I just saw the movie " A complete Unknown " and never realized how much Pete Seeger played a role to Dylan . Loved the movie despite mixed reviews Tim Chalmet was outstanding as Dylan Ed Nortan played Pete Seeger and never realized the close connection between the two of them
But when I retired as a coach, teacher and athletic Dir asst principal etc for close to 40 years Beacon hired me as the Principle of the High school It was a 1 year interim position Beacon didn't have to pay my health benefits or into my NY state teacher retirement They offered me $500 a day per diem . My wife already bought a house in Austin and she retired from her nursing position in NY . But how do you turn down $500 a day . I told her go to Austin and I will follow you down at the end of the year.Anyway back to Pete Seeger He lived in Beacon and had famous Boat or schrooner the Clearwater. He used it to clean up the Hudson River. Then on opening day of school in September, I get a call from the head administrator of the Bus company. He tells me the afternoon buses to pick up " your kids " at the high School can not line up right because Pete Segger has his pickup truck right in the middle of the parking lot.It was a two door red pick up truck smack in the middle of the parking lot. Pete has jeans on and his guitar is strapped on his back . He arrived earlier in the day to talk to one of our history classes about when he " marched on Selma " with Marin Luther King. I then went out to meet Pete and he was so kind and respectful. There was no way I was going to tell him to move his pick up truck being a new Principal . So on the 1st day of school we had monitors point to the bus drivers and picked up kids . The buses were a little inconvenienced but it wasn't really that bad. The drivers called their boss on the radio and said the new Principle isn't doing anything about Segeers pick up truck in the parking lot. I then get a call from the Head transportation guy and I let him have it " I said " why do you get down here to the HS and tell Pete yourself to move his pick up truck . I told him I would talk to Pete later and explain to him he can park over to the side when ever he visits the HS. I did tell Pete that later. I went up stairs to the media room and there were 3 social studies classes there listening and watching the " March on Selma" as Pete described the March . Wow Living history... watch old CBS black and white news reports When it was over I asked Pete when ever he comes back to the HS call us so we can get you a parking spot right in front of the school. And I was there for 2 years and Pete visited many times . We even gave him a parking reserve spot . after seeing the movie and what a big part of it was about Pete Seeger I decided to tell my encounter with Pete Seeger . Also another story about another Beacon celebrity Digger Phelps . His father owned a cemetery here in Beacon and that's how Digger got his nickname . Great coach at Fordham and Notre Dame . Sorry to bore you guys with these old stories .
But when I retired as a coach, teacher and athletic Dir asst principal etc for close to 40 years Beacon hired me as the Principle of the High school It was a 1 year interim position Beacon didn't have to pay my health benefits or into my NY state teacher retirement They offered me $500 a day per diem . My wife already bought a house in Austin and she retired from her nursing position in NY . But how do you turn down $500 a day . I told her go to Austin and I will follow you down at the end of the year.Anyway back to Pete Seeger He lived in Beacon and had famous Boat or schrooner the Clearwater. He used it to clean up the Hudson River. Then on opening day of school in September, I get a call from the head administrator of the Bus company. He tells me the afternoon buses to pick up " your kids " at the high School can not line up right because Pete Segger has his pickup truck right in the middle of the parking lot.It was a two door red pick up truck smack in the middle of the parking lot. Pete has jeans on and his guitar is strapped on his back . He arrived earlier in the day to talk to one of our history classes about when he " marched on Selma " with Marin Luther King. I then went out to meet Pete and he was so kind and respectful. There was no way I was going to tell him to move his pick up truck being a new Principal . So on the 1st day of school we had monitors point to the bus drivers and picked up kids . The buses were a little inconvenienced but it wasn't really that bad. The drivers called their boss on the radio and said the new Principle isn't doing anything about Segeers pick up truck in the parking lot. I then get a call from the Head transportation guy and I let him have it " I said " why do you get down here to the HS and tell Pete yourself to move his pick up truck . I told him I would talk to Pete later and explain to him he can park over to the side when ever he visits the HS. I did tell Pete that later. I went up stairs to the media room and there were 3 social studies classes there listening and watching the " March on Selma" as Pete described the March . Wow Living history... watch old CBS black and white news reports When it was over I asked Pete when ever he comes back to the HS call us so we can get you a parking spot right in front of the school. And I was there for 2 years and Pete visited many times . We even gave him a parking reserve spot . after seeing the movie and what a big part of it was about Pete Seeger I decided to tell my encounter with Pete Seeger . Also another story about another Beacon celebrity Digger Phelps . His father owned a cemetery here in Beacon and that's how Digger got his nickname . Great coach at Fordham and Notre Dame . Sorry to bore you guys with these old stories .
