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As a ninth generation North Carolinian, this Pi Kapp sticks to his roots and enjoys Hollywood success on the opposite coast. BY BEN ROMAN
or Craig Fincannon, Delta Lambda (UNC Charlotte), being part of an organization with deep roots in the South has taught him the value of heritage and the strength of camaraderie. He'll tell you that the concept of "integrity in all you do" was instilled in him by his parents, the Boy Scouts of America, and Pi Kappa Phi. "Undergraduate days are about finding yourself, fun, and growth,'' he says. "But you are also undergoing changes that you may not be aware of. As you go through this period, you are establishing life choices that will stay with you throughout your adulthood." Brother Fincannon joined Delta Lambda Chapter's first new member class in 1974 during his first semester. He was majoring in acting and had a flair for public speaking. That flair and a strong sense of spirituality eventuallybrought him to the office of chaplain. "Because the chapter had only been chartered the semester before I started school...the enthusiasm for this new endeavor was at a fever pitch,' he says. "I was swept up along with all my (pledge) brothers." Craig fondly remembers the flag ~
football game where the pledges beat the brothers (they exacted their revenge in the re-match), clearing the site for the new National Headquarters building, traveling as a chapter to the NIT and Final Four with their basketball team, and organizing a concert with the group Alabama for Push America. As an undergraduate at UNCC and through graduate work at the University of Virginia, Brother Fincannon trained as an actor and stage director. His earlygoal was to make a living as thespian, but he soon realized that he would need to make a big move to New York or Los Angeles to have a shot at substantial success. When all was said and done, hechose to marry, raise a family, and stayin North Carolina. Remarkably, the motion picture industry added North Carolina as a production center in the early 1980's and he was at the right place at the right time. Due to his acting background, he gravitated to the area of casting on his first project, "Straker Ace", a Burt Reynolds film. Through his company Fincannon & Associates, In c. , founded in 1979, he has been involved as a casting director, production executive, and producer on over 300 film
projects. His casting director credits include: "The Prince of Tides", "Days of Thunder", "The Patriot", TV's "Dawson's Creek", "Matlock", and "American Gothic". As a producer, he's working on the upcoming Showtime film "Waterproof' with Burt Reynolds and Orlando Jones. Fincannon &Associates, Inc. has been a family affair with his partners being his brother Mark and wife Lisa Mae. Through family (he has two children, Ashley and Erin) and life, Craig has learnedplenty of lessons. He offers this, "True success rarelycomes alone. Your ability to network with friends and colleagues will have the greatest bearing on your ability to succeed. Pi Kappa Phi laid a great foundation for me in this area." J.l
AND THE AWARD GOES TO • In 1998, Craig Fincannon, Delta Lambda (UNC Charlotte), was awarded the Emmy for outstanding casting in a miniseries, for " From the Earth to the Moon". " I was surprised how nerve racking it was for me," he recalls. " Sitting in the audience, you ' re coo l and collected ... until they read your name as a nominee. You can hear your heart in your ears. " o
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IEUTENANT ABE BUSH, Delta Omega (Texas A&M) , grew up in Keller, -Texas, and received his degree in sociology from Texas A&M University in 1994. For two years after graduation, LT. Bush flew advertisement banners along the coast in South Carolina in old, Italian military biplanes. For another year, he flew cancelled checks for the Federal Treasury in King-Airs and Learjet 25's. LT. Bush received his commission through Officer's Candidate School at NAS Pensacola, Florida, in 1997. From there, he checked into the 8th Flying Training Squadron, a joint Air Force and Naval Training squadron, at Vance AFB in Enid, Oklahoma. While at Vance, he flew the mighty T-37B"1\veet". LT. Bush then moved to NAS Kingsville, Texas, where he flew the T-45 "Goshawk" and earned his "Wings of Gold". From there, he was transferred to NAS Lemoore, California, for F/A18 training for one year with the Rough Raiders of Strike Fighter Squadron 125. LT. Bush is still stationed at NAS Lemoore, but transferred to active duty with VFA-94, the "Mighty Shrikes" in the middle of 2001. In July of 2001, LT. Bush began his first 6-month deployment on the USS Carl Vinson as part of Carrier Air Wing 11. On September 11th, 2001 the Carl Vinson was passing the tip of India and entering the Arabian Sea to relieve the USS Enterprise and was immediately designated as the senior ship in command of the area. Abe wrote to his parents via e-mail on September 16th, 2001: "(September 11) was reallyshocking to all of us here.. .I can't tell you the amount of anger that was going around theship. I. ..saw theevents unfolding... and grew extremely angry and worried about everyone back home ... Be confident that I am perfectly safe here. We have a job to do and it will get done." The Pi Kappa Phi flag flew over Afghanistan in support if OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. It has over 18 hours of combat time in the cockpit of a VFA-94 F/A-18 'Hornet' piloted by Brother Bush, who is very proud to be an American and a Pi Kappa Phi. J.l FLY BOY Lieutenant Abe Bush, Delta Omega (Texas A&M ), shows that family, friends, and Fraternity are with him always.
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