drew spent five and a I/2 hours taking out extra noises, and adding a bass part to round out the backing.

I will be working on a nice fold out fore to six page insert for the Jewel case but have a half decent design that I put together for these copies for all the Wagonmasters who participated and are still around and any others whose address I have.

 

These will supplement the DVD I made of all the Wagonmasters participants Dick, Don Dave and Jerry Compton from Dick's Group, The Reinsmen.

 

I made them especially to go to The Billy Beeman Collection #20388 Wilson Library - C. B.#3826 Southern Folklife Collection the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 2751– 8890. This collection includes all The Woody Guthrie, Bob Nolan, Bob Wills, Patsy Cline and almost all the Greats of American Music you can name.

We are in mighty good company.

 

I am so proud to be able to save a bit more of the music of such dear friends and gifted musicians.

 

I hope you accept my efforts as my way of thanking each and every one of you for joy you have given to my life.

 

Billy 

June 27, 07

Just had a call from my Brother, Don Beeman, from Leakey, Texas telling me about his open hart surgery June 20 in San Antonio Texas to repaired four arteries.

All went well and yesterday he was able to return home and celebrate his 76^th birthday.

He sends his love and our thanks for your prayers.

Billy

May 17, 2007

Dear Friends and Family:

            It’s time for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Relay is the American Cancer Society’s nationwide signature event. I’m on a team this year and we’re planning to raise $3,000.00. Throughout the event, my teammates and I will take turns walking around the track and camping out. I am doing this in honor of Dan’l who succumbed to Cancer on October 22, 2006. If you’d like to help in the fight against cancer, you can make a contribution to the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life. Please make sure you give me your donation before the event, made payable to the American Cancer Society.

            The event takes place on August 11, 2007 at Westminster High School. 14325 Goldenwest St., Westminster, CA 92683. The Luminaria Ceremony begins at 9:00 p.m. I would be glad to walk in honor or in memory of someone you know who has been touched by cancer. For a donation to the American Cancer Society, I will make sure that person’s name is included in the Luminaria Ceremony, when candles are lit and we remember those who have been touched by cancer.  Each Luminaria costs $10.00 so if you want to add a Luminaria please state so on your check and how many you would like and the names of people you would like to honor.

            I appreciate your support. There’s no finish line until we find a cure.

 Gratefully,

 Alison Lightner

May 16, 2007

I just talked to Peggy by telephone and she said Don came through the five hour surgery just fine. He is now off the ventilator.

She is going to visit him in his wheel chair this morning. She said he is already able to walk a bit, and for me to thank all of you for your prayers for sure our Lord heard them and she and Don feel truly blessed.

 

My love and thanks to all,

 

Billy

May 15, 2007

Dear friends,

I just received this email from Linda Walker, about Don Richardson. 

Don is a loved friend and He was a member of the Wagonmasters, The Reinsmen, The Lobo Rangers as well as "Chaparral." Our prayers are for the Lord to guide his Doctors and keep Don in his hands through this procedure.  

I will keep you informed as I learn more.

Billy

Don Richardson of Harvey's group "Chaparral" is in the process of having a 4 to 5 time bypass. It's an extreme emergency!!Peg is holding up with the help of family and friends.  Please pray for Don and Peg. They need all the prayers they can get.    

Thank you and I'll keep you posted............    

KC/Linda Walker

Billy, we will add our prayers to yours for Don.  I went thru a quadruple bypass in 1989 and came out very well on the other side, so if his doctors are good and God is on his side, he will be all right.  Don is one of the best guitarists I have ever known personally and I think the world would be less of a wonderful place if he were not here.  Pass along our good wishes to his family.  Thanks for letting us know.

Bill Hazel

April 20, 2007

                                                     Jan Beeman 1954

                                                (December 1934 - April 11, 2007)

      Jan, Billy and Grandson Tyler Summer of 2006 in Hemet, California

Jan and I were married June 1952 in Las Vegas Nevada before her 18^th birthday. Though our marriage lasted only four years, Jan gave me two wonderful children, Ginger in 1953 and Bill in 1954. She moved from California to my home State of Texas to live in San Angelo and later to Austin. After some fifty years and her move back to California, we spent a lot of time getting acquainted and sharing stories of our experience with mutual friends in music. I had spent 70 years playing fiddle and she knew most of the Western Swing musicians I had played with. These last few years leave me with loving memories of the sensitive caring lady she had become. I am grateful for the precious time spent with a family reunited.

 Billy Beeman

Visit the web site below and sign the guest book for Jan Beeman

http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=GB000087191851

Jan Beeman     Jan Beeman was the "earth mama" of the Armadillo World Headquarters concert hall in the mid-1970s. She was the soul of the Armadillo kitchen, a mentor to young artists, and "the face of hospitality" to touring musicians such as Frank Zappa and Van Morrison, who loved the 'Dillo for its home-cooked meals. "If there was an important meal to cook, Jan cooked it," recalled Bruce Willenzik, an Armadillo alumnus who now runs the annual Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. "Whenever Zappa called, he asked for Jan. She knew all the musicians, their personalities, and tried to give them what they needed. Lose a button off your shirt? Hold on: Jan will sew it on for you. You say you need to do some laundry? Jan will fold it up for you." Beeman, who died Wednesday in California due to complications from colon cancer, was almost 40 when she joined the Armadillo staff in the early 1970s after moving to Austin from San Angelo. She quickly assumed the role as a mother figure. Her vegetable casserole, with broccoli and cauliflower, was a signature dish. Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead raved about the shrimp enchiladas created in her kitchen. "Jan was the calm, centered, mature older adult with common sense and a lot of heart. I can still see her standing in that kitchen, a big old spoon in her hand," Willenzik remembered. "She had some gray in her hair. And in those days, at the Armadillo, gray hair or wrinkles were as rare as a silk tie or a silk suit." After leaving the Armadillo in 1977 (it closed three years later), Beeman founded a production company and managed the Doak Sneed band and Balcones Fault. Budding Austin musicians, including a young Stevie Ray Vaughan, sought her advice. Even after she moved away from Austin in the 1980s, she continued in her role as a nurturer, working as a nurse in California. In the words of Armadillo founder Eddie Wilson: "She made a whole lot of people feel well-cared for." Frank Zappa and Jan Beeman at the Armadillo Long Beach, California 4/21/07 This was a beautiful sunny day and we decided to participate in The American Cancer Society's 2007 Relay For Life, as a memorial to Jan Beeman and in support of another dear friend who is bravely fighting the same enemy that took Jan. Today's setting was Cal State Long Beach's beautiful landscaped campus, with the Pyramid as a backdrop. We chose to participate as walkers and sponsor this afternoon completing 48 laps of the athletic track (combined) for a total of twelve miles in support of this worthy cause. Tonight we returned with our grandkids and walked 32 additional laps, placing a candlelit luminary for Jan at the side of the track, with her name and picture. It stood alongside thousands of others, adding its flickering light to offset the darkness, while giving encouragement to hundreds of walkers as they continue to walk throughout the night.   Hope all is well with you.  You are in our thoughts and prayers always!  Jim & Bev Hutchison

 Feb. 6, 2007

 Tom Morrell

The Timewarp Tophands

 

I just learned that long time friend and fine musician Tom Morrell had died.

I called Leon Rausch today to learn of the particulars of exactly when and circumstances of Tommy's death. Leon was playing Golf so I talked to his wife, Vonda, and learned that Tommy died of complications from Emphysema on January 28, 2007. She said He had been quite ill for the past year.

I am including a web site in the event you are not familiar with Tom's music. www.westernswing.net 

 

I first played with Tommy when Bobby and I visited Fort Worth in 1980 and then several times when I was living in Fort Worth between 1984 and 1986.

In 1985 Tommy played Steele Guitar with us at the Austin Convention Center when we Did A Concert for the Texas Legislature with B. D. Griffin and me on twin fiddles along with Leon Rauch, Billy Luttrell and several members of The Texas Playboys.

 

The last time I played with him was in Elko Nevada when Dave played Trumpet, And I played twin fiddles with the Craig Chambers Band for the Saturday Night Dance at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

 

I have a lot of cassettes of his recordings but no CDs.

 

He was one of the finest steel and regular lead guitar players in the business as well as a first class gentleman.

 

I will surly miss not hearing him play and am saddened to know I will never play fiddle with him again in this life.

 

Billy

>Email response from Jo and Bernie Gottlieb:

 (Bernie Bernard Orchestra featured at Disney Land and prominent Big Band in Southern California for many years)

>Billy Beeman

Billy -- Bernie and I were talking about his orchestra  -- and all of the guys are gone now  ( maybe one may be around but we can't locate him).  we look around and realize that we grew up when money was tight  but  you little guys were always able to entertain and put bread and butter on the table most days.   The trade off's were zeee bestest ever - we had freedom, fun  and  no distractions of TV  and  rudeness- we made our own fun and those that climbed the ladder by hard work and talent  and sincerity are a thing of the past -   what happened to loyalty ?  Out the window too.

It is sad when we  think of the changes around and losing our dear and most talented friends - -- worst part is being here still when they are all there :-) however,  just glory in the good experiences and keep them close to your heart always  and  wish them well as we all will be having one grand reunion down the road ---  I have no doubt about that ---- all we do when we die is drop our old bones and worn out flesh --- but our electric body our spirit  is free to move into the next  level ----   and how Glorious that will be  as we keep our talents, memories and also realize how silly it is to have held grudges  so nice when we finally reunite ---  meeting up with those who are waiting for us .  It is us still left that are sad at the parting but then, I feel sad just having a good visit with a friend end here on Earth :-).  May Angel's watch over you and yours and all of us.  

God bless -- Jo

January 11, 2007 Congratulations Vern

From: VERNJACKSONMUSIC@aol.com

To: thewagonmasters@msn.com

Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 7:24 PM

Subject: Re: Worth your time

 

Hey Billy, Need your address. Got a new CD out. Might just be the best I've ever done technically. Amazing what Nashville can do with an old man. Vern

Visit Vern's Web site: www.vernjackson.com

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        Ron  Barela at his Badger Pocket Bison Ranch in Ellensburg, Washington, November 20, 2006 www.badgerpocketbison.com

Ron is a long time fan of the Wagonmasters music and just recently sent these pictures of some of Buffalo herd.  >Billy

 

In Memorial

Charlie Sears, dear friend and executive co-producer of "LOBO RANGERS" RECORDINGS"  is victim of Brain Cancer. Please visit the web site to learn about Charlie.

>Billy Beeman November 6, 2006

Click here: Charlie Sears Police & Fire Brain Tumor Foundation, Inc

My dad was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in July 2005. After news of his diagnosis and prognosis sank in, my family found ourselves in a situation where his healthcare coverage would not pay for the specialized care he needed to give him hope of survival, or at the very least, a few more years with us. On September 7th, 2005, my father, retired L.A.P.D. Narcotics Detective Charles "Charlie", "Chuck" Sears succumbed to heart failure and died as my mother, Ana Maria and I remained at his side. - Laura Miller In August of 2005, The Charlie Sears Police & Fire Brain Tumor Foundation was formed to keep hope alive for Charlie, his family and other families faced with the diagnosis of brain cancer. The foundation now exists to continue Charlie's legacy of love, humor and courage. To ultimately provide hope, support and financial assistance to law enforcement officers, firefighters and their families within the state of California

Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 12:59 PM

Subject: My Daughter In Law Ritamarie Beeman

                      Ritamarie, Rachel and John Beeman

E-Mail from my Son John Beeman:

 

Hi Pop,
 
Rita worked on a small film project last year...it went to Sundance Film Festival and was purchased by Paramount Pictures...it will be released Nation wide the 26th of May...her first big screen national release!
It is called " An Inconvenient Truth"...the critiques are already talking Oscar Nomination...wouldn't that be something...spread the word to those who would be interested
love you
jb

“AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH”

This is a movie about Global Warming based on a book by and featuring Al Gore.

I am proud of the work on this film by my daughter-in law Ritamarie Beeman, however:

In no way do I endorse many of the films conclusions based on worse case scenarios as  espoused by, self proclaimed “inventor of the internet,” Al Gore.

The problem for me is not global warming (which it is obviously what's occurring,) but what or who is causing it.

I refuse to accept human kind's responsibility until I've seen some studies or research in that area.  So far, no one has showed me any evidence that we are to blame.  Events like Kracatoa eruptions have a significantly greater impact on the environment than man kind's contributions.

 Some 300 years ago Greenland was not covered by glacier, which is again receding. Mini Ice Ages with periods of warming have occurred before on Earth, which may have something to do with the present changes in oceanic temperatures.

>Billy Beeman

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