18 minute read
10 Not For College Days Alone
from The Purple Pilgrim
XNOT FOR COLLEGE DAYS ALONE
Brothers of Zeta Phi celebrate 125 years at William Jewell.
Phi Gamma Delta is a fraternity for life. While many of your best friendships and fraternal experiences will be forged in your undergraduate years, it is often the years following graduation which can be the most satisfying.
Membership in Phi Gamma Delta is for life. A brother of Phi Gamma Delta, no matter how old he is, must never say, “I was a Phi Gamma Delta when I was in college.” Instead, a brother should always say, “I am a Phi Gamma Delta!”
In Phi Gamma Delta, we use the name graduate brother as opposed to “alumni.” In this way, every initiate retains the name “brother,” whether a man is one month out of college or receiving his Diamond Owl from the Fraternity signifying 75 years of membership. Once a Phi Gam, always a Phi Gam.
You have the opportunity to take with you, far beyond your college days, the fellowship of your Fraternity, not only with brothers from your own chapter, but also with brothers from any other chapter in our Fraternity.
Just as you plan your professional career and personal life, so should you project and consider yourself as a graduate brother of Phi Gamma Delta. This phase of fraternal life is the longest, and for many, as potentially rewarding as your undergraduate experience.
After you leave college you will have the opportunity – and obligation – to maintain a close relationship with your Fraternity, one which should be rewarding for both you and Phi Gamma Delta.
Three Decisions
Each young man who accepts an invitation to join Phi Gamma Delta, over any other fraternity, makes three important decisions involving his Phi Gam journey.
Your first decision occurred when you decided to accept your bid to become a new member in Phi Gamma Delta. With that decision, you obligated yourself to live by the values of our Fraternity and promote her welfare.
Your second decision comes at the time of initiation. You will take part in a very special Ritual ceremony, during which you will make a lifetime commitment to the preservation and progression of Phi Gamma Delta. For many young men, it is the first true “lifetime commitment” they have ever made.
Your third decision is the one most forgotten, but perhaps the most important for the future of our brotherhood. There is no special ceremony to mark the third decision. Each man makes it within himself. It is the decision to be a caring, contributing Phi Gam beyond the college years. Deciding to stay involved in a meaningful way allows a man to impact future generations and keep his
Once a Phi Gam, always a Phi Gam.
“As an undergraduate at Ohio State, my chapter played an important role in my life and this has continued after graduation. The friendships and business associations you develop will always stay with you, and you will find out that you can count on all of your brothers across the country.”
Tom Matte (Ohio State 1961): Baltimore Colts running back (1961-1973)
“I am a live Fiji from a dead chapter. I wear our badge over my heart in the daytime, on my nightshirt when I go to bed, and I keep it in my mouth when I take a bath.” Episcopal Rector Robert Barber (Roanoke 1902) 1950s reunion for Alpha Phi at Michigan.
“fraternal flame” burning in the hearts and minds of our newest Phi Gams.
Lifetime Commitment
Other fraternities often marvel at Phi Gamma Delta’s historic fortune of brothers who exude loyalty and generosity toward their Fraternity well into their silver, gold and even diamond owl years. For these brothers, it is often simple – they are men of integrity who remember their oaths. They place sincere feelings of indebtedness ahead of personal conveniences. You are charged to be one of these men.
The true spirit of Phi Gamma Delta keeps men’s hearts pledged throughout their lifetimes. Your commitment should continue to grow from new member to your initiated days and from your undergraduate to your graduate days. Whenever able, you are expected to give back, plain and simple.
Hands-on Involvement
When you have graduated, there will be a role available for you as a graduate volunteer. Do not wait to be asked, because the Fraternity may never get the chance to personally ask you for your assistance. Even if your chapter or another chapter near your home appears to have all the graduate support they can use, there is no limit to a chapter’s Even if your chapter or another chapter near your home appears " advisory needs. to have all the graduate support Phi Gamma Delta’s foremost need will always be they can use, there is no limit to a chapter’s advisory needs. your hands-on involvement with our undergraduate chapters. Opportunities include service as a Purple Legionnaire, Board of Chapter Advisors member, House Corporation member, or faculty
Graduate brothers provide continuity for undergraduate chapters. advisor (if you are qualified through work at a college). Every brother’s first inclination tends to be service to his own chapter – which is great, particularly if he lives near his chapter. Still, the International Headquarters can always find ways for interested brothers to get involved in the chapters or colonies nearest to their homes.
Brothers can also be hands-on involved in other ways, such as traveling to attend the Ekklesia on alternate summers or serving on an Ekklesia host committee if it is being held in your geographical area.
Perhaps the most important role of a graduate volunteer is as a role model. A graduate brother has the ability to demonstrate that the Phi Gamma Delta experience continues after graduation, and that the values and principles taught in the chapter have very real applications in the everyday world. Whether serving as an active Purple Legionnaire, or just returning to renew fraternal acquaintances at Pig Dinner, graduate brothers should serve as role models for undergraduate brothers.
Financial Support
Phi Gamma Delta has always depended on graduate brothers for financial support. Graduates are encouraged to donate to the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation, the International Fraternity and their undergraduate chapter. The Fraternity asks graduate brothers to pay dues each year to support activities such as servicing of undergraduate chapters, expansion to new campuses and The Phi Gamma Delta magazine. Currently, the dues amount is $20. It is a small amount for an individual brother to pay, but when thousands of brothers respond, the positive impact on the Fraternity is tremendous. Our graduate brothers’ support through the annual dues program is a point of pride for Phi Gamma Delta.
Graduate brothers who are interested in the available giving options and how they can specifically direct their gifts can contact the Educational Foundation at the International Headquarters. Throughout history, Phi Gamma Delta has been dependent upon generous financial support from its graduate brothers in order to continue an upward march. Your contributions are necessary and make a difference.
Graduate financial support allows your Fraternity to provide scholarships and leadership programs to Phi Gams.
Brothers and family members can choose to designate a gift in memory of a deceased brother of the Fraternity. In this way, these brothers who pass Ad Astra can be remembered for the contributions they made to the Fraternity and the impact they made on their brothers.
“I believe those of us who have enjoyed the benefits of Phi Gamma Delta have done so because our principles are the same: generosity of country, kindness of friends and the value of putting it on the line for someone else. The lessons of my life are indeed lessons of our Fraternity. In my family, I have three brothers; in my Fraternity, I have thousands. When I needed help, brothers were there, and when they call, I must answer. There is no other way. It is the number one rule, and it is not for college days alone.”
Bob Kerrey (Nebraska 1965): Former U.S. Senator-Nebraska; former Governor-Nebraska Graduate chapters are organized social associations of graduate brothers from all chapters who live in a particular geographical area. They are arguably the best environments for inter-chapter brotherhood that Phi Gamma Delta offers.
Graduate chapters enable brothers to stay in better touch with the International Fraternity. They also offer opportunities for brothers to “give back” to the Fraternity that helped mold them, create an environment wherein brothers make new friends (and stay in contact with old friends), increase the ability for brothers to network and lend themselves to fun. They also traditionally interact positively with local undergraduate chapters and the local community.
Communication
Some forms of graduate commitment are more basic. When graduate brothers move or change jobs, they are expected to update their contact information with the International Headquarters and their own chapter. When they are generous to their colleges, they are expected to remind these institutions about their loyalty to Phi Gamma Delta and their interest in said college’s support of the same.
Other opportunities for communication from a graduate brother include when he knows about a young man who would be a good fit with Phi Gamma Delta and is attending a college that has a chapter. Recruitment recommendations to the young man and the chapter always help!
As you move from your undergraduate days in the chapter to those of being a graduate brother, be sure to keep your contact information updated either through the Fraternity’s website, www.phigam. org/addressupdate, or by calling the International Headquarters at (859) 255-1848.
Silver, Gold & Diamond Owls
The Fraternity honors brothers who celebrate significant anniversaries of their formal initiation into Phi Gamma Delta. On the 25th anniversary of his initiation date, a brother is eligible to receive the Silver Owl. On his 50th anniversary he is eligible for the Golden Owl, and at 75 years, he receives his Diamond Owl. The Fraternity provides certificates for each of these milestones. Silver, gold and diamond owl pins can be purchased to provide further recognition of these brothers.
Fiji Sires and Sons is a special order within Phi Gamma Delta that six Fiji fathers founded at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Founders Day, May 1, 1925. Calvin Coolidge, then President of the United States, was one of its original members. It is composed of fathers and sons who are members of Phi Gamma Delta. There is no membership fee; any Fiji son or Fiji sire (father) is eligible for membership by notifying the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation.
The Sires and Sons program helps foster the generational evolution of Phi Gamma Delta. It provides a special recognition of the bond that Fiji fathers and sons maintain within our Fraternity.
Archon Presidents
• 1898 Lew Wallace (DePauw 1868) • 1900 James O. Wilson (Illinois Wesleyan 1876) • 1901 William E. McLaren (Jefferson 1851) • 1903 Charles W. Fairbanks (Ohio Wesleyan 1872) • 1905 Newton D. Baker (Washington & Lee 1894) • 1910 William F. Chamberlin (Denison 1893) • 1911 Stuart Eagleson (Wooster 1891) • 1912 Orion H. Cheney (New York 1897) • 1917 Glen Miller (Kansas 1884) • 1918 James O. Wilson (Illinois Wesleyan 1876) • 1918 Lewis L. Wallace (Depauw 1868) • 1923 Horace I. Brightman (Columbia 1892) • 1934 George F. Snyder (Pennsylvania 1900) • 1943 Louis E. Leverone (Dartmouth 1904) • 1946 Marshall B. Dalton (MIT 1915) • 1948 Penfield Mower (Dartmouth 1904) • 1950 Herbert W. Smith (Michigan 1910) • 1952 Cecil F. Dawson (William Jewell 1915) • 1954 Ralph H. Cake (Oregon 1913) • 1956 Philip C. Ebeling (Ohio Wesleyan 1928)
Gordon Jelliffe (Ohio State 1937) received his Diamond Owl from sons Martin (Ohio State 1969), left, and John (Hanover 1975), right. The family is also part of Fiji Sires & Sons.
• 1958 Stanley T. Wallbank (Colorado 1917) • 1960 George D. Bailey (Wisconsin 1912) • 1966 Danner L. Mahood (Virginia 1923) • 1968 Henry S. Brainard (Case Western Reserve 1922) • 1970 William R. Hauser (Denison 1950) • 1974 Thomas H. Williams (Alabama 1941) • 1976 John D. Sheppard (Pittsburgh 1944) • 1978 Louis A. Mangels (Indiana 1956) • 1980 Joseph B. Carney (Depauw 1950) • 1982 Lewis M. Costello (Virginia 1955) • 1984 Robert L. Albin (Missouri 1962) • 1986 C. James Jessee Jr. (Virginia 1949) • 1988 David G. Elmore (Indiana 1955) • 1990 Richard D. McCormick (Iowa State 1961) • 1992 Michael O. Shipley (Syracuse 1958) • 1994 John Gottschalk (Nebraska 1965) • 1996 Douglas H. Dittrick (Ohio Wesleyan 1955) • 1998 Lee M. Moss (Tennessee 1973) • 2000 James E. Caswell (Southern Methodist 1963) • 2002 Jerrold Wanek (Iowa 1980) • 2004 Marvin J. Carver (North Carolina 1975) • 2006 Eugene D. “Buddy” Coté (Maine 1981) • 2008 William R. Miller (Indiana 1962, Purdue GA 1996) • 2010 James B. “Jim” Hickey Jr. (Illinois 1975) • 2012 Scott J. Mikulecky (Colorado State 1982) • 2014 Michael A. Lucas (Bradley 1983) • 2016 Brian M. Douglas (Tennessee Tech 1998) • 2018 Clark A. Robertson (Nebraska 1982) • 2020 Nic Loiacono (Illinois 1974)
Archon Presidents from 2014-Present
Mike Lucas (Bradley 1983)
Archon President 2014-2016
Brian Douglas (TN Tech 1998)
Archon President 2016-2018
Clark Robertson (Nebraska 1982)
Archon President 2018-2020
Nic Loiacono (Illinois 1974) Archon President 2020-2022
Alan B. Graf Jr. (Indiana 1975)
Dick McCormick (Iowa State 1961)
Richard Munro (Colgate 1957)
Johnny Carson (Nebraska 1949) Many graduate brothers have distinguished themselves within the Fraternity and in their professional careers. We present here a partial listing of the “Famous Fijis” known to many of our brothers for their achievements.
Business
• Edmund F. Ball* (Wabash 1927, Yale 1927): Former president & CEO, Ball Corporation; namesake, Ball State University • Dick Costolo (Michigan 1985): Former CEO, Twitter • Alan B. Graf Jr. (Indiana 1974): Executive vice president/CFO,
FedEx • Judson C. Green (DePauw 1974): Former chairman, Walt
Disney Attractions; president & CEO, Navigation Technologies
Corporation • Phil Knight (Oregon 1959): Founder & chairman emeritus,
Nike Corporation • Chuck Lee (Cornell 1961): Former chairman & CEO, Verizon
Communications • Scott Lowery (Miami 1982): Founder & executive vice president, BW-3 Restaurants • Richard D. McCormick (Iowa State 1961): Former president, U.S. West Corporation; former president, International
Chamber of Commerce • Dick Munro (Colgate 1957): Former chairman, Time Warner
Inc.; part creator, HBO • Jack Rodgers (Kansas 1953): Founder & president, Starbucks • Dean Thornton* (Idaho 1952): Former president, Boeing
Commercial Airplane Group • Alfred Verrecchia (Rhode Island 1965): CEO, Hasbro Inc.
Entertainment
• Scott Bakula (Kansas 1977): Actor • Johnny Carson* (Nebraska 1949): Former host, NBC’s
“Tonight Show” • John Cullum (Tennessee 1952): Actor; Tony Award winner • Radney Foster (Sewanee 1982): Country music singer-songwriter/producer
• Matthew Fox (Columbia 1989): Actor • Jim Gaffigan (Purdue 1988): Comedian and actor • Jason Isbell (Memphis 2001): Country music singer/songwriter; Grammy Award winner • Richard Jenkins (Illinois Wesleyan 1969): Actor; Emmy Award winner for outstanding lead actor • Seth Meyers (Northwestern 1996): Host, “Late Night with Seth
Meyers” • Dermot Mulroney (Northwestern 1985): Actor • Rob Riggle (Kansas 1992): Comedian and actor • Richard Zanuck* (Stanford 1956): Former motion picture director/producer; former president, Twentieth Century Fox
Higher Education
• Dr. Richard C. Atkinson (Chicago 1949): President Emeritus,
University of California • Dr. Wayne Clough (Georgia Tech 1963): Former president,
Georgia Institute of Technology; former secretary, Smithsonian
Institution • Hal Jackman (Toronto 1953): Former chancellor, University of
Toronto • Jere W. Morehead (Georgia 1988): President, University of
Georgia
Media & Literature
• Roone Arledge* (Columbia 1952): Former president, ABC
News and Sports • Dr. Ken Blanchard (Cornell 1961): Co-author, The One Minute
Manager • Harry C. “Skip” Caray Jr.* (Missouri 1961): Former announcer, Atlanta Braves Baseball • Stuart Evey* (Washington 1956): Former chairman, ESPN • Major Garrett (Missouri 1984): Chief Washington
Correspondent, CBS News; Correspondent at Large, National
Journal • Bill Geist (Illinois 1967): CBS news correspondent • John Gottschalk (Nebraska 1965): Former president, CEO & publisher, Omaha World Herald • Brian Lamb (Purdue 1963): Founder, CEO & host, C-SPAN
Richard Jenkins (Illinois Wesleyan 1969)
Wayne Clough (Georgia Tech 1963)
Roone Arledge (Columbia 1952)
E. B. White (Cornell 1921)
Charles W. Fairbanks (Ohio Wesleyan 1872)
Robert S. McNamara (California Berkeley 1937) • Dr. Norman Vincent Peale* (Ohio Wesleyan 1920):
Theologian/author, The Power of Positive Thinking • Tom Peters (Cornell 1964): Author, In Search of Excellence • Dave Revsine (Northwestern 1991): Television sports anchor,
Big Ten Network • Lew Wallace* (DePauw 1868): Author, Ben Hur • Whit Watson (Cornell 1993): Sportscaster, Golf Channel • E. B. White* (Cornell 1921): Author, Charlotte’s Web • Bob Woodward (Yale 1965): Co-author, All The President’s
Men; editor, The Washington Post
Politics & Government
• Robert Bork* (Pittsburgh 1948, Chicago 1948): Former solicitor general and jurist; author • Benjamin Civiletti (Johns Hopkins 1957): Former United
States Attorney General • Calvin Coolidge* (Amherst 1895): 30th President of the
United States • William J. Crowe Jr.* (Oklahoma 1946): Former Chairman,
United States Joint Chiefs of Staff • Mike Easley (North Carolina 1972): Former Governor, State of
North Carolina • Charles W. Fairbanks* (Ohio Wesleyan 1872): Former Vice
President of the United States • Neil Gorsuch (Columbia 1988): Justice, United States Supreme
Court • Eric Holcomb (Hanover 1990): Governor, State of Indiana • Frank Iacobucci (British Columbia 1962): Former Justice,
Supreme Court of Canada • Bob Kerrey (Nebraska 1965): Former Governor and U.S.
Senator, State of Nebraska • Thomas Riley Marshall* (Wabash 1873): Former Vice
President of the United States • Robert S. McNamara* (California Berkeley 1937): Former
United States Secretary of Defense • Mike Pence (Hanover 1981): Vice President of the United
States; former Governor, State of Indiana • Jared Polis (Princeton 1996): Governor, State of Colorado
• Byron “Whizzer” White* (Colorado 1938): Former Justice,
United States Supreme Court
Science & Technology
• Gene Cernan* (Purdue 1956): Former astronaut, Apollo &
Gemini Space Programs • Allen Harris* (British Columbia 1922): Co-discoverer,
Illinium (61st element) • Wayne Isom (Texas Tech 1962): Cardiothoracic surgeon in chief, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center • Jack Swigert* (Colorado 1953): Former astronaut, Apollo
Space Program • Robert Taylor* (Southern Methodist 1952): Co-creator of the
Internet; director of systems research center, Digital Equipment
Corporation
Sports
• Chuck Armstrong (Purdue 1964): Former president & COO,
Seattle Mariners • Sal Bando (Arizona State 1966): Former Major League Baseball player; former general manager, Milwaukee Brewers • John Cappelletti (Pennsylvania State 1974): 1973 Heisman
Trophy winner • Jimmy Cefalo (Pennsylvania State 1978): Former professional football player, broadcaster • Chris Chandler (Washington 1988): Former professional football player • Tim Finchem (Richmond 1969): Former Commissioner, PGA
Tour • Tim Foley (Purdue 1970): Former professional football player, broadcaster • Brian Griese (Michigan 1997): Former professional football player; broadcaster • Hale Irwin (Colorado 1967): Professional golfer • Christy Mathewson* (Bucknell 1902): Former professional baseball player; member, Baseball Hall of Fame • Bob Mathias* (Stanford 1953): United States Olympian, gold medal, track & field 1948 & 1952 • Tom Matte (Ohio State 1961): Former professional football player
Robert Taylor (SMU 1952)
Chuck Armstrong (Purdue 1964)
John Cappelletti (Penn State 1974)
Bob Mathias (Stanford 1953)
Roger Penske (Lehigh 1959)
Payne Stewart (SMU 1979) • Jack Nicklaus (Ohio State 1961): Former professional golfer • Peter O’Malley (Pennsylvania 1960): Former owner, Los
Angeles Dodgers • Jerry Pate (Alabama 1975): Former professional golfer • Roger Penske (Lehigh 1959): Former race car driver; owner,
Penske Auto Racing Team • Bobby Rahal (Denison 1975): Former race car driver; owner,
Auto Racing Team • Dean Smith* (Kansas 1953): Former head basketball coach,
University of North Carolina • Bill Snyder (William Jewell 1962): Former head football coach,
Kansas State University • Payne Stewart* (Southern Methodist 1979): Former professional golfer • Roger Wehrli (Missouri 1968): Former professional football player; member, NFL Hall of Fame • Matthew Wolff (Oklahoma State 2021): Professional golfer • Tom Yawkey* (Yale 1925): Former owner, Boston Red Sox
* brother has passed Ad Astra
Phi Gamma Delta’s own Thomas Riley Marshall, when Vice President of the United States, reverently proclaimed:
Persistence
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
Phi Gamma Delta owns the only full-length portrait of Calvin Coolidge painted while he was President. That portrait hangs in the International Headquarters, with an exact copy on display in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) of the Smithsonian Institution. In 2006-2007, the original portrait was on loan to the Smithsonian for a grand opening of the National Portrait Gallery after having undergone extensive renovations. The Fraternity’s Coolidge portrait was part of the America’s Presidents exhibit, traditionally the most popular exhibit of the NPG.
