‘And bingo is still the biggest thrill of all’: Juliette Fowler resident writes song for community in ArtsInspire Contest, which showcases creativity of our older neighbors

Juliette Fowler Communities has its own “Weird Al.” 

Starting off with a harmonica intro, Paul Provost and a few friends sang his song “Resident of Fowler,” a spoof on Merle Haggard’s 1969 ballad “Okie From Muskogee,” at the Sept. 29 awards ceremony for Juliette Fowler’s third annual ArtsInspire Contest. Held during Healthy Aging Month, 51 residents participated with 77 entries, and the competition featured the works of residents ages 44 to 103 in multiple artistic categories. Special awards were given to those who completed their pieces after turning 95 years old as well as to residents experiencing dementia.  

Provost, who has been at Juliette Fowler for five years, makes parody songs, like Mr. Yankovic. He started doing that with his piano-teacher father when he was young. Back in his day, the 86-year-old was inspired by Spike Jones as opposed to Weird Al. 

“He would take a straight song and play it with horns and sticks and everything, and so he did that with the instruments and also with some of the words,” said Provost, who can also play the piano, guitar and ukulele. “I kind of copied that idea, and I’ve been doing it all my life. My kids, they know I do it.”

The chorus of “Resident of Fowler” goes like this: 

“I’m glad to be a resident of Fowler,

A place where even gray-hairs have a ball,

Texas flag is flying at the entrance,

And bingo is still the biggest thrill of all.”  

Provost entered his song in the contest and, unlike many of his peers, won by being the only one in that category. He also won last year by default with his song “The Shady Side of the Street.” Next year, he may write something based on his favorite song, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles. 

“If I’m alive, yeah, of course,” he said when asked about whether he’d enter the next contest. 

As his song closed out the ceremony, his peers in the audience laughed at several parts of the song that poked gentle fun at the community and its residents and applauded the performance at the end. Despite the jokes, he’s happy at Juliette Fowler, and that attitude shines through the song. 

Check out the full list of award winners: 

Hard Craft — Jewelry/Decor

First place: Nell Jacobie, “Three-Layer Beaded Necklace” 

Second place: Esperanza Rodriguez, “Hand Made by Hope”

Third place: Nancy Ferro, “Small House, My House” 

Honorable mention: Leslie Hann, “Pretty in Pink

Puzzle

First place: Karen Rosenkrans, “Tea for All”

Second place: Undisclosed name, “I Love America”

Soft Craft — Textiles

First place: Liane Johnson, “Butterfly Bag & Coin Purse with Red Hat with Fur”

Second place: Maple Harris, “Dressing for Winter”

Third place: Beth Winterbauer, “Christmas Potholders”

Honorable mention: Jeanine Flatman, “Woven Abstract Owl”

Soft Craft — Needlework

First place: Vicky Piccola, “Fall Pumpkins”

Second place: Linda Rogers, “Nativity” 

Third place: Undisclosed name, “Spring Scene”

Honorable mention: Debrah Mylar, “Remembering Olden Days”

Soft Craft — Sewing/Quilting

First place: Vicky Piccola, “Santa is Coming”

Second place: Ethel Radovich, “Fall Unfolding”

Third place: Jan Harrel, “From Your Boys”

Honorable mentions: Beth Winterbauer, “Jewelry Bag” 

Nell Jacobie, “To Go Bag” 

Debrah Mylar, “Remembering Grandma”

Mixed Media 

First place: Victor Martinez, “Mixed Recycled Leather”

Second place: Jan Harrel, “Frida on Denim” 

Third place: Sue Steptoe, “Bruno”

Honorable mentions: Belinda Smith, “Guardian Angel”

Nell Jacobie, “Hold Down the Room”

Leslie Hann, “Yuppie Guppies”

Nancy Ferro, “Poco a Poco & Simplicity Pattern” 

Carmen Oliver, “Easter Wreath”

Poetry

First place: Richard Kimbrough, “An Ode To”

Second place: Jan Bionde, “Woman” 

Third place: Mary Beth Mathews, “Tranble “Man de Te”” 

Honorable mention: Sue Steptoe, “Wake Up”

Photography

First place: Molly Sutton, “Abides in My Memory”

Second place: Rick Kyle, “Sunrise at the Peak”

Third place: J Maisel, “As Time Goes On” 

Honorable mentions: Paul Provost, “Rice Planting”

Anna Palmer, “Sycamore Ramble”

Judy Flemister, “Mermaid on the Beach”

Diana Palmer, “Fowler Easter Lily”

Sue Steptoe, “Veterans Day”

Nancy Ray, “Jelly Fish”

Drawing 

First place: Merry Fuhrer, “Chestine’s World” 

Second place: Gregg Suhm, “Titan Speakerman”

Third place: Sue Steptoe Herdon, “Richard Prior” (portrait of the comedian whose last name is spelled “Pryor”)

Honorable mentions: Belinda Smith, “Richie”

Judy Flemister, “Hot Cocoa”

Cecilia Edwards, “Fashions”

Janice Lee, “Dove Ascending”

Coloring

First place: Nancy Ray, “Witch Cat with Crystals”

Painting — Alternative Surface 

First place: Judy Flemister, “A Lazy Summer Day”

Second place: Carol Autry, “Cheerful Bird House”

Painting — Watercolor

First place: Belinda Smith, “Early Fall Morning”

Second place: Emily Ball, “Canoe Energy”

Third place: Jeanine Flatman, “Self-Contemplation”

Honorable mentions: Betty Drake, “2 Cats”

Painting — Acrylic/Oil

First place: Undisclosed name, “General Store”

Second place: Jeanine Flatman, “Sunset Gathering in the Trees”

Third place: Dale Moses, “Weimaraner on Black”

Honorable Mentions: Edith Roberts, “Courtyard Corner”

Undisclosed name, “Portrait of Little Sailor”

Norma Galloway, “Bouquet”

Diana Palmer, “A Hoot for Fowler”

Sue Steptoe, “Abstract Bursts”

Ruby Stopperhagan, “Beautiful Bluebonnets”

Majestic Arts (experiencing dementia)

First place: Betsy Crum, “Apple Tree”

Second place: Suzanne Kersten, “Apple Tree”

Third place: Richard Casper, “Apple Tree”

Honorable mentions: Gerry Worral, “Apple Tree”

Gloria Rochelle, “Apple Tree”

June LaFluer, “Apple Tree”

Betty Bankston, “Apple Tree”

Sharon Black, “Apple Tree”

Distinguished Arts (over age 95 at time of completion) 

First place: Ethel Radovich, “Autumn Unfolding” (quilt)

Second place: Edith Roberts, “Courtyard Corner” (acrylic painting) 

Third place: Beth Winterbauer, “Nativity Calendar” (sewing)

Honorable mentions: Ruby Stopperhagan, “Beautiful Bluebonnets” (acrylic/oil painting) 

Gloria Rochelle, “Apple Tree” (Majestic arts)

Song 

First place: Paul Provost, “Resident of Fowler”