2009 Grand Convention Information

Comedian Dick Hardwick, a longtime favorite of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, will be with us for the entire run of the Grand Convention in Reno. The man called “the best comedian/entertainer out there” by Barbara Mandrell will emcee and perform at several of our special convention events throughout the week, as well as visit with Eagle delegates and guests in hospitality rooms and everywhere else we’ll gather at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, to keep the fun and laughs at their federally-mandated quota.

Dick has entertained at several Grand Conventions in the past.

One of the most sought-after corporate and special event comedians in the country, Dick recently returned from an Around-the-World Tour with Lee Greenwood & the New England Patriot Cheerleaders for the United States Air Force Reserve. He has also been appearing in concert with the legendary Johnny Mathis and Reba McEntire. His quick wit and off-the-wall sense of humor has served him well as a guest on Jeff Foxworthy's syndicated radio show and numerous television appearances.

Performing at the free show opening the 111th Grand Aerie and 58th Grand Auxiliary Conventions will be Nashville music stars Trey Hensley and Steve Wariner.

Trey is back by popular demand after his appearance at the 2008 Grand Convention in Louisville. Just 18-years-old, he is already one of the most talked about performers in country music, with talent way beyond his years. Trey has played with such legends as Tom T. Hall, The Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels, and Rickey Skaggs. He performed on the stage of the hallowed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville when he was 11.

His first CD, “Looking At My Future,” features five songs written by him, and has received major accolades in the country music industry.

Trey will also sing at the Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday, July 14.

Steve Wariner was discovered at age 17 by country music legend Dotty West. As a singer he has had 14 Number One single records, including “Life’s Highway,” “The Weekend,” “I Should Be With You,” and “Holes In The Floor of Heaven.” A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1996, Steve has won three Grammys, and four Country Music Association Awards. His 25 albums have sold in the millions.

Known as one of the true “nice guys” in the music business, Steve has also been recognized for his work raising money to fight juvenile diabetes. He received the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Angel Award, and the Hope Award from Mt. Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital Hall Family Center for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes.

Admission to the “Welcome to Reno!” show is free to Eagle convention attendees.

When the international convention in Reno officially opens with a joint session of the Grand Aerie and Grand Auxiliary, delegates will hear from a speaker who has been making people laugh and think for more than 25 years. Tom Parks started in 1976 on the college circuit and in 1979 was named "College Entertainer of the Year" and "College Comedian of the Year" by the National Association of Campus Activities.

Tom made his first appearance on The Tonight Show in 1987. Appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and all the major comedy shows quickly followed. He has starred in his own comedy specials for both HBO and Showtime and for two seasons was the Anchorman on HBO's award winning "Not Necessarily the News" for which he was nominated for an ACE Award.

He made his TV acting debut on the NBC series "Sisters". Since then he has guest starred on many popular series, including "Wings" and "News Radio.” On the big screen, he co-starred with Rodney Dangerfield in "Ladybugs" and appeared in the feature film "Clockstoppers.”

He has also starred in many successful advertising campaigns for companies such as AT&T, Donnelley Directory, Walt Disney World, RCA, Adidas, Pearle Vision, Kodak and The Virginia Lottery as well as popular in-house video's for companies such as Barnett Banks and US West.

Diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes in 1985, Tom became involved with the American Diabetes Association. He founded the "Comedy Crusade Against Diabetes" which raised more than $500,000 for the ADA.

He served for three years on the ADA National Board of Directors. He and two partners produced a video, "Diabetes: A Positive Approach.” The video won top honors at seven films festivals and, to date, over a million and a quarter tapes have been sold. Tom and his partners donated over $350,000 to the American Diabetes Association.

For all his work, Tom received the "Wendell Mayes Award,” the highest honor the ADA gives to a volunteer. Tom has also served as spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation/NutraSweet Golf Tournaments nationwide and has helped raised over $5 million for that organization's efforts to eradicate diabetes.

“She could be my neighbor!” is what most people think seeing Mrs. Hughes for the first time. The next thing they think is, “She’s hilarious!” Eagles at the Grand Auxiliary Banquet will find out for themselves when Mrs. Hughes takes the stage.

She began her comedy career when she was 40-years old. “Years ago I heard Merv Griffin interview Phyllis Diller, and she said she started doing comedy when she was 39. I remember saying to myself, ‘I could do that.’. I don’t remember thinking about it again until I was 40 and met a woman at Weight Watchers, Candy Carr, who was a comedienne. I asked her how to get started and she said, ‘Write five funny minutes and go to the Improv.’ I already had five funny minutes, so I went. It was terrific. I got a huge ovation and I was hooked.”

When asked what her husband thinks, she says, “We made a pact when we got married. I don’t change the oil in the car and he doesn’t think. Actually that‘s unfair. He’s very supportive; however I believe he thought comedy would be like that Afghan I started. I’d work on it for a while, lose interest and stick it up in the attic with the exercise bike.”

Her act is punctuated with observations on husbands, such as: “They’re like brassieres, sometimes you just want to be rid of them and go free. But you can’t ‘cause you need the support.” It was just this sort of remark that caught the eye of the Russ Berrie Company, and her line of greeting cards, “According to Carol,” was in 100,000 stores and gift shops throughout the country.

Three great entertainers will perform at the Mr. & Mrs. Eagle Banquet – Wes Winters, Bobby Vinton and Mark Eddie.

Wes was at last year’s convention in Louisville, where he wowed everyone with his talent and energy. One of the most popular and versatile entertainers in Las Vegas, with extensive vocal, stage and piano abilities, Wes’ list of credits include television, radio, live theater, composing and producing. He was inspired to play piano at the age of five when he saw the famous pianist Liberace on television. Incredibly, Wes then taught himself to play piano by ear, listening to Liberace recordings and practicing up to seven hours a day for the next seven years.

Wes has appeared in many of the most noted Las Vegas venues. He conceived, wrote, produced and starred in “A Musical Tribute to Liberace” at the Liberace Museum, followed by a Las Vegas Strip engagement at Planet Hollywood in 2008. His Liberace tribute show captured the spirit, enthusiasm and the legendary showmanship that made Liberace an icon to millions of people throughout the world.

Since the late 1980’s Winters has performed numerous variations of his acclaimed one-man show and nightclub act, “Wes Winters Live”. Playing to sold-out audiences for years, Winters’ abilities have been compared to some of the great entertainers and show business legends. He has the ability to go from Jerry Lee Lewis to Barry Manilow, Big Band to Country, Andrew Lloyd Webber to Rachmaninoff, and most points in between.

The Kansas native has been entertaining professionally for more than 21 years. He has six solo recordings. Currently available are “Piano Favorites” and “Send Down an Angel,” with original music and lyrics by Wes. Other recordings include “Wes Winters Live,” “Wes Winters Christmas,” “Light The Lights,” and “Curtain Up.”

Billboard Magazine called Bobby Vinton "the most successful love singer of the Rock-Era.” Beginning in 1962 with with his first hit release, "Roses Are Red," for the next decade Bobby had more Number One records than any other solo male artist. He has had over a dozen gold records and albums during his carrer, and has sold over 75 million records.

Bobby’s name has been synonymous with superstardom. He has established himself as one of America's top concert performers and versatile entertainers. The hit songs Bobby has given us over the years have become classics. His impressive list of hits includes “Blue Velvet,” “Mr. Lonely,” and “My Melody of Love.” The last hit was embraced by Polish-Americans around the country as their new national anthem. Not long after, his best selling autobiography, “The Polish Prince.”

For three years, “The Bobby Vinton Varity Show” aired in over 140 cities throughout the United States and Canada. He also hosted a highly rated network variety special for CBS and starred in two John Wayne movies: "Big Jake" and "The Train Robbers.” Bobby opened the Bobby Vinton Blue Velvet Theatre in Branson, Missouri

Over the past several years, Bobby has been honored by more than 100 national organizations and more than a dozen mayors across the United States for his unique contributions to the ethnic communities. He was invited to Poland as a guest of the government. As a tribute to his talents and community services the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce bestowed the ultimate honor upon Vinton--a bronze star on the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.

Mark Eddie will bring his original and acclaimed “Rock N’ Roll Comedy” show to the Mr. & Mrs. Eagle Banquet on Tuesday, August 13. A five-time “Campus Entertainer of the Year” nominee, Mark is a comedian, singer and songwriter whose hilarious and witty tribute to the classic rock, R&B, hip-hop, country and pop music stars of our time wins accolades everywhere he appears. Mark’s show includes salutes to such legends as Al Green, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews and Neil Diamond.

According to one critic, Big Tiny Little plays the piano like “it’s on fire.” Another wrote that he has “the speed of Oscar Peterson, the left hand of Fats Waller, the rhythm of Errol Garner and the imagination of André Previn.” Eagles attending the REAC Luncheon will see for themselves.

Flamboyant pianist Big Tiny Little, son of a Midwestern bandleader of the same name, began his career with music lessons at the age of five, went on the road at 15, and has been an entertainer ever since. He served in the Armed Forces and during his hitch in Japan organized a jazz band composed of Japanese musicians.

He leaped to national fame on “The Lawrence Welk Show,” where he performed for four years. Welk called him “Tiny Little Jr.” to distinguish him from his father. After looking in the mirror one day, Tiny added the “Big” and dropped the “Jr.” Critics call him “Mr. Honky Tonk.”

Tiny has recorded a large number of albums and appeared on numerous television shows, including the Mike Douglas, Steve Allen and Dean Martin shows. He also played at President Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Ball in 1985.

Tiny frequently headlines showrooms in Reno and Las Vegas, and has performed in just about every state in the USA.