Trip #3: Little Rock

Jeanie Beadle Staples Named 2009 LSU SEC GREAT

What a huge honor! My gradparents and Aunt traveled from Baton Rouge, Eric came from Fayetteville and Mark and I traveled all the way from Lubbock to be in Little Rock with my parents to see my mom be honored by the Southeast Conference as the 2009 Great from LSU. Wednesday night they had a fancy reception/presentation in the Clinton Library. It was really neat to get to be there and see my mom recognized as the incredible pioneer in women's sports that she was. It was fun to hear Granny and Papa and Aunt Holly's stories from back in the day about when they would travel all over the world for my mom's gymnastics meets. She was quite the star back then and it was so cool to get to recognize her even 30 years later! The Great's were also recognized at many of the games at the SEC women's basketball tournament and then even had an autograph signing time afterwards! We had a blast following our VIP around, getting special treatment at restaurants, staying at the famous Peabody Hotel. What a cool time. Way to go Mom!! We're so proud :) Click HERE to read the article!

Yay Mom :)

This is her famous photo (it was painted as a huge mural in the LSU gym!) She's the first woman to be elected into the LSU Hall of Fame and was a pioneer for LSU gymnastics. She was also the first gymnast to ever win a National Championship from LSU. We are so proud.

She's a legend!

She's so famous. Everyone wanted her autograph!

We were so spoiled and got to stay in the famous Peabody Hotel with the even more famous Peabody Ducks. They were awesome! haha. In case you haven't heard about them......

The Legend of the Peabody Ducks:

The famous Peabody ducks, led by their Duck Master, march down the red carpet every morning at 11 a.m. and into their fountain to play until 5 p.m. when they march out of the fountain, down the red carpet and get on the elevator to take them up to their palace in the sky. So cute!! Every day they have an honorary Duck Master and the one and only Jeanie Beadle Staples got to lead the ducks in a out. It was hilarious!!! (she's in the black shirt leading the ducks in this photo)
How did the tradition of the ducks in the Peabody fountain begin?

Back in the 1930's Frank Schutt, General Manager of The Peabody, and a friend, Chip Barwick, returned from a weekend hunting trip to Arkasas. The men had a little too much Tennessee sippin' whiskey and thought it would be funny to place some of their live decoy ducks (it was legal then for hunters to use live decoys) in the beautiful Peabody fountain.

Three small English call ducks were selected as "guinea pigs," and the reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic. THus began a Peabody tradition which was to become internationally famous.