From Shreve Ohio, Here's Shoe String

Here's a little more about a Big Wapella Name who passed away recently.

Bob McCluggage was born Dec. 3, 1939, in Holmes County to Everett and Charlene McCluggage, he was a 1958 graduate of Shreve High School. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying camping and boating. He was known for his fun loving spirit, smile and his friends knew him as "Suitcase."

Surviving are sisters, Bonnie (Gene) Fetzer of Creston, Karen (Leroy) Seigenthaler of Shreve, Jan (Walter) Lilley and Carol Hoover, both of Wooster, Mickey (Gary) Kemp and Marie (George) Friday, both of Shreve, and Deb Huff of South Carolina; 20 nieces and nephews; and 27 great-nieces and nephews.

His parents; brothers, Kenneth Paul and Richard Everett; and a nephew died previously. Memorial contributions may be made to The Fraternal Order of Eagles, 220 N. Center, Clinton, Ill. 61727, in his name.

And in response to the overwhelming demand, here's Mel McDaniel doing Bob's signature tune, Shoe String (replace title by Suitcase, and remember Bob in action).

Here is the Song, Shoe String

Almost Missed It:: Some Rock for Friday Afternoon

Here are the Bangles in a reunion show doing Big Star's classic "September Gurls". The Bangles bassist Michelle Steele sings it here at the House of Blues in Hollywood, in a great version of a great song.

Quiz, from which EEP is disqualified, what band preceded Big Star in the Memphis rock and roll scene around about 1967, with much the same lineup, but much bigger hits, including one of the biggest #1's of all time? Name the band, the lead singer and the #1 Record.

Bonus: Matthew Sweet (looking great, probably started in the business a little young) and Susannah Hoffs doing "Different Drum" (2 points for the author of "Different Drum")

Reasonably Funny Joke

A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, “This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you.”

The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, “Which do you want, son?”

The boy takes the quarters and leaves.

“What did I tell you?” said the barber. “That kid never learns!”

Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store. “Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?”

The boy licked his cone and replied,”Because the day I take the dollar, the game’s over!”

Can't find that Song

Anyone come up with Shoe String? I cannot find it anywhere. Is it actually Mel McDaniel?

I'll take an MP3 of it being sung by The Tavern Chorus if you have it.

A Ditty for Suitcase

I seem to recall Bob McCluggage having a dance routine he would gen up when this song came on the jukebox. He would also sing, placing himself in an autobiographical role.

Shoestring by Mel McDaniel

He lived down by the railroad track
Had an old stove in a one room shack
Shoe string was the only name he had
When I skipped school he'd take my fishing
Sittin' on creek bank talkin' and wishin'
Things were good whenever times got bad

And the people say shoe string you ain't got no money
Shoe string you can't hang around here
Shoe string you got your hat on backwards
He knows more than most folks do
He don't talk unless you ask him to

When the winter comes and the wind blows mean
Shoe string hops that southbound train
Rides it down below that Florida line
Well he's laying low and picking fruit
Sleeping in his worn shoes
But he'll always come back summer time

And the folks say shoe string you ain't got no money...

Last time I looked and found him gone
Folks said he's in an old folks home
Shoe string done retired on Uncle Sam
He's living it up in this private room
Playing checkers and eatin' prunes
Shoe string ain't no ordinary man

Still the people say shoe string you ain't got no money...
Shoe string you ain't got no money...

Anyone have anMP3 of this song? A Mel McDaniel Video? Even better, a video of Suitcase doing his comedy/variety act to this song?

Wapella.com Mourns the Passing of Bob McCluggage

Bob McCluggage, a long time Wapella resident, has passed away at age 68. McCluggage worked in various agricultural related businesses in DeWitt County and for the State of Illinois for over 30 years with a track record endearing him to many in Wapella and the rest of the county.

McCluggage, who naturally attracted nicknames, was known by the classic moniker "Suitcase", and was perhaps the only person who could carry such a well-tuned name with such pride. A star athlete in High School, who continued to excel in sports well into his 40's, Bob was always a leader at a pickup softball or basketball game. A superb driver, Bob worked in professional tractor pulling, as well as being a marathon capable agricultural worker.

Though originally from Cincinnati, and a Red's fan to the core, Suitcase McCluggage was regarded by many in Wapella as a family member and has been named by the Board of Wapella Historians, an honorary Wildcat.

Flags 1/2 mast please for US Army Veteran, Robert McCluggage.

Wapella Priest goes to St. Patrick's

History (legend?) has it that St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City was founded with major support from some Irishmen who later (or may have already) moved to Wapella, where they founded St. Pat's in Wapella, another fine place.

Full circle for Wapella's Fr. Patrick Henehan, attending a mass with Pope Benedict XVI this week in New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral. Fr. Patrick will also be attending the stadium Mass in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium (House that Ruth Built?) (House that Joshua and Judges Built?) (There is a pun there somewhere).

Pantagraph story here

Enjoy the trip Fr. Patrick, and please remember your flock at St. Patrick's in your prayers.

Friday Afternoon, Time for a Pint with Rod and two Ronnies

Here is 1971 at it's best with The Faces, featuring Ronnie Wood on lead guitar, Ronnie Lane on bass and the surprisingly still healthy Rod Stewart belting it out. That's Kenny Jones not exactly keeping time on drums (I read that Ronnie Wood kept changing tempo on the original, and Kenny was just keeping up with him).

For two points, what group did Kenny Jones join after their wild and famous drummer died?

Happy Birthday BBD!

What kind of man is obsessed with thumping the Bellflower Dragons 25 years after the fact? Our own Beat Bellflower Day, today celebrating his 41st year as the nemesis of Bellflower and the Harden family. Coach Harden had 373 lifetime wins, incidentally.

Here is a nice shot of a plant named Creeping Bellflower, aptly enough our BBD has been creeping the Bellflower Dragons nearly 2 generations.

What Wapella celebrity originally hails from Bellflower? Family member disqualified from response.

Did a Movie Star Meet with a Wapella Army Officer?

Wapella.com does not divulge matters of national security, but we will leave this one up to your discretion. People Magazine has run a photo of what looks to be a Wapella Army Officer, Bill Williams, meeting with Jessica Simpson. Hard to tell, as the photo is a bit small, and Bill is a hard one to classify, but this could be our man in action.

In Bill's favor, most movie stars are strangely attracted to him. Also, Bill's father Dick Williams is a big fan of Waylon Jennings, the troubadour who sang the theme from "The Dukes of Hazard", which was recently remade starring Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke.

Could Simpson have been so lucky as to catch a glimpse of Hog City Original, Bill Williams in action? (Click on the Photo for a larger view)

Wapella.com mourns the passing of Leo Kinsella

Fr. Arthur (Leo) Kinsella, OP has died at age 88 in Chicago. A Merna native, Leo was a frequent guest in Wapella and said Mass many times over the years at St. Patrick's, as well as performing a Mission at St. John's in Clinton for the people of Wapella and Clinton. He graduated from Providence University and taught at Catholic University of America in Washington DC. Fr. Kinsella was a Domincan missionary Priest in the Order of Preachers, serving as a missionary in Nigeria in the 1950's, where he became ill with malaria. Subsequently he served in Rome at the Angelicum, New Mexico, Great Bend Kansas, St. Louis, River Forest, Illinois, Chicago, among other places, with periodic stops in Bloomington, Merna, Lexington and Wapella. Most recently Fr. Art was stationed at St. Pius V in Chicago, where he continued to teach and preach until recently.

Leo is the brother of Wapella's Mary Rita Powers.

Keep your eyes on the Road

Here's one for the long haul! Del Reeves yearning for the "Girl on the Billboard". Tough quiz, but who did Del have in mind as the "Girl on the Billboard"?

Quiz: Match Jobs with Rock and Roll Stars

Some of you might think that you want to be a Rock and Roll Star.
Then listen now to what I say, Just get an electric guitar, Then take some time and learn how to play, And with your hair combed right, And your pants fit tight, It's gonna be all right.

But others have to work for a living, so here is a quiz for you. Match the rock star with his day job before hitting the big time.





1) Roger Daltrey (The Who)
2) Paul Westerberg (The Replacements)
3) Sting
4) Bill Wyman (Bass Player, Rolling Stones)
5) Elvis Costello
6) Mick Jagger
7) Jimi Hendrix
8) Ray Davies (Kinks)


A) Computer Programmer at Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics
B) Janitor for a Congressman
C) RAF Clerk
D) US Air Force Paratrooper
E) Drywall Hanger
F) Art School Student
G) High School Teacher
H) London School of Economics Student

Wapella Man Solves Crime

Sometimes what the Chicago Tribune doesn't publish is as informational as the news they do publish. Consider this story the Trib stumbled upon, which could have been headlined "Wapella Native Busts Stoner in Interstate Ring".

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official Mike Merida in Ft. Worth said, "You put them in a pond, and they will wipe out the vegetation. The ponds where [Stoner] released these fish at Quail Creek are in a flood plain, and they are not too far from the San Marcos River. And that's where an endangered species of Texas wild rice grows." Grass carp are tightly regulated because they are an invasive species. Most of the fish that Freeze sells are infertile, but he does sell some fertile grass carp where they are legal, because the fertile fish are much cheaper.

Well Done Inspector Merida, working day and night to protect the country from grass carp and other invasive species. Three Cheers from WHS '84 Inspector Michael A. Merida! So the question remains, did Mike have to get out his combat Scuba gear to solve this crime?