Fowler Foods and A-State College of Nursing and Health Professions present "An Evening with Bob Hope" benefiting the A-State Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded Veterans. This features Bill Johnson, a Bob Hope Impersonator. Johnson has performed as Bob for the USO, as well as military groups, conventions, festivals, and corporations. The night also features Two on Tap. Melissa Giattino and Ron DeStefano perform a variety show that feature dancing and music of the golden age of the silver screen. The A-State jazz band and A-State choirs will also perform. Tickets are $20 and the event will be Tuesday, September 16th at 7:00 pm in Riceland Hall of the A-State Fowler Center. The public is invited to attend. On Morning Edition, KASU’s Johnathan Reaves spoke with Ron Miller, who has put this event together. Here is a portion on that interview:
How did you put this event together?
I made the military a career and I was stationed in Vietnam when the real Bob Hope came over for a USO tour. I had a chance to go to one of his shows. In the military, I flew helicopter gunships and we had to provide security for one of his largest shows in Vietnam. I got there early and took a few photos of it. Later on, I corresponded with the real Mr. Hope and brought him to Atlanta to put on a show for the veteran community. As a result of that, I got to know Mr. Bill Johnson. He is a Bob Hope impersonator and does an incredible job. You can close your eyes and it seems like you are with Bob Hope.
For those who have never seen this show, what can they expect?
First of all, he sounds just like Bob Hope and he knows all of the routines. He does show quite a few videos of the real USO trips and I think he knows more about Mr. Hope than anyone in the country.
This will benefit the Beck PRIDE Center for America’s Wounded Veterans at Arkansas State University. Please tell us about this center.
The Beck PRIDE Center for Wounded Veterans is located at Arkansas State University and is supervised by the Dean of Nursing and Health Professions, Dr. Susan Hanrahan. It was formed several years ago by retired Army Colonel Buddy Beck. He went through ROTC at Arkansas State, retired as a full Colonel and went into the IT business, where he did very well. He donated the funds to start the program.
How does the center help veterans?
They have professionals, such as counselors, who work there. Any veteran can come in for counseling. You do not have to be enrolled at Arkansas State, though most of them are. They provide the full gamut of assistance to these folks. It can be counseling, referring them to the Veterans Affairs systems for education, rehabilitation and therapy. It truly runs the gamut.
This also helps the families of veterans as well.
Absolutely! If they are family members who are having issues, they can be included in the counseling sessions. The people who run Beck PRIDE can refer them to other agencies, whether they are local, state, or federal.
Click on the link above to hear the entire interview. Also learn more about the Beck PRIDE Center here.
