Laurels

[1961]

Lyndell “Mark” Grubbs, Oklahoma State, the owner of Ranch Radio Group, was awarded the Texas Association of Broadcasters highest honor of Pioneer Broadcaster of the Year at their Convention in Austin. Grubbs has owned the Ranch Radio Group since 1994 and takes pride in serving his community through promotion, programming, and marketing strategies.

[1963]

Hal Beals, Kentucky, retired in 2020 after 54 years in financial and banking development on the West Coast and later India. He’s enjoying life with 6 children and 10 grandchildren, and credits Phi Tau with presenting him his first leadership opportunities and the confidence to pursue a life he wanted to lead.

[1971]

Mitch Engel, Miami, Engel’s fourth novel, The Senator’s Suitcase, was awarded the silver medal for general fiction novels by The Reviews Choice Award for 2020. Earlier this year, Engel also published a non-fiction book titled Miracles by the Mountain.

ELLIOT AVENT, NORTH CAROLINA STATE ’75, Avent is the American Baseball Coaches Association Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year after taking North Carolina State to the semi-finals of the College World Series. Avent is in his 25th year as North Carolina State’s head baseball coach. In February of 2020, he surpassed 1,1100 career wins – one of only 11 active coaches to achieve the distinction.

TY JONES, DELAWARE ’89, gave the commencement address for University of Delaware’s class of 2020, whose original graduation was canceled due to Covid-19. The class of 2020 returned to campus a year later to celebrate. Jones is an actor and the award-winning artistic director of the Classical Theater of Harlem. A Delaware alumnus himself, Jones earned both his BA and MA at UD.

[1986]

Jack Zinn, Cornell, an Old Main Holding Trustee, was recently elected to the Westchester Jewish Council Board of Directors from his synagogue in Briarcliff Manor, NY, where he is a past President and an active Executive Committee and Board member. He is looking forward to his first WJC Board Meeting. Jack has served on the Alpha Tau Graduate Council and Housing Corporation for over 30 years, as well as serving as BOG Chairman for Alpha Tau.

[1991]

Kevin Burkett, Eastern Kentucky, started a new job as Athletic Director of Somerset Independent Schools.

[1998]

Shane Adcock, Longwood, (below and left) Captain Shane Adcock’s name was displayed Memorial Day weekend in a NASCAR memorial for fallen service members. Adcock lost his life in October 2006 during a combat tour Iraq. His name was displayed on car No. 42 to commemorate Adcock’s 5/24 birthday – when he would have turned 42.

[1998]

Travis Robinson, Eastern Kentucky, (photo on opposite page) started his own State Farm Insurance Agency in Ross, Ohio. Robinson was previously the Chief Operating Officer at Phi Kappa Tau, a position he held from 2014-2021.

[2003]

Andy Macak, Florida State, was promoted to Lt. Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. Macack is a 2006 Shideler Award winner.

[2004]

J.J. Lewis, Central Michigan, was named modern governance Leader by Diligent, a program dedicated to recognizing community leaders committed to driving positive organizational change.

[2007]

Alex Koehler, Mount Union, started a new position as Regional Volunteer Services Office with the American Red Cross.

[2009]

Ben Donlon, Louisville, is joining the University of Louisville Alumni Association Board. Fellow Beta Beta chapter brother, Will Baumgardner, Louisville ’06, sits on the Executive Committee.

[2012]

Tristan Conroy, Centre, (below, middle) started a new role as Account Manager at ChapterSpot. Conroy previously spent five years on Phi Tau’s staff, most recently as Director of Chapter Services.

[2013]

Dexter Horne, Centre, was named co-director of the Kentucky chapter of the New Leaders Council. The New Leaders Council trains and promotes rising progressive leaders and has 50 chapters with nearly 9,000 alumni.

COLIN SULLIVAN, PURDUE ’14, Sullivan returned safely from a deployment as a KC-135 pilot to his wife and family.

(From left to right) Travis Robinson, Eastern Kentucky ’98, Tristan Conroy, Centre ’12, and Tristan Hilpert, Cal State-Fullerton ’03.