THEHOOVERS OF BETAALPHA














I'mhappytosharewithyouanothergreateditionofourBAAAjournal.We've packedalotofupdatesinthisone.Manyengagements,weddings,andnewborn announcementsamongstourKAfamily.Inadditiontothepersonalupdates,we spotlightBillNance(PC'00)andourchapter'sfirstHooverawardwonbackin 1969!
TheHooverarticledemonstratesthatwithhardwork,dedication,andtheright attitudeyoucanaccomplishagoalthatmayhaveotherwiseseemed insurmountable.Andthefunnythingis,onceyouaccomplishthatgoalit somehowelevatesthosearoundyouandthosethatcomeafteryou.Perhaps afterknowingitcanbedone,there'snoexcusetonotachieve.Maybethere's someextramotivationthatpushesyoutoproveyoucandoittoo.Whateverthe reason,wedoknowthatafterthepledgesclassesof'64-69'proveditcouldbe done-bywinningourfirstHooveraward(nowcalledtheMarshallaward)in 1969-wewonalotmore.Timeandtimeagainourchapterhasbeen recognizedwiththemostprestigiousaward,bringingithomeatleast12more times.
Iencourageeveryonetolooktothosebeforeyouwhohaveachievedgreatfeats andfinditinyourselftosucceedaswellinallaspectsoflife-home&work. Bethatrolemodelthatsetsthestandardforthosethatarearoundyouandwho willcomeafteryou.Whatyoudoordon'tdohasasignificantimpact.
Inthemeantime,withitbeinghomecomingseasonlet'sdoourbesttoreachout toourbrothersandgetdowntoRolla,MOforsomedrinks,stories,andlaughs. Andifyoufeeluptoit,youcanalsoimpartsomewisdomontheyoung brothersinhabitingthehouse.
Brothers,
It’sbeenabusyfewmonthsforBAAA-crazytothinkthatwe’vealmostbeen aroundforthreeyears!We’vebeenworkinghardtokeepthedrumbeatrolling throughourmonthlymeetings(pleasereachoutifyou’dliketojoinin!), newsletters,websiteupdates,andHomecomingevents!Ofcourse,we’restilllooking tothefutureaswell,butmoreonthatinamoment.
SincetheinceptionofBAAAwe’vehadafocusonbringingAlumnitogether-back thenitwaswiththechapterwebsite&thenewsletter-bothofwhichI’mhappyto sayarestillmakingmajorprogressandputtingoutgreatwork!
Lastnewsletter,weannouncedtheadditionofanAlumniTabtothechapterwebsite andI’mhappytosharethistimearoundthatanentirerevampofthechaptersiteis cominginthenextfewmonths!Thisversionshouldbequiteabitfastertoload, easiertomaintain,andleveragesmoderndesignpracticestolookreallysharp-Jared andthewebsiteteamhavereallybeendoingagreatjob!
Asyouallknow,we’vegotanothereditionoftheBAAAJournaloutnowaswellandIknowJackhastouchedonitbutthisonehassomereallyfunstoriesinit,I hopeyouallenjoyitasmuchasIhave!Thefolksonthenewsletterteamhavereally beendoinggreataswell-I’veheardalotofpraisefromalumniabouttherecent editions,ifyouseeJackoranyofthenewsletterteamaroundatHomecomingplease letthemknow!
Withthosetwoefforts(NewsletterandWebsite)nowbeingfirmlyestablished,we’ve seekedtogrowourportfolioabit-aswe’renowenteringoursecondHomecoming whichwe’rehelpingtoplan!Thefocusthisyearistoprovidethatsame HomecomingexperiencewhilelearningandgrowingfromourfirstforaylastyearandI’mreallyexcitedfortheresults -ColtenhasbeenputtingtheConroytouchon everythinghe’sbeenplanning,andIhavenodoubtit’llbeagreatevent! Finally,we’vekickedoffanewefforttowelcomeournewalumniastheygraduateourMerchandiseteam,ledbyConnorSchott,hasbeenworkingtogetengraved whiskey glassesforeachnewgraduate-whicharethenhandedouttothesebrothers
Haveyouthoughtaboutservingasanalumnivolunteer?Notsurewheretostartorhowyour talentscouldfurthertheexperienceofouractivechapter?JoiningtheBAEFisagreatplaceto start.
Today,ouralumniorganizationsconsistofthreeorganizations.TheBetaAlphaAlumni Associationisouralumnioutreachandcommunicationorganization.Theymanagethechapter website,theyareinchargeofKAalumnisocialmedia.Theykeeptrackofactivesasthey becomealumniandtheyareredefiningHomecomingwithterrificnewideastogetalumnito comeback.TheBAAAisthe“SocialCommitteeChairman”ofouralumniorganizations.
TheStudentsEducationalLoanFoundationisourhousingcorporation.Theyownthechapter house,leaseittotheactiveundergraduates,takecareofhousemaintenanceandpaythe mortgage.TheSELFis,youguessedit,the“HouseManager”ofthealumniorganizations.
WhatabouttheBAEF?TheBetaAlphaEducationFoundationisthe“rich alumni”ofthealumniorganizations!TheBAEFwascreatedin2012asa 501(c)(3)PublicCharity.TheBAEFisabletocollectandgrantmoney totheSELFBoardforeducationrelatedexpensesforthechapterhouse. TheBAEFcollectsmoneyandawardsitasscholarships.Donationsmade totheBAEFaretaxdeductibleaccordingtoIRSregulations.Thisisthe organizationwherethemoneyflowsin.
Ovethelastseveralyears,theBAEFhasawardedbetween$50,000and$60,000inscholarships annuallytoundergraduates.WeworkclosewithsomeofBetaAlpha’smostinvolvedand generousalumni.Wehavemadesignificantimpactsontheabilityformanyundergraduatesto continuetheireducationatMS&T.TheBAEFistheorganizationthathastheabilitytochange KA’slivesforthebetter.
Sofarwehaveonlyscratchedthesurfaceofwhatwecando!Buttoreachourpotential,and extendthebenefitstotheundergraduatesweserve,weneedafewgoodmen.Currentmembers oftheBAEFare:JimHennessey(President),JosephWalker(VP)ZachFlageolle(Secretary)and JimSowers/ChrisMarkusasTreasurer.Reachouttoanyofustoexpressyourinterestin serving.Weplantohaveourannualmeetingvirtually,intheweeksleadinguptoHomecoming.
ContactJimHennesseyatjim.hennessey@outlook.comifyouwouldliketojoin.
BillNance(PC'00)iscurrentlytheDirectorof Engineeringforadvancedmanufacturing technologiesatBoeingSTL,buthedidn'talways planonworkingwithaircraft.Hisinitial engineeringenthusiasmcamefromwatercraftand hispassionforpowerboatracing.Whenitwas timetolookforcolleges,hisparentstookhim todifferentpowerboatmanufacturersto helphimunderstandwhatitwouldtake toworkinthefield.The overwhelmingadvicewastogeta degreeinAerospaceEngineering fromUniversityofMissouriRolla because"theonlydifferenceisthe density."
OnceatRolla,itdidn'ttakelong forBilltorealizethattherewasnot muchmoneyinbuildingboats,but therewereplentyofopportunitiesto buildplanes.Beforegraduatingwitha B.S.inAerospaceEngineeringanda Master'sinMechanicalEngineering,Billjoined theKappaAlphaOrderfraternityandservedas therushchairtwiceandwentontobepresidentof theRollachapter.Billattributes"thesolid engineeringeducation,leadershipopportunities, andprojectmanagementskills"hegainedduring histimewithKAandatschoolwithhelpingto launchhiscareeratBoeing.Hebelievesitwas clearthatRollahadbetterpreparedhimtoenter theworkforcethanmanyofhispeers.
WhenhewasfirsthiredatBoeingin2006,hewas assignedtoworkintheirPhantomWorks program.Thereheworkedmainlyonproprietary programsandhandledproductmanagement,but withhisrecentswitchtoDirectorheisexcitedto bebackinproductionengineering."There'sno replacementforwalkingthefloor;tobethebest engineer,youhavetogetbackonthe manufacturingfloor."Billhasfoundthathecan
applyalotofthelessonslearnedfrommanaging projectsinPhantomWorkstohowheapproaches hisnewrole.BeingDirectorremindshimofwhy hechosethiscareerandrekindledhispassionfor thehands-onsideofAerospaceEngineeringand buildingthings.
BillwasalwaysinspiredbyKelly Johnson,theengineerresponsiblefor U-2andtheSR-71Blackbird.He admiresJohnson'sabilitytosketch theSR-71designonanapkinand goontobuilditinonlyafew months,itishistoricallyseenas anoutstandingachievement. However,Bill'sadmirationof KellyJohnsondoesnotextendto hischoiceoffavoriteplane,which istheNorthrop/McDonnell DouglasYF-23.TheYF-23wasa contenderinthecompetitionforwhat wouldbecometheF-22,losingoutto LockheedMartin.Theprogramwascanceled aftertheloss,butBillquicklypointedoutthat NASAflewtheonlytwoYF-23modelseverbuilt forthousandsofhoursbeforetheyretiredthe aircraftthatcannowbeseenatmuseumsinDC andDayton.
AnotherpassionofBill'sisicehockey,heactively competeswithHockeyNorthAmericainhisfree time.WhiletheBlueswerecelebratingtheir StanleyCupvictorywithaparadeinSt.Louis, BillwasinTorontocompetingintheinternational championshipfinalsforhisdivision.Playinga teamfromBoston,Bill'steamwonandbrought homeasecondchampionshiptoSt.Louisthat weekend.
Whetherit'spowerboats,experimentalfighterjets, icehockey,orraisinghisthreechildren,Billhas kepthimselfbusysincehisdaysinRolla.
Sometimesanewsletterarticleseemsliketheold MissionImpossible.Howoneartharewegoing tofindthisinformationthatismorethanhalfa centuryinthepast?Theansweristogotothe sourcelikethe1947-57CBSradioandtelevision show,YouAreThere.Originallynarratedby WalterCronkitelongbeforehedidthenational news,YouAreTherefocusedonfamousevents ofthepast.Similary,wethoughttotakethesame approachandaskthebrotherslivingatthetime howthechaptersuccessfullycompetedandwas selectedforourfirstJ.EdgarHooverAwardfor ChapterExcellencein1969.Believeitornot, manyofuscertainlyrememberrecievingthe Award.However,wehaveverylittlememoryof theselectionprocessorhowwhatwedidtowin. JackConroy,BetaAlphaAlumniAssociation (BAAA)JournalEditor,challengedthechapter presidenttheyearBetaAlphawaspresentedwith thefirstHooverAward,WayneAlexander,with threesimplequestions.HowwewontheAward, whatwerethebiggestinfluencescontributingto oursuccess,andhowdidwecelebrate?Wayne
solicitedthehelpofseveralbrothersfromthat era,andtheyastarteddiggingforthelostgoldof thepast.Whilethesebrothersintheirmid70’s stillhavemostofthebraincells,thepartoftheir brainsassociatedwithfactualdetailsaboutthe Hooverawardseemedtohaveescaped.Now what?Moredigging!!
AsdescribedintheNovember1965KAJournal, theHooverawardwasconceivedbyWinthropM. “Robbie”Robinson,UniversityofAlabama (AlphaBeta)inthespringof1964.Itwasnamed theJ.EdgarHooverAwardforChapter Excellence.QuotingfromtheKAJournal,“The Awardisintendedtorecognizechapterswhichby theircampusattainmentshaveenhancedthe reputationoftheorderandwhichthroughtheir devotedeffortshaveeffectivelypromotedthe highidealsandteachingoftheOrder.”Thefirst HooverAwardwinnerswereannouncedin January1967KAJournal.Universityof Missouri-ColumbiaKAchapter,AlphaKappa, wasoneofthethreechapterstowinthefirstyear.
Again,quotingfromtheNovember1965KA Journal,“Becauseofthedifficultyinestablishing universalcriteriatoapplytoallchaptersforthe selectionofoneoutstandingchapterintheOrder, TheHooverAwardwasnotestablishedforthat purpose."Instead,theExecutiveCouncildecided thattheAwardwouldannuallyrecognizethree chapterswithatleastoneoutstandingareaof chapteroperationscontributingtotheOrder’s overallobjectives,andthatitbepresented annuallytothethreechaptersintheOrder. RegionalAdvisersweretonominatethreechapters eachspring.Nominationswouldhavethe followingareasreviewed:generalchapter administration,campusleadership,public relations,andscholarship.Anominatingstatement bytheprovincecommanderwouldberequired beforegoingtotheexecutivecouncilforfinal selections.Typically,theawardswouldbe announcedattheannualKappaAlphaOrder OfficerTrainingSchool,likeBetaAlpha’sAward inAugust1969atMillsapsCollegeinJackson, Mississippi.
Ammenawardsthatrecognizedachapterforbeing inthetop10%ofchaptersnationwide.BA’s facultyadvisor,Dr.KarlMoulder,ahumanities professorattheUniversityofMissouriatRolla (UMR),hadbeenthechapteradvisorsincethelate 1940’s.HelaterbecameChilesProvince Commanderinadditiontohischapteradvisorrole. KarlwasaninitiateofBetaIota(DruryCollege, Springfield,Missouri).Karlhelpedwithhis inestimablepositiveinfluenceonthechapterover histimeaschapteradvisoruntilhisdeathin1973. HeearnedseveralKappaAlphaOrderhonors,the highestofwhichwastheKnightCommander’s CertificateofHonorforservicetoKappaAlpha Orderhereceivedin1972. Additionally,formanyyearsRussPerry,alocal RollaclothingstoreownerandBetaAlphainitiate, assistedKarlwithchapteradvisorduties.Russ wasarealfriendtothechapter.Heemployedquite afewbrothersfromBAinhisclothingbusiness overtheyears,whichcertainlyhelpedthebrothers financiallywhilestudentsatUMR.Karl’sspirit, ideals,anddevotiontowardKappaAlpha continuedafterhisdeathwhenRussassumed responsibilitiesaschapteradvisorandservedin
thatcapacityuntil1985. Karlrecognizedthatwehadgrownintoavery strongchapterencouragingtheactivechapterto applyfortheHooverAward.Theactivechapter preparedanapplicationhighlightingactivities, publicrelations,achievements,priorities, scholarship,andthecultureofBetaAlpha. KappaAlphaOrderNationalofficessenttwoof theirofficerstointerviewBetaAlphaofficersand membersverifyingourattestedimprovementsin memberrecruitment,administration,financials, operations,qualityofpledgetraining,community service,involvementandleadershipinstudent organizations,athleticandintramural achievements,scholastics,andgenerallyobserve howthemembershipconducteditself.Onlythese nationalfolkswouldknowifthechapterwas consistentwiththeidealsofKappaAlphaOrder. Theofficersfoundaverywellrun,financially strong,andwell-maintainedhouse.Themembers conductedthemselveslikethemoral,responsible gentlemenofKA’shighexpectation.Specifically, theyfoundexamplesofsignificantcommunity serviceprojectsinvolvinganumberofhouse members.Therewasaslogreatsuccessin academics,BetaAlphawas#1amongall fraternitiesatUMRin1968and1969.Thechapter hadcreatedatraditionofcommitted,well-trained, andcapableleadersinthechapterandoncampus, allwhilemaintainingadherencetotheRitual.
WaynethenmovedtoJack'squestionregarding influencesonthechapter.We,thewriters, suddentlyhadoureurekamoment.Itstartedwhen LDStevenson(PC‘65)recentlyclearedpartofhis atticforanewairconditioner.Anoldboxof “Rolla”stuffwasfallingapartandneeded attention.Inthebox,hefoundseveralKAJournals from1965through1969andanoldmimeographedletter.I’msurethisistheonly existingcopyoftheletter,buthowonearthcould everythingcometogethertoit?Youcouldsayfate intervened.Theletterwastothechapterfrom newlyelectedBetaAlphachapterPresidentJohn Wolf,No.I,datedJune22,1966.IfLD’sair conditionerhadlastedanothermonth,wewouldn’t havefoundthisuntilitwastoolate.
Thesummerof1966marked6yearssincethe chapter'snewsouthern-stylehouse.Itwasthe nicestfraternityhouseoncampusandthefirsttobe builtonNagogomiTerrace(laterrenamed FraternityDrive).Theuniversityhadpreviously designatedtheareaforfuturefraternityhouses. JohnandbrotherBarryGraulhadjustreturned fromtheNationalKAOfficerTrainingSchoolin Nashville,Tennessee.Whenwritingtheletter,John hadmanydoubtsabouttheoverallstateofchapter operations.
ThelettersrevealedthattheBetaAlphachapterof 1966wouldbeunrecognizablefromtheawardwinningclassof1969.
HavingjustfinishedtheKappaAlphaOfficer TrainingSchool,Johnfelttheactivechapterhad becomecomplacent.Thehouseandlandscaping neededattention,ifnotsomesignificantsprucing up.Additionally,theoverallgradepointhad slipped,thechapterhadincreasedattritionin pledgeclassesandbrothersleftbecauseoflower gradepoints.Therewereotherindicators,too: campusparticipationhaddecreased;Johnobserved lowmorale,pooralumnirelations,andverypoor involvementinthe1966summerrush,whichhe determinedafterhisfirstSt.Louisrushpartyon June12th.Atthispointinthechapter’slife,Beta AplhawouldneverbeconsideredforaHoover awardwithoutmajorchanges.Wedon’tknowif John’sgoalwastoguidethechaptertowarda HooverAwardornot,butwesuspecthejust wantedimprovementinallaspectsofchapter operationsbecausethechapterwasatthatpoint headedinthewrongdirection.
Johnsuggestedwhatsomewouldhavesaidwere draconianpoliciestoreturnthechaptertoatoptier chapterofexcellence.Herecommended“thatsave onlyforfinancialcircumstancesofthechapter,any memberdemonstratingapoorscholasticattitude andrecordthatisdetrimentaltotheoperationof thechapter,mustbemovedoutofthehouseatthe endoffirstsemester(Fall1966)andplacedon alumnistatusorsuspended.” Throughoutthesummerof1966andgoing forward,muchmoreemphasiswasplacedon recruitingpledgecandidateswhoweremore consistentwithKAidealsandcouldbemore competitiveintheirnewuniversityenvironment. Johnandthechapterofficersinitiatedmandatory studyhoursforallpledgesandbrotherswhose
gradepointtheprevioussemesterwasbelowthe school’s“all-men’s”averagewererequiredto adhereto20hoursperweekofscheduledstudy hourssubjecttoverificationormonitoringand possiblyfines,ifnecessary.
AnarticlebyDr.CharlesRWalker(GammaKappa –OCU),theKANationalScholarshipOfficerin theWinter1969KAJournalsummarizes10years (’58-’68)ofscholarshipfortheOrder.These statisticswereusedtodevelopaproprietaryindex fortheOrder.Thisindexisusedtocompare chaptersacrosstheOrderbutarenotgradepoint averages.Thesestatisticswerecompiledfrom NationalInterfraternityCouncil(NIC)datafor fraternities,andshowedBA’s10-yeargradepoint indexaveragewas2.51above“allmen’s”average indexforthe10-yearperiod.BAranked31st among88chapterslistedforthe10years.Chapter President,JohnWolf’s,No.1’s,concernwasthat BA’sgradepointindexhadslippedfroma+6.42 above“all-men’s”(’62-‘63)toa-3.16belowfor (’65-‘66).Asanaside,springsemester1966 beganwiththeadditionalchallengeofthehot waterheatingsystemfrozeduringthesemester break,resultinginaverychaoticstarttothe semesterand’65pledgeclass“help”week. Additionally,thehousewaswithoutheatforat leastthefirstweekofthesemesterwithoutside temperaturesaslowasthe20’satnight.This certainlycontributedtothelowergradepointindex fortheyearasmanybrothersgotaslowstarttothe semester.
FromthedatainDr.Walker’sarticle,BAmade verypositivescholarshipchangesasthehouse gradepointindexcomparedtoallKAchapters climbedto+3.17above“all-men’s”for(’66-‘67) and+3.79for(‘67-‘68).Asmentionedearlier,this was#1amongfraternitiesatRolla.Thescholarship practicesandmorestringentrequirementsfor recruitingpledgesthatJohnWolf,No.1,initiated duringthefallof1966provedtobeagreathelpto raisingthechapter’soverallgradepointaswellas findingnewmembersbetterpreparedforuniversity life.GeneAlbrecht,No.1,andofficersforthe’67 –’68aswellasBarryGraul,No.1,andthechapter officersfor’68–’69schoolyearscontinuedJohn’s workthenexttwoyearstohelpcementtheneeded requirementsfortheHooverAward.
KAJournalarticlesintheSummer’68and’69 listedchapterLuminariesacrosstheOrder.Inthat time,BetaAlphahad12memberslistedoutofthe 184acrosstheOrder.ChapterLuminarieswere highlightedfortheircampusactivitiesinScabbard andBlade,BlueKey,andseveralengineering,and nationalscholarshiporganizations,whichcertainly contributedtothechapterturnaroundandHoover Awardapplication.
BetaAlpha’schapterreporttotheKAJournalfor thesummer1968,highlightedchapterhouse improvementsasthefallpledgeclassdonateda newwalltowalltrophycaseintheden,addinga welcomeadditiontoanupdatedchapterhouse interior.FletcherGlancy,No.V,providedthe reportthatalsohighlightedtheadditionofthe pavedrearparkinglotandnewtennis/basketball courtwhichhelpedfinishmajorimprovementsto thehousethathadbeenon-goingsincemovinginto thehousein1960.
(activesandwellaspledges}engineeredand installedthewaterdrainagesystemfortheparking lotandtennis/basketballcourt,savingthechapter significantmoneyinthechapterbudget.Theyalso installedpavedwalksfromeachrearwingdoorto theparkinglot.
“BetaAlphaBoostsCommunity”activitieswasthe titleofBA’ssubmissionbyDaleFaerber,No.IV,to thesummer’69KAJournalhighlightingBA’s supportforcommunityactivities.“Thebrothersof BetaAlphahavespreadtheiractivitiesoverawide spectrumthisyear.Wehavestrengthened communityrelationsbyhelpinginprojectssuchas MarchofDimes,EasterSeals,HeartFundsand MuscularDystrophyAssociation(MDA),plus workingtohelpraisefundsforMissouriBoy’s TowninSt.James.Thechapterspreadfriendship toothercitiesastheywentintotheunderserved neighborhoodsofSt.Louisforaweekendtogive thepeopleintheselow-incomearea’s assistanceandguidanceintheareaof homeimprovementandmaintenance. ThechapteralsoheldaChristmasparty fortheunderprivilegedchildrenof Rolla.SantaClausvisitedthehomeand broughtpresentsandfoodforallthe children.ThenameKappaAlphanot onlyechoedinthemanycommunities, butalsoamongtheorganizationson campusaswewonfirstplaceforthe secondyearinarowforHomecoming decorations,placedsecondamong fraternitiesintheIFCChristmasSing, andwonfirstplaceamongfraternitiesin campusintramuralsports.”
Theadditionoftheparkinglotandtenniscourtwas madepossibleaftertheStateofMissouri impoundedpartofthechapter’slandeastofthe housebetweenI-44(thenRoute66)andthesouth wing.AsI-44wasdevelopedthroughRolla,the Stateneededthelandtojoinwhatisnowthe UniversityDriveoverpassoverI-44toNagagomi RoadorformerlycountyrouteE.Asaresultofthe state“taking”thestripofland,theproceeds allowedthehousetobuildtherearpavedparking lotandtennis/basketballcourt.Theadditionofthe pavedlot,ledtoremovingthegravelfrontparking lot,reallyaneyesore,fromthefrontofthehouse. Throughsomeself-helpprojects,theentirehouse
1969washeldinAugustatMillsapsCollegein Jackson,Mississippi.Althoughmemoriesare somewhathazy,weknewpriortotheconvention thatyearthatwewereoneofthefinalistsfora HooverAward.WayneAlexander,No.I,Rick Fischer,No.II,andDaleFaerber,No.IV,attended theconventionandacceptedtheAwardforthe chapter.Drivingtotheconventionwasareal challengeastheydrovethroughtheeyeof HurricaneCamileontheirwaytoJackson.The problemwasnottheeyebutdrivingthroughthe rainbeforeandaftertheeye.Hurricanetracks
showedCamillecameashoreasaCat5hurricane andbythetimeitwentthroughtheJacksonarea haddecreasedtoatropicalstorm.Commentsfrom allthreesaidtheyhadneverseensuchheavyrainas theyfoundtheirwaytotheconvention.Knowing thechapterwas“intherunning”fortheHoover Award,theywantedtomakesuretheymadeitto theconventionintimetoaccepttheAwardifthe chapterhadinfactbeenselectedfortheHoover Award.
ThiscertainlyvalidatedtheworkbegunbyJohn Wolf,No.I,andthechapterofficersof’66–’67, whichinitiatedchangesinthefallof1966that wouldresultintheselectionfortheHooverAward threeyearslater.Withoutthesupportand continuationofJohn’svisionthroughthenexttwo years,theAwardwouldhavebeenapipedream. Thechapterhadgreatlyincreasedtheiroverall gradepoint,recruitedmoresuccessfulmembers, increasedtheirpresenceinorganizationsoncampus andcontributedgreatlytothecommunity,bothin Rollaandpartsofinner-citySt.Louis.Theaddition ofthenewparkinglotandtennis/basketballcourtas wellashighergradepointaveragescertainlyhelped withrecruitingandretention.
JackConroyaskedhowwecelebratedtheAward. Thechapterdidnotreallyhaveacelebrationperse becauseactionstowintheAwardwereingrainedat thatpointas“normalactivities”forthechapter.The wholechapter,ofcourse,hadtremendouspridein winningtheAward.Achapterbrother,Dale Faerberandhisdadbuiltaglassenclosurecasefor theAwardtoamplifytheimportanceoftheAward. TheHooverAwardwasformallyannouncedand presentedtothealumniatHomecominginOctober 1969.
Thechapterhadbeenanexcellentexampleof fraternitylifeformanyyearsevenbeforemoving intothenewhousein1960.Thecombinationof chaptermembers,averysupportivealumnichapter, andtwochapteradvisors,KarlMoulderandRuss Perry,helpedthechaptermoveforward successfully,resultinginBetaAlphaofKappa AlphaOrderbeingselectedforthefirsttimeasThe HooverAwardwinnerin1969.Welookforwardto continuingtohonorthelegacyoftheHooverAward toinspirechapterexcellencyacademicallyand beyond.