the
FACES OF DELTA SIG / 10 Brothers Making a Difference in Their Field. FOUNDATION UPDATE / 20 The Impact of Your Dollars.
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES / 17 Delta Sig’s Olympic Champions
DELTA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY
SPRING 2021
CULTURE / HARMONY / FRIENDSHIP
Carnation
the
Postmaster: Send address changes to THE CARNATION OF DELTA SIGMA PHI, 2960 N. Meridian Street, Suite 190, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Subscription price to non-members is $8 per year. Single copies $3.
EDITOR Stephanie Miller CONTRIBUTORS Loren Mall, Kansas State ’58 Stephanie Miller DELTA SIGMA PHI FRATERNITY Phil Rodriguez, Illinois State ’03 Executive Director rodriguez@deltasig.org Gage Abell, Transylvania ’15 Assistant Director of Fraternity Growth abell@deltasig.org Brittany Ankeny-Dooley Assistant Director of Educational Programs ankeny@deltasig.org Ry Beck, UNT ’04 Director of Fraternity Growth beck@deltasig.org Zach Collins, UW Oshkosh ’18 Chapter Support Coordinator collins@deltasig.org Kirk Dudgeon, Utah ’15 Chapter Support Coordinator dudgeon@deltasig.org Casey Dwyer, Kansas State ’08 Director of Digital Initiatives dwyer@deltasig.org Kristin Fouts Director of Educational Initiatives fouts@deltasig.org Tyler Gunn, ULM ’16 Growth Coordinator gunn@deltasig.org Tom Lambert, Indiana State ’89 Systems Administrator lambert@deltasig.org Diane Larson Meetings & Events Coordinator larson@deltasig.org Brady Lutz, IUPUI ’14 Growth Coordinator lutz@deltasig.org
Aaron Noon Director of Responsibility noon@deltasig.org
What’s VOL. 113, ISSUE 2
Brendan O’Connor, Iowa State ’14 Assistant Director of Chapter Support oconnor@deltasig.org Hunter Potemri, East Carolina ’16 Growth Coordinator potemri@deltasig.org
3 / Leadership Voices
Dylan Rood, Western Carolina ’17 Chapter Support Coordinator rood@deltasig.org Adrian Silva, UT Austin ’19 Chapter Support Coordinator silva@deltasig.org
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Victoria Stankus Director of Fraternity Services stankus@deltasig.org Ryan Stoner Accountant stoner@deltasig.org
25 / Bond Eternal
Vincent Woods, East Carolina ’06 Assistant Director of Volunteer Engagement woods@deltasig.org
Nathan Wight, Illinois State ’97 Chief Advancement Officer wight@deltasig.org
Foundation Impact Report
Chapter & Member News
Andrew Thomas, IUPUI ’14 Assistant Director of Chapter Support thomas@deltasig.org
DELTA SIGMA PHI FOUNDATION Phil Rodriguez, Illinois State ’03 Executive Director rodriguez@deltasig.org
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Faces of Delta Sig
What’s In My Bag? Andrew Thomas & Brendan O’Connor
Benjamin DeLost Assistant Director of Annual Giving delost@deltasig.org Madison Denhart Annual Giving Coordinator denhart@deltasig.org
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Historical Perspectives: Delta Sig’s Olympic Champions
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THE CARNATION OF DELTA SIGMA PHI
/DeltaSigmaPhiHQ
@DeltaSigmaPhiHQ
@DeltaSigmaPhi
leadership
VOICES
Brothers,
A
t our LEAD educational programming last winter, I had the opportunity to watch firsthand as our undergraduate brothers from across the country received critical leadership training and education. Throughout the weekend, our facilitators and headquarters team emphasized the message and importance of leadership and resiliency during difficult times. I do not think any of us could have imagined how needed that message of leadership and resiliency was going to be just a few short months later. There is no doubt about it; the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for all of us but particularly in the higher education space. From digital classes, mental health impacts and the never-ending campus changes and policy restrictions, our members have faced more uncertainty and unknown than generations before them. Yet despite all these impacts, I have watched our men accept the challenge and carry out their studies and chapter duties in a remarkable way. Brothers of Delta Sigma Phi found innovative ways to welcome new members into our Fraternity, raise charitable funds for those impacted in their communities and perhaps most importantly lean into each other to provide emotional and mental support during this time. Our alumni and volunteers have done the same. They provided countless hours of chapter guidance, facility management, quarantine guidelines all
“We know the world is evolving quickly and expectations of membership and external stakeholders are readily changing. I am confident that our great Fraternity will be prepared to meet that need.”
amidst thousands of other ‘fires’ that needed to be put out. Their efforts do not go unnoticed. On behalf of the entire organization, thank you for your leadership. The National Fraternity team has also been working tirelessly to provide advocacy, support and resources to our chapters during this time. For this fiscal year, the Grand Council approved a budget that provided the continuation of services all while reducing chapter members’ dues by 20% in the fall. Even further, our Foundation awarded over $80,000 in scholarships for the fall 2020 semester alone and provided a grant to cover all educational leadership costs for chapters. Between our undergraduate brothers, alumni and the national headquarters, Delta Sigma Phi has new ways to ensure that our great Fraternity will not just survive but thrive for years to come. As we continue to navigate the challenges of this year, we have also been preparing for the future. We know the world is evolving quickly and expectations of membership and external stake-
holders are readily changing. I am confident that our great Fraternity will be prepared to meet that need. I look forward to sharing more about how we plan to support our membership as we continue to move forward throughout the next few months but until then, continue to stay safe and stay positive. And as always, I hope you enjoy this issue of the Carnation. YITBOS,
Phil Rodriguez, Illinois State ’03 Executive Director, Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity & Foundation
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chapter
ANNIVERSARIES
The below chapters are celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2021. Please join us in recognizing these chapters and their longevity from their original charter date.
50 – 74 YEARS Beta Nu, California State University, Fresno // 74 Beta Pi, Michigan Technological University // 73 Beta Tau, Western Michigan University // 73 Beta Psi, Arizona State University // 73 Gamma Alpha, San Diego State University // 73 Gamma Delta, Washington State University // 72 Gamma Epsilon, San Jose State University // 72 Gamma Iota, University of Idaho // 71 Gamma Xi, University of North Texas // 69 Gamma Tau, Eastern Michigan University // 69 Gamma Upsilon, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology // 67
100 YEARS AND ABOVE Alpha Lambda, Millikin University // 100
Eta Xi, Towson University // 32 Eta Omicron, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire // 32 Eta Rho, University of North Carolina at Charlotte // 31 Eta Upsilon, Indiana State University // 31 Eta Omega, Johnson & Wales University (RI) // 30 Theta Epsilon, Wingate University // 28 Theta Eta, Texas State University-San Marcos // 27 Theta Theta, University of Hartford // 27 Theta Kappa, State University of New York at Oswego // 26 Theta Lambda, Dickinson College // 26 Theta Mu, University of Kentucky // 25
Gamma Rho, Gannon University // 67 Gamma Chi, Drexel University // 65
1 TO 24 YEARS
Delta Delta, Purdue University // 64
Theta Pi, University of Massachusetts Amherst // 23 Theta Rho, University of Oregon // 23
Beta, Columbia University // 120
Delta Epsilon, Missouri University of Science & Technology // 64
Epsilon, The Pennsylvania State University // 119
Delta Mu, Loyola Marymount University // 63
Kappa Delta, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University // 22
Eta, The University of Texas at Austin // 114
Delta Lambda, Utah State University // 62
Theta Sigma, La Salle University // 21
Rho, North Carolina State University // 106
Delta Omicron, Western Carolina University // 62
Theta Chi, University of Georgia // 18
Tau, Hillsdale College // 106
Delta Xi, Texas A&M University-Commerce // 62
Iota Alpha, Georgia College & State University // 11
Omega, University of Pittsburgh // 105
Delta Omega, Cleveland State University // 58
Theta Omega, Georgia Southern University // 11
Alpha Tau, Albion College // 104
Epsilon Beta, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh // 56
Theta Psi, Shorter University // 11
Alpha Gamma, Georgia Institute of Technology // 101
Epsilon Delta, University of Wisconsin-Platteville // 55
Alpha Delta, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill // 101
Epsilon Iota, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse // 54
Iota Beta, State University of New York at Binghamton // 10
Alpha Mu, University of Virginia // 100
Alpha Eta, Ohio Northern University // 101
Epsilon Kappa, Loyola University Chicago // 53
Alpha Theta, University of Michigan // 101
Epsilon Lambda, Northwest Missouri State University // 53
Alpha Iota, The Ohio State University // 101
Epsilon Pi, Woodbury University // 52 Epsilon Tau, Grand Valley State University // 50
75 – 99 YEARS
Epsilon Phi, East Carolina University // 50
Alpha Pi, Michigan State University // 98
25 – 49 YEARS
Alpha Rho, University of Colorado Boulder // 97
Zeta Kappa, University of Northern Colorado // 40
Alpha Sigma, University of Maryland, College Park // 97
Zeta Lambda, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology // 39
Alpha Upsilon, Kansas State University // 96 Alpha Chi, Stetson University // 96 Beta Alpha, Iowa State University of Science & Technology // 94
Zeta Nu, Missouri State University // 39 Zeta Xi, St. Cloud State University // 38 Zeta Pi, University of Louisiana at Monroe // 37
Beta Beta, University of Missouri // 94
Zeta Chi, University of Alabama at Birmingham // 35
Beta Gamma, The University of California, Los Angeles // 94
Zeta Omega, University of North Carolina at Wilmington // 35
Beta Zeta, University of Florida // 91
Eta Beta, California State University, San Bernardino // 34
Beta Iota, Wittenberg University // 89 Beta Mu, Transylvania University // 80
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Iota Delta, James Madison University // 9 Iota Epsilon, University of Central Florida // 9 Iota Zeta, Miami University // 9 Iota Eta, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis // 8 Iota Theta, Boise State University // 7 Iota Iota, Case Western Reserve University // 7
Alpha Nu, Oglethorpe University // 99
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Eta Lambda, Chapman University // 32
Eta Eta, Rochester Institute of Technology // 34 Eta Kappa, University of Michigan-Dearborn // 34
Iota Kappa, The University of Utah // 7 Iota Lambda, Appalachian State University // 6 Iota Mu, Kennesaw State University // 5 Iota Nu, State University of New York at Plattsburgh // 5 Iota Xi, University of South Carolina Aiken // 4 Iota Omicron, The George Washington University // 4 Iota Pi, The University of Texas at Tyler // 2 Iota Rho, Lander University // 1 Iota Sigma, University of Iowa // 1 Iota Tau, University of North Florida // 1
chapter & member
NEWS
FRED ROSENKAMPFF \ WESTERN CAROLINA '59 If you are a member of the Delta Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Phi, you know Rosie and you know that’s not his actual first name. Fred Rosenkampff, affectionately called Rosie by his chapter brothers, is synonymous with the Western Carolina Chapter. He is the last living founding member of the chapter, championing the 1959 charter of Delta Omicron and the 2004 recharter. As Richard Huffamn, Western Carolina ’08, would say, “Rosie has done more for our chapter Brothers and chapter than anyone else who has come through Delta Omicron.” The Delta Omicron chapter has a large and active alumni base and they credit that to Rosie. When the chapter was removed from campus in 1997, Rosie created the DO100+. The idea behind the DO100+ was simple, get 100 Delta Omicron alumni to pay dues while the chapter wasn’t present on campus. This allowed the mem-
bers to actively participate as alumni of Delta Sigma Phi. And while the DO100+ never quite reached 100 paying members, it was close and no one trying this effort has gotten closer than Rosie. Brother Huffman credits Rosie with being the reason so many alumni are still connected to the chapter. “He used to host our Homecoming festivities at his house, which he calls ‘the little house on the hill.’ He has a bedroom dedicated to Western Carolina University and another one dedicated to Delta Sigma Phi. In that room, he put a window in the precise place where when you look out it, you see a mountain that looks like a pyramid.”
“Without Rosie, we wouldn't have been founded in 1959 to start it all nor would be a standing chapter today, having just celebrated our 61st year. Everyone who comes through the Delta Omicron chapter, whether initiated or not, knows who Rosie is and the impact he has had on our chapter,” say Brother Huffman. He also cherishes the fact a founding father of his chapter is still heavily involved today, still making his mark and leaving a legacy for individuals who are 50-60 years younger. That lasting impact will be with Brother Huffman forever. “Rosie set the standard for the men of Delta Omicron and I could never thank him enough.”
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chapter & member
NEWS
BETA ZETA \ UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA It has been no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has halted many aspects of life, including traditional college life. Classes at the University of Florida were moved online and venturing into the fall semester during these conditions left many cautious, especially towards the recruitment process. While recruitment was completely virtual this semester, the chapter was still capable of bringing in their second largest pledge class. Along with this, they have started their search for a permanent location at the University of Florida. As the chapter continues to grow, they are excited to share their accomplishments at UF with the rest of the brotherhood! Above: Beta Zeta New Member Class Fall 2020
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GAMMA EPSILON \ SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY In the world around us, thousands of young beautiful children develop cancer every year. It is a disease some
brothers of the Gamma Epsilon chapter at San Jose State are saddened to see and therefore decided to participate in a Childhood Cancer Research Charity. They raised money then shaved their heads for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which helps raise funds for childhood cancer research. The Chapter is spreading the word to raise awareness for this disease and gain support in the fight against cancer. Members who weren’t available on the day still donated to the cause. Inset: Before and after of the Gamma Epsilon Brothers who raised money for childhood cancer research.
chapter & member
NEWS
DELTA EPSILON \ MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY The Delta Epsilon Chapter hosted their 7th annual Philanthropy Event, Burgers, Shakes, and Fries, this past October for the National ALS Association. Participants enjoyed a classic American meal prepared by members of Delta Epsilon. To comply with social distancing rules, they decided to host the event outdoors at the local Lion’s Club Park and offered pavilion dine-in, drivethrough, and delivery options. They also used the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation’s new partnership with Classy, and were able to take online orders and donations for the first time in their history. The event was a roaring success, as they safely served over 250 meals, and donated $2,250 to ALS.
Brothers DeGraeve and Yang perfect the art of grilling.
Brother Luebbert shows off the shirt design this year.
Brothers form an assembly line and make shakes.
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chapter & member
NEWS
CHRISTOPHER ZYDA \ UCLA ’81 As Brother Zyda writes in the preface of his new book, “This is my true story. I know, because – against all odds – I lived through all of it.” The Storm is his memoir, recounting 15 years of his life, from the early 1980’s through late 1990’s and it has received high praise and remarkable acclaim since its publishing. “Zyda effectively sets his personal story against the backdrop of 1980sera homophobic discrimination, experimental AIDS therapies, and precarious social, political, and clinical climates across LGBTQ+ communities. He conjures an authentic vibe for a pivotal era during which he established himself as both an out gay man and a brave, compassionate partner, particularly when Stephen’s health waned with a harrowing barrage of AIDS-related infections at age 35. Along with crushing statistical data, the author paints these personal scenes with palpable devastation, recalling the heartbreaking reality of his bedside vigil with Stephen and the alarming
DELTA OMICRON \ WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY For 12 years now, a group of Delta Sig brothers gather on Emerald Island for a week long getaway dubbed “Fall Fish & Golf”. The four original creators of the event, Jim Woodard, Western Carolina ’63, Guy Howell, Western Carolina ’63, Skip Parker, Western Carolina ’63 and Bill Carver, Western Carolina ’64, wanted to have a weekend getaway and used a timeshare owned by Brother Woodward. While there, they decided this could be a great opportunity to gather with more Delta Sig Brothers and spent a day looking for a beach house that could accommodate several
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horror that he may have contracted the virus himself. Zyda’s deft navigation of the “AIDS Vortex of Insanity” makes the text an emotionally charged account well-suited for readers who may have survived that fraught period themselves. It’s also a moving, informative, and ultimately uplifting narrative for younger LGBTQ+ readers yearning to understand the magnitude of the AIDS epidemic. Searing and empowering reflections from a dark, defining era in LGBTQ+ history.” —Kirkus Reviews “The Storm achieves something remarkable, managing to tell a painfully disturbing story that ultimately offers an inspiring message of hope. With storytelling bravado, Christopher Zyda demonstrates the virtue of English majors becoming great financial
members. As luck would have it, they found a duplex that could sleep six and booked it for the fall of 2008. After a great gathering of brothers that year, they decided to rent the other side of the duplex and in 2009, they filled both sides and welcomed more Delta Sigs to the event. “Thanks to Bill Carver’s leadership, we have rented the same ocean front home at Emerald Isle since 2009. It has two kitchens and two large gathering rooms but we enjoy fellowship outside on the porch. Our Brotherhood is exhibited each day with guys volunteering to cook the meals and the others clean up. It’s a great feeling to gather with these men,
executives, as he takes us on a very dark journey that illuminates the worst and best of the human condition. We witness homophobia on full, vicious display, and we also meet people who stepped up to do the right thing, as I was very pleased to learn was the case with so many of Chris’ colleagues at Disney. This memoir is as important as it is riveting, since it delivers a powerful firsthand perspective on what it was like to be gay in America before and during the storm of AIDS, as well as the devastating toll the epidemic took not just on those who were struck down, but on those who survived.” ―Michael D. Eisner, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company
The Storm: One Voice from the AIDS Generation, by Christopher Zyda is available at many local bookstores, Barnes & Noble, and at Amazon.com.
reminisce about our undergrad days and catch up with each other”, says Henry Russ, Western Carolina ’63. Sometimes, Mother Nature has played a role in this week-long event. “We’ve had to endure lots of weather events over the years such as a couple of hurricanes that would cause flooding and wash out roads. One year, we had to find an alternate route in and out of the Island. This past year, it was the gale force winds that got us but we aren’t going to let weather stand in the way of Brotherhood,” says Brother Russ.
chapter & member
NEWS
KEATON PETITE \ KANSAS STATE ’17 Marti Freund, JD, Director of Organizational Advancement for Gift of Life Marrow Registry contacted Delta Sigma Phi this past fall with tremendous news, “I wanted to reach out with the exciting news that an alumnus of Delta Sig recently saved a life through Gift of Life. We are an International blood stem cell and marrow registry that finds matching donors for patients battling diseases like Leukemia and Lymphoma. On November 16, 2017, the chapter at Kansas State hosted a Gift of Life presentation where members were invited to join the registry. One of them, Keaton Petite, was identified as a match and donated stem cells in October at our center. He was so incredibly kind, humble and embodied your mission – Better men. Better lives.” We knew we wanted to know more about Brother Keaton and what made him want to be a potential match, so we asked him.
1. How did you hear about Gift of Life and what made you want to be involved?
Funny enough, I heard about Gift of Life through Delta Sig during my sophomore year. They set up a booth during one of our dinners and I remember about 30 of us getting swabbed by rubbing a q-tip against the inside of our cheek. This allowed Gift of Life to add our DNA to the registry. I think the opportunity to potentially save someone’s life is one that many of us jumped at. The process itself is truly a minor inconvenience in comparison to the impact you can have on someone and their family. I would encourage anyone and everyone reading this to go to giftoflife.org and click the “Get Swabbed” button at the top. They’ll send you an at home swab kit so you can get your DNA in the registry and potentially save another person’s life. 2. What was the match and donation process like? The matching process
was simple, in other words, I did nothing. I was swabbed my sophomore year, but I didn’t end up getting notified about matching
with a person until my senior year. For some people, they never match, for others it takes 10 years. Similarly, the donation process was easy for me. They booked my hotel, flight, ground transportation, and even some meals for me; all I had to do was show up and clear my schedule. You’ll find that employers are very flexible when you need off so you can donate the needed stem cells or bone marrow to save another’s life. With many options for Greek Life at Kansas State, we asked what drew Brother Keaton to the Alpha Upsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Phi. “Delta Sigma Phi was originally recommended to me by my sister. She attended Kansas State University and felt that the Alpha Upsilon chapter was a place that held exemplary men of character and would be the ideal place for me to grow as a man. I first visited Delta Sig as a sophomore in high school (due to my sister’s connections at the house) and in contrast to the other houses I visited, Delta Sig was the only place that never looked at me as a waste of time, or blew me off because they couldn’t recruit me then and there. Every person I met welcomed me with open arms and hoped they would see me again when it was time for me to go to college. And when that time came, I knew which house I wanted to join and was fortunate enough to be offered a bid.”
DO YOU HAVE A DELTA SIG STORY TO TELL? EMAIL US AT COMMUNICATIONS@DELTASIG.ORG FOR A CHANCE TO BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING PUBLICATION.
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Brothers across the country are excelling in their chosen profession. These are just some of the Faces of Delta Sigma Phi. WILLIAM CROSS, STETSON '59 William Cross, Stetson ’59, was a self-described "studious" student, committed to ensuring his grades came first, paying particular attention to his accounting and business classes. And it seems like his future career may have been written up on the genetic genes he inherited, given the professional path both his mother and father took. "My mother was a high school bookkeeping instructor and later became a corporate accountant. My father came out of the depression years with US Steel Corporation and started his own chain link fence business in Pittsburgh. From him I inherited my entrepreneurial spirit," says Brother Cross. He started his Delta Sig journey at the Alpha Chi chapter after knowing two of his hometown friends had joined the Fraternity. "I joined Delta Sigma Phi a year after I started at Stetson. My friends were already members and I could see a future as an active member alongside them. It was the best decision for me." And an active member is what he quickly became. "Due to my accounting ability, I became the Treasurer of the Chapter. That position gained the
respect from my Fraternity Brothers and allowed me to lead with confidence when I was elected chapter president." During his summer as chapter president, Brother Cross made sure he attended the National Convention in Kansas City, a decision driven by a desire to build on his existing leadership skills. He attributes his time at the convention with allowing him to accomplish another campus leadership goal. "When I returned for my senior year, I ran for and was elected Business School president. I will never forget the confidence boost it gave me then and throughout my life, including being named Chairman of the Board for a local bank, a position I held for five years," says Brother Cross. While academics and leadership were very important to him as an undergraduate, he also played Stetson baseball all four years and made all-conference as a center fielder. His athletic prowess also helped the Alpha Chi chapter win the football championship three years in a row.
Brother Cross was the wide receiver and had a lot to do with Delta Sig coming out on top in back-to-back-to-back championships. Upon graduation from Stetson with an accounting degree, he began his professional career with a local Accounting practitioner. This firm later became the Orlando office of Coopers & Lybrand, which later merged and became known as Price, Waterhouse, Coopers, a big-four CPA firm. In 1975, Brother Cross started his own firm, William H. Cross & Co., P.A. where he continues to practice today, 45 years later, with some of the same loyal clients he has had from the beginning. When asked more about his professional career, Brother Cross added "Speaking of genes, I met my very supportive wife, Joan, when she worked as an accountant for a client. Now both of our daughters, Carrie and Kelly, are CPAs working in private accounting for large US corporations." Those Delta Sig connections gave him the ability to hone his leadership skills and set himself up for success, which is the reason why he continues to give back to Delta Sigma Phi. He started giving to the Foundation nearly 50 years ago, right after his graduation in 1963. “I have always been a proud donor to the Fraternity and
William Cross, Stetson '59
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Foundation. Delta Sigma Phi provided me with lifelong friendships, leadership opportunities and a lifetime of benefits for which I am grateful. In return, I wish to give for the rest of my life!” The lifelong friendships Brother Cross mentioned are still strong, even when life gets busy. He credits one Brother with providing lasting mentorship and friendship. “I would have to give mentor credit to my lifelong friend, Ed L’Heureux, Stetson ’58. We grew up in Winter Park, played baseball together from Little League through Stetson University, and still converse on a regular basis. He has always been there for guidance on school and life matters.” Throughout the years, he has stayed connected to the Alpha Chi chapter, participating in reunions and other events. “One of my fraternity class-mates, Bill Thompson, Stetson ’60, past ACB member, is another chapter brother I keep in touch with. I have many fraternity friends that I feel like I could call on them at any time for fellowship or assistance in managing today’s challenges.” Brother Cross provides some great guidance for current undergraduates. “I chose Stetson, a small college, so that I could be a noticeable person instead of a number at a large school. From there I took advantage of all the opportunities available to excel at whatever academic or athletic pursuits I endeavored. Just remember that you qualified to go to college, you are a smart person, and you are an achiever. Use your knowledge, intuition and experience to the fullest advantage for a successful career. Once you are out of school, led by example and get involved in the community. Make as many relationships as you can so that you have others to help you solve problems.” But not to end his Delta Sig journey too seriously, he added “I live by the Golden Rule... and a few practical jokes.”
DICK PAUL, MISSOURI S&T ’66 Dick Paul learned about Delta Sigma Phi from someone who attended The University of Missouri, Rolla (now Missouri S&T) and who was from his small hometown of Gallatin, MO. First introduced to the group formally his freshman year, he decided to do some checking. And through his research, he found that the Delta Epsilon chapter on campus had values which aligned with his. “They put a high priority on academics and had one of the highest GPAs of any fraternity on campus. They also treated new members with a degree of maturity and respect, something that was not common in Greek Life in the 1960’s, says Dick, describing some of the activities individuals from that era might remember if they too were a part of Greek Life. He joined the chapter his sophomore year and credits it with being an “absolutely great experience for my remaining time in school and beyond.” He had found a level of fellowship, mutual support, and common values that his research told him he would find at Delta Sigma Phi. As his undergraduate journey through Delta Sigma Phi was beginning, so was his involvement within the chapter. He served on Committees to ensure the chapter ran smoothly, lending his voice and ideas to laying out what the chapter wanted to accomplish. He was also elected to the Interfraternity Council on campus and became a part of academic professional societies. These leadership experiences helped him tremendously when he was elected chapter president. “In addition to the normal leadership duties of a chapter president, we had a special set of challenges during my tenure. The University purchased our
fraternity’s property to construct new dorms. That meant we had to move out, find temporary sleeping and eating arrangements, and begin the process of acquiring new property and finding an architect to design a new chapter house. That’s a lot to handle when you are barely an adult,” said Brother Paul. The chapter officers worked sideby-side with the ACB, who Dick credits with shouldering much of the responsibility to ensure the disruption was felt minimally by the members. “This event served as a significant growth experience in responsibility and leadership for me. I graduated in the Summer of 1966, and the new house was completed and occupied the following semester.” After graduation, Brother Paul found himself employed at General Electric, but not for long. “With our country’s involvement in Vietnam rapidly accelerating, I joined the US Air Force in 1967 with the intent of staying four or so years and then returning to the private sector. Four years turned into 33 years, as I found the USAF to be a wonderful experience with challenging, meaningful, technically-oriented assignments and significant levels of responsibility. I spent the last 12 years of my 33-year career in the Air Force’s science and technology community where I held senior leadership positions in two research laborato-
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ries and as the Air Force focal point for its broad technology portfolio. I retired in 2000 in the rank of Major General, and then joined The Boeing Company in Seattle as a VP with Boeing’s central research & technology organization. I retired from Boeing in 2007.” His remarkable career with the Air Force was fulfilling for Dick, but did come with a fraternal consequence. With Air Force assignment moves came relocation after relocation, none of which kept him near campus. But recently, his disconnect from the chapter changed. “Due to Delta Epsilon’s current robust alumni outreach program, I’ve recently had the opportunity to re-engage—and I’m absolutely blown away with what I see. After hitting tough times several years after I graduated, Delta Epsilon was recently re-chartered and I could not be more impressed with the sustained excellence the chapter has demonstrated—a succession of Pyramid of Excellence Awards, year-to-year high GPA standings, brothers who are leaders in organizations across the campus, and a chapter with strong financial health, active community involvement, and strong alumni outreach. I’ve also observed the strong support provided by the national organization. It seems everything is firing on all cylinders-it’s a wonderful sight to witness.” Brother Paul has learned quite a few lessons through his journey in Delta Sigma Phi and his professional life experiences. “Work hard and be persistent in whatever your current endeavor might be. Continue to develop your communications skills (speaking, writing, and listening), since they are extremely important factors to success in any profession. Finally, be a good teammate with your colleagues in both your personal and professional lives. And remember, “Perseverance always trumps intelligence—stay at it.” “Suffice it to say that I’m super proud to call myself a Delta Sig and a Delta Epsilon alumnus.”
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JOE BURNS, GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE ’13 ACTOR & FORMER HQ STAFF MEMBER
“Live Well.” That’s the quote Brother Burns said is one that motivates him, picks him up during rough times and sums up his life’s path thus far. “It simple, so simple. But to me, it is a reminder that everything here on this earth is temporary, and once those seconds on that clock have ticked by, they won't be coming back. So just a simple Live Well reminds me to live a life worth writing a book about.” Chapter 1 of Joe’s book starts with a serendipitous meeting between his mom and a talent agent at a fair in his hometown of Atlanta. “Joy Pervis, a local talent agent, approached my mom and asked her if she ever thought of getting me involved with commercials”, says Brother Burns, mentioning he had blonde, ringlet hair back then. “Of course it never occurred to my mother at all, but we pursued it and I spent about 8
years doing commercials and print work.” Then, as school became more involved and demanding, the Actor had a difficult decision to make. “The Administration at school was not happy with me missing so many days for auditions, I had a choice to make, continuing acting while being home schooled or stay in school, with my friends, playing sports and put acting on hold.” He chose to put acting on hold, citing the very public battles and downfalls we’ve all seen many child actors face. But the desire to act never truly left Brother Burns, as he graduated high school then attended Georgia College & State. He admittedly didn’t search out Greek life initially, until he was introduced to some men from all different Greek organizations on campus. “There is so much value in seeing someone or something and saying ‘I want that’”, says Brother Burns but when it came time to make a decision about the organization he wanted to join, it came down to laughter for him. “Delta Sig was the one where I felt the
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Brothers laughed the most, had the most fun being around each other and were completely and unapologetically themselves. They were the ones that made me say ‘I want to spend the next four years being a part of that’. Authenticity is so important and that is one of Iota Alpha’s strengthens.” While the infectious joy of life exuded from his chapter brothers, Brother Burns points to four of them as the ones he remembers most since his graduation in 2016. “Nassim Talbi, just wanting to be around his constant love of life. Twin brothers Sean and Justin Peacock, wanting to share in their constant adventuring. And Graham Williams, who I would follow in eventually becoming a Rhetoric major and learn from his excellent ability to communicate with people. These people were the reason I know I made the right decision by joining Delta Sigma Phi.” Joe became Recruitment Chair for his chapter, then Executive Recruitment and was voted IFC President his senior year, not bad for someone who was intrigued but not yet sold on the idea of Greek life when he stepped foot on campus. When asked what he remembers most about his undergraduate days in the chapter, the memory of laughter is what comes to his mind. “Life is already hard, for anyone and everyone. I don’t believe it is talked about enough but college men, or anyone of that age really, they need to find a home in their communities. But most importantly, wherever that home is, they need to enjoy it. My entire undergraduate experience was filled with non-stop laughter.” As far as staying in touch with members from his chapter, he gives a great analogy. “Everyone is busy, life in general is busy and while I don’t stay in touch as often as I would like, I believe that those bonds, the ones that are true, those are like cactuses…they will live forever as long as they are watered
every now and again.” The scene of Joe’s next chapter after graduation took place in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Brother Burns joined the Headquarters staff. “I stepped into the role at HQ because it was something I was passionate about, simple as that.” He mentioned he saw friends who would go on job interviews and accept offers in fields that didn’t excite him. He wanted to give back in a way, wanted to share the joy he found in Delta Sigma Phi with others, so they too could find their community home. “I absolutely loved my time with HQ and I loved the people even more. A big THANK YOU to HQ for allowing me to grow as a person and help other men grow as well.” And while on staff, Joe had an opportunity to work expansion on the campus of UCLA…Hollywood, the city of great opportunities for aspiring actors, good thing Joe’s desire to act never died. He was accepted into his dream acting school, Playhouse West, and as he puts it “the rest is history.” He moved out to LA the following summer to live his life, continue the chapters in his book and now, a few years later, he is a professional actor, with his first feature, Avocado Toast, being released soon. Joe’s book is coming together just as he would have it. “Live Well”, said Brother Burns and he offers up this passage from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden; or, Life in the Woods, that shares that same sentiment. I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately… I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, as to put to rout all that was not life…and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. Check out Brother Burns’ career on his website, OfficialJoeBurns.com.
JOHN TING, NORTH TEXAS '03 PRESIDENT AND SHAREHOLDER AT TING LAW GROUP, PC
“I wanted to surround myself with a group of diverse people in personality, opinions, and ethnicity because that was similar to the type of people I was around with in high school,” says Brother John Ting, North Texas ’03, when reminiscing about walking around the tables during Greek recruitment on campus. He didn’t know anyone in a Greek organization then, they were all on level playing field, each with its own opportunity to recruit him. As he walked by their tables one by one, the brothers of Delta Sigma Phi were genuinely in their approach. That’s how he knew, he would pledge Delta Sig, “It showed me they were interested in me for me and weren’t just going to keep to their own clique.” The chapter member size was on the smaller end during Brother Ting’s undergraduate days. They weren’t the largest group on campus by any means, but the brothers there,
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enjoyed their time together during community events. That time was spent as a group, no matter the size. “If we were playing tennis or volunteering on campus, we called those ‘Brotherhood events’. I was comforted knowing that some brothers wanted to stay positive when we were low and enjoy that time together, giving back or playing sports”. Brother Ting’s first service to his chapter came while he was on the Philanthropy Committee. He then served as Chaplain and eventually Secretary of the Exec Board. While having held a variety of positions, John realized something early on that would hold true for him in his current profession. “Having held these positions, I realized that one small opportunity to serve others was a steppingstone to another opportunity to pay it forward.” His opportunity came while in college. Studying the genocide in Rwanda in a Political Science class, Brother Ting was drawn to the idea of helping people who don’t have a means or voice to help themselves. “It wasn’t an ‘aha moment’ that trigged the thought ‘oh, I need to be a lawyer’ but it was a significant starting point for my journey to realize that.” His decision to apply to law school came during a post-undergraduate volunteer trip to Vietnam. “20 random volunteers and I collaborated to create curriculum for local high school students who would then in turn, teach those lessons to
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orphans in the community. This small act of sharing knowledge showed me that a lot can be done to change a person’s life.” The ‘pay the debt’ principle is a lifelong commitment for John to find ways to accomplish that personally and professionally. In addition to obtaining leadership skills through Delta Sig brotherhood, John credits that volunteer trip in Vietnam with aligning him to represent immigrants obtain legal status to live and work in America. Because it is a process that is constantly changing any time there is a new President, he has put an emphasis on explaining the laws accurately in a digestible manner for the last 9 years. He follows a quote by John F. Kennedy, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” And immigration law provides the continual learning and leadership Brother Ting desires. He represents individuals, companies, and entrepreneurs while providing pro bono services to domestic violence survivors. When asked to give a piece of advice to today’s undergraduates, John says clearly, “Enjoy your time with your Brothers but always do the right thing. One decision can change your life, for better or worse. Ask for help, whether from an undergraduate or alum, someone has been where you are.” You can reach him at John@JohnTingLaw.com or DM on twitter @JohnTingLaw.
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MIKE GRIFFIN, UNC CHAPEL HILL ’86 The impact of becoming a Founder Father of Delta Sig in UNC Chapel Hill was much greater than Mike Griffin realized at the time. Mike first joined Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity the year before the 1986 restart of Delta Sig. Mike and a couple of his AKPsi buddies met Delta Sigma Phi recruiter, Bill Hooker, Western Carolina ’77. Unbeknownst to Brother Griffin, Bill Hooker was widely known as one of the best recruiters Delta Sigma Phi ever had (working under E. Allen James, North Carolina State ’65). Mike and his buddies met Bill walking up and down Chapel Hill’s famed, Franklin Street, searching for “sharp, dynamic young men” to join Delta Sig. Over 40 guys later, Mike found himself apart of the founding fathers of the Alpha Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Phi, something that hadn’t happened in over 50 years. Brother Griffin’s involvement with Delta Sig was the highlight of his undergraduate experience. Griffin said it was his most “entrepreneurial” moment that allowed him to be who he is today. Looking back, Brother Griffin said he wasn’t really interested in joining UNC’s century old social fraternities. Griffin said, “There was a culture of hazing and drugs that didn’t appeal to me. That type Fraternity experience wasn’t my cup of tea. I was a first-generation college student who needed to focus on academics being the Business School required a high GPA. I couldn’t afford to get caught up in all of those distractions.”
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When Brother Hooker came to town, he emphasized that Delta Sig was going to be a different Fraternity, no drugs, no hazing, and a faith-based group of men. This really appealed to Brother Griffin. He really fell in love with the process of the Fraternity and the fellowship that came along with it.By default, Mike became heavily involved with the chapter leadership of the young group. “The Chapter Treasurer became Chapter President and ended up stealing over $20,000 from the chapter. His expulsion left a leadership void plus the chapter needed someone with accounting experience to get them out of the hole.” As an Accounting major, he was ripe for the position. “I learned a lot about leadership and how to hone my accounting and operational skills. To this day, I still attribute a lot of my professional success to holding leadership positions as an undergraduate and as a young alumni advisor.” Mike originally thought he would work for one of the big accounting firms after graduation. He would pass the CPA exam and get an accounting job and that would be it. But that wasn’t it. During his senior year of school, a vendor of his family business took him out on a chance lunch. This mentor of sorts helped Brother Griffin connect the dots. Griffin’s Fraternity experience, which was very entrepreneurial, could help him in his family business. Griffin said, “It was really a reflection of my Fraternity experience. Ironically the whole process of turning things around after the very negative
embezzlement experience made me realize that I was a leader and that I loved managing a business. I owe a great debt to the Fraternity for helping me realize my professional path.” After graduation, not only did his professional career start, but his “Pay the Debt” journey began as well. He helped start the ACB to ensure the new chapter had guidance and continued success. They worked very hard and achieved great success in a short amount of time. They were able to raise $100,000 and secure a $600,000 loan to build a new fraternity house within five years of re-charting. He continues to hold the ACB Treasurer position, only taking a year off since his graduation in 1987. His ACB experience around building a new fraternity house allowed him to apply this knowledge to his family business. “I learned a tremendous amount around raising capital, permitting a commercial development, and dealing with banks before I turned 25 years
old. Every time I gave back to the Fraternity, it gave back to me tenfold, I’ve always been appreciative of that.” Throughout his career, Brother Griffin received advice that seems pretty simple, “Live by the Golden Rule, work hard with the opportunity you have in front of you, give glory to those who gave you a chance and by doing so, you’ll have many more opportunities down the road.” These opportunities have led Brother Griffin to realize that your life may not always be planned out, and that’s ok. “I am not a believer in following your passion but finding passion where there is a need. My family’s success is centered around dirty jobs that folks don’t like doing so you have to search a little harder to fulfill one’s passion. My passion centers around putting food on the table for the more than 300 families while ensuring my team members are successful in life and work.”
Mike with UNC Chapel Hill chapter brothers.
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VICTOR ALATORRE, UW-OSHKOSH ’93 CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-OSHKOSH
“I have been around a while and have been blessed with the opportunity to meet a plethora of interesting Brothers of Delta Sigma Phi,” said Jim Rath, Wisconsin-Oshkosh ’71, “and a chapter Brother comes to mind as one of the top ones.” That’s how we came to know Victor Alatorre. Bro-ther Alatorre is a first generation American, hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, who came to Wisconsin in the early 1990’s as an exchange student, attending school in the Village of Slinger, a tiny town of less than 6,000 residents about 40 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Brother Alatorre’s journey through Delta Sigma Phi began when he lived in a residence hall on campus. “I was able to meet members of the chapter and instantly felt welcomed by them. They quickly became my support system and my family away from home, which was important because I was a bit of an introvert and insecure back then.” And he would need to lean on those Brothers during his undergraduate days, as they were trying times for him. “I worked in the computer lab to keep up with my bills and my junior year, I decided to
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switch my major, so my academic load increased and it was a tough time.” And Victor was able to find the mentors he needed through his chapter brothers both undergraduates like him at that time and alumni of the Epsilon beta Chapter. “I had many fraternity brothers that mentored me and influenced my journey. Among them, our founding father from 1984, John Kelly, Wisconisin, Oshkosh ’84, who carried a strong leadership presence in our chapter. Two members from our original chapter founding in 1965, Ron Schreier, Wisconsin, Oshkosh ’64 and Jim Rath, Wisconsin, Oshkosh ’71, played key role in my life and served as role models for many generations of undergraduates and graduate members of the chapter. Selflessly, they have carried our chapter during challenging times and during periods of chapter growth.” Brother Alatorre is currently the Chief Technology Officer for the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, a position which requires strategic planning and hefty doses of conflict resolution and personnel management. Skills he honed while being the chapter president of Epsilon Beta as an undergraduate. “The fraternity allowed me to leverage my strengths to benefit
the organization. I served as President during a time when Greek Life was changing and rules about risk management were becoming more rigorous and definitely being enforced more. Our chapter had to evolve to maintain membership and recruit new brothers. It was not easy by any means but I truly believe that experience gave me my professional ability to remain calm under pressure, to be decisive and resolve conflict through diplomacy. People perceive me professionally as a humble, steady hand.” This undergraduate leadership experience coupled with his professional success and recognition has allowed him to provide some sound advice for current undergraduates. “Work hard, stay humble, help others. Do no wait for things to happen on their own. Prepare yourself and always embrace an opportunity to learn. Help others without expecting favors in return. Be grateful for what is provided to you by your family and those around you. Unexpected events will happen and that’s your time to persevere. Grit is developed through experiencing and overcoming complicated situations.”
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PERSPECTIVES Horatio Fitch, far right, Sets Olympic Record in 400-Meter Sprint of the 1924 Olympics. University of Illinois Archives.
DELTA SIG
OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS H BY LOREN MALL, ALPHA UPSILON ’58
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hree Delta Sig’s have won medals at three different
Olympic Games. At the world’s foremost sports competition, each of these members competed against the best athletes of many nations. Their triumphs are testaments to their skills, physical abilities, and endurance. Their greatest asset, though, was their will to win.
ORATIO FITCH, Alpha Alpha ’22 was a track star at the University of Illinois, and he led it to three Big Ten championships. He won the Amateur Athletic Union’s 400-yard national championship in 1923 and graduated that year. His victory qualified him for the U.S. team for the 400meter sprint at the 1924 Olympics. In Europe, sports fans were sure Eric Liddell of Scotland and Harold Abrahams, the English sprinter, would vie for the gold medal in the race. That summer, they had been breaking each other’s records in a sizzling competition on the tracks of the United Kingdom. The international press focused on the coming match between the two at the Olympics. Fitch, training without notice in Chicago, compared his time to Liddell’s and Abraham’s, and he realized he had a chance to win. In Paris, Abrahams finished second to Liddell in the 200 meters,
and decided not to enter the 400meter sprint. The public relished the thought of Liddell winning the gold in the premier race of the Games. In the preliminary heats of the 400, the runner from Switzerland surprised everyone by finishing in 48.0 seconds, one-fifth of a second off the Olympic record. On the next day, Horatio Fitch won the semifinals with a time of 47.8 seconds, a new Olympic record. With records falling with each major race, the tension was high as the athletes settled into the blocks for the 400-meter final. At the pistol, Liddell blazed to the lead. The Swiss champion strained to gain ground, snapped a tendon, fell, and lay on the track, hurt and dazed. Fitch neared Liddell as they rounded the turn. In the home straight, the second U.S. runner exerted all his might to catch the two frontrunners, turned an ankle, and fell in agony. He steeled his will and hobbled
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PERSPECTIVES onward. Near the finish line, Fitch was closing, but Liddell broke the tape in first place. Fitch was second. Liddell’s mark of 47.6 seconds broke the Olympic record for the third time in two days and established a new world record. The London Times called the 400meter final the most exciting race ever seen on a running track. The event was restaged in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, which won international prizes and an Oscar for Best Picture. But the film was not true to reality. The scriptwriters rewrote the drama, and turned the sensational year of races between Liddell and Abrahams into a psychological struggle of heart and character between the two British men. They made the film an exploration of moral values between Liddell, who said he raced for the glory of God, and Abrahams, who ran to defeat the bigotry he suffered as an English Jew. With this reimagined story line, the film mentioned Fitch only once, and it relegated him to a third-place finish. Fitch
was a modest gentleman, and he told other Delta Sigs he enjoyed the movie. After the Olympics, Horatio Fitch gave up athletics, earned a Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Illinois, joined its faculty, and volunteered for Delta Sigma Phi as its most active district governor. He traveled the Midwest to hearten Delta Sig chapters with his indefatigable spirit. As he visited them, he accepted the common wisdom that the best chapters are singing chapters. The fraternity had only 10 songs at the time, but after four years of effort, Fitch compiled 19 more tunes. When his Songs of Delta Sigma Phi was published in 1932, it included a song he wrote and another his wife composed. Fitch served as chapter advisor for his chapter at Illinois during the rest of the 1930s, and he taught mechanical and applied engineering at the university until he retired. The national fraternity recognized his exceptional contributions in 1984 by naming him Mr. Delta Sig.
In California, DUNCAN SMITH GREGG, HILGARD ’28, won a place on the University of CaliforniaBerkeley’s acclaimed rowing crew in 1930. Rowing was one of America’s oldest and most-storied sporting disciplines, and earning a seat in a men’s eight boat was harder to achieve than any other athletic position. Gregg, at six feet four inches and the tallest man on the crew, had the ideal conformation for an oarsman. He was assigned the power seat at the sixth oar. The Berkeley crew won regional races, and it dominated the U.S.
Gold Medal Crew of the 1932 Olympics. Duncan Gregg sixth from left
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Olympic trials in Massachusetts, setting a new American record for 2000 meters. The win entitled the Berkeley rowers to represent the United States in the men’s eight at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. By then, Gregg had also been admitted to several academic honor societies. The Olympic competition, held in the ocean south of Los Angeles at Long Beach, was expected to be a close race. It was a test of strength and endurance, of discipline and heart. To win, each crew member had to put maximum physical effort into his oars and give his complete mental dedication to the team’s timing. At the signal, Gregg’s crew dug their long, heavy oars into the water, and their boat led from the start. Pulling rhythmically, the 60-foot shell skimmed over the water in graceful beauty. But other boats remained in contention. The American rowers put their supreme effort into their oars. Their bodies demanded they quit, but their minds kept them pulling. Down the stretch, their muscles tortured and their lungs blistered, they were only inches in the lead. Summoning more grit, they peaked in an extreme drive of 45 strokes a minute. At their physical limit, they crossed the finish line. It was a moment before Gregg and his oarsmen realized they had nosed out boats from Italy and Canada, and earned a gold medal for each member of the crew. The other members of Hilgard Chapter said Duncan Gregg’s room was the most popular place in the chapter house, and a few months after the Olympics, they elected him president. After he graduated from Berkeley in 1934, he became the purchasing director for Kaiser Aluminum in San Francisco. During his career, he was promoted frequently, finishing in the 1970s as general manager of the Fortune 500 company. He was a civic leader, and to honor his contributions, San Francisco State University established the Duncan S. Gregg Award for Excellence in 1973.
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René Welti
Mike Larrabee wins the 400, 1964 Olympics
Members of Alpha Phi Chapter at the University of Southern California waited enthusiastically in 1964 for the Olympic Games to open in Tokyo. One of their alumni members, MICHAEL D. LARRABEE, ALPHA PHI ’53, was a sprinter with the U.S. track team. Mike Larrabee had exhibited speed since his high school days, and he entered USC on a track scholarship in 1952. His sprints helped his teams take NCAA championships in 1954 and 1955. After he graduated in 1956, he aimed for the Olympics. But he had flu that fall when he ran the 400 meters in the U.S. trials. He finished eighth and failed to qualify for the U.S. team. Larrabee was determined to race on the world stage, and he continued to train with the Southern California Striders. A severe hamstring waylaid him in 1957, but he ultimately healed and prepared for the 1960 Olympics. He was ranked sixth in the world in 1958 when he was sidelined with a ruptured Achilles tendon. He did not make the U.S. team. Worse, his doctor said he could never race again. It seemed Olympics glory was an impossible dream for Mike Larrabee, but he vowed to compete in the 1964 Games. He trained regularly while he taught high school math to support
his young family. Early in 1964, while practicing karate with a student, a misguided kick struck his mid-section and inflamed his pancreas. For two months, he was severely ill with pancreatitis, but he recovered enough to run again. Larrabee generously shrugged off the blow. “It forced me to tailor my meals to several small snacks each day,” he explained. He added 10-mile runs to his schedule, and he grew stronger than before. At the U.S. trials for the 400-meter race, Larrabee knew he had to protect his weakened Achilles tendon, and he ran cautiously for the first half. Five runners pulled away, but suddenly, he kicked into overdrive. In a dramatic surge, he powered past one runner, then the second, and the third, and then the fourth. As he neared the finish line, he exploded again, passed the fifth racer, and matched the world record with a 44.9 time. After every race, Larrabee was sickened with pancreatitis, but he endured the pain and kept running. At the Olympics in Tokyo, Larrabee won the 400 meters by one-tenth of a second, finishing at 45.1 seconds. For the 4x400 relay race, he took the second leg, traditionally assigned to the fastest man. During the race, the first U.S. racer was several steps behind as Larrabee took the baton, but when he
handed off, his team had a five-meter lead. He had run the leg in 44.8 seconds. The U.S. men never relinquished that large advantage, and Larrabee’s team won the 4x400 meter relay in a world record time of three minutes and seven-tenths of a second. Mike Larrabee was 43 days from his 31st birthday when he was awarded two gold Olympic medals in Tokyo. He still holds the record for the oldest winner of the 400-meter sprint. After the 1964 Olympics, Larrabee continued to suffer recurring bouts of pancreatitis. In his late sixties, he was stricken with cancer of the pancreas, and he died in 2003. He was posthumously added to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Delta Sig’s Olympic medal winners have all passed on now, but their accomplishments remain to inspire future competitors. The fraternity awaits its next Olympic champion.
Mike Larrabee 1964, 2-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
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NEWS
DONATE FROM YOUR IRA WITH A CHARITABLE ROLLOVER If you are 70 ½ years of age or older, you can receive tax benefits and support Delta Sigma Phi. You can direct money from your IRA to a qualified charity (such as the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation) without paying income taxes on the donation. Here’s how it works: • You can contact your IRA administrator and let them know you wish to make a distribution to the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation. • They will send a check to our office. • This counts towards your annual Required Minimum Distribution. • You DO NOT pay income taxes on the amount you distribute to the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation. • You impact our men TODAY with your support!
LEAVING A LEGACY TO BUILD BETTER MEN Including the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation in your estate plan is a great way to provide the critical support our brothers need to have the life-changing experience that you were fortunate to have while in college. Some things to consider would be naming the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation… • In your Will or Living Trust. • As a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. • As a beneficiary of your retirement assets (IRA, 401k, etc.). With your gift you could accomplish any one of the following: • Provide funds for our undergraduates’ greatest needs
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• Create a scholarship fund to exist in perpetuity in your name or in memory of a chapter brother. • Create a fund to support men from your chapter to attend a leadership program. • Leave money to your chapter’s leadership fund at the Foundation. Contact Nathan Wight, Illinois State ’97, Chief Advancement Officer, for additional information at wight@deltasig.org or 317.607.8565. You can also visit deltasig.org/plannedgiving for more information.
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SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED The Delta Sigma Phi Foundation was pleased to award almost $200,000 in scholarship support to our brothers last fall. Our top three McKee Scholarship recipients are shown here and they wanted to share how this scholarship has impacted their life! ELLIOTT BEACH, THIEL COLLEGE ’12 “Being named the winner of one of the McKee Better Man Scholarship has further reinforced that I owe so much to this incredible organization. Delta Sigma Phi has ensured that I can start my financial future off with a solid foundation and make an immediate impact in my field, without anything holding me back. The Delta Sigma Phi Foundation scholarships have played a critical role in supporting my academic and career endeavors and I am forever grateful and indebted to our great organization and donors.” RAGHAV TRIPATHI, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY ’18 “I am currently a fourth-year medical student applying for residency, and this scholarship has both alleviated my financial burden and impacted me more than I could have imagined. At its core, to be a Delta Sig means that to live your life differently, such that every day is used to continue trying to be a better man. This scholarship has allowed me to focus on improving my community, addressing health disparities and mentoring younger students to continue to impact the world as a whole.”
AMMAR KRSO, GANNON UNIVERSITY ’19 “The Delta Sigma Phi Better Man Scholarship will help me bring myself one step closer to achieve my dreams of serving our communities and society in the medical field as I matriculate to medical school next year. Joining Delta Sigma Phi has been, and always will be, the best decision of my life, as it has provided me with not only the best Brothers a man could ask for, but an organization that connects us through the journey of becoming a Better Man. YITBOS Brothers!”
WE NEED SCHOLARSHIP EVALUATORS THIS SPRING! Interested in serving as a volunteer on the Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee this spring? We need a number of volunteers to help grade scholarship applications. Please contact Madison Denhart at denhart@deltasig.org to submit your interest today!
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NEWS D O N O R
FOUNDERS’ DAY CHALLENGE SUCCESS
I M P A C T
$175,368 DOLLARS RAISED
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FOUNDERS' DAY PARTICIPANTS
This past December, the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation hosted its Founders’ Day Challenge to celebrate our brotherhood and raise money to support our undergraduate brothers. The program featured the following: •D ecember 7 – Brotherhood Kick Off Event •D ecember 8 – Delta Sig Trivia Night •D ecember 9 – Alumni Recognition Night followed by Wine Tasting with Justin Baldwin, San Jose State ’64 and Founder of JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery • December 10 – Risk & Courage: The Founding of Delta Sigma Phi – Presented by Loren Mall, Kansas State ’58, Past National President and Fraternity Historian •D ecember 10 – Grand Chapter Celebrating 121 Years of Culture, Harmony, and Friendship
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$10,000
AVERAGE DONATION AMOUNT
LARGEST DONATION (FROM THREE MEMBERS)
TOP FIVE CHAPTERS 1. C AL POLY, EPSILON RHO - $19,403
651 TOTAL DONORS
2. V IRGINIA, ALPHA MU $15,297 3. WISCONSIN, EAU CLAIRE, ETA OMICRON - $11,315 4. ILLINOIS, URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, ALPHA ALPHA $8,693 5. ALABAMA, BIRMINGHAM, ZETA CHI - $8,199
“Thank you to everyone that participated in the Delta Sigma Phi Founders’ Day Challenge! It’s because of your support that I have been able to benefit from the Fraternity’s leadership programs. My first step in becoming chapter president was attending the Presidents’ Academy. Arming me with the tools I learned from this program, I learned vital strengths that I can apply directly to the professional world.” Lucas Tyler, Chapter President, Purdue University ’17
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NEWS
OUR BROTHERS. OUR FUTURE. CAMPAIGN UPDATE Starting July 1, 2017, the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation began our largest fundraising campaign in our organization’s history. Why this fundraising campaign? We are only able to provide funding to the national Fraternity that would cover a portion of the leadership training needs. We need to increase this funding and impact more men each year! We ask you to consider donating to the Foundation and support Our Brothers. Our Future.
WHY I GIVE? JOHN MCDONALD, PURDUE ’70 “Delta Sig impacted me in a few ways! The experience helped me socially and gave me a lot of self-confidence. Second, the leadership opportunities provided great experience for my career. Third, your fraternity brothers are more than just friends. Even after 50 years I keep in touch with many fraternity brothers. What I have achieved in my career and with life in general is a result of the experiences I had at Delta Sigma Phi. We should acknowledge the signifi-
“Thank you to everyone that has participated in the Campaign for Our Brothers. Our Future. Because of your support, I have been able to benefit from Delta Sig’s leadership programs, and they have been a foundation to my learning experience in Delta Sigma Phi and at Missouri State University to becoming the best leader, role model and brother I can.” Jarett Fickbohm, Missouri State University ’17
GOAL $15,000,000 (by June 30, 2021)
cant impact the fraternity has had on each of us, and repay the fraternity for these life-changing experiences. Thank you Delta Sigma Phi!” BRIAN VINCENT, MARYLAND ’00 “My experience as a member of Delta Sigma Phi has been, without question, the most transformative experiences of my life. My participation in Delta Sig's educational and leadership training programs helped me to build confidence and provided me with a toolkit that I use daily in my personal and professional life. I give to the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation because I believe in the mission of building better men and to provide generations of brothers who come after me with the ability to participate in similar experiences that I hope will have a profound impact on their lives as well.”
TO DATE $13,300,000 (at time of print)
CHRIS BLACKER, NORTHERN COLORADO ’15 “Joining Delta Sigma Phi has been the single-most impactful decision I have made in my short 24-years of life. The leadership and professional programing that was so generously paid for by donors of the foundation, changed my life forever. The skills and knowledge Delta Sigma Phi gave me taught me the power of any organization and sparked a passion to pursue a master’s in Organizational Leadership. I truly believe that we refer to what we owe this organization as ‘the debt’ because this organization gives members something they can never fully return. The organization certainly gave me far too much in my life for me to ever be able to fully repay.”
DELTASI G.ORG / SPRI NG 2 0 2 1
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foundation
NEWS
1899 SOCIETY Each year, the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation publishes a list of our 1899 Society members. This is a group of generous donors who contribute at least $1,000+ during a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Last fall we did not print this list or the 30+ Year Donor list to save resources due to the pandemic. You can find a list of 1899 Society members for this current fiscal year at deltasig.org/1899society. BECOME AN 1899 SOCIETY MEMBER BEFORE JUNE 30! Do you want to invest in Building Better Men and help impact the lives of more brothers? Please consider a tax-deductible contribution of $1,000 before June 30 and join other generous brothers in the 1899 Society! You can have your gift be earmarked for: • Delta Sigma Phi Scholarships • Your Chapter’s Leadership Fund (for your ACB to use locally) • Delta Sigma Phi Leadership Institute • Our Undergraduate’s Greatest Needs
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Donate at deltasig.org/give. Checks can be made payable to Delta Sigma Phi Foundation and mailed to: Delta Sigma Phi Foundation 2960 N Meridian St., Suite 190 Indianapolis, IN 46208
30+ YEAR DONORS The Delta Sigma Phi Foundation is very grateful for the loyal alumni who have contributed for 30 or more fiscal years. Their support is a true testament to their commitment and preservation to the Delta Sigma Phi experience.
bond
ETERNAL
The following Brothers represent Bond Eternal notice from September 1, 2019 through July 1, 2020. To report the passing of a brother, please email bondeternal@deltasig.org.
The American flag indicates Brothers who served in the armed forces.
ALPHA CHI STETSON UNIVERSITY George R. Stedronsky, ’49
GAMMA CHI DREXEL UNIVERSITY Steven Larry Hershman, ’55
BETA ALPHA IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY William Ernest Ashlock, ’41 Grant L. Halsne, ’85
GAMMA PSI MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE John Patrick Brady, ’87 Douglas Henry Huitink, ’48 George D. Semple, ’69
BETA BETA UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI Michael Douglas Jackson, ’66 David Charles Kraus, ’56
DELTA BETA THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA Russell M. Long, ’62
BETA EPSILON OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY Robert Bruce Brigden MD, ’91 BETA ETA LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE Denis John Bergeron Jr., ’71 BETA LAMBDA WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY Richard Carl Beck, ’70
ALPHA ALPHA UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Donald B. Falk, ’90 Glenn Edward Kanaby, ’64 Daniel Earl Nitzsche, ’58 Bruce Volney Penwell Jr., ’42 Scott Marshall Torrence, ’65 ALPHA GAMMA GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Charles Wesley Lord, ’67 ALPHA IOTA THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY David Gregory Barth, ’57 ALPHA LAMBDA MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY Edwin Doyle Belcher, ’60 George G. Gillmore, ’58 Robert Leroy Mills Sr., ’54 ALPHA PHI UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Donald L. Valentine, ’60
BETA OMICRON CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY William B. Rubert Jr., ’67 BETA TAU WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY Gerald Albert Trolz, ’66 GAMMA EPSILON SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY Paul Consentino, ’62 John Charles Munday, ’66 GAMMA ZETA RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY Guy Keller Dean III, ’84 GAMMA TAU EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY Rick Alan Reed, ’59 GAMMA UPSILON SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES & TECHNOLOGY David R. Seefeldt, ’59 Lynn David VanBockel, ’98 Rollin Phillip Wagner, ’59 Wilford Jay Westre, ’56 Gary David Young, ’52
DELTA DELTA PURDUE UNIVERSITY Dennis Dean Brand PE, ’62 DELTA EPSILON MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Fredric Benjamin Brost PE, ’88 Jerry L. Graham, ’86 James Eugene McNabb, ’54 DELTA ZETA HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY Robert Cooper Malpass, ’07 Michael N. Rosenmarkle, ’55 DELTA KAPPA HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY Jonathan Conradt Schnal, ’68 DELTA PI STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY Larry Wayne Jones, ’49 James C. Shay, ’58
ZETA CHI UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM Jacob Thomas Seitz, ’44 ZETA PSI THE COLLEGE AT BROCKPORT, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK Michael C. Lane, ’71 ETA THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Raymond Max Slaughter, ’76 THETA RHO UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Robert K. MacKay, ’55 RHO NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY Johnny Barto Smith Sr., ’57 Charles Barry Torrence Sr., ’83 SIGMA THIEL COLLEGE Ralph F. Wagner, ’57 PHI SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY James Francis Conaty, ’63 HILGARD THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Errol Gene Summy, ’48
EPSILON NU MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY Norman Gladden, ’51 EPSILON RHO CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN LUIS OBISPO Bob John Veazie, ’48 Theodore A. Wenta, ’71 EPSILON OMEGA ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY Lane Greogry Schaedel III, ’61 ZETA BETA MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY Timothy Edward Harvey, ’56
DELTASI G.ORG / SPRI NG 2 0 2 1
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WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
We sat down with Brendan O’Connor, Iowa State ’14, and Andrew Thomas, IUPUI ’14, who are Assistant Directors of Chapter Support, a new position at Delta Sig responsible for the development and advancement of the newest chapters of the fraternity. With both of their roles calling for lots of virtual meetings and being two of the few staff members still traveling the country to meet with chapters, the key to their success is organization, communication, and planning. We wanted to know, what’s in their bag?
ANDREW THOMAS, IUPUI ’14 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FRATERNITY GROWTH
How have you been able to connect with chapters and members during the 2020-2021 school year? I’m a huge foodie, I love going to dinner with folks in in college town restaurants for the unique experience! I also love attending any brotherhood events I can during our travels, along with a lot of zoom and facetime calls obviously. What’s the most difficult part about the limited travel you’ve experienced during this school year? I’d have to say not being on the ground with every chapter I work with, we’ve really had to limit and make some tough decisions on how to best allocate our time. I miss spending time with brothers as they are in the height of recruitment weeks or electing new officers. Also definitely miss the airline miles, not gonna lie. How does this new role differ from your Chapter Support Coordinator role? I’ll talk less than Brendan, as most normal people do. In my previous role, I was much more ingrained in the day to day proceedings with chapters, whereas in this new role I am able to build a foundation upon which our newest chapters can grow and become some of our most innovative and successful. What’s the most rewarding part about being an Assistant Director of Chapter Support? Having the freedom and trust of the national organization to create a process to help our newest chapters move forward.
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When you do travel, what are some of your go-to items? Airpods: as I’m traveling through airports and working on campus, I love to listen to history podcasts or YouTube videos in the background. My fidget pen: I have a very bad habit of constantly fidgeting with various things in my bag, so Brendan bought me a special pen for me to play with during meetings and keep me distracted. I’ve already broken it. My Patagonia: one of my most comfortable pieces of fraternity swag! Start with Why: to help make sure that I am constantly exposing myself to new ideas and practices on exemplary leadership, I love to find books to help me grow as a person too! Whether or not I actually commit as much time to reading them as I should is another matter entirely…
BRENDAN O'CONNOR, IOWA STATE ’14 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FRATERNITY GROWTH
How have you been able to connect with chapters and members during the 2020-2021 school year? Well Among Us has obviously been pretty hot the last few months so I’ve actually been able to play that and some other games with a lot of chapters virtually, even those that I don’t work directly with. What’s the most difficult part about the limited travel you’ve experienced during this school year? The hardest part is definitely that it’s been trickier for me to bring along my favorite travel companion, my pup Minnie, who always makes the trips more enjoyable! I also love to add in pit stops when driving to visit family and friends along the way in various states, but I need to be a bit more careful so that I’m not putting them at risk. How does this new role differ from your Chapter Support Coordinator role? As many of the guys I work with know, I LOVE to talk fraternal philosophy with people (perhaps a bit too much sometimes, lol). How do we form reliable habits of recognizing and developing our flaws to become Better Men? What does it mean to cultivate meaningful relationships with people, both in and out of the fraternity? In this role my primary focus is to challenge founding members to discover their own answers to questions like these. I also love being the “man with a plan”, so this job allows me to put my ideas to paper by creating the tools and framework which will provide guidance to chapters long after my time on staff is over. When you do travel, what are some of your go-to items? First of all, my bag needs to make my nerdy side painfully clear with pins and patches. When it comes to what gets packed, I for sure need my iPad where I can take handwritten notes that can still be digitally catalogued, a good book to offer some profound new perspectives on life, the Nintendo Switch so I can wreck some kids in Smash Bros. or Mario Kart, then I always need a stash of candy for emergencies.
What’s the most rewarding part about being an Assistant Director of Chapter Support? It is incredibly fulfilling to build upon the work of my predecessors on staff like Elliott Beach, Brett Seidl, Patrick Hall, Nik Koulogeorge, and so many others with their commitment to redefining what it means to serve our members. I also love watching the young men who start our newest chapters grow and mature over time, keeping tabs on where they go and how the fraternity has helped them evolve as people.
DELTASI G.ORG / SPRI NG 2 0 2 1
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