BECKHAM, GARLAND WAYNE (1929–2001). Garland Wayne Beckham, country music journalist, photographer, and publisher, was born in Lantham, Kansas, on March 21, 1929, the son of William Charles and Viola Beckham. He began his publishing career at the age of twelve working in the press room of the Daily Oklahoman. Beckham served in the United States Navy during World War II^qv and afterwards in the Norfolk, Virginia, press room of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

During the 1960s and 1970s Beckham worked in the Fort Worth area as a publisher and photojournalist and also owned his own talent agency, Way-Beck Talent. In addition to publishing the magazine Country Music Reporter, Beckham was a staff photographer at Panther Hall,^qv one of the Dallas–Fort Worth area's most popular dance halls of the time. He photographed numerous country music^qv performers both on and off stage at Panther Hall, including Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Bob Wills,^qv and Tanya Tucker. He also played harmonica and occasionally sat in with some of the bands at Panther Hall.

Beckham died of congestive heart failure at Arlington Memorial Hospital on October 15, 2001, and is buried at the DFW National Cemetery in Dallas. He was survived by his father, William Charles Beckham, a daughter, Patricia Jo McCubbin, and four sons, Larry Wayne, William Charles, Donald Ned, and Patrick James. Beckham's collection of photos and other related materials is archived at Texas State University–San Marcos.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 18, 2001.

Gary Hartman