| − | Beam is the son of Charlie C. Beam (1905-1982) and the former Carrie Welch (1906-1979). His parents and a brother, David W. Beam (1939-1992) are interred at Orange Grove Cemetery in Lake Charles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23192598|title=Charlie C. Beam|publisher=Oldfindagrave.com||accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref>. Beam and his wife, Joann M. Beam (born November 1934) have at least two children, Joann D. Bean and Bryan Carroll Beam (born September 24, 1962), a Democratic former member of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.intelius.com/people-search/Bryan-C-Beam/Lake%20charles-LA|title=Bryan C. Beam|publisher=Intelius.com|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref>Though born in nearby Cameron, Beam graduated in 1951 from LaGrange High School in Lake Charles. He received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from McNeese State University (then College) in Lake Charles. From 1955 to 1957, he served in the [[United States Army]]. From 1958 to 1961, he was a teacher in the Calcasieu Parish public schools. In 1962, he obtained a [[Master of Arts]] in history from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. He penned a thesis on U.S. Representative Arsene P. Pujo (1861-1939), a Democrat who held the since defunct 7th congressional district seat from 1903 to 1913.<ref name=bio/> | + | Beam is the son of Charlie C. Beam (1905-1982) and the former Carrie Welch (1906-1979). His parents and a brother, David W. Beam (1939-1992), are interred at Orange Grove Cemetery in Lake Charles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23192598|title=Charlie C. Beam|publisher=Oldfindagrave.com||accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref>. Beam and his wife, Joann M. Beam (born November 1934), have at least two children, Joann D. Bean and Bryan Carroll Beam (born September 24, 1962), a Democratic former member of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.intelius.com/people-search/Bryan-C-Beam/Lake%20charles-LA|title=Bryan C. Beam|publisher=Intelius.com|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref> |
| | + | Though born in nearby Cameron in coastal Cameron Parish, Beam graduated in 1951 from LaGrange High School in Lake Charles. He received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from McNeese State University (then College) in Lake Charles. From 1955 to 1957, he served in the [[United States Army]]. From 1958 to 1961, he was a teacher in the Calcasieu Parish public schools. In 1962, he obtained a [[Master of Arts]] in [[history]] from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. He penned a thesis on U.S. Representative Arsene P. Pujo (1861-1939), a Democrat who held the since defunct 7th congressional district seat from 1903 to 1913.<ref name=bio/> |