Changes

==Background==

==Background==

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>

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/>

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/>

==Career==

==Career==

In 1961, Beam became a reporter for ''The American Press'' and was promoted to city editor in 1965, to co-editor in 1982, and editor in 1992. Since 1975, Beam has covered the Louisiana legislature and writes regular political columns which have won awards from the Louisiana Press Association, the Louisiana-[[Mississippi]] [[Associated Press]], and the Louisiana State Medical Society. His publications include ''Positively Beaming,'' a collection of 110 of his favorite columns, and ''A Matter of Trust,'' an excerpt of his Master’s Thesis that appeared in the Fall 1994 issue of ''The Tulane Lawyer.'' In 2000, Jim Beam was selected by the Advertising and Press Club to be the first “Lake Area Legend.” Although officially retired as editor, Beam continues to covers the state legislature and write editorials for ''The American Press.''<ref name=bio/> In 2017, Beam, along with four others, was inducted in the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2017/03/11/las-political-legends-take-their-place-hall-fame/99050436/|title=La.'s political legends take their place in Hall of Fame|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=March 11,2017|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref>

In 1961, Beam became a reporter for ''The American Press'' and was promoted to city editor in 1965, to co-editor in 1982, and editor in 1992. Since 1975, Beam has covered the Louisiana legislature and writes regular political columns which have won awards from the Louisiana Press Association, the Louisiana-[[Mississippi]] [[Associated Press]], and the Louisiana State Medical Society. His publications include ''Positively Beaming,'' a collection of 110 of his favorite columns, and ''A Matter of Trust,'' an excerpt of his Master’s Thesis that appeared in the Fall 1994 issue of ''The Tulane Lawyer.'' In 2000, Jim Beam was selected by the Advertising and Press Club to be the first “Lake Area Legend.” Although officially retired as editor, Beam continues to covers the state legislature and write editorials for ''The American Press.''<ref name=bio/> In 2017, Beam, along with four others, was inducted in the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2017/03/11/las-political-legends-take-their-place-hall-fame/99050436/|title=La.'s political legends take their place in Hall of Fame|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=March 11, 2017|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref>

Most beyond Lake Charles have learned of Beam through the [[Moon Griffon]] [[radio]] talk show; now a sharp Beam critic, Griffon earlier had expressed admiration for the editor's independence. The website The Hayride: Southern Politics and Culture in 2012 dubbed Beam "a wolf in sheep's clothing," a columnist who "hides behind the so-called mainstream mantra, when clearly [his] opinions are [[liberal]]." Bean has proposed means testing of the state Taylor Opportunity Scholarship Program, named for the [[New Orleans]] businessman Patrick F. Taylor (1937-2004). TOPS has been a particular benefit of the middle class. ''The Hayride'' claimed that Beam is trying to foment [[class warfare]].

Most beyond Lake Charles have learned of Beam through the [[Moon Griffon]] [[radio]] talk show; now a sharp Beam critic, Griffon earlier had expressed admiration for the editor's independence. The website The Hayride: Southern Politics and Culture in 2012 dubbed Beam "a wolf in sheep's clothing," a columnist who "hides behind the so-called mainstream mantra, when clearly [his] opinions are [[liberal]]." Bean has proposed means testing of the state Taylor Opportunity Scholarship Program, named for the [[New Orleans]] businessman Patrick F. Taylor (1937-2004). TOPS has been a particular benefit of the middle class. ''The Hayride'' claimed that Beam is trying to foment [[class warfare]].