THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602020149
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Mr. Robert's Neighborhood
SOURCE: Frank Roberts
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
WILLIAM J. Beigle II businessman, cartoonist and organizer of the Make-A-Wish Corporate (skeet shoot) Cup Challenge - proudly proclaims himself self-made.
While he does not decry formal education, he espouses persistence and natural smarts.
His genes helped. His father and grandfather were general contractors, and he drew plans for his father.
Indeed, he was drawing plans for an architect while he was a high school sophomore. How'd he get the job? ``Persistency, persistency.''
He was later hired full-time. By the time he left, he was project manager. ``It was difficult being boss over college grads,'' he said. ``Sometimes I was younger than they were, but I had more experience. That experience paid.''
In 1977, he began his own firm.
By the way, Beigle took some classes at Old Dominion University and extension courses at Virginia Tech.
He moved his business to Suffolk six years ago, but he and his wife still live in Chesapeake. They have two daughters.
His work often takes him to northern Virginia and Washington - and, on one occasion, Algeria, to design houses for a D.C. company.
Beigle designed the Gun Buggy, manufactured in Suffolk by Alwood Cabinets.
``You can cart your shells, guns and other things you need, on wheels,'' he said. They're sold nationwide.
There is a less serious side to Beigle's talent. For three years, he was cartoonist for Skeet Shooting Review, a monthly covering his favorite sport.
He also does golf cartoons. ``I play enough just to get cartoon ideas,'' mostly goofy-looking characters.
Beigle markets the funny stuff under the collective name of Clay-Toons, in honor of the Clay Street location of his office. He sells cartoons through catalog ads and at shooting matches.
``I have a name in the skeet shooting industry,'' he said. He described skeet shooting - firing birdshot at clay targets fired into the air - as ``golf with a shotgun.''
Beigle has been active in competition skeet shooting since 1990. ``I dropped off from hunting but still want to shoot. This is a good alternative. You're in a controlled condition. It's safe.''
It is also profitable for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, thanks to his organization of the Corporate Cup Challenge. The organization makes dreams come true for children who have life-threatening conditions or a terminal illness.
About $6,300 was raised last year, and Beigle expects to raise about $10,000 this year, when clay pigeons are shattered, March 31, at Sussex Shooting Sports in Waverly.
Beigle got the idea of helping Make-A-Wish after a flight to Florida. ``I was coming off the plane and saw a 10-year-old boy who just had his wish granted,'' he recalled.
The flight attendant told Beigle that the youngster had returned from Disney World, all expenses paid, thanks to Make-A-Wish.
And he persisted in making his own dream come true - the one about helping others in a fun way. MEMO: For information about the skeet shoot, call Beigle at 934-0136.For
information about the skeet shoot, call Beigle at 934-0136.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
William J. Beigle II has organized a charity skeet shoot.
by CNB