FALL 2025
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A FORMER ARCHON’S PERSPECTIVE FRIENDSHIP, BROTHERHOOD AND MEMORIES THAT LAST A LIFETIME BY STEVE BOONE
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was archon of the chapter in the spring of 1980. It doesn’t seem possible that it could have been so long ago! Officers were elected each semester in those days, except the treasurer, who served for two semesters. Mike Devito (my daughter’s godfather) was vice archon, and Dan Hensley was treasurer. Unfortunately, I don’t recall who else was on the Executive Council then. To be fair, it was 45 years ago!
The dramatic memory of that semester was that we were going to lose the chapter house at 408 N. Indiana. The truly disappointing point was that the chapter had been going through a period of incredible and unprecedented success in the years prior. Russ Lindsey, one of the architects of that period wasn’t even from Indiana. He transferred from the College of Charleston and was an initiate of the Alpha Chapter.
Russ was one of the driving forces behind recruiting in 1976 and 1977, and he also served as IFC president. At that time, the chapter added several good-sized (for us) pledge classes that helped build on the existing solid core and led to some great successes. Led by our chapter advisor and bike coach, Jim Pivarnik, and our mechanic, Gary Ashton, the chapter had three straight top 10 finishes in the Little 5 Bike race. Riders included John Leonard, John Hayden, Jim Kaufman, Steve Smith, Mike Baccash, Jerry Solon, John Rosner and others. Our little chapter of about 60 men was very active in intramurals, including a great flag football team that was 27-2 over three years and won the campus championship in the fall of ’79.
Led by David Schleibaum, we had three consecutive top prizes in the Homecoming float building contest. Russ Henning led the team to three consecutive top-three finishes in the IU Sing variety show. Who will ever forget Count Sig Machi!
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