Sunday, July 27, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Mr. Beggs Letter in his hand
I had a sudden inspiration that you might like to see Mr. Beggs letter as he has written it. Here it is. If you click on the pages they should come up greater than life size. Enjoy
Friday, July 11, 2008
Mr. Beggs Letter, part II
I just spent a wonderful half hour talking with Mr. Beggs. We went over the old times and he even added names of several other of his CV students that he remembered. I asked him if I could put up his address and phone number on the blog and he gave me permission. Here it is, followed by the second half of his letter.
George Beggs
227 N. 7th Street
Fredonia, KS 66736-1313
(620) 378-3118
BTW, George's birthday is in August—a good time to shower him with birthday cards!
(continued . . .)
Facilities were terrible and we had no budget to buy anything, in fact they used to go to Topeka and bring home old army surplus instruments.
Clubs got together and bought 50 purple and gold uniforms. Parents bought instruments and we became one of the top class B bands in the state. I was at Cedar Vale 12 years. We competed in state contests 10 years and had 8 one ratings. We played Egmont Overture by Beethoven our last year.
I do remember well our trio playing at Bill Leonard’s funeral in the theater.
We had a lot of excellent talent at C.V. I think of Gary White, Don Shaffer, Tom Gordon, Reece Bohannan, Barbara Woodruff, Diane Archer, Patsy Kelly, Lesta and Judy Johnson, Don & Ron Warren, Don Cox, Joan Stone, Phil Foust, and Bob Marshall (and others).
Bob became an outstanding band teacher at Peabody High School. Has retired from teaching and is manager of the music department at Senseney Music in Wichita.
Don Shaffer retired from teaching and the last I knew was working for Hallmark in K. C. and directing the Hallmark employee band.
I’m extremely proud of all my past students and especially your success and major accomplishments.
I enjoyed the account of your growing up in Cedar Vale and many thanks for the book.
I used to visit often with your dad at Clarence Marshall’s station and remember well seeing your folks and you riding in the big red gasoline truck.
They’ve just hired their 5th band director here since I retired in 1981.
I think one of the most exciting things I remember about C.V. was the turkey toss off the roof of the L. C. Adam store. I caught a turkey and Reece Vandruff, standing near, caught the poop on his hat.
Sincerely,
George Beggs
PS: I’ll be 87 in August and Madge will be 85 in November. I’m in good health—Madge has R. Arthritis but still takes care of all her home work well.
George Beggs
227 N. 7th Street
Fredonia, KS 66736-1313
(620) 378-3118
BTW, George's birthday is in August—a good time to shower him with birthday cards!
(continued . . .)
Facilities were terrible and we had no budget to buy anything, in fact they used to go to Topeka and bring home old army surplus instruments.
Clubs got together and bought 50 purple and gold uniforms. Parents bought instruments and we became one of the top class B bands in the state. I was at Cedar Vale 12 years. We competed in state contests 10 years and had 8 one ratings. We played Egmont Overture by Beethoven our last year.
I do remember well our trio playing at Bill Leonard’s funeral in the theater.
We had a lot of excellent talent at C.V. I think of Gary White, Don Shaffer, Tom Gordon, Reece Bohannan, Barbara Woodruff, Diane Archer, Patsy Kelly, Lesta and Judy Johnson, Don & Ron Warren, Don Cox, Joan Stone, Phil Foust, and Bob Marshall (and others).
Bob became an outstanding band teacher at Peabody High School. Has retired from teaching and is manager of the music department at Senseney Music in Wichita.
Don Shaffer retired from teaching and the last I knew was working for Hallmark in K. C. and directing the Hallmark employee band.
I’m extremely proud of all my past students and especially your success and major accomplishments.
I enjoyed the account of your growing up in Cedar Vale and many thanks for the book.
I used to visit often with your dad at Clarence Marshall’s station and remember well seeing your folks and you riding in the big red gasoline truck.
They’ve just hired their 5th band director here since I retired in 1981.
I think one of the most exciting things I remember about C.V. was the turkey toss off the roof of the L. C. Adam store. I caught a turkey and Reece Vandruff, standing near, caught the poop on his hat.
Sincerely,
George Beggs
PS: I’ll be 87 in August and Madge will be 85 in November. I’m in good health—Madge has R. Arthritis but still takes care of all her home work well.
A. Beggs Letter, part I
The following is the first half of the letter from Mr. Beggs that I received yesterday. I've talked with Madge and she gave me permission to quote his letter.
July 4, 2008
Dear Gary:
What a surprise to receive your book, Pebbles. I am very grateful to receive it and it has revived many memories of Cedar Vale.
We moved to Cedar Vale after I finished my last year of college at Pittsburg State in 1947. It was a complete little town with many stores and lots of friendly people. They wanted a school band and were very supportive of my efforts. They had 8 students in the band and just a box of old music from past city bands. I found enough Bennett band books to start the band. You mentioned Bill Leonard. He was a good supporter and we visited a lot about the band along with Dr. Josh Stone. Lincoln Robinson was probably my best supporter.
About all we had were two old single tension snare drums and a wooden single tension bass drum. I remember some old brass instruments and an old Helican bass horn.
I talked to Bill about getting Cedar Vale painted on the bass drum and he volunteered to do it. At the bottom he painted “Bill done it.”
I had contracted to teach for $2,700.00 for the term and the Lions Club had agreed to pay $300.00 of it if I would give free lessons for the 3 summer months. I did and the response was tremendous.
We used to have band practice on the stage in the old auditorium. That meant setting up and tearing down each day. I remember the kids would be so excited that they would say, “Let's skip lunch” and we would practice through the lunch hour. We had band scheduled just before lunch.
My schedule was pretty hectic because my first contract called for band in both schools, vocal in both schools, 9th grade general science, study hall, class sponsor, and working gates at ball games and other activities. We had a seven period schedule.
Mr. Vandruff, our superintendent, could see I wasn’t very interested in vocal music, especially the elementary and eventually I ended up with just band.
July 4, 2008
Dear Gary:
What a surprise to receive your book, Pebbles. I am very grateful to receive it and it has revived many memories of Cedar Vale.
We moved to Cedar Vale after I finished my last year of college at Pittsburg State in 1947. It was a complete little town with many stores and lots of friendly people. They wanted a school band and were very supportive of my efforts. They had 8 students in the band and just a box of old music from past city bands. I found enough Bennett band books to start the band. You mentioned Bill Leonard. He was a good supporter and we visited a lot about the band along with Dr. Josh Stone. Lincoln Robinson was probably my best supporter.
About all we had were two old single tension snare drums and a wooden single tension bass drum. I remember some old brass instruments and an old Helican bass horn.
I talked to Bill about getting Cedar Vale painted on the bass drum and he volunteered to do it. At the bottom he painted “Bill done it.”
I had contracted to teach for $2,700.00 for the term and the Lions Club had agreed to pay $300.00 of it if I would give free lessons for the 3 summer months. I did and the response was tremendous.
We used to have band practice on the stage in the old auditorium. That meant setting up and tearing down each day. I remember the kids would be so excited that they would say, “Let's skip lunch” and we would practice through the lunch hour. We had band scheduled just before lunch.
My schedule was pretty hectic because my first contract called for band in both schools, vocal in both schools, 9th grade general science, study hall, class sponsor, and working gates at ball games and other activities. We had a seven period schedule.
Mr. Vandruff, our superintendent, could see I wasn’t very interested in vocal music, especially the elementary and eventually I ended up with just band.
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