About the Documentary
Jessie Beck of Reno, was the first woman to be a major casino gaming owner in Nevada. Richard Perry, a college student from the nearby city of Carlin, worked with Jessie in her early years, forging a friendship. Fast-forward to the Vietnam War: Dick was now LCDR Richard 'Dick' Perry, one of the Navy's fierce-fighting Ghost Riders pilots. It was 1965, and Jessie started sending her friend care packages. A new chapter in their friendship and fate had begun. This is Lady Jessie.
Lady Jessie: A Vietnam Story Trailer:
Images from Premier Night at the Crest Theater
Painting by Don Purdy
Lady Jessie
A Vietnam Story
Jessie Beck’s generosity to Navy pilot Dick Perry and US troops in Vietnam forged enduring friendships and a legacy in the sky.
This KVIE ViewFinder documentary is co-written and co-produced by Ruyak Media and Dos Eckes Productions.
More Images
Lady Jessie, a DOCUMENTARY co-written and co-produced by Ruyak Media and Dos Eckes Productions.
Production Team
Executive Producer
BETH RUYAK
Producers
BETH RUYAK
SUZANNE ECKES-WAHL
JIM ECKES
Writer
SUZANNE ECKES-WAHL
Editor / Online Editor / Graphics
JIM ECKES
Assistant Editor
PETER ECKES
Director of Photography
KEN DAY
Additional Photography
RYAN BOHLIN (Alabama)
SEAN FRAME (Nevada)
Archival Video
CAROLYN HODGES
STEVE PERRY
JOHN SHORE
Technical Consultants
DON 'Inky' PURDY
LARRY 'Dooth' DUTHIE
KEN 'Mule' ADAMS
ED 'Gentle Ed' CHADWICK
JIM 'YDK' WALDRON
JOHN 'JC' DAVIS
LARRY 'C-10' CUNNINGHAM
Website and Branding
CARSEN ANTHONISEN
HALEY TITUS
MARIA VALENZUELA
Premier Night Video
MIKE JENSEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Special Thanks
DON PURDY
NEAL COBB
MIKE MULLANE
ED and DINAH CHADWICK
GRIFF and BARBARA SEXTON
RICHARD and PAMELA ODEGAARD
UNR SPECIAL COLLECTION and ORAL HISTORY DEPARTMENTS
THE FAMILIES OF JESSIE BECK AND DICK PERRY
THE FAMILIES OF VA-163 and VA-164 GHOST RIDERS
THE NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM
Funding
MICHAEL MCWHIRTER
JAMES RUYAK and BETH RUYAK
JIM ECKES and SUZANNE ECKES-WAHL
Kickstarter Funders
MICHAEL MCWHIRTER
CARSEN ANTHONISEN
SUZANNE ECKES-WAHL
ROBYN PETERSON
BLAIR STEPHENSON
JOHN BROWN
JULIE LAW
JULIE MIETUS
JACQUELINE MIETUS
SUSAN CONNOR