SPRING 2022
THE
AUBURN PHI
Official Newsletter of the Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Auburn University
REMEMBERING BUCK
B
rother Malcolm “Buck” Marsh 884 died peacefully at age ninety-eight at home hospice, surrounded by his Family. Apropos of the way he lived, Buck spent his last days receiving visits, phone calls, and get-well cards from friends and relations built over a lifetime of putting people first. Buck believed strongly in the Brotherhoods in which he participated; those he formed in his college days as Captain of the tennis team at Tennessee Tech University, in his Army life, and as a student and alumnus of Auburn University and a member of Phi Delta Theta. Buck grew up within the Tennessee Valley region; his father was a concrete engineer building dams for TVA’s rural electrification program. Buck and his two younger brothers spent time playing baseball and hunting the woods of the Tennessee Valley as their family moved from one project to the next. While attending Tennessee Tech, Buck was drafted into the US Army in 1943 and served as an infantry rifleman in the 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, in World War 2. Buck entered combat with this “Spearhead” unit in Belgium in December 1944 just as Allied Forces engaged the German Wehrmacht’s massive counterattack, known as the Battle of the Bulge. Buck’s combat experience taught him the values of strong leadership and brotherhood. He revered his Company Commander, Capt. Walter Berlin, as a man who led from the front and by example. Buck entered the army as a conscripted private and left as a first sergeant. He believed in aspiring to leadership to
strengthen himself and to inspire those around him. After the war, Buck attended Auburn on the GI Bill and signed The Bond in 1946. He received a degree in building construction in 1949. While at AU, Buck formed lifelong friendships with his brothers at Phi Delta Theta and he deemed those bonds near as important as those he made with the men of Rifle Company A with whom he fought side-by-side. He spent his professional life in the construction field. He also enjoyed a three-year stint (1978–80) as an adjunct professor of construction management (CM) at Auburn University. Buck was an early adopter of Fast Track CM and was recognized as expert in this field. Buck formed Phi Delta Theta’s East Alabama Alumni Club and enjoyed organizing Founder’s Day Celebrations and awarding Golden Legion pins. He would encourage all Phis to get involved at their locale. For more information on Buck’s life, he self-published his military service memoirs, Reflections of a WWII Infantryman, in 2011 and is prominently featured in the nonfiction book Spearhead, a 2019 New York Times best-selling account, by Adam Makos. In coelo quies est.
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
A
uburn students have a big debate about whether the spring or fall semester is more fun. As a junior, this is the first spring semester without COVID restrictions that I have had since enrolling. This spring semester has been one that got off to a quick start; each new executive member quickly settled into their positions. In the early months of the spring semester, Auburn Phis attempted to fill the aching absence of Auburn football by waiting outside
of Neville Arena for hours on end to get a good seat for a weeknight basketball game and sleeping in on Saturday mornings. Since the weather has warmed up, our outdoor grilling pavilion at the house has been utilized on the weekends when Chef Darren is not preparing meals for us. With this semester coming to an end, we are excited to finally get a chance to rest and begin recruiting young men into Alabama Beta. Our brothers were upset to hear of
the passing of one of the greatest Phis to come from Auburn, Buck Marsh 884. The members who got the chance to meet Buck are grateful to have had the opportunity to meet him. His legacy will continue to carry throughout the tradition of Alabama Beta. Please Continued on page 4
MALCOLM L. “BUCK” MARSH MEMORIAL FUND will enable our Alabama Beta Chapter to honor, archive, and preserve its long and glorious past. To learn more about the museum, please visit the campaign website, https://phide.lt/BuckMarshFund.
CONTRIBUTIONS
A
labama Beta has created the Malcolm L. “Buck” Marsh Memorial Fund to honor Brother Buck Marsh 884. Buck formed lifelong friendships with his brothers at Phi Delta Theta, and he deemed those bonds nearly as important as those he made with the men of Rifle Company A, with whom he fought side-by-side in World War II. Buck served Phi Delta Theta as a House Corporation board member for more than forty years, sixteen years as president. He believed in teamwork, encouraging participation from the undergraduates, and developing leadership from the most qualified members. He stressed that chapter elections should be about qualifications, not popularity, as chapter success is directly related to strong leadership. With this memorial fund initiative, we will be funding two key objectives important to Buck throughout his life: ensuring our undergraduate members
ABOUT US
The Auburn Phi is published two times per year by the Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Auburn University for alumni and parents. ©Copyright 2022 Alabama Beta. All rights reserved. Send news, address updates and photos to: Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta, 2 South Campus Avenue, Oxford, Ohio 45056. 2
STAY UP-TO-DATE /phideltauburn @PhiDeltAuburn phideltauburn.com CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD Dwight Bassett, Chairman Ray Briscuso, Secretary Gregory Harris John Hornsby Donald Jackson Charles Maynard Annette Robinette Ken Stephens
Auburn Phi » Spring 2022
can grow in their leadership roles and preserving our chapter’s great history and its members. We will accomplish the first objective through the Buck Marsh Memorial Chapter Leadership Fund. We will honor Buck’s memory by ensuring funds are available for our members to attend best-in-class leadership and professional development opportunities offered through Auburn University and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, specifically the Kleberg Emerging Leadership Institute, Phikeia Educators Conference, and Shaffer Honors College of Leadership. The Buck Marsh Memorial Chapter Leadership Fund also allows the actives to purchase educational supplies for the house and give small academic awards to reward actives who perform well on campus and in the classroom. The second objective will be accomplished through the Buck Marsh Digital History Museum. The museum
ALUMNI COUNCIL Jimmy Webb, Chairman William Boyt William Busbin Robert Corrigan Jr. David Kennedy Andrew Kwanteng Michael Ramsey Mike Rogers J.R. Wright CHAPTER OFFICERS Zane Springer, President Will Maurin, Secretary
All donations are tax-deductible. The Phi Delta Theta Foundation is a 501c3 organization with nonprofit status: Tax ID number 34-6539803. The Foundation will process all donations and send you a tax receipt for your records. Unless specified, your donation will split 50/50 to the Buck Marsh Memorial Chapter Leadership Fund and the Buck Marsh Digital History Museum.
WAYS TO DONATE
• Return the enclosed envelope • Donate online: https://phide.lt/BuckMarshFund • Contact Landon Killion, LKillion@ phideltatheta.org to learn other ways to contribute to the campaign.
QUESTIONS
Please direct any questions to Phi Delta Theta Foundation Advancement Officer Landon Killion, LKillion@ phideltatheta.org, David Kennedy 1566, dwkmaine@gmail.com, or J.R. Wright 1560, jrwrightsr99@gmail.com. With twenty initial donors raising over $23,000, we are well on our way to meeting our goal. Can we count on you to help us memorialize Brother Marsh and keep Alabama Beta strong for many years to come?
Michael Hawkins, Warden Tyler Noles, Phikeia Educator Ryan Patel, Recruitment Chairman Payne Thrift, Social Chairman HOUSE CORPORATION Malcolm Marsh III, President Frank “Bud” Powada, Secretary Robert Miller, Treasurer Russell Cunningham Tim Hunt Marvin Thomas
REFER A PHI!
Know any young men who would be great Phis? Refer them to Recruitment Chairman Ryan Patel: rdp0030@auburn. edu. Then, send them to our Greatest U recruitment campaign: futurephidelt.org.
Alabama Beta
CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD UPDATE
T
he Spring semester has been eventful. On January 20, 2022, one of our great Fraternity leaders, Buck Marsh 884, passed away. Buck was everything to Alabama Beta, and we are all the better for knowing him. Held at Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in downtown Auburn on February 19, Buck’s funeral service was a tribute to his legacy, and the standing-room-only crowd represented Alabama Beta very well. During the service, Auburn was playing Florida in basketball; you could hear the cheering in the back of the church from the bars on Magnolia. A fitting tribute to Buck, who loved “Everything Auburn.” In Buck’s honor, the Alabama Beta alumni council is raising money for a scholarship for leadership education and an Alabama Beta digital history archive. Please consider a gift to honor Buck’s legacy at Alabama Beta. Alabama Beta initiated forty-five new members in January at the Auburn University Chapel. Unfortunately, two Phikieas were not initiated due to their grades. The chapter requires a 2.5 GPA, and the undergraduates’ fall semester GPA was 3.03, which is in the middle of the pack for Greek organizations. I am pleased to report that Alabama Beta is in good condition. The house corporation has done a great job with the house. The chapter is financially stable, and the undergraduates are doing well academically and with campus involvement and philanthropy. Please help me congratulate the following brothers for recent elections or appointments: Ford Milne 2511, nominated for IFC cabinet director of athletics; Jacob Saavedra 2510,
selected for the Financial Management Association; Jake Darling 2436, elected as SGA treasurer and is currently campaigning for Zeta Tau Alpha’s Big Man on Campus with help from Tristan Lines 2442 who was also elected as treasurer for the American Foundation of Airport Executives at Auburn; Zane Springer 2441, picked as Student Recruiter; Max Jackson 2495, selected for membership in the Harbert College of Business Executive Society; Jonathan Jernigan 2412 founded the American Association of Airport Executives at Auburn and currently serves as president; Nick Casson 2410, selected as IFC court member (two other brothers have applied for SGA Cabinet and Omicron Delta Kappa who are waiting to hear back); and Payne Thrift 2461 and Sam Stokley 2475 traveled with Onward Campus Ministry to the Dominican Republic over spring break to supply water filters to families in need and share the Gospel. In addition, the chapter hosted a philanthropy March Madness bracket benefiting the LiveLikeLou Foundation, and the chapter is hosting a philanthropy crawfish boil at the Phi Delt house at the beginning of April. The chapter ended the fall semester under IFC investigation. The chapter hosted a party with alcohol, and although the chapter did not provide alcohol, there was alcohol present. A visitor to the house made allegations to the Auburn Police Department, who referred the issue to the IFC. The IFC investigated and determined there was alcohol at the house, and the party was not registered as an alcohol event. Every member of the chapter was truthful and transparent
MEET OUR NEWEST MEMBERS 2022 SPRING PHIKEIA CLASS Dean Cannon, Tallahassee, Florida Wells Isbell, Raleigh, North Carolina Hayden Nutt, Louisville, Kentucky Hayden Sellers, Mobile, Alabama phideltauburn.com
with the investigation. The chapter volunteered sanctions which the IFC accepted, which resolved the matter. While there was no IFC court or severe penalties, as is standard, the province president contacted Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters. They put us on operational suspension while the investigation was in process. Because Phi Delta Theta chapter properties are alcohol-free, we had a more significant issue with General Headquarters. GHQ staff members made a short visit in January and gave us social probation (limiting the number of spring parties), and each undergraduate had to complete alcohol awareness training. The chapter understands what is at risk if they behave in a manner inconsistent with the rules set by Phi Delta Theta Fraternity’s General Council and the General Headquarters. Please consider becoming active in Alabama Beta to help mentor these promising young men. The brothers would appreciate your help through the means of financial donations; by bringing a great life story to share to a chapter meeting; an internship opportunity; during football games, park at the house and tailgate; and most importantly, please recruit for Alabama Beta. These are fine young men. I work with these young men almost every day, and they have all treated me with gratitude and respect. Yours in the Bond, Dwight Basset 1644 Chapter Advisory Board Chairman
WE WANT YOUR NEWS! In preparation of the next edition, we are looking for any news and updates in your life. Please email any content to Alabama Beta Chapter Advisory Board Secretary Ray Briscuso at raybriscusojr@gmail.com.
Auburn Phi » Spring 2022
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PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #248 DAYTON, OH
HOUSE CORPORATION UPDATE
Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta 2 South Campus Avenue Oxford, Ohio 45056 Address Service Requested
The house corporation would like to recognize Brother Will Banks’ 2482 good works as our 2022–23 house manager. Will has been very responsive in managing various inspections required by AU and Greek Life and working closely with the HC to keep us informed and collaborate on minor repairs. The assessments all relate to life safety issues and are critical to Alabama Beta remaining compliant with Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters, the university, and city codes and requirements. Our drip irrigation system is complete and servicing the new tree plantings. We submitted a work order to AU Facilities for approval of the resurfacing of our lower parking lot, scheduled for this summer. We have budgeted for this significant expenditure and dialed back any other improvements until this is complete. We look forward to getting the resurfacing done before moving on to more impactful works. In discussing priorities at our annual CAB/HC/Executive Retreat, the executive board requested that we place the construction of a basketball court at the head of the list. This great idea originated from a discussion about creating meaningful activities at our alcohol-free house. Priorities beyond the basketball court include enhanced media equipment, incorporating the Buck Marsh Digital History Museum, converting the house manager’s apartment to a gym, adding a trophy case, and better interior furnishings. The HC remains ambitious in support of our great chapter; please donate to our resurfacing project so we can move on to making our house the best on campus! Yours in the Bond, Malcolm Marsh 1519 House Corporation President
consider making a donation to The Buck Marsh Leadership Scholarship. Coming into my presidency, one of the areas that I wanted to improve was chapter involvement on campus. One of the signs of a healthy and thriving chapter is having brothers connected to other members of the Greek community and holding positions in other on-campus organizations. I am pleased to report that several other brothers and I have been selected for well-respected positions. For example, Jake Darling 2436 was elected as SGA treasurer in February; I am proud to see my pledge brother serve our campus in this position. In addition, I am expectant to see the chapter continue to grow and become influential in other campus organizations. Recruitment Chairman Ryan Patel 2478 has done a great job preparing for summer recruitment, and our freshmen are excited to begin welcoming their old high school friends to Auburn. Regarding recruitment, Ryan said, “At Phi Delta Theta, we strive to find young men
who will continue our tradition and uphold Phi Delta Theta’s values founded at Auburn in 1879. We believe that our Fraternity is a second home that can help you navigate the transition from high school to college and encourage you to become a man of the same principles we hold in the highest esteem.” Ryan has a clear picture of the opportunity it is to join Phi Delta Theta and to be sharpened by its members. I am also confident that our prospective new members will quickly find their second home within their pledge class and the chapter under the care of our Phikeia Educator Tyler Noles 2439. Tyler has worked this spring semester tirelessly, ensuring that the two Phikeias we recruited have a deep understanding of The Bond and respect for the history of Alabama Beta. I know that Ryan and Tyler will do a great job securing the future members of the chapter. Proud to be a Phi and War Eagle! Zane Springer 2441, President zps0001@auburn.edu