TO THE ALUMNI CHAPTER
BROTHERS,
The fact that you are reading this newsletter is yet another milestone in our journey to rebuild our beloved Beta Chapter on the Presbyterian College campus. Thank you for your commitment to getting us this far and your future commitment to Beta, Pi Kappa Phi and Presbyterian. The Pi Kapp Scotsman aims to foster fellowship. It’s a means to share life experiences, promote events and celebrate our brotherhood. This isn’t possible without you!
This year marks the 118th anniversary of the Beta Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi and signifies our brotherhood’s long history and tradition on PC’s campus. It is a tradition we are working to reestablish and guide toward another 100+ years of molding young men into productive members of society in service to our communities. A better world doesn’t just happen; it takes Pi Kapp men to guide and shape it.
In addition to Homecoming, we are also celebrating the lives and achievements of our fellow Pi Kapps. I encourage all of you to send us your bios and updates so that we may share them with everyone. Our success depends on your participation. There are more than 600 living Betas on our roster, representing a vast network of skills and wisdom for each of us to draw upon. Please don’t be shy. Let us know what you’re doing in your area of the world!
Finally, we will also have our first Beta Alumni Chapter brotherhood meeting to adopt our bylaws, revise them as necessary and develop our alumni chapter into the organization it needs to be for our brotherhood to grow and prosper. That means setting goals and focusing on achieving them. I think there are many opportunities for our Beta Alumni Chapter to serve Presbyterian, Pi Kappa Phi and ourselves.
I look forward to standing beside you as we work toward that better future.
I am pleased beyond measure to be able to celebrate our traditions at this year’s 2025 Homecoming on October 18, as we accept a charter from the National Headquarters, establishing an official Beta Alumni Chapter. Details on our celebration can be found here.
I hope to see you and your families at Homecoming to continue our fellowship and brotherhood in person and through this newsletter.
Yours in Pi Kappa Phi,
BILL CUNNINGHAM
BETA ALUMNI CHAPTER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PRO TEM
As our Beta Alumni Chapter gets up and running, we need an Executive Council to manage the chapter’s business affairs and conduct meetings, as per our bylaws. After putting out the call for volunteers, I am happy to announce that three brothers have volunteered to serve in these positions until we can hold formal elections. These brothers are:
• Randall Rarsons – President
• James Kennedy – Treasurer
• Tyler Jones – Secretary
Please take a moment during Homecoming to thank them for their service to our brotherhood and the Fraternity. We will rely on them as we continue to build the alumni chapter.
BETA BIOS
We put the call out on our Beta Chapter Facebook Page, and several of you responded with exciting updates about your lives. We hope this encourages everyone to share their life events with the rest of us through our newsletter and on Facebook.
TOM STEARNS (B 403)
Tom Stearns earned a bachelor’s in economics from Presbyterian College. After serving in the Army Medical Service Corps and a brief stint as a medical supply salesman, he entered Clinic Management in 1976. He managed two orthopedic practices for 20 years before starting State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company’s (SVMIC) medical practices services department in 1996. Tom has held numerous leadership roles in professional organizations, including chair of the American College of Medical Professional Executives (ACMPE), president of Tennessee Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and Southern Section MGMA and finance/audit chair for national MGMA. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Harry J. Harwick Lifetime Achievement Award (MGMA and ACMPE’s highest honor) in 2010, the Martha Johnson Distinguished Service Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nashville Business Journal in 2011. In 2017, TMGMA created the Thomas H. Stearns Executive of the Year Award. In 2011, Dismas House presented him with the Grace Morales Commitment Award for his leadership during a challenging year as board chair. In 2009, Tom completed the Education for Ministry program at the University of the South. He is highly active in community affairs. Tom previously served as board chair for Dismas House, United Way of Williamson County and Waves, Inc. He also served as president of the Breakfast Rotary Club in Franklin and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He and his wife, Marida, are members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Franklin, where he served as senior warden. They have five children, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
CLAY MERCER (B
505)
Clay Mercer was initiated in 1978 and graduated from Presbyterian College in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He retired in 2007. Clay lives with his wife, Connie, and stepson in Pinehurst, Georgia. He enjoys typical South Georgia activities — hunting, fishing and riding his favorite horses. Clay published his first novel, Low Country Boil: A Novel, in July 2012. Since then, Clay has published 17 additional novels and co-authored The Education of Joe Willy with his friend Wanda Argersinger. In addition to having been married to Connie for 26 years, Clay has three daughters and five grandchildren. You can contact Clay through his website or through the Beta Facebook group.
ANDY FORREST (B 510)
Andy Forrest hails from Mauldin, South Carolina, and currently calls Greenville home. He is a class of ’81 graduate of Presbyterian College with a degree in economics. Andy was a member of the PC football team. He also served as archon of the Beta Chapter in 1980. He and his wife, Linda Owens Forrest (PC ’83), have two adult sons, Alex and Stuart, and a Basset Hound named Maxwell of Brookfield (his friends call him “Max”). Andy started his career in financial services at Merrill Lynch in 1992 and continues that vocation today at his independent business, Arbor Wealth Advisors.
JAMES KENNEDY (B 594)
James Kennedy graduated from Presbyterian College in 1988. In 1989, he married his wife, Kim (PC ’89). He led a successful career of more than 24 years as a logistics officer in the Army, where he was a two-time battalion commander and the Army director of logistics in the Pentagon. After retiring from uniformed service in 2014, he began teaching at the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Belvoir, a role he retired from this year. In 2023, James was inducted into the ROTC Hall of Fame. In his personal life, James and his family have hosted 11 foreign exchange students and volunteered with Girl Scouts, supporting their daughter, for more than a decade. Over the years, James has lived in Germany; El Paso, Texas; Leavenworth, Kansas; Petersburg, Virginia; Aberdeen, Maryland; Hinesville, Georgia; and Fairfax, Virginia. The Kennedy family currently lives in Woodbridge, Virginia.
BILL CUNNINGHAM (B 553)
Bill Cunningham is the CEO and head designer of Pulp 2.0, his graphic design and publishing company, which is now headquartered in Laurens, South Carolina. After obtaining a degree in history from Presbyterian, a degree in media arts from the University of South Carolina and nearly 30 years in the Hollywood motion picture industry, he decided to apply his experience writing, producing, marketing and distributing motion pictures and other media toward developing and producing a line of quality comics, pulp and film books. Starting with “The New Adventures of Frankenstein” series by Donald F. Glut, Pulp 2.0 has grown to design, produce and distribute over 30 additional books. It has branched out by offering its unique design and editorial sensibility to other publications. Bill is also the co-editor and designer of “Men’s Adventure Quarterly,” the premier magazine celebrating men’s adventure magazines from the ‘50s to the ‘70s and designs a series of coffee table artbooks on the artwork of noted paperback cover artist Ron Lesser. You can see more of his work here.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
This photo came from the Pi Kappa Phi archives and was captioned “Beta boys hanging at the cabin.” Do you see any familiar faces? Remember a story behind this photo? Let us know!
If you have old (or recent) Beta photos, please send them to Bill Cunningham. They might just appear in the next Pi
Kapp Scotsman.
2025 HOMECOMING SCHEDULE
We have a big weekend planned for October 17-19, filled with activities and goals for our new alumni chapter. We would appreciate everyone’s attendance and participation in events. This is your opportunity to become more involved and shape our alumni chapter into the organization you would like to see. 6
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2025
First Alumni Chapter Brotherhood Meeting | Neville Hall
This will be our first meeting, and we must officially do the following:
• Adopt our bylaws
• Adopt our due’s structure
• New business
• Review the weekend schedule
Presbyterian College Alumni Party
PC will be hosting their annual alumni party on campus.
SATURDAY,
OCTOBER 18, 2025
Set Up | Pi Kapp Tent Outside the Football Stadium
Chartering Ceremony for the First Beta Alumni Chapter
Brothers and their guests, as well as invited dignitaries from Presbyterian College, are invited to attend this ceremony. Please wear appropriate attire suitable to the weather.
Lunch – Catered by Whiteford’s Brothers: $50/plate to cover meals, tents and décor
Guests: $35/ plate
Children 12 and under: Free
Football Game: PC vs. Stetson
Clean Up
After Party (BYOB)
300 Caroline Street Laurens, SC 29360
Free parking across the street.
ATTN: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
3701 ARCO CORPORATE DRIVE
SUITE 500
CHARLOTTE, NC 28273
FUTURE EVENTS
Our alumni chapter will have many opportunities to get together and serve our community. Ideally, an event on June 7 to celebrate Beta’s founding anniversary. This would be a great way to gather and celebrate our shared legacy. There are also events in Greenville, Spartanburg and elsewhere where we can get together — ball games, concerts, fairs, road races, college events, etc.
We want to hear your ideas! What kind of activities would you like to participate in? Please email Bill Cunningham or reach out through the Beta Alumni Facebook page.