While I do respect Mr. Melvin’s Klaudt’s opnion, I do challenge his position on asking that his Mother be removed from the SGM HOF wall for any reason. The Chuck Wagon Gang worked with the Klaudt Indian Family many times during the ‘60’s and even into the ‘70s at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. The Klaudt Indian Family and The Chuck Wagon Gang were regular members of the highly syndicated TV series, “Bob Poole’s Gospel Favorites”. To me, the Klaudt Indian Family are unique unto themselves, as of Indian Heritage as well as involved in “Southern Gospel Music”. It was a board of directors who recognized Mrs. Klaudt and her contribution. It was the voters who agreed with the nominating committee, who in essence bestowed the honor of inducting Mom Klaudt into the SGM HOF. How on earth can anyone, even a family member, ask that Mrs. Klaudt removed for any reason?

Southern Gospel Music in some aspect works on a play “B” almost daily, and most certainly there could be a plan “B” in situations on the SGMA HOF list. This could be a family split of the dues due, or fans or friends, or even some businessmen.

The Chuck Wagon Gang currently has three deceased members who have been inducted into the SGMA HOF. The plaques of the founder, the late D. P. “Dad” Carter and his daughter, Rose, were paid for by private benefactors. While I, as well as The Chuck Wagon Gang, knew early on that the plaque of the late Anna Carter Gordon Davis had not been paid for, the fact slipped my mind. I (we) were not aware that no contributions had been received since her nomination. We were only recently aware of this fact by recently visiting this site.

I was immediately embarrassed and immediately went to work on the matter. That same day, I had her plaque covered by a single individual, a prominent business man, and friend and fan of The Chuck Wagon Gang. Again, there is always a plan “B” in any situation…but one must go for it.

Everyone will soon fine that the name Anna Carter Gordon Davis will soon be deleted from this “needed” list. Plan “B” worked.

From the list of 114 nominees, I can see that many were paid for by outside organizations and individuals. That is great! From the “needed” list I can see several living and decease individuals, all well established, and most deserving of their induction, and in my option, some could have been taken care of in their estate, or some are still living and, in my opinion have the resources to take care of themselves. But as Mr. Klaudt pointed out, it very well could be that “Many of these old time inductees are long gone and the families could probably care less.” That is most underserving for history to record.

The SGMA is a non-profit organization, operating on membership and contributions in money form as well as physical memorabilia in many formats. I urge all of you with a connection to any “needed” inductee to resort to plan “B” or “C”. The inductee does not deserve to be on this “needed” list And, to any of you, even not affiliated with an inductee, you can be a part of Southern Gospel History…support the SGMA and make a tax deductible contribution to one of the “needed”. Help get them off this so called “deadbeat” list.

Respectively submitted.
Harold Timmons
Bookings – Marketing Director
The Chuck Wagon Gang

But with all due respect, there are 114 inductees who had benefactors. There are only 16, that do not. By asking the SGMA to actually REMOVE your mother from the Hall of Fame, you evidently join quite a minority.

114 inductees have benefactors that must have said to themselves, “He/she deserves that plaque. I want to contribute to that!” Whether the inductee had one contributor or 20, the benefactor(s) saw to it that someone they loved was honored for their life’s work. That’s a pretty nice gesture.

This “deadbeat list” as you refer to it, stressed a need, and people obviously liked the inductee they contributed to enough. Waller and the Keys liked Buford Abner well enough. Arthur & Angie Rice seemed to like Jim Hamill. And Judy Nelon liked Howard & Vestal. How many people would really contribute $2000 to a deadbeat?

I guess it’s all in how you look at things. My logic would deem such an honor for any friend or family member a great honor, but I sometimes don’t look at things like everybody else does….especially in this industry.

My mother, Lillian Little Soldier Klaudt was inducted in 2004. She had a picture on a plaque for a couple of years. Unknowing to us, this was changed to a bust that cost $2,000. Our foundation, Klaudt Indian Memorial Foundation, was billed $2,000. for the bust after the fact. There is an ethical question besides a financial obligation attached to this. We, according to our 501 c 3 public charity IRS ruling couldn’t take the funds out of the foundation to pay it in the first place.

#1, If they in midstream changed this to a bust, there should have been the monies set aside to accomplish this.

#2, Many of these old time inductees are long gone and the families could probably care less.

#3, To place families in a position of seeing their loved ones in a position of being deadbeats is asinine.

#4, I wrote a letter to one of the Board of Directors stating my position and even asking my mother to be removed from the Hall of Fame. Needless to say, they have not had the intestinal fortitude to even respond to this, and still name her as a deadbeat.

#5, we, as a family , had nothing to do with her nomination and were surprised when we received the letter informing of her induction.

#6, we appreciate the honor for her, since she is the only 2nd Native American honored in this fashion as we are aware of.

#7, if we would split the $2,000 between our family members it would amount to about $200. each. So money is not the issue. When I informed my family members of the, after the fact $2,000. fee, I will not disclose what was said.

#7, Finally, my mother has other more important spiritual things to lay at the feet of Jesus than a SGM hall of fame plaque.

Full disclosure of the $2,000. must be disclosed to the public who are excited to nominate somone deserving of this award. I seems like everything else, lets just buy us an award. SGM is eat up with awards. Every year there is a new one.

I beg the Hall to remove my mother from this honor and remove her name from the deadbeat list. She evidently does not deserve it.

Here is a link to her obit…

http://chattanoogan.com/articles/article_164912.asp

I was VERY HONORED to play with her group for 9 years. She taught me MUCH!! I wished many times I could COPY her WISDOM!!

She is MISSED!!!

For those of you who are members of the SGMA, don’t forget to have your hall of fame nomination ballots postmarked by midnight tonight, December 4th.

Be sure to include your check for $2000.00 to cover the cost of the plaque.

Any you’re right, many websites try to be cute and artsy, but putting color combinations that make it nearly impossible to read, unless you click & drag to highlight, or copy & paste it into a Word document. I hate it when that happens.