No. 1 Bison Fan to be honored at Chuck Roast Nov. 6
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He is more than Lipscomb University's No. 1 fan. He is Nashville's No. 1 sports fan.
On Nov. 6 many of the sports personalities that Chuck Ross has reached out and touched with innumerable telephone calls will honor him at "The Chuck Roast." Billed as an event "they'll be talking about for years to come," the roast will begin at 5 p.m. in Allen Arena on the Lipscomb campus with an autograph party. Dinner and the roast will follow at 6:30 p.m.
The event will also be the first time the book Beat'em and Beat'em Bad will be available to the public. Written by longtime Tennessean sportswriter and Lipscomb University alumnus Jimmy Davy, the book tells the many stories about Chuck that have become local sports lore. The book is being published by 21st Century Christian, and sales benefit Chuck's long-term care.
"Chuck has distributed more information and asked more questions over the phone than perhaps anyone in the civilized world," said Davy.
Some of the local sports personalities scheduled to attend are Lipscomb coaches Scott Sanderson and Frank Bennett, former Lipscomb athletes Reggie Whittemore, Beth Stewart Stark, university president Dr. Steve Flatt, Alan Banks, Philip Hutcheson, Ricky Bowers, John Pierce and Cheryl Smith.
Television sports anchors John Dwyer, Hope Hines and Rudy Kalis are scheduled to be joined by radio sports personalities Joe Biddle, Blake Fulton, Howard Gentry Jr., Bill King, George Plaster, Greg Pogue and Pete Weber, along with newspaper reporter Larry Woody and others.
Belmont Coach Rick Byrd, former coach and radio talk show host Wimp Sanderson, and former Lipscomb coach Don Meyer will also attend. Former Nashville Sounds owner Larry Schmittou and Diane Dugan McCarthy, widow of Ken Dugan, former athletics director and baseball coach at Lipscomb, are also on the guest list.
Not only will the event honor Chuck, but it will also provide him with financial assistance for his long-term care as a resident at Lakeshore-Wedgewood. A part of the proceeds will also be given to the Lipscomb athletics department.
"That is a cause near and dear to Chuck's heart," said Barry Brewer of 21st Century Christian, who has spearheaded the book project.
Individual tickets start at $30, which includes access to an autograph party, a catered dinner and the roast. Copies of the book will be available for $15.
A table for eight, which also includes eight copies of the book, is available for a minimum payment of $325. Corporate sponsorships are also available for a minimum check of $1,000 which includes a table for eight, eight books, a celebrity guest at the table during dinner, and recognition in the printed program.
All checks should be made payable to Lipscomb University, c/o the Chuck Roast and sent to 3901 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37204.
Those who don't attend may get a telephone call.
"I have a lot of phone numbers in my head," Chuck said. "I've called everybody. I've called in scores longer than anybody and I still call."