Luckett Hall on Grand Avenue is no more, which makes a lot of us old timers sad. I was a resident assistant (RA) in Luckett back in 1989-90, “technically” policing a bunch of guys I now call friends. What was my RA philosophy? I’ll admit it wasn’t much of one: “If I don’t get in trouble, neither will you.” Becoming an RA was very Marc; if I were a character on Animal House, I’d probably be the Delta House President Robert Hoover.
Just south of my room was the room of Craig Roberts. Craig’s room was the Tecmo Bowl room. Have you seen that ESPN 30-for-30 special about Bo Jackson, featuring his appearance in Tecmo Bowl? Watching immediately brings back short trips to Craig’s room, where (just like the ESPN clip says) we literally barred anyone from picking Bo Jackson & the Raiders.
Two rooms south of mine was Chance Noble. Chance was pledging Beta Chi Omega that year, at the time an underground fraternity for which I had no knowledge. One of the joys of Roo Tales has been the discovery about how ignorant that attitude was. Betas are AC history, especially AC sports history. One member of my own fraternity circle today, Kevin Spencer, is a Beta. It is very AC to have a fraternity circle that includes another fraternity member, and I remind Spencer of my Beta fandom on the regular.
Just northwest of me was the room of Christopher Thompson & Evan Adamson. For me, their room was the music room. If you wanted a collection of songs fused into a cassette mixtape or burned onto a CD, they would make it happen. Oh sure, you laugh now. But in 1989, that was some next level technological sh@!. The memory of Chris & Evan turning my mixtape request into reality is a vivid one.
And the room to the north of me? Honestly? Maybe Chris, Craig, or Chance remember who lived there, but I can’t recall. And ironically, the fact that I can’t recall is awesome. It adds to the mystery & aura of that room. Because THAT room was the original Gar Hole of Claude Webb Jr.
Claude Webb Jr.’s Gar Hole beer joint in Westminster, TX was featured this week on the cover of “D” magazine. His place, financed by a large number of Roos and frequented by many more, has hit the big time. The live music at the Gar Hole is exceptional, and also includes a Roo or two from time to time. That includes Steven O’Day, the President of AC who performed alongside AC Chaplain John Williams & All-American offensive lineman Brent Hollensed in an expanded “Band on Grand” after a recent AC Alumni Board meeting.
An article about the origins of the Gar Hole is included in “D” magazine:
“His sophomore year, [Claude] moved into a nearly century-old dorm that he describes as ‘Animal House on steroids.’ He talked the guys across the hall into moving their room into a bunk room and his room into a party room. He went to Goodwill and bought a shag carpet, hung blacklight posters, and greased the windows with WD-40 so girls could climb in without alerting the RA. He dubbed the room the Gar Hole.”
I’m a fan of the new Gar Hole; it reminds me of a 1970s Dixie Chicken from my youth in my hometown of College Station, TX. I’ve visited numerous times and have made a stop a tradition on the way out of Sherman before heading home. Because I live 250 miles away down in Austin, TX, Claude always graciously offers a small bedroom next door to the Westminster Gar Hole to facilitate a trip up north.
The bedroom offer means a lot, because of the special connection I have from 1989-90. Turns out I’ve ALWAYS been sleeping next door to the Gar Hole, even when I was unaware. Those mysterious sounds emanating late at night on my wing of Luckett? They weren’t from Craig, Chris, or Chance. They were the nearly 20 year old musical ghosts from the Original Luckett Gar Hole.
Pick up a copy of the latest paper edition of “D” Magazine to read more. The online edition featuring The Gar Hole should be available soon. Find some time to make a trip to Westminster, TX to visit the Gar Hole in person; you’ll be glad you did. The Original Luckett Gar Hole is sadly no more, but the new-and-improved Gar Hole is way better.
