tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post8805159814057092130..comments2023-10-12T08:53:44.870-04:00Comments on Madame Queen: Life Lessons from a Man Named BeefyMadame Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879021662076403965noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-18030918629556700322009-01-26T00:53:00.000-05:002009-01-26T00:53:00.000-05:00I met Beefy in the spring of 1966 which was my fir...I met Beefy in the spring of 1966 which was my first year of Little League baseball - a more imposing figure I had never met and quite frankly have ever met. He was tough (former Marine) hardnosed (played on the 1942 UGA Rose Bowl team - and legend has it that after suffering a broken back during a game - got up and walked off of the field)but one of the fairest men I have ever met.He expected two things - that you put forth the maximum effort that you were capable of and that you showed respect - if you did these two things you would always be on his good side.It did not matter which side of the tracks you were born on you would be treated equally.<BR/> Getting back to the first day of Little League - as we began try-outs and the various drills - Beefy told us not to stop at 1st base until we had passed it - had the right field fence not been in place some of us would still be running - you did not want to disappoint Beefy.<BR/> I too was an (LIT) in (1969) - which meant essentially a year of endentured servitude with the promise of paid employment the next year - for a male that was the aforementioned sling blading the lake (yellow jackets on the dam included along with the tobacco juice)slopping the hogs (which was an experience all to itself - just ask Joe Fendley) washing the pots and pans from the lunch meal and a list of laborious tasks too long to mention. Many a Saturday morning Beefy would pull into our driveway around 7:00 a.m. - my dad would meet him in the yard - Beefy would ask "does Tony want to work today ?" my dad would say "sure - let me wake him up" and another day of toiling in the sun as Camp Harmony was created would be in store - Saturday's paid .50cents an hour and let me tell you I was a big spender at the Tahoe Club on Saturday night.<BR/> I stirred the big pots of Brunswick stew (with a boat paddle)swept that dining hall with a corn broom - grilled chickens at the bar-b-que pit - my eyes burning so bad when we turned the chickens that I could not see and performed a host of tasks that went with working for Beefy. <BR/> Now - let's get to the good stuff - Tommy T mentioned a little earlier - he would take us Little Leaguers up to Smokemont, N.C. on camping trips - Smokemont is located between Cherokee N.C. and Gatlinburg, Tenn on the Smokey Mountain Parkway - we would camp in these huge (circus type) tents and travel up there by bus. As a 10year this was quite an adventure -as the night wore down a big campfire would be built and the stories would begin - "boys - on the way up here today when we stopped for gas - I talked to a Deputy Sheriff at the filling station" - he told us of some unusual happenings going on in the area - seems local cattle farmers are finding their animals slain with their heads bashed in and most of their carcass eaten -as local lore went - a small boy was lost while his family was camping some years ago - it was presumed that he was taken by bears and raised as such - he would now be of age that he must be surviving of his own means and the legend of the "Bearman" was born -"now boys -the deputy informed me today that he was spotted near the campground and that we must be on the look-out - make sure that you sleep with your feet to the edge of the tent so that if he grabs you - you can holler out and maybe we can save you " about this time there was total silence - everyone was mesmerised and as still as could be - Beefy suddenly lept at the fire and let out a roar that put all of our hearts in our throats -then cackled out this laugh that was a Beefy trademark - I didn't know whether to run - laugh - scream or hide - never the less I put my sleeping bag in in the middle of the tent and did not close my eyes all night - a rock was under my sleeping bag but I was to afraid to move - no one has ever been so glad to see sunrise as I was that next morning.<BR/> I must close for now but look forward to viewing this blog in the future - Beefy was truly a legend in his time and I am so grateful that you have started this and hope to add more later. ThanksTony Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07920883979176252524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-21333382641025809302009-01-23T21:52:00.000-05:002009-01-23T21:52:00.000-05:00I actually got to know Beefy well before Camp Harm...I actually got to know Beefy well before Camp Harmony came to be. I still remember little league t-ball at 6 years old with Beefy and the laps around the field and the "never give up" sermons. Back then Beefy kept an unlit cigar in his mouth and occasionally used it as a pointer. Every baseball season and every football season was ruled over by Beefy. <BR/><BR/>Some of my first adventures outside of Elberton were with Beefy and Bill Clark on camping trips -- my first was to Cherokee, NC. The evenings were punctuated with stories of peoples heads being ripped off by angry bears and the like... the sounds of sleeping bag zippers turned into claws ripping through the tents in my mind after the stories. On most of the trips we had incredible bon fires that were fed with cups of gasoline until they we were all moving back to escape the heat. The Beefyisms were endless and the fear of being the target of his wrath kept me in line. Outside of my dad, Beefy was one of the strongest influences in my life as a young man. The whole Eaves family actually had some part in my development over the years in ball and swimming (thanks Peggy and Linda). I am very thankful for Beefy, Mr. Clark and the whole Eaves clan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-1382393413312752312009-01-17T20:09:00.000-05:002009-01-17T20:09:00.000-05:00That is great...I miss him so much. People who di...That is great...I miss him so much. People who did not know him will never understand him!! One of my regrets for my children is that they will never know what it is liked to be loved and yelled at by the only man I knew as a grandfather...Beefy!! He made me a cedar chest for graduation and I will treasure it always...It will be Georgia's hope chest. PatsyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-7500522335113359012008-01-24T23:10:00.000-05:002008-01-24T23:10:00.000-05:00that's awesome!!! I love that saying. I need to ...that's awesome!!! I love that saying. I need to figure out how to work it into my everyday interactions with people...Wineplzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412881827548705342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-75135155769828390452008-01-24T13:28:00.000-05:002008-01-24T13:28:00.000-05:00One memorable thing Madame Queen failed to mention...One memorable thing Madame Queen failed to mention about Beefy...he wore the 34 jersey for the GA Bulldawgs before Hershel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-15502520688415620262008-01-24T09:48:00.000-05:002008-01-24T09:48:00.000-05:00I ALWAYS wanted to go to camp, but my Nervous Nell...I ALWAYS wanted to go to camp, but my Nervous Nellie mother would not allow it. It was too germy, or too hot, or there were other kids there that might be sick that would get us sick. Plus, there was the movie Meatballs, so that pretty much ruined everything for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-90238717651572141702008-01-23T14:34:00.000-05:002008-01-23T14:34:00.000-05:00Hahahaha hystericalthat would look great in cross ...Hahahaha hysterical<BR/><BR/>that would look great in cross stitchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-20767513210009330692008-01-23T12:55:00.000-05:002008-01-23T12:55:00.000-05:00On the outside Beefy seems kind of a butthole, but...On the outside Beefy seems kind of a butthole, but it seems you have to know him to KNOW him. Thanks for explaining "Beefy tones"!<BR/><BR/>Camp always reminds me of "Little Darlings". Was Christy McNichol there?Tootsie Farklepantshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18336671002327112885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-3356455540518151242008-01-23T10:52:00.000-05:002008-01-23T10:52:00.000-05:00Ahahahaha that is The Awesome.Ahahahaha that is The Awesome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-11777801796290654482008-01-23T10:11:00.000-05:002008-01-23T10:11:00.000-05:00I love the expression "getting sent to Beefy." Tha...I love the expression "getting sent to Beefy." That's classic.Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00260512756626485548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-76699485060502959922008-01-23T10:02:00.000-05:002008-01-23T10:02:00.000-05:00OH MY GAH this is a fabulous story. In so many wa...OH MY GAH this is a fabulous story. In so many ways.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086167716210736774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-45482728135294504012008-01-23T09:29:00.000-05:002008-01-23T09:29:00.000-05:00Weirdly, that camp sounds like something I would h...Weirdly, that camp sounds like something I would have loved.<BR/><BR/>I think everyone should have a Beefy in their lives to keep them on the straight and narrow. Or separate the chicken from the doo-doo.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09037928148778848386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-59958447979413949432008-01-23T09:25:00.000-05:002008-01-23T09:25:00.000-05:00Holy moley! That DOES sound like boot camp! And ...Holy moley! That DOES sound like boot camp! And i think a nice lil' throwpillow with that saying would be hilarious!! Though I like the idea of the tee shirt.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02368540653012902391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-51629630589471608742008-01-22T22:09:00.000-05:002008-01-22T22:09:00.000-05:00You should head over to cafepress.com right now an...You should head over to cafepress.com right now and make a T-shirt of that.<BR/><BR/>I really enjoyed this story! Everyone should encounter a Beefy now and then.AndreAnnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12102680027953333309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215479305770760888.post-31111183122132624532008-01-22T21:32:00.000-05:002008-01-22T21:32:00.000-05:00While I'm glad I've never come across Beefy, I do ...While I'm glad I've never come across Beefy, I do have to say he does have the best.ever outlook on boys. That needs to be a t-shirt.Burgh Babyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09123901504643963583noreply@blogger.com