Sunday, March 29, 2009

Leo Roy Beard (1917 - 2009)


Leo Roy Beard (1917 - 2009)


Leo Roy Beard, a world renowned hydrologic engineer, died in Austin, TX, on March 21, 2009, at the age of 91. Roy Beard had an illustrious career with the US Army Corps of Engineers from 1939 to 1972, retiring as (founding) Director of the Corps’ Hydrologic Engineering Center in Davis, CA. He was known for his pioneering work on the application of statistics to hydrologic engineering. Following his retirement from the Corps of Engineers, he joined the University of Texas as Professor of Civil Engineering and subsequently the engineering consulting firm of Espey, Huston, and Associates. Professor Beard lectured at universities and other organizations throughout the world. He was a visiting professor at the University of California (Berkeley) and Utah State University and lectured at the University of California (Davis). He was a member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the International Association of Hydrologic Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the International Water Resources Association, a Fellow and Honorary Member of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE), and Honorary Member of the American Waterworks Association. Mr. Beard served as chairman of the ASCE Water Resources Planning & Management Division, President of the AGU Section of Hydrology, Editor-In-Chief of Water International and Managing Editor of the International Journal of Hydrology. In 1975 he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. In 2001 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers for “a life-long and eminent contribution to the environment and water resources engineering disciplines through practice, research and public service.” In 2007 he received the Ven Te Chow Award of the American Society of Civil Engineers “for advancing knowledge in hydrologic engineering in systems techniques for reservoir regulation, statistical methods for streamflow frequency analysis, flood hydrograph computation, and the development of computer based methods for hydrologic computations.

Leo Roy Beard was born in West Baden, Indiana, on April 6, 1917. His family moved to San Gabriel, CA, in 1922, where he grew up with five siblings. He attended parochial schools, Alhambra High School, Pasadena Junior College, and California Institute of Technology, from which he graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1939. He married Marian Jeanette Wagar in 1939, with whom he had three children. Marian died in 1973, and in 1974 he married Marjorie Pierce Wood of Austin, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, his sister Margaret (Peggy) Nougier of Laguna Beach, CA, his daughter Patricia Huntzicker of Portland, OR, his son Thomas Beard of Reno, NV, and his son James Beard of Hurricane, UT; by Marjorie’s daughters Patricia Fowler and Ann Bonner of Richland Springs, TX, Kay De Vaux of Hot Springs, AR, and son Thomas Wood of Austin, TX, as well as 22 of his and Marj’s grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

“Don’t cry for me. There could hardly be a better life than that which mine has been. Starting with wonderful parents and three older siblings (later two younger siblings), I have been blessed with an abundant and happy life, including two wonderful marriages, three children of my own, four step-children, and so many friends, including professional associates throughout the world. The world has been full of good for me. My cup runneth over a thousand fold!” (Roy Beard)
He was always just Grandpa 'B' to me. I had no idea of most of his accomplishments. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful memories of visiting him and Grandma. As my Uncle Tommy shared at the funeral, he wasn't even angry (at least he didn't show it) the time I threw a pool ball through the sliding glass door and shattered it. I am so grateful I was able to go to Austin last week and say goodbye and celebrate such a wonderful life.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Second Haircut

I was absolutely shocked when Gabby asked for a haircut last week. I had planned on going on Saturday, but her illness postponed those plans as well. Great Clips was having a sale on haircuts so we stopped by after work. While we were waiting, Gabby pointed to a picture of woman with boy-short hair and said she wanted her hair cut like that. I tried showing her other pictures, but she was insistent. Well, I'm still in charge of her hair so I told the girl how short to go with it and I was not going to give Gabby super short hair.
Gabby jumped right up and was really excited to get her hair cut. She was really interested in looking at it as it hit the floor.
She sat very quietly the whole time. The actual cutting process went much smoother than her first cut. Her hair cut was done and she started crying that it wasn't short enough. I told her we were done and pulled out the chicken nugget bribe. I told her she looked pretty and she said, "It's not pretty because it's too long!"
We went to the car and she really got upset. Gabby said, "I don't like my hair and I'm not going to school tomorrow. It looks funny and I don't want my friends to laugh at me." The wailing and gnashing of teeth commenced the rest of the way home.



This was the best picture I could get of the finished product


She was screaming, "No pictures!" I didn't expect this excessive concern with her hair and appearance quite so soon. She's still insisting she won't be going to school. I told her we'd wait a week and if she still didn't like it, we could go back and get it shorter. She's since said that she wants it long again. Such a girl, can't make up her mind!



I was trying to get her rant about her hair being funny on video. I missed it, but it's a good illustration of how upset she was. Maybe on her next haircut she'll be happy with both the experience and the result!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Sickness and Strike 2 for GNO

Gabby was unfortunately sick over the weekend. If Gabby is going to be sick, this was the perfect kind of sick. I know you other mom's know what I mean. She was running a fever and only wanted to sleep. There were no foul messes to clean up, barely a runny nose to wipe, just a feverish little girl who only wanted snuggles and rest. She didn't even want any stories, just to go to sleep. She was really a good patient. Gabby talks in her sleep quite a bit when she's running a fever. She gave me some good laughs making demands even in her sleep. She said her tummy hurt on Saturday and gave several good efforts to 'fro up' to no avail. Sunday, she still had a fever and said her 'froat hurt' and 'nufin else.' She spent 2 days straight on the couch and after 12 hours straight of sleep last night, made a full recovery today. We're back to piggy-back rides up and down the stairs, cooking food, reading stories, magic shows, and hide-n-seek. I'm glad she's all better and I'm really glad that her sickness was so easy to handle. It was kind of nice to have a day off, too. I got my desk cleaned up by either filing or shredding, a few important errands accomplished, and my taxes filed.

I did miss my Girls' Night Out. Jen and I seem to get out about once a month, just for dinner and a chick-flick. We're trying to add some other girls and had another sister set to join us. Jen still went, but I stayed home with my baby girl. My last GNO with Lynn was cancelled a couple of weeks ago. Lynn and I are trying again this Saturday for a Girls' Day Out, hopefully 3rd time's a charm. Gotta have the girl time! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I won't come down with whatever Gabby had.

Monday, March 9, 2009

This & That

Gabby provides me with the best entertainment. Yesterday, she wanted to bring her bear, Bobolo to church. Gabby told me that sometimes she was mean to Bobolo when she didn't listen to her. Gabby then gave Bobolo the following lecture (Bobolo's voice was about 3 octaves higher than Gabby's normal voice):
Gabby: Bobolo, are you going to be a good girl at church?
Bobolo: Well, I'll try but sometimes it's hard
Gabby: Well, you need to be good and listen to your teachers.
Bobolo: I'll try to be good
Gabby: Ok, because if you're not good then I won't give you the surprise.
Bobolo: What's the surprise
Gabby: It's a surprise, you have to be good
When I asked Gabby if Bobolo was good at church, she said, "Well, she wasn't good because she kept climbing on my lap so she didn't get her surprise."
Gabby wanted to play restaurant yesterday. She made me Leaf and Rock Soup. She picked leaves off a bush, added water, key lime yogurt, fruit snacks, banana, and butter. We put it in the oven and set the timer for 40 minutes or as Gabby calls it the minute beeper. She's a fun girl and I love her creativity and imagination.

Gabby loves to give herself a beard in the bath. David thought it was hilarious to wipe it off. Gabby wasn't amused.

Maggie and David


I'm just glad that I don't have to bathe 3 kids every night. One is plenty for me!



Gabby's friend from school had a birthday party on Saturday at the Fun Zone. The Fun Zone had a little bit of everything. Here the girls are doing a bit of dancing.



Madeline, Savannah, Gabby, and Autumn

Jen and me at Rascal Flatts a couple of weeks ago. I haven't been to concert since before I had Gabby. It was a terrific show even from the nosebleed seats we got at the last minute. Jen and I brought dates and I don't think they had as much fun as we did. They mostly just sat and watched. They weren't singing and dancing like we were. Oh well, it was still lots of fun! I think we'll make the next concert a Girls Only Night.



Gabby busting a move at the party