VOL.XXIII, NO. 6 November- December, 2005

(Most of the Photos and Graphics have been omitted to allow quicker download for Website version.
This version is not a true copy of the original Bulletin.)

Bill Hamilton - Barbershopper Of The Century

Like most BHS chapters, each year Greater Pittsburgh awards a Barbershopper of the Year (BOTY). In 2005 we have gone one better and appointed Bill Hamilton as "Barbershopper Of The Century." This may not be an official award of the BHS, but let it be known that for 2005, the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter has a BOTC.

To recognize this event, November 22, 2005 was Bill Hamilton night at the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter meeting. The evening was a total surprise to Bill. It was great to see some of our old members in attendance along with several members from the Pittsburgh South Hills Chapter and some of Bill's family. Bill's sons Russell and Paul, Russell's wife Carol, and Evie Welsh were there to share the evening with Bill. Son Bill could not make it in from Idaho. We even had one visitor, Andy Pronko, from the Wilmington, NC, Cape Fear Chordsmen.

In this issue
Topic	Page
Bill Hamilton BOTC	1 & 7
Calendar, Org., press block, BD's & Anniv.	2
Editors Page	3
Walt Thomas + Barbershop Chop	4
Vocal techiques + The year was 1977	5
Bill Hamilton photo montage	6
We perform	8
Songs we sing - Christmas Carols (a quiz)	9
Board Meeting + JAD House of Delegates	10
Old Friend, Frank Buffington + History Quiz	11
Quiz Answers	12

Pittsburgh chapter member George Mayer did an exemplary job as emcee for the evening. George did a great job recounting Bill's personal and barbershop history including a detailed review of the fifteen quartets Bill sang with over the years. Rather than try to repeat this history here, you are directed to the May-June 2005 issue of the Pitchburgh Press, page one, wherein you will find a detailed biography of Bill Hamilton and his 65 years of barbershop singing. Therein you will also find a chronology of his quartet participation over the years.

While making reference to back issues of the Pitchburgh Press, it would also be appropriate to note the September-October 2005 page one article on our director, Ron Brooks. It is rather fitting that Ron has retumed to the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter at this time. Ron recounted at the November 22 meeting how Bill Hamilton took him under his wing when Ron joined the society at the tender age of eleven back in 1975. Ron recalled how Bill taught him some of the basics of quartetting and woodshedding and took him to various contests and conventions. Ron looked upon Bill as his barbershop "Dad."

see Bill Hamilton... continued on page 7

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