Lou is married to Frances Alatis Vlahos. They have three daughters; Mrs. Faye Carrig, Mrs. Vicki Zotis and Mrs. Janice Makris. They also have four lovely grandchildren.

While Lou sometimes takes ribbing about being slightly short in stature (vertically impaired), he stands tall indeed when it comes to accomplishments and participation in barbershopping.

After joining Greater Pittsburgh in 1985, Lou was singing as the first lead in the Daytymers quartet in 1989 along with Bill Amos, Bob Hyland and Joe Knittel. He continued singing with that quartet for several years.

In 1989, Lou became one of the original members of the "Highland Drive Barbershoppers" at the Veterans Hospital music therapy program started in cooperation with Judy Good. From 1990 until present time, Lou has been the director of the "Veterans Chorus."

Lou became an assistant director of the Greater Pittsburgh Three Rivers Chorus in 1997 and still continues in that capacity.

Over the years, Lou has served the Greater Pittsburgh chapter in many positions and activities including: bulletin photographer, light and sound consultant for the annual show, afterglow committee, nomination committee, and contact for the Logopedics (and then Heartspring) program. Lou has been on the Board of Directors four times and has served as VP Program, VP Chapter Development and VP Music and Performance.

In 1990, Lou Vlahos was awarded Barbershopper Of The Year and in 1999 he was appointed to the Greater Pittsburgh Hall Of Fame

Hats off to one of Greater Pittsburgh Chapter's "Big Men."

"I'm So Glad We Said Hello", a second book by

Back in the March-April 2005 bulletin, I had a column about Judy Good Christ's first book titled "Onions On Your Ice Cream" which had a companion two CD/tape set of Judy's original song recordings. I mentioned that she was working on a second book due out soon.

Judy's second book titled "I'm So Glad We Said Hello" has been published along with an accompaning 15-song CD. Judy's heartwarming, true stories and music will provide comfort and inspiration to those who have experienced loss. Widowed twice, Judy shares from the depths of her own personal pain, grasping the reality, yet offering hope for the future. If interested contact: Judy Good Christ, 618 Berkshire Drive, State College, PA 16803.

E-mail: judygoodchrist@yahoo.com

An Update on Caleb Williams

From material contributed by Ken Moelk

In the SEPT-OCT 2004 bulletin, I reported on the weight lifting exploits of Caleb Williams who is the grandson of Ken Moelk. At that time, Caleb was a first year student at the College of Wooster and had just returned from the International Power Lifting Federation's World Championship in Koscian, Poland. In April of 2004 he had also taken a collegiate national title.

Caleb, who you may recall is a "little man" at about 5'2" in his stocking feet, is still competing in weight lifting. Caleb is 20 years old and lives in Beaver, Pa but works in Georgia and plans to attend Georgia State University

He now holds several titles and world records for power lifting in his weight class among juniors (19- 23 year olds).

At the recent 2005 USA Powerlifting Teen/Junior National Powerlifting Championships, Caleb stole the show, coming away with best lifter honors. This has qualified him to compete in September's Junior World Championships.

He has held or currently holds the junior worlds squat record, the junior national squat record, the 132- pound total and squat record and the junior national and American bench and total records.

What an uplifting experience'. (couldn't resist that)

GO FISH

(An opinion by Jay Garber, Past President, JAD)

I was reading, in our daily paper, about the Bass Master's Fishing Tournament (held in Pittsburgh in July 'O5]. As I read, I hit a paragraph that said, "Now that we're big business, it takes too much money to become a national sponsor and the little guy is pushed out. In the old days, the word loyalty meant something. Now it's in small faded letters. Sometimes I wonder if we created a monster. It's just no fun anymore."

Those thoughts reminded me of our current situation at the Society level. The "old time" personal feeling has left our organization. All we have left is sanctimonious corporate generated thinking, increasing costs and a "member be damned" "father knows best" attitude by the decision making few.

Three notes walk into a bar: a C, an E-flat and a G. The bartender says he doesn't serve minors. So the E-flat leaves and the C and the G have a fifth between them.

Source: Readers' Digest August 2005