rsvp magazine september 2009

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CONT

ENTS

10SIGNATURE MEMPHISDr. Mary C. McDonald

24 STREETSEENLee Hutchison

12LIVE AT THE GARDEN

Elizabeth and Ron Hickman

26 BLUES ON THE BLUFF

Steve Brewer and Lori Cohoon

42BLUESVILLE BASH

Dipti Desai, Jeff Cameron and Amanda True

34VOX POPULARRed West

Cover PhotoSarah and David Thompson

atSummer in the City FiestaPhoto by Leah Fitzpatrick

ContentsSeptember 2009

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Signature Memphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Dr. Mary C. McDonald

As the secretary of education and superintendent of schools for the Catholic

Diocese of Memphis, this amazing leader has witnessed the area’s Catholic schools

grow from 16 to 30 institutions.

Live at the Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12The Memphis Botanic Garden offered concertgoers a trip down memory lane with a

special performance by Joe Cocker.

StreetSeens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20, 22 & 24This musician knows a thing or two about the dulcimer, but welcomes all acoustic

players to the Memphis Dulcimer Gathering and Folk Festival. She’s not afraid to

get a little dirt on her hands for the sake of urban neighborhood gardens. He’s

ready to break out a kilt for Clanjamfry: A Scottish Festival. StreetSeens spotlight

Lee Cagle, Josephine Williams and Lee Hutchison.

Blues on the Bluff® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26WEVL supporters celebrated summer while listening to local musical favorites on

the grounds of the National Ornamental Metal Museum.

Vox Popular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Q&A with quintessential entertainer Red West.

RSVPeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38A trek across the city’s party landscape.

Onsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40, 48 & 49Gatherings that have earned an honorable mention.

Bluesville Bash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Mike Miller and friends headed to the Horseshoe Casino for a weekend devoted to

raising funds for the Mike Miller Foundation beneficiaries.

RSVPhillippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52Once Again, Let Me Help You Raise Your Kids

RSVP’s dear humor columnist, Dennis Phillippi, realizes that the games of yester-

year are a far cry from the ones kids play in 2009.

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Volume XIV Number XII

September 2009

P U B L I S H E R

Roy Haithcock

E D I T O R

Leah Fitzpatrick

C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S

Ruth CassinKelly Cox

Jonathan DevinDennis Phillippi Suzanne ThompsonLesley Young

E D I T O R I A L I N T E R N

Maggie Squires

A R T D I R E C T O R

Patrick Akers

P H O T O G R A P H E R S

Nathan BerryRoy HaithcockDon Perry

Steve Roberts

S E N I O R A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V E

Libby Huff

A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V E

Chris Pugh

A C C O U N T I N G

Ruth Cassin

RSVP Memphis is published monthly byHaithcock Communications, Inc. First class

subscriptions are available for $75.00 per year.Send name and address with a check to:

Haithcock Communications, Inc.2282 Central AvenueMemphis, TN 38104

For advertising information contactRoy Haithcock

Phone (901) 276-7787, ext. 101Fax (901) 276-7785

e-mail [email protected]

W E B

www.rsvpmagazine.comFor editorial information or to request

coverage of an event, pleasecontact RSVP Magazine

one month prior to the event. Call 901-276-7787, ext. 105 or fax to 901-276-7785.

e-mail [email protected]

Copyright 2009 Haithcock Communications, Inc.

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Do you remember what

you wanted to be when

you grew up? And I’m

not talking about a fantasy

job you envisioned at age

four, like being a rock star

or a Major League pitcher.

Though highly intriguing,

an early career choice does-

n’t register high on the reali-

ty scale because you formu-

lated it before having any

real knowledge or experience

relevant to the field.

While first wanting to be a ballerina myself, I didn’t

recall what career I really wanted to pursue, at least not until

I recently ventured home for a high school reunion. As it

turns out, a time capsule packet filled out during my senior

year revealed that I did indeed have hopes of becoming a mag-

azine editor. The shock that set in after learning that one of

my many dreams became true was priceless. I also couldn’t

believe that I unknowingly stuck to a plan for my future, the

future now being the present. Then, I thought, “What’s next?”

The next for me is really more about enjoying the jour-

ney and setting smaller tangible goals, or projects as I call

them, that can be accomplished in a relatively short amount of

time. One of these particular projects happens to be scouring

the city and consulting my invaluable contacts for fascinating

people to feature in the pages of RSVP. Just turn to the

StreetSeens on pages 20, 22 and 24, and you’ll find a well-

rounded group of individuals who are injecting cultural signifi-

cance into the Bluff City through music, community gardens

and ancestral traditions. The Vox Popular, on page 34, won’t

disappoint either, as you’ll read about a man who’s tackled

several facets of the entertainment business.

Things are heating back up in September on the party

scene, so see you soon.

Leah Fitzpatrick

[email protected]

From the Editor

Photo by Steve Roberts

http://www.shopsofsaddlecreek.com/

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YYoouurr mmaannttrraa:: “I am never alone.”GGuuiillttyy pplleeaassuurree:: K-Pie at Paulette’s.IIddeeaall vvaaccaattiioonn ssppoott:: The beach, any beach!FFaavvoorriittee aallbbuumm:: Aaron Neville, Gospel Roots.WWoorrddss oorr pphhrraasseess yyoouu oovveerruussee:: “It is what it is.”OOnnee tthhiinngg yyoouu ccaann’’tt lliivvee wwiitthhoouutt:: My faith in God.LLaasstt bbooookk yyoouu’’vvee rreeaadd:: Execution by Larry Bossidy.HHiissttoorriiccaall ffiigguurree yyoouu mmoosstt iiddeennttiiffyy wwiitthh::Most days it’s Joan of Arc.

FFiirrsstt ccoonncceerrtt:: The Philadelphia Orchestra, con-ducted by Eugene Ormandy. I was 9 years old.

FFaavvoorriittee MMeemmpphhiiss mmuussiicciiaann:: Rufus Thomas, I evengot to dance the “Funky Chicken” with him at a New Year’s

Eve party not long before he died.

PPeerrssoonnaall hheerroo:: Jesus. A recent addition is Dr. JerryGooch, who saved my life.

OOnnee tthhiinngg mmoosstt ppeeooppllee ddoonn’’tt kknnooww aabboouutt yyoouu:: Ihad a near-death experience, and I met the president and the

pope at two separate events during the same week in April

2008 in Washington, D.C.

YYoouurr ggrreeaatteesstt aacchhiieevveemmeenntt:: My work in the field ofeducation as a teacher, principal and especially as superin-

tendent. During the past 11 years as superintendent, I have

led the Catholic schools through a period of systemic change and rapid

growth. I am also the architect for the re-opening of eight long-closed

Catholic schools in the inner city of Memphis called The Jubilee

Schools.

Dr. Mary C. McDonaldSecretary of Education/Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis

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S a m i L o t t

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LIVE

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E V E N

T Live at the GardenWith Joe Cocker

Erin Pilcher, Catie Miller and Emily Larson

Margaret and Gary Faulkner

Jennifer and Brad Sims

Jan and Al Lyons

Kristen Hensley and Nathan Russel

Amy Allen and Lee Wright

Bill and Julie England

Brooke Tillie and Erika Smith

Jan and Geoff Falk

Almost 40 years ago to the day, Joe Cocker electrified hundreds ofthousands of young people at the Woodstock Festival with his rendi-tion of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends,” accented

by his unique contortions and quivering and gravelly voice. At age 65,he’s still dazzling his audiences, albeit with less facial hair and sans thetie-dye, as was proved at the third concert of the Memphis BotanicGarden’s Live at the Garden series. He didn’t miss a beat, runningthrough hits such as “You Are So Beautiful,” “You Can Leave Your HatOn” and “Feelin’ Alright,” a song apropos for an evening of crystalclear skies and temperatures hovering in the 70s.

“Whoever ordered this up, I’d like to send them a thank-younote,” said event coordinator Sherry Misner.

Though the lawn seats had their own appeal, the place formany to be was with the VIPs in the Encore section tent to the side ofthe stage. Catered? Yes. Open bar? Yes. Not to mention, guests weretreated to air conditioning. Hog Wild/A Moveable Feast CateringCompany provided a buffet of sausage and cheese, boneless hot wings,pork tenderloin and dessert for the crowd, while Classic Party Rentalsset the scene with the air-conditioned tent made to look like an oldjuke house, with old signage and beat-up sofas.

“We tried to make it Memphis-y,” said the company’s generalmanager, Stan White.

VIPs also get the best seats in the house, with cloth-coveredtables and chairs directly in front of the stage. Misner says she almostsells out this section every year in advance. “They usually sign upbefore they even know the line-up, they enjoy it so much,” she said.Some tables set the standard high, with fine crystal and catered meals,while for others, a simple cooler of beverages and some dip sufficed.Either way, the option to move out of their seats and up to the front ofthe stage to dance to Cocker’s growling voice was perhaps the biggestdraw.

“I love Joe Cocker; I’m excited about everything,” said JohnMurphy.

“He played all of his songs for the kids on the computer all daytoday,” said Murphy’s wife, Melanie.

And though it wasn’t three days of peace and music like in1969, one night of it in Memphis was enough to make new friends.“Everyone is so friendly,” Melanie said, while sitting at a table withLynn Denton, whom she just met, and Mary Ann Hodges, another newfriend, none of whom knew each other prior to the concert.

Story by Lesley YoungPhotos by Nathan Berry

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LIVE

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Tom and Deborah Harrison

Johnny and Cindy Walker

Jennifer Kettler and David Pool

Don and Rita DeWeeseJennifer and Lawrence Dow

Jennifer Chandler with Bill and Susan Andrews John and Marsha Stemmler with Kem Wilson Jr. and Norma Wilson

Nadine and Steve Sims with Pam Miller Tasha and George Kawell with Curtis and Alice Finn

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Javier is a regular teenager. He plays soccer and basketball

and even helps his mom in the kitchen occasionally. But

it wasn’t long ago that Javier was so sick that he needed

a liver transplant to save his life. Thankfully, Le Bonheur

Children’s was there. He got the transplant and continues to

receive the follow-up care he still needs.

As the number of children we care for grows, Le Bonheur

must grow, too. That’s why we’re building a new hospital –

one designed for children like Javier whose lives truly

depend on it. With your support, we can continue to provide

the exceptional care they deserve and build a brighter future

for the children of the Mid-South and beyond.

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Not-For-Profi t Organization

A Common Thread of Exceptional Care

E V E N

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RDEN

Maggie Cannon and Karen Isaacman with Tom and Robin Watson

Andrew Bettis with Elaine and Gregg Gumbert

Paula Pilgrim and Cathy SimpsonJohn and Marcia Wagner

Carrie Turner and Dreama EverettSandra and Steve Dawson

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E V E N

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Hall Crawford, Ashley Crawford and Hunter Williams

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Lee CagleDiggin’ the Dulcimer

Every song has an underlying story, and so doesan instrument…at least Lee Cagle’s does. TheBlue Lion mountain dulcimer she plucks with

passion provides a glimpse of her most belovedchildhood experiences through symbolic flowers.Sugar maple leaves, pink and white dogwoods, daf-fodils, roses, purple violets, gladiolus, irises, tulippoplars, rhododendron, mountain laurel and morn-ing glory, as well as blueberries, muscadines, ablue butterfly and a stream, all appear in the fret-board inlaid with mother of pearl and abalone.However, the design is only half of the dulcimer’sappeal.

“The dulcimer is special in that there wereonly three instruments—the banjo, mountain dul-cimer and autoharp—that were invented in theU.S.,” Cagle says.

Uniquely American and uniquely Americanfolk, the dulcimer seems a fitting choice for thegirl who grew up near the Smoky Mountains.Though, Memphis is where she first laid her handson the instrument she’s since made a career out ofteaching lessons on and playing in concerts, whichoften includes performing with Betty Dawson inthe duo Butterfly Gap. Cagle doesn’t recall whatparticularly hooked her into this outlet of musicalexpression, but she swears that any beginningmusician can easily learn the dulcimer.

She elaborates, “The nice thing about themountain dulcimer is it has open tuning, meaningthat all strings are in harmony with each other, soyou only have to have one finger on it to get greatsound.”

Having taught a lady well into her 80s howto play, Cagle stands by her pitch and is gearingup to spread the traditional sound to others at theMemphis Dulcimer Gathering and Folk Festival.Now in its fifth year, the two-day affair that Caglefounded has become a haven for musicians of vary-ing acoustic instruments, ranging from mandolinsto guitars. Cagle expects around 75 people toattend the workshops and demonstrations heldthroughout the festival, scheduled for September25 and 26 at Second Baptist Church, but sheknows others will join Friday night’s acoustic jamsession, where everyone gets to pick a song. TheSaturday evening concert, which offers dynamicperformances by festival instructors, is also opento the community.

“Some of the best times of my life havebeen at festivals, so I just want others to have thatsame experience,” she says.

With a motto like “You won’t get any bet-ter until you get started,” Cagle’s ready to inspirefresh talent, not that meeting new faces has everposed a problem for the dulcimer enthusiast wholikes to kick off a set with “Black Mountain Rag”and “Whiskey Before Breakfast.”

Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhoto by Steve Roberts

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http://www.infinitiofmemphis.com/InfinitiofMemphis/

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Josephine WilliamsTransforming the Concrete Jungle

According to GrowMemphis coordinatorJosephine Williams, planting a seed makes youvulnerable because one never knows if the seed

will mature. Hence, the planter learns a valuablelesson about patience, something Williams thinksa culture accustomed to instant gratificationshould take notice of more. With GrowMemphis’focus on urban community gardens, this lesson isreceiving due attention in 11 neighborhoodsthroughout the city, and there are talks for severalother gardens.

“There’s always a need for more communi-ty gardens, but they’re not successful withoutneighborhood buy-in,” Williams says.

A joint effort between the Mid-South Peaceand Justice Center and typically low-income areas,GrowMemphis evolved out of a concept AlcineArnette had in 2001 when she upstarted a gardenin Orange Mound. Concerned about the way youthand elders interacted in the neighborhood, Arnetteenvisioned the project as an opportunity to bridgegenerational gaps. The plan centered on childrentending to the flowers and produce, and later pre-senting their elders with the harvest. Williams saysthis endeavor promoted trust between residents,instilled less neighborhood fear and made nutri-tional food choices accessible to an area dominat-ed by convenience markets.

GrowMemphis planted its roots in 2007and has since spread into communities likeFrayser and Uptown, with Midtown North servingas the biggest and most elaborate operation. Thesegardens traditionally arise out of vacant lots thatare donated or leased and are led by one to threegarden leaders. While operations feature varioussetups, from row gardens to resource gardens thatprovide compost, fertilizer and seedlings, eachoperates on a volunteer basis and employs organicgardening practices. All ages of volunteers, whocan opt for individual or communal plots depend-ing on availability, are welcome to participate.

“The biggest benefit is working collabora-tively, so we invite anyone who wants to be a partof this to join,” Williams says.

Make no mistake, each volunteer is respon-sible for pulling his or her own weight, and pro-duce is only available to those willing to help. Forthose new to gardening, tips and resources areshared during monthly garden leader meetings,and workshops on topics like rainwater collectionand seed saving are held periodically. Youth volun-teers also gather each Wednesday to sell variousproduce from the GrowMemphis booth at theMemphis Botanic Garden’s Farmers Market.

Williams points out, “I think that we’renot just starting gardens, but we’re really trying touse the gardens as a way to build local food systems,where we’re keeping food and dollars recirculatingin the community.”


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Of

Helen Akin

Steve Bearman

Beth Blumenfeld

Phoebe Burks

Bill Butler

Sheryl Cassibry

Robin Fauser

Gwen Flaniken

Jimmie Harder Fowler

Jan Gordon

Lynn Hammond

Lauren Harkins

Walker Hays

Carolyn Hooker

WendyRylee

CrissySmith

SusieSneed

TriciaSnider

CarolStout

JeffSullivan

LynnWalker

Sandra Charlton

Tom Iverson

Tom Kimbrough Broker

Mike Mills

CooperTurner

MichaelVarner

NorfleetWashatka

VivianWatson

MelissaWilbanks

MigWilliams

JudsonWilliford

AmyWoods

MandyWright

Sylvia Joure

Joy Kimbrough

Ali Benson Koch

Janet Lee

Nan Lee

Elizabeth Marchisio

Toni Martello

Christine McBee

George Merrifield

Jim Pascover

Claire Perkins

Nancy Perrine

Alice Newton

Our East Memphis f amily

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Lee HutchisonGetting a Scottish Fix

Kilts originated in the Scottish Highlandsduring the 16th century, but their fanbasehas spread across the pond thanks to cultur-

al get-togethers like Clanjamfry: A ScottishFestival and, of course, brave men of fashion.Memphian Lee Hutchison, a festival steeringcommittee member for the past seven years,happens to be a friend of plaid and can evenshare with you the history of his ancestors’ tar-tan pattern. Just don’t expect him to wear thefashionable ensemble pictured at right again, atleast until the festival kicks off the weekend ofSeptember 25.

Sponsored and presented by EvergreenPresbyterian Church, Clanjamfry has grown inpopularity and participants throughout its 10-year existence. Still a relatively small festivalthat attracts a few thousand visitors, Clanjamfryis one of the better Scottish festivals Hutchisonsays he’s seen and boasts one of the area’s bestpipe bands, Wolf River Pipes and Drums.Keeping the event fresh remains a challenge,but the committee has incorporated activitiessuch as a Highland dance competition andyouth piping and drumming in recent years.Organizers also accommodate attendees’ prefer-ence for rock ‘n’ roll Celtic music during theday and traditional Celtic at night.

Hutchison adds, “I think it took a cou-ple of years before Clanjamfry registered in thepublic’s consciousness, but now we need morevolunteers than there are people in the church.”

Special highlights include a ceilidh (aScottish talent show), sheep herding demos,lots of traditional food (think meat pies, hag-gis, bangers and shortbread) and the grandfinale, the Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans. This lastevent takes place on Sunday morning at 11inside the church and features a procession ofthe choir, 14 clans, three Scottish societies, afew families who show off their ancestral tar-tans and a beadle. The service that follows hasbecome spiritually moving for lots of attendeesand incorporates the blessing of the tartans.

“The nice thing about this is there havebeen elderly people who have never been intouch with their Scottish roots who attend thefestival,” Hutchison says. “People will come upto me after the weekend with tears in their eyessaying how much it’s meant to them.”

Hutchison definitely harbors an appreci-ation for the festival’s historical and genealogi-cal aspect. One of his friends even jokes that hecan identify different tartans from a hundredyards away. And though his personal kilt comesfrom Scotland, he won’t discriminate if yoursisn’t.


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Blues on the Bluff®WEVL’S PARTY ON THE RIVERE

V E N

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Bob and Deb Cameron Sophia and John Tashie

Mary Tolley and Kevin Martin Laura Edwards and Barney Dubois

Tyler Roy and Danny Bright Julia Perry and Katherine Tashie

BLUE

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Judy Dorsey, Davy Ray Bennett and David MerrillJeannie Busby and Mike King Lucy and Atman Pai

See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

For the past 20 years, WEVL FM 89.9, the area’s only radio stationentirely funded from private donations, has packed in its support-ers for Blues on the Bluff®, and this year didn’t disappoint. With

nearly 1,000 concertgoers toting chairs, blankets and insect sprayhigh atop the South Bluffs on the National Ornamental MetalMuseum grounds, the crowd made it known that the music of theDelta remains loved.

Although rain had threatened earlier in the day, the skycleared for the 21st annual party that was dedicated to the memory of“Cap’n Pete” Henderson. As guests enjoyed a stunning sunset on theMississippi with mild temperatures and a delightful river breeze,Kenny Brown took the Riverbluff Pavilion stage first. A native ofNesbit, Mississippi, Brown is renowned for his North Mississippi HillCountry style of blues and energized the audience with his slide gui-tar. Next up were the Bo-Keys, who got appreciative listeners on theirfeet with the group’s “Memphis Sound” soul tunes out of the 1960s.For the finale, Beale Street favorite Blind Mississippi Morris, respect-ed worldwide for his harmonica skills, and his band, The PocketRockets, left everyone wishing for more.

WEVL also held a raffle for CDs and sold promotional posters,past and present, of the event as well as station tee shirts and caps.Hungry fans feasted on smoked turkey legs, pork shoulder and barbe-qued Portobello mushroom sandwiches provided by Central BBQ, whodonated all food sale proceeds to WEVL.

Judy Dorsey, station manager of WEVL, was pleased with thegreat turnout. She enthused, “We raised over $23,000 for WEVL. Theweather was perfect, the music fantastic and everyone had a greattime.”

Story by Ruth CassinPhotos by Roy Haithcock

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E V E N

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UES ON

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Rhonda Axt and Terry Donavon

Sandy and Doug Eckhoff Mary Kay Campbell and Bill Crawford Linda Dalton and Jim McGarrity

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BLUE

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The Gardens of Riveredge

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Vox PopularQ&A with Red WestVO

X PO

PULA

R

RRSSVVPP:: You’ve had a wide range of jobs in the entertainment busi-ness, so just wondering what your original career plans were?

WWeesstt:: I don’t know, I just remember going every Saturday to themovies and seeing Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, and saying, “Ohboy, I want to do that.” I never dreamed I would make movies, butfortunately I grew up with Elvis here in Memphis. He opened upthe first door for me out there with Nick Adams, who starred in“The Rebel” TV series, and many other things. Nick helped me gofurther, then Robert Conrad didn’t just open the door, he kicked itopen for me in “Black Sheep Squadron.” That show opened up big-ger parts that have been coming ever since, so I owe a lot of peoplea lot.

RRSSVVPP:: What is one of your fondest memories during your time withElvis?

WWeesstt:: We had a lot of fun!We’d go down to the GulfCoast and go fishing. Wealmost burned the golfcourse down there onenight. He loved to buy fire-works, and his cousin had afew too many and wassmoking over this big boxof fireworks and dropped acigarette in it. We were allbehind trees and in sandtraps while all these rocketswere going off. Those werethe fun days, but later on,it ceased to be fun whenElvis wasn’t able to go outas much and do things.

RRSSVVPP:: Didn’t you meet yourwife, Pat, through Elvis?

WWeesstt:: Yes, Pat was a secre-tary out there, and Elvis’dad was her boss. I came home—I was in California at that time—andwe were going to do Follow That Dream down in Florida. I came toMemphis to prepare for that role and met Pat, and we got marriedtwo weeks later, then we went on our honeymoon during thatmovie. Gordon Douglas, the director, knew I was on my honey-moon, and I think I ended up playing seven different parts, plusdoubled Elvis in that movie. Gordon would throw things in just forme to do. I remember having one line, where you didn’t even seeme.

RRSSVVPP:: Did Elvis ever give you any act-ing tips?

WWeesstt:: No, I learned a lot by being onsets and watching people like WalterMatthau, Dean Jagger and CarolynJones. That was an education in itself. I just worked my way upgradually. I actually started out as a stuntman and still suffer fromthat.

RRSSVVPP:: So, you incurred a few injuries doing stuntwork?

WWeesstt:: Well, when I met Robert Conrad, I was a stuntman on “TheWild Wild West,” and I joked that I was the only guy in Hollywoodwho had his own parking space for an ambulance. My wife definitely

showed up at the hospital afew times. One time sherushed out to the hospitaland walked in the waitingroom, and there was LeeMajors—he was a friend ofmine. He was working on“Big Valley” when I wasworking on “The Wild WildWest,” so he saw the ambu-lance and saw me. Then, heleft his set to see if I wasok.

RRSSVVPP:: Your most recentlyreleased film, GoodbyeSolo, was an independentmovie, so just wondering ifyou prefer acting in smaller,low budget films or in big-ger movie and televisionproductions?

WWeesstt:: Well, independentmovies have been very goodto me, but I just got done

filming a major big budget movie with Kevin Spacey. It really justdepends on who you’re working with, plus the director of this newone, Trent Cooper, who was born here in Memphis, was a realpleasure to work with. And, I found out that I met Kevin Spaceywhen he was a kid and came out on the “Black Sheep Squadron”set. He was a big fan of that show, Robert Conrad and me. Ofcourse, he goes on to win two Academy Awards. I did enjoy workingwith Ramin Bahrani, the writer and director of Goodbye Solo.. He’sa very talented young man, and so is the young African actor[Souleymane Sy Savan] who played Solo.

Robert West, better known as “Red,” has long exceeded the average entertainer’s 15 minutes of fame, with aresume that boasts acting, stuntwork, songwriting, and even a gig as Elvis’ bodyguard. However, his mostrecent role in the movie Goodbye Solo has taken his star power to new heights at the ripe old age of 73.

West says the director, Ramin Bahrani, definitely got the best performance of his career, one that has beenfilled with memorable characters like Sergeant Andy Micklin in “Black Sheep Squadron” and Red Webster inRoad House. RSVP editor met with West and his wife, Pat, inside a local theatre for an hour of pure entertain-ment from an actor truly devoted to his art. As West puts it, “I like characters that are a little different than Iam, to see what I can do with them.”

Photos by Don Perry

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VOX

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LAR RRSSVVPP:: Tell me about your character, William, in Goodbye Solo.

WWeesstt:: William’s purpose is to end it all. His life has been lived, andthings are starting to come apart. He decides he isn’t going to endup in a nursing home, so he hires a cab driver named Solo to takehim to this place called Blowing Rock, which is a real place outsideof Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Solo can’t understand whyWilliam is hiring him to take him that far for a one way trip, so thewhole story is about the driver trying to find out why I’m going.Then, it kind of dawns on Solo what I am doing because he findsout I’m selling my apartment and giving away everything I own. Solois trying to convince me not to do this. I try to keep my distancefrom Solo and everybody else in the movie, but he is always there. Iwind up spending the night at Solo’s house and meeting his familyand his little girl, and his daughter becomes another added distrac-tion for me. I will have to let everyone see the ending to learn therest, and it is coming out on DVD on September 25.

RRSSVVPP:: Were you overwhelmedwith the critics’ rave reviews ofGoodbye Solo?

WWeesstt:: I knew we had somethinggood, but for a little independ-ent film like that, you don’texpect fine accolades, especiallyfrom Roger Ebert and JeffreyLyons. Then, to be called onto“The Charlie Rose Show” inNew York was amazing.

RRSSVVPP:: I really liked when RogerEbert wrote in his Goodbye Soloreview “Wherever you live,when this film opens, it will bethe best film in town.”

WWeesstt:: [Laughs] Yeah, well it’sunbelievable what it’s done withthis limited release. Like inMemphis, it only played at theMalco Ridgeway. It also openedin California, New York andChicago in just two or three theatres, and before the weekend ended,it had expanded to eight theatres in New York, and I don’t know howmany in Chicago and California. It was far beyond anyone’s expecta-tions. Goodbye Solo was also shown at the Toronto InternationalFilm Festival and at the Venice Film Festival, where it won theFIPRESCI Award, which is the International Film Critics Award.

RRSSVVPP:: Can you share the storyline of your new movie that just fin-ished filming?

WWeesstt:: The storyline is about Kevin Spacey’s character, who is thefather of invention—that’s the working title of the movie, but itmight be changed. He gets ideas, then brings them to me becauseI’m an engineer and can put these things together. He comes upwith the idea for the Clincher, this ab exercise thing, and becomes abillionaire off of it. But, this one invention has a very bad flaw in it—this is a comedy—because if you push to release it and don’t moveyour thumb, then you won’t have a thumb left. So, there are a bunchof people walking around without a thumb, and Kevin Spacey’s char-acter goes to prison for eight years. Once he gets out, the first per-son he comes to is me, and all of this stuff has put me in the“home.” I still have a bunch of electronics in the room though, andhe has more ideas he wants me to develop.

RRSSVVPP:: How would you define your style of acting?

WWeesstt:: Down-home [laughs]. Mostly my parts are playingSoutherners, but I try to add something extra to my parts. Even withthis new comedy with Kevin Spacey, the last scene wasn’t writtenthat way, but it became an emotional scene. I do a lot of thingswhere I don’t say anything, like in The Rainmaker. I never said aword throughout that movie. It was all in the tears.

RRSSVVPP:: Was it intimidating working under Francis Ford Coppola’sdirection in The Rainmaker?

WWeesstt:: Well, yeah. That first day something wasn’t going right withsomebody, and he picked that monitor up, threw it across the floorand said a few choice words. After he got the take, he walked over tothis actor that he did that for, gave him a hug and said, “That’swhat I wanted.” I couldn’t take my eyes off of him when he wasthere because of his direction. Talk about method acting. To get

Virginia Madsen in the rightframe of mind, he had this bigcourtroom built in Oakland,California at an Air Force base,so before she came out to doher scene, he had all these badattorneys, who she’d been work-ing for and was now testifyingagainst, get in the judge’schambers and call her every-thing in the book. She came outwith tears in her eyes, and hesaid, “Roll ‘em.” However hecould get you into the charac-ter, he would do it.

RRSSVVPP:: For which piece of workare you most recognized?

WWeesstt:: I’m still recognized fromRoad House, and even goingback to “Black SheepSquadron,” everyone asks,“Where’s your cigar?”

RRSSVVPP:: Of all the jobs you’ve had through the years, which has beenthe most fulfilling?

WWeesstt:: I’ve got to say that working on Goodbye Solo has gotten themost attention of anything. This for me was the big one, but it’shard to pick something because the song I wrote called “If EverydayWas Like Christmas”—I don’t know how many times it’s gone plat-inum now—sells every year at Christmas. I get checks twice a yearfrom that song, so Elvis is still taking care of business.

RRSSVVPP:: What do you think the secret to longevity is in the actingworld because a lot of stars come and go?

WWeesstt:: Yes, they do. I think about that every day. The only youngactor I know when I was starting out that’s stayed around is JackNicholson. I flew to California for an interview two or three yearsago, and I saw a lot of the young actors who were doing pretty goodthat were on this interview, and they all had this empty look in theireyes. They’re not making a living. They might get a big part once ayear, and that’s tough to see, people relying on this. I don’t knowhow they survive the unemployment line. That’s one of the things Ihated, the unemployment line. It made me sick, so I got out of itand came back and got back into music. I didn’t devote my life toonly acting. I had a lot of other things going on, so I remained sane.

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Bunco-Rita-Ville

“Let the Good Times Roll”

Shouts of “Bunco” rang through

the air at the fifth annual BBuunnccoo--RRiittaa--VViillllee

fund-raiser benefiting RRyyaann’’ss RRaanncchh

IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall (RRI). Men dressed in

Hawaiian shirts served as waiters at the

function where palm trees and tropical

treats ruled the day. The waiters were

spouses of the members of the JJuunniioorr

AAuuxxiilliiaarryy ooff CCoolllliieerrvviillllee, which is part of the

NNaattiioonnaall AAssssoocciiaattiioonn ooff JJuunniioorr AAuuxxiilliiaarriieess,

one of the event sponsors.

“We are just the power behind this

tournament,” said MMaarryy SShhiilllliinngg, a Junior

Auxiliary member.

The CChhuurrcchh ooff tthhee IInnccaarrnnaattiioonn in

Collierville provided the backdrop for the

party filled with blue and red lights twin-

kling from the stems of “bottomless” mar-

garita and wine glasses that were sold for

$20 a piece. The tropical fare, provided by

another event sponsor, MMeeaassuurreess ooff JJooyy

CCaatteerriinngg, owned by BBaarrbbaarraa MMaayyoo, included

cheeseburger in paradise dip, peach mango

salsa and Jamaican jerk chicken bites with

cilantro remoulade. Palm trees adorned

with fruit were at the center of the buffet

table, where other delectables like mango

cream dip and homemade yeast rolls paved

the way for the dessert, a huge strawberry

cake.

RRI began as a support group

founded by CCoorriinnnnee DDeerreennbbuurrggeerr, mother of

a special needs child, who wanted to reach

out to other special needs families. RRyyaann’’ss

PPllaaccee, which originally operated under the

name Ryan’s Hope, spearheaded the open-

ing of a universally accessible playground in

W C Johnson Park in Collierville in 2003.

RRI also started RRyyaann’’ss HHaavveenn, a respite

program that provides special needs chil-

dren with a fun-filled evening while their

parents enjoy a night out of their own. RRI

is now raising funds to build RRyyaann’’ss RRaanncchh,

the first universally accessible health and

wellness resort for families of children with

disabilities. The AAbbssttoonn ffaammiillyy has donated

a site for the ranch.

LLiiffeettiimmee FFiittnneessss joined Measures of

Joy and the Junior Auxiliary of Collierville

in sponsoring Bunco-Rita-Ville, along with

HHooppee aanndd DDrreeaamm MMaaggaazziinnee, AAaarroonn’’ss and

The AAssssoocciiaattiioonn ooff JJuunniioorr LLeeaagguueess

IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall,, IInncc. Others supporting the

cause were RRI board member PPeetteerr HHeeiisstt,

TTeerreessaa DDoonnaahhuuee,, TToommmmyy EEwwiinngg,, TToomm and

KKaatthhyy MMaarroottttaa and MMaauurreeeenn BBrriiddggeess, who

provided decorations, including 40 pink

flamingos, for the event.

Story and photos by Suzanne Thompson

Women Against MS Luncheon

“A Movement Toward a World Free of MS”

Finding a cure for multiple sclerosis

ranks high on CCyynntthhiiaa TToobbiinn’s and JJuuddyy

GGaauutthhiieerr’s priority list, as Tobin has MS

and Gauthier has a daughter with the dis-

ease. So, it came as no surprise that both

these women reprised their roles as hon-

orary chairs for the third annual WWoommeenn

AAggaaiinnsstt MMSS LLuunncchheeoonn at the UU ooff MM

A Trek Across the City’s Party Landscape

Keith Walker, Corinne Derenburger and Ryan Wilder

Tasha Sarwar and Lori Burton

Jean Roberts, Stephanie Hube and Maureen Martin

Lizz Mayo, Ann Elizabeth Miller and Barbara Mayo

Kerri Evans and Lori Skelton

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HHoolliiddaayy IInnnn.

Tobin said, “MS affects women two

to three times more than men, but I want

you to know that MS is not a death sentence.

And, there are some benefits, like front row

parking, great seats at sporting events, quick

lines through airports and customs and you

get to meet a whole new group of people.”

For Tobin, this “new group of peo-

ple” includes those involved with the MMiidd--

SSoouutthh CChhaapptteerr ooff tthhee NNaattiioonnaall MMuullttiippllee

SScclleerroossiiss SSoocciieettyy, which currently represents

7,400 people. The local chapter provides a

great wealth of resources and support to

many, and continuously raises money to find

a cure for MS. The Mid-South chapter also

funds scholarship programs for children with

MS or children with parents who have MS

and provides emergency financial assistance,

such as food, medical and utility costs. As

JJiimm WWaarrdd, the Mid-South chapter president

said, “We help people not have to make a

decision between food and medicine.” In that

vein, hundreds of attendees contributed

$35,00 to the cause, by attending the lunch-

eon and purchasing items from the Artist

Alley onsite.

WWeennddyy NNaattiioonnss welcomed all to the

afternoon filled with inspiration and lots of

artfully decorated cakes donated by local bak-

eries and on display at each table. FFaatthheerr

PPaauull CChhrriissttyy of the Annunciation Greek

Orthodox Church gave the invocation before

lunch, but not without first saying, “When-

ever women unite themselves against any-

thing, they’re going to win, so I’ve learned

that I don’t want to be the thing they’re unit-

ing against.” This comment was well received

by audience members, who united for a

group smile, one of many to be had this day

thanks to guest speaker CCaarrrriiee SSmmiitthh.

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Elizabeth Finch and Jim Ward

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ONSITE

Loyce Ryan, Cynthia Davis and Deborah Harris at Groovin’ in the Garden

Chloe, Bryson and Terry Emehel and Jackson Smith at COMEC Treasure Hunt

Onsite

Taylor and Wanda Christian at COMEC Treasure Hunt

Caleb, Jeff, Matt and Josh McCalla at Celebrity Putt Putt Tournament

Staci Thomasson and LaShunda “Lady Jazz” Martin at WUMR Jazz in June Kick-off

Terrance Bates, Bonny Kinney and Henry Rothenberg at Celebrity Putt Putt Tournament

COMEC Treasure Hunt Groovin’ in the GardenCelebrity Putt Putt Tournament WUMR Jazz in June Kick-off

Almost 400 adults and children plundered the PPiinnkkPPaallaaccee at the third annual CCoommmmiissssiioonn oonn MMiissssiinnggaanndd EExxppllooiitteedd CChhiillddrreenn (COMEC) TTrreeaassuurree HHuunntt.KKiinnddeerrmmuussiicc FFuunn with MMss.. AAnnnneettttee aanndd FFrriieennddss, SSttuuddiiooBB and CCoolllliieerrvviillllee AArrttss AAccaaddeemmyy provided a high-energyspectacle for the younger set, who also had the oppor-tunity to take photographs with look-a-like characters“BBaacckkyyaarrdd FFrriieennddss” from IInn CChhaarraacctteerr PPrroodduuccttiioonnss andShelby County firefighter BBrreenntt PPeerrkkiinnss. Other activitiesincluded Chinese calligraphy by DDaa AAddaamm ZZhhaaoo andface painting by PPaarrttyy wwiitthh PPiicckklleess. A big thanks goesto the BBrruunnnneerr PPrriinnttiinngg, KKiiwwaanniiss CClluubb, MMeemmpphhiiss AAuuttooAAuuccttiioonn, SSaamm’’ss CClluubb and WWaall--MMaarrtt for sponsoring thistreasure-filled fund-raiser.

The RRiivveerr CCiittyy CChhaapptteerr of the LLiinnkkss,,IInnccoorrppoorraatteedd hosted GGrroooovviinn’’ iinn tthhee GGaarrddeenn to highlightthe community’s artistic and musical talents, includingstudent musicians of the SSttaaxx MMuussiicc AAccaaddeemmyy. TheMMeemmpphhiiss BBoottaanniicc GGaarrddeenn provided the theme-appropri-ate backdrop, while members showed appreciation forhonoree AAsshhlleeyy KKeeiitthh DDaavviiss, the Stax Music Academy’sartistic director, by presenting him with a $1,000 dona-tion for the academy. Event proceeds benefit the RRiivveerrCCiittyy LLiinnkkss ccoommmmuunniittyy pprrooggrraammss.

More than 150 amateur putters made a stop atGGoollff aanndd GGaammeess FFaammiillyy PPaarrkk for the fifth annualEEyyeewwiittnneessss NNeewwss CCeelleebbrriittyy PPuutttt PPuutttt TToouurrnnaammeenntt.CCaammeerroonn HHaarrppeerr hosted the afternoon affair that raisednearly $20,000 for the RRoonnaalldd MMccDDoonnaalldd HHoouusseeCChhaarriittiieess®® ooff MMeemmpphhiiss. Other media personalities fromthe ABC-24 Eyewitness News team in attendance wereTTeerrrraannccee BBaatteess, AArrii BBeerrggeerroonn, JJeennii DDiiPPrriizziioo, RRaaee LLyynnHHaarrttlleeyy, BBoonnnnyy KKiinnnneeyy and HHeennrryy RRootthheennbbeerrgg.

Local jazz station WWUUMMRR kicked off its JJaazzzz iinnJJuunnee RRaaddiiootthhoonn with an EEvveenniinngg ooff JJaazzzz wwiitthh RRuusssseellllWWiillssoonn aanndd FFrriieennddss. The GGrroouunndd ZZeerroo BBlluueess CClluubb host-ed the musical affair headlined by Wilson, a U of Malumnus and jazz and classical pianist. Special guestartists included JJooyyccee CCoobbbb, KKeelllleeyy HHuurrtt, CChhrriiss PPaarrkkeerrand LLeennnnyy MMccMMiillllaann. Event proceeds will go toward theBBoobb MMccDDoowweellll (a long-time WUMR station manager)FFuunndd.

Story by Leah Fitzpatrick and Maggie SquiresPhotos Submitted and by Tyrone Easley,

Susan Prater and Alistair Windsor

Kelley Hurt and Chris Parker at WUMR Jazz in June Kick-off

Emma Jean Stotts, Miska Bibbs, Mae Martin, Jewel Wilburn and Stephanie Thornton at Groovin’ in the Garden

“Babalu” Clay Yaeger, Russell Wilson and LennyMcMillan at WUMR Jazz in June Kick-off

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Phentermine, Adipex, Ambien,and Other PrescriptionMedications Available

30-day supply of phentermineavailable in clinic for only $25

Cordova MedicalClinic

(1 block east of Corky's)

Walk-Ins WelcomeNo Appointment Necessary

Monday-Saturdaywww.cordovamedical.com

Free VIT B12 Shotfor new patients

Fastest Weight LossClinic In Town!

Lose Weight

GG’s

A country

music singer,

made the trip

from Nashville to

Memphis to share

her personal expe-

rience—the good

and the bad—with

MS. She reminded

the audience that

surrounding your-

self with people who understand what you’re going

through is important, and to never underestimate

the power of a positive attitude or prayer. Smith

also entertained with a song she wrote about MS

called “Life Lines.”

“Maybe someday we can all get together

and talk about that disease that used to be,” she

said in closing.

Those helping fight MS included DDrr..

SSaannttiiaaggoo and

AAnniittaa VVeerraa, RRaayy

BBeellllggrraauu, EElliizzaabbeetthh

FFiinncchh, SSuuzzaannnnee

BBoowwlliinn, GGrreettcchheenn

RReeaavveess, SSaannddyy

GGaatteess, DDiiaannee

MMaarrkkeeee, CCeecciillee

NNoowwaakk, BBeetthh

MMaarrcczzyynnsskkii,

NNaattaasshhaa BBoowweenn,

MMiirraannddaa HHaarrbboorr, DDoonnnnaa NNooeellkkeerr and JJaanneettttee

KKrraauucchh.

Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Grant’s Galabenefiting the Children’s Heart Foundation

It wasn’t yet Valentine’s Day, but there

were hearts aplenty at the third annual GGrraanntt’’ss

GGaallaa benefiting the CChhiillddrreenn’’ss HHeeaarrtt FFoouunnddaattiioonn

(CHF). The evening took place in the swanky

HHuuddssoonn BBaallllrroooomm at CCeennttrraall SSttaattiioonn downtown.

The CHF holds the event each year to raise money

for research into the cause and cure of congenital

heart defects, such as the one that took the life of

a newborn named Grant Goughnour.

Attendees JJ..RR.. and SSttaaccyy DDeeaall, PPeettee and

RRiittaa FFiisscchhbbaacchh, JJeeaannnnee PPeenneegguuyy, KKaarreenn HHaarrddeerr,

LLiinnddaa HHiillll, CChheerryyll YYaatteess, MMiikkee and SShheerrrrii SSwwiinnddllee

and JJooee and MMeellaanniiee AAnnddrreewwss arrived in a mix of

business suits and casual summer evening finery,

many choosing to attend in the gala’s color palette

of red, black and white. As one of the few family-

friendly events on Memphis’ social register, the

gala again welcomed youngsters in their Sunday

suits and shined-up shoes.

Each table was individually decorated with

carnations and lilies, tiny wooden toys, heart-

shaped balloons

and chocolates.

Music from the

deejay and cock-

tails from the

open bar kept the

atmosphere light

and lively as

guests strolled

about the silent

auction and the

buffet table of hot

hors d’ouevres featuring roast beef and horserad-

ish, pork loin and honey dijon, bleu cheese pin-

wheels and grilled veggies, among others. Some of

the featured items up for bids included the Grant’s

Gala 2009 angel painting, a stunning oil on canvas

by Memphis artist CCoonnnniiee LLaammppeenn, especially com-

missioned for this

year’s event.

Members

of the GGoouugghhnnoouurr

ffaammiillyy—MMiikkee,

HHoollllyy, AAnnddrreeaa,

GGrraacciiee, RRiicchhaarrdd,

EElllliiee, TTrreenntt and

KKaannddyy, to name a

few—hosted the

gala, welcoming

guests DDaann and

SStteepphhaanniiee

MMeessssiinnggeerr, BBiillll GGoommiillaa, CChhrriiss and CChhaarrlliiee TToouuppss,

KKaarreenn IIvvyy, DDaanniieellllee RRoommaagguueerraa, CChhrriiss and AAlllliissoonn

GGrriiffffiitthh, CChhaadd AAbbbbootttt, TTrraacceeyy CCllaapppp, RRoobb BBuurrggeerr

and SSaarraahh PPiiwwoonnkkaa.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to

assist in the funding of congenital heart defect

research,” said Mike Goughnour. “We truly believe

Judy Gauthier and Suzanne Bowlin

Natasha Bowen and Miranda Harbor

Sarah Piwonka and Mike Goughnour

RSVPeople continued on page 50

Karen Ivy and Danielle Romaguera

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Bluesville BashMike Miller Celebrity Charity WeekendE

V E N

T

Jason Huhl and Amanda Kirk Beth and Joe Hill

Darcy Harlander and Dawn Renner Paula Pickel and Ernie Barrasso

Christi Hufford and Melissa Lucy Terry Smithson and Deana Sanford

BLUE

SVILLE

BASH

C.B. Dollaway, Dave Martin and Ryan BaderDavid Garland and Jeanette Hollowell Mike and Jennifer Miller

See all the party photos atrsvpmagazine.com Password: RSVP

Though NBA star Mike Miller, formerly with the MemphisGrizzlies, currently plays for the Washington Wizards, he still har-bors a love for the Delta. Instead of moving his Mike Miller

Celebrity Charity Weekend elsewhere, Miller returned to theHorseshoe Hotel and Casino in Tunica to continue this philanthropictradition for a fifth year.

One of five events scheduled for a weekend that typicallyincludes a golf brunch and outing, a meet and greet reception, acelebrity brunch and a poker tournament, the Bluesville Bash remainsthe most formal of the festivities. For this year’s bash, Miller invitedseveral UFC Fighter friends to attend and also brought along his per-sonal service dog, a German shepherd named Apollo. Apollo, who hasbeen with the Miller family for two years, more than got along withguests and another service dog, Ax, a 7-month-old German shepherdpuppy up for auction. Service dog trainer Richard Clark even attendedthe occasion to answer any inquiring bidders’ questions.

Hundreds of other guests attended the affair to raise fundsfor the Mike Miller Foundation beneficiaries. Since the foundation’sinception, nearly $2 million has been donated to various organiza-tions, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Make-A-Wish®Foundation, Porter-Leath Children’s Center, Sanford Children’sHospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, to name a few.For this occasion, Miller showed his commitment to helping childrenwith medical illnesses by sending a limo to Memphis’ RonaldMcDonald House for special guest Carson Leslie, a 16-year-old boydiagnosed with cancer in 2006, and his mother. At the bash, Leslietook the stage to discuss his amazing battle with cancer and therecent news that three new tumors had appeared on his brain.

Leslie added, “I’m telling you about the importance of donat-ing money to cancer research tonight.”

After Leslie’s candid talk, the Horseshoe Casino presentedMiller with a $25,000 donation for his foundation, giving guests anadded incentive to bid high in the live and silent auctions, which fea-tured autographed sports memorabilia from Larry Bird’s BostonCeltics jersey to Brett Favre’s Green Bay Packers helmet. While thebids came in, the Nick Rallis Band entertained the crowd ready to cel-ebrate.

Miller said, “The reason we do this is to help the kids.”

Story by Leah FitzpatrickPhotos by Don Perry

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AtthePINK PALACE MUSEUMPINK PALACE MUSEUM901.320.6320

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photo by Sean Davis

Opera Memphis thanks our season sponsors:

AdamsFoundation

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E V E N

TBL

UESVILLE

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Larry and Penny Lewis

Dan and Katie Myers

Sandra King and Tamara Brown

Debi McCaffrey, Trish Tridente and DeeDee

Will and Laura Gurner

Kirby Houston with Beth and Mark Landers Cindy Hoskins, Anita Trippett and Debra Beard

Sunny Billingsley, Darby Dowdell and Lauren Gardella Terri and Ray Winters with Petra and Mike Sneed

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Amy and Scott Nuccio

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Mary, Judge Ellis and Mollie Darvey

Shenea Mathews and Gary Rosenberg

Brian Gossett and Brandee Loving

Dianna Willis with Frank and Ellen Grisanti

James and Caroline Rogers

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ONSITE

Anne and John Hambrick at Jones Clinic Art Exhibit

Judy Lutes, Claire Harrison, Brian Elder and Dr. C. Michael Jones at Jones Clinic Art Exhibit

Onsite

Julia Wilson and Phillip Parker at Bastille Day Party

Brice Timmons and Jenifer Alvarez at Bastille Day Party

Joel Kimbrough with Stephanie and Shaun Micheel at Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party

Lessie Rainey and Joe Barton at Bastille Day Party

Jones Clinic Art ExhibitMake-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party Bastille Day Party

Drr.. CC.. MMiicchhaaeell JJoonneess and the JJoonneess CClliinniicc hosted thebiennial competition “OOnnccoollooggyy oonn CCaannvvaass::EExxpprreessssiioonnss ooff aa CCaanncceerr JJoouurrnneeyy.” For the national artexhibit’s stop in Memphis, the clinic held an openingreception, which was attended by local supporters,physicians and patients. LLiillllyy UUSSAA partnered with TThheeNNaattiioonnaall CCooaalliittiioonn ffoorr CCaanncceerr SSuurrvviivvoorrsshhiipp, the oldestsurvivor led cancer advocacy group in the country, topresent this special competition.

The MMaakkee--AA--WWiisshh FFoouunnddaattiioonn®® ooff tthhee MMiidd--SSoouutthhand RReennddeezzvvoouuss hosted a PPaaiirriinnggss PPaarrttyy in advance ofthe 2009 SShhaauunn MMiicchheeeell MMaakkee--AA--WWiisshh GGoollff CCllaassssiicc. Inaddition to feasting on succulent smoked sausage andthose famous ribs with all the sides, guests bid on auc-tion items that included a NASCAR experience inTalladega, tickets and backstage passes to a performanceby KISS and an at-home dinner party hosted by NNiicckkand JJeennnnyy VVeerrggooss and Chef SSttaann GGiibbssoonn. GGeerrrryy FFiinnnneeyyand DDoouugg PPeettttyy provided live music with the help ofMicheel on guitar, and activities included Birdieballinflatable golf played in the alleyway outside the restau-rant. Together, the tournament and Pairings Partyraised more than $200,000 for the Make-A-WishFoundation.

LLaarrrryy and JJooyy RRiiccee opened their home to guestsat the couple’s annual BBaassttiillllee DDaayy PPaarrttyy, a traditionthat dates back to Larry’s days in law school. “BastilleDay was the closest holiday to the end of exams, andwe needed an excuse to party,” he explains. Severalyears ago, however, the yearly soiree became an oppor-tunity for charitable giving. This year, partygoers wereagain invited to contribute to the Memphis-basedIInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall CChhiillddrreenn’’ss HHeeaarrtt FFoouunnddaattiioonn (ICHF),which provides life-saving cardiac surgeries to childrenaround the globe. With catering by NNeeeellyy’’ss BBaarr--BB--QQuuee,and ICHF President BBrreett RRooddrriigguueezz helping out at theBacardi bar, there was beaucoup joie de vive. So what ifthe evening had little to do with the fall of the Bastille?At least the wine was French! And in under an hour,guests’ contributions had already saved the life of achild.

Story by Kelly Cox and Maggie SquiresPhotos Submitted and by Kelly Cox

and Mangiante Photography

Shirley, Sarah and Dan Mullally at Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party

Sandra Beatus, Tina Dickinson and Dr. Ben Beatus at Jones Clinic Art Exhibit

Kristen Williams and Linda Mannerino at Make-A-Wish Golf Classic Pairings Party

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Deborah Hester Harrison, Victor Anderson and Lynn Beegleat Girls Inc. Celebration Luncheon

Bonnie Hollabaugh and Cathy Armstrongat Girls Inc. Celebration Luncheon

ONSITEOnsite

Susie Bjorklund and Josh Woods at RiverArtsFest Wine Tasting

Barbara Clements and Bonnie Keene at RiverArtsFest Wine Tasting

Brittany Myers, Kristen Myers, Blake Waddell and Cami Harrisat Summer in the City Fiesta

Jenny Wooten and Ada Askewat RiverArtsFest Wine Tasting

Girls Inc. Celebration LuncheonRiverArtsFest Wine Tasting Summer in the City Fiesta

The “Strong, Smart, and Bold” GGiirrllss IInnccoorrppoorraatteedd(Girls Inc.) ooff MMeemmpphhiiss held its annual CCeelleebbrraattiioonnLLuunncchheeoonn at MMiinngglleewwoooodd HHaallll. A total of 350 guestsenjoyed the buffet that offered a tasty variety of fooddonated by AA && RR BBaarrbbeeccuuee, WWeessttyy’’ss, CCaatteerriinngg ffoorr UU,WWaaddee aanndd CCoommppaannyy, RRoobbeerrtt HHaayyeess CCaatteerriinngg, TThhee BBlluueeMMoonnkkeeyy, PPaauullaa DDeeeenn BBuuffffeett and BBiigg OOnnoo BBaakkee SShhoopp.SSttaacciiee WWaaddddeellll welcomed attendees to the occasion thathighlighted SSttrroonngg AAwwaarrdd winner DDrr.. SShhiirrlleeyy HHiillllss,SSmmaarrtt AAwwaarrdd winner SSuussaann SStteepphheennssoonn and BBoolldd AAwwaarrddwinner RRuubbyy BBrriigghhtt. The CCoorrppoorraattee CCaammpp ffoorrEEnnttrreepprreenneeuurrss recipients were also announced, withawards going to AAlleexxiiss WWiilllliiaammss-SScchhoollaarrsshhiipp AAwwaarrdd,LLyynnnn TThhoorrnnttoonn-CChhaalllleennggeerr AAwwaarrdd, DDeennnniisshhaa WWiilllliiaammss-SShhee’’ss oonn tthhee RRiigghhtt TTrraacckk AAwwaarrdd and TTeennssiiaa LLeeaakkeess-GGiirrllooff tthhee YYeeaarr AAwwaarrdd. The event raised $56,000, which willsupport Girls Inc. programs.

The RRiivveerrAArrttssFFeesstt WWiinnee TTaassttiinngg marked thedebut of the first ever RiverArtsFest wine label. Createdby artist JJoohhnn RRoobbiinneettttee, the label appears on HHeeaallddss--bbuurrgg WWiinnee CCeellllaarrss’ chardonnay, cabernet and merlotwines, all on hand at the tasting in the SSoouutthh MMaaiinnHHiissttoorriicc DDiissttrriicctt and available for purchase at area wineshops. Some 125 AARRTTiittuuddee members and their guestsindulged in the affair that helped raise awareness and$1,000 for the festival and the local arts community.

Nonprofit supporters turned up the heat duringthe 10th annual SSuummmmeerr iinn tthhee CCiittyy FFiieessttaa held atCChhiicckkaassaaww OOaakkss VViillllaaggee. VVoolluunntteeeerr MMiidd--SSoouutthh, anorganization that matches volunteers with communityservice opportunities, hosted the Mexican-themed partythat offered lots of muy caliente hors d’oeuvres fromJJuusstt ffoorr LLuunncchh, Stinky Gringo margaritas, salsa dancingby GGooddwwiinn aanndd GGiittaannaa and free massages courtesy ofCCaallmmiinngg IInnfflluueennccee. Silent auction items also made alarge appearance, with more than 100 items temptingguests to bid high for Volunteer Mid-South.

Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick and Maggie Squires

Leah Bray Nichols and Laura Allen at Summer in the City Fiesta

Lilyan Taylor, Sabrina Washington, Margaret Walker and Champaign Freeman at Girls Inc. Celebration Luncheon

Mark Dean and Sherry Henson at Summer in the City Fiesta

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it is the key to saving the lives of children

born with this devastating disease.”

Sponsors for the event were SStt.. JJuuddee

CChhiillddrreenn’’ss RReesseeaarrcchh HHoossppiittaall, MMeeddnniikkooww

JJeewweelleerrss, WWiilllliiaamm and SSuussaann GGoommiillaa, SSyyllvvaann

LLeeaarrnniinngg CCeenntteerr, DDoonn and SShhaarroonn PPuurryyeeaarr

and the Goughnour family.

Story and photos by Jonathan Devin

Dottie N. Jones Survivor Luncheon

“Blaze a Trail for the Cure”

“Yee-haw” was the word of the day

for a particular group of Mid-South women

at the DDoottttiiee NN.. JJoonneess SSuurrvviivvoorr LLuunncchheeoonn,

held at the UU ooff MM HHoolliiddaayy IInnnn. Bedecked in

all things pink, from handkerchiefs to cow-

boy boots and hats that lit up, these women

got in touch with their deepest buckaroo

side in order to help “BBllaazzee aa TTrraaiill ffoorr tthhee

CCuurree” to breast cancer. Hosted by TThhee

MMeemmpphhiiss--MMiiddSSoouutthh AAffffiilliiaattee ooff SSuussaann GG..

KKoommeenn ffoorr tthhee CCuurree in Jones’ honor, the

annual luncheon is held to celebrate sur-

vivors of breast cancer, to create awareness

of the disease and to remember Jones, who

survived breast cancer for 22 years until she

lost her battle with Alzheimer’s in 2003.

“It makes you feel important,” said

20-year breast cancer survivor RReeggiinnaa AAlllleenn,

who has attended the event from its incep-

tion.

The pink-clad cowpokes were treated

to a lunch of salad, chicken and pasta, green

beans and ice cream, while eagerly awaiting

for the numbers on their pink tickets to be

called by mistress of ceremonies KKaarreenn

PPeerrrriinn. An array of door prizes in the form

of spa treatments, artwork, clothing and

other accoutrement was dispersed among

the crowd.

Further “yee-haws” were yelped

between inspiring words spoken by DDrr..

MMiicchhaaeell PP.. BBeerrrryy, who told the ladies to “eat

dessert first,” and DDrr.. LLeeee SS.. SScchhwwaarrttzzbbeerrgg.

Jones’ husband, JJaacckk JJoonneess,, also spoke,

assuring the ladies, “We believe there will be

a cure.” Between the gift-giving and uplift-

ing oratories, MMeemmpphhiiss OOaassiiss BBaanndd, which

included Schwartzberg, completed the scene

with soft rock hits. And, attendees had the

opportunity to participate in their own num-

ber, with a closing sing-along of “Happy

Trails.”

“This is just a feel-good luncheon,

and it’s just so well done,” said Allen.

Other attendees included KKaarraa,,

SShhaarroonn and AAlliissoonn SScchhwwaarrttzzbbeerrgg, BBrriiddggeettttee

AAnnddeerrssoonn, DDiiaannnnaa DDaavviiss, JJooaannnn GGaarrnneerr,

TThheellmmaa SShhaarrpp, CChhaarrlloottttee TTuuggggllee, SShhaarroonn

HHeennddeerrssoonn, PPaattttyy WWiibbllee, PPaattssyy BBaarrrrooww,

TThheellmmaa MMootttt, DDoorrootthhyy CCaannttrreellll, EEvveellyynn

SSiimmkkiinn, BBoobbbbiiee WWiilloonnss, MMuurraall DDrreeaaddeenn,

MMaarryy RRiiggnneeyy, EEddddii AAccoorr,, PPaannssyy TToommlliinnssoonn,

LLeeiigghh BByynnuumm, AAnnnnaa PPeecchhaakk, CCaarroollyynn

FFuurrlloottttee, EElllleenn SSttuucckkeerr, SSaannddrraa JJoonneess, BBeetthh

WWaasshhiinnggttoonn,, AAvvaa JJaacckkssoonn and NNiinnaa and

CChhaassiittyy RReeddddeenn..

Story and photos by Lesley Young

Andrea and Gracie Goughnour

Leigh Bynum and Anna Pechak

Jeanne Peneguy and Karen Harder

Patty Wible and Patsy Barrow

Charlotte Tuggle and Sharon Henderson

Kara, Sharon and Alison Schwartzberg

ccoonnttiinnuueedd ffrroomm ppaaggee 4411

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COMMUNITY AMENITIES

Arbors of River Oaks225 Arbor Common Circle

Memphis, TN 38120

901.747.2011www.ArborsRiverOaks.com

[email protected]

Life Made Simple©

Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary

Bridge and More

More than 200 bridge players played theircards right by heading to the SSaallvvaattiioonn AArrmmyyWWoommeenn’’ss AAuuxxiilliiaarryy BBrriiddggee aanndd MMoorree. The name ofthe game was fun, and that’s just what these ladieshad as they settled in at KKiinnggsswwaayy CChhrriissttiiaannCChhuurrcchh in Germantown for several hours of com-petition.

AArrlleennee SSoouutthheerrnn and AAnnnnee WWeesstt organized

the festivities that kicked off at 10 a.m., whenplayers found their way to tables of four. Theaction held strong until lunchtime, as other guestsjoined the ranks for a meal catered by HHoolliiddaayy DDeellii&& HHaamm CCoo.. Sitting at tables adorned with gold, redand black balloons, guests dined on chicken saladon croissants, pimiento cheese sandwiches, potatosalad and oatmeal raisin cookies. Salvation Army

representatives like LLiieeuutteennaanntt BBeetthhaannyy BBuurrnnss,CCaappttaaiinn MMeelliissssaa IIrrvviinn and MMaajjoorr RRhheeaa DDaawwnnWWooooddccoocckk helped out with serving food anddrinks.

During the break, some perused silent auc-tion items for the white elephant sale, while others

checked out the season’s styles modeled by auxil-iary members FFrraann JJaabbbboouurr, JJeeaannnniinnee BBllaacckkwweellll,DDiiaannnnee CChhaammpplliinn, JJaannee HHooddggee, GGlleennddaa BBrrooookkss,

NNaannccyy WWaallkkeerr and KKiittttyy SSttrruubb. HHeelleenn GGaaiinneess

organized the fashion show, and AAsshhlleeyy HHuuttcchhiissoonn

of CChhiiccoo’’ss was on hand to describe the ensemblesmodeled on the red carpet, brought in special forthe occasion. Event organizers also treated gueststo favors by GGoouulldd’’ss and lots of door prizes.

Bridge picked up after lunch, and when

attendees finished, all left home with a prizethanks to the complimentary “Bridge is Cool” teeshirts guests snagged. Those enjoying the lootincluded SShhiirrlleeyy HHeennrryy, PPrriisscciillllaa HHooggee, BBeecckkyyDDiicckkeeyy, CCaarrooll WWoollff, HHiillddaa MMuulllleenn, NNeellddaa HHaammeerr,MMaarriillyynn PPoowweellll, JJaannee EEvveellaanndd, BBeettttyy GGrraayy, SShhiirrlleeyyMMaarrsshhaallll, SShheerrrryyee WWiilllliiss, NNaann LLaannddeessss, BBeettttyy LLuuJJoonneess and BBllaanncchhee TToosshh.

Mark your calendar for the next SalvationArmy Women’s Auxiliary function, scheduled fornoon on September 9 at the U of M Holiday Inn.This fall fund-raiser is themed “God BlessAmerica,” and Deena Burnett Bailey, co-author ofFighting Back: Living Beyond Ourselves, will bethe guest speaker.

Story and photos by Leah Fitzpatrick

Arlene Southern, Carol Wolf and Anne West

Hilda Mullen and Nelda Hamer

Lieutenant Bethany Burns and Captain Melissa Irvin

Fran Jabbour, Jeannine Blackwell, Dianne Champlin, Helen Gaines,Jane Hodge, Glenda Brooks and Nancy Walker

http://arborsriveroaks.com/

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By Dennis PhillippiRSVP

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IPPI

ONCE AGAIN, LET ME HELP YOU RAISE YOUR KIDSThere’s an elementary school down thestreet from our house, and as I wastrapped, waiting for a crossing guard

moving so slowly I thought she might havebeen trapped in amber, my mind driftedback to the first few years of school. Mindyou, this was a different time. I mean, areally different time. It was 1969. 1969 isas different from 2009 as your home com-puter is from the Rosetta Stone. It’s as dif-ferent as Paris Hilton is from StephenHawking. It’s as different as your shinyflat screen TV is from the massive consolenumber your parents had that someonecould stand on to change a light bulb.

I can clearly remember being inthe first grade, Mrs. Morris’ class, andlearning the alphabet. If someone in ourgeneration sent his or her kid to the firstgrade without knowing the alphabet,they’d get a phone call from ChildServices. We didn’t really learn much elseeither. For the most part, we ran aroundin circles, napped and then ran around incircles outside. There was no such thing asorganized activities for 6 year olds when Iwas one. Not that I remember anyway. Theclosest thing we had was a good game ofRed Rover, and if an adult saw a group ofkids playing Red Rover now, they’d blow afuse. They’d canvas the neighborhood tofind the evil individual who informed chil-dren, children, that such a game evenexisted.

To refresh, in case there’s someoneout there who doesn’t remember this par-ticular brutality, Red Rover involved twolines of children, each group holdinghands, standing far enough apart forsomeone running from one to the other toreach a full sprint. One line would choosethe smallest kid they could from the other,say, oh I don’t know, me. They would thenchant, in the most demonic voices possi-ble, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send Dennisright over.” At that point, I would run asfast as my scrawny legs would carry me,trying to myopically find the weakest linkin their human chain, and bust through.

Inevitably I was clotheslined. Then theywould pick another kid. Kids today, and Ifeel awful for even using that phrase,would never be allowed to play a game thatinvolved culling the weakest anything,much less the possibility of a broken wrist.As I remember it, trying to break some-one’s wrist was the point of Red Rover.

There were millions of other gamesthat have met similar cultural obliteration.There was one that involved spinning

someone at arm’s length as fast as possi-ble, then releasing him or her to careeninto a pack of scattering kids. It had somekind of human bowling name as I recall.There was Dodge Ball. There were gumballfights, acorn wars and dirt clod battles.Full-on melees that earned kids stitches,scars and the most coveted of all, casts. Inmy era, you hadn’t had a childhood untilyou’d had a broken limb. The amount ofsignatures on your leg cast showed howpopular you were. The absence of signa-tures was a ticket to being called first forRed Rover as soon as you could play again.

This was all the process of learningthe rules of engagement you would use fora lifetime. If you knew a kid who couldstop just about anyone in Red Rover, youknew someone who was going to go far inlife. You also knew someone you couldhide behind. Knowing a big kid to hidebehind is a valuable lesson. That’s howyou avoided getting beaten up. Learningwho to hide behind to keep from gettingpounded by an outsized opponent isimportant in life. You still do it, you justdon’t realize it.

Every guy my age was beaten up atone time or another. That was the world inthe 1960s. That was the world in the

1450s. That was the world in the must-kill-bear-with-rock 50s. It’s not something ofwhich any of us are proud. Getting beatenup is as humiliating as it gets. Mine hap-pened at the Dead End. It was just that, adead end street that stopped at somewoods near my house. It’s where all theolder kids hung out to do whatever theydid in those days. I was probably about 9.Who the other kid was is lost to my memo-ry, erased along with the names and facesof everyone else who ever dealt my ego abody blow. What I do recall was that it wasa scheduled bout. For some reason, we haddecided we had to fight, and set it up foran afternoon, at the Dead End. To be hon-est, I was pretty excited. Having neverbeen in a fight, I naturally assumed Iwould win easily. I had been watching“Kung Fu” a lot, and I had seen at leastsome of a Billy Jack movie. With that kindof training and research on my side, howcould I fail? Quickly and embarrassingly,as it turns out. Not that the other kid wassome future Gold Gloves boxer, he was justbigger than me, had been in fights beforeand was able to instantly induce a state oftotal panic in me that resulted in a duckand cover strategy that added in a nicesprinkling of mocking laughter from theonlookers as the brute made me kiss gravel.

Who knows if getting my whuppinmade me a better person? All I know is Idon’t have any friends who are aware oftheir child getting one, and to be honest,their kids make me want to beat them up.It’s not appropriate for an adult to beat upchildren, so I don’t, but that doesn’t meanI don’t want to. Learning humility from ateacher, or out of a book, is not the samething as having a big kid sit on your head.It’s just not.

It was a hard-knock life for young DennisPhillippi at the Dead End, but he took hishits with pride. If you ever get a chance tomeet RSVP’s resident comedian, rememberto laugh at his jokes, and not his jack-o-lantern grin. Gravel’s tough!

As I remember it, trying tobreak someone’s wrist was the

point of Red Rover.

www.memphischaritable.org

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Office PartyRSVP

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1960

In 1960, the management of the Quaker Oats Company Chemical Plant, located on Chelsea Avenue, sponsored a luncheon forthe ladies of its office staff. The three women who are seated on the inside left are Anita Spencer Collins, Norma Farris andMary Helen Sartain. Ila Huff served as the guest speaker at the luncheon.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANITA COLLINS

If you have a past photo you would like to share with RSVP readers, please contact Leah Fitzpatrick at 276-7787 ext. 105or e-mail the photo and caption to [email protected]

All photos will be returned promptly.

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rsvp magazine september 2009

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