President Clements, Billy Stark and Jacob at a ClemsonLIFE reception
Fraternity is relationships Pi Kappa Phi is about relationships. Brothers, fathers and sons—the fraternity continues to thrive and grow because the men of Pi Kappa Phi see the value in relationships with others. David and Jacob’s story—this story—is about relationships: their parents’ deep friendship and faith, their friendship with each other and their fraternal bond through the Zeta Alpha Chapter at Clemson, the relationship they have with the ClemsonLIFE Program and the university president, and David’s relationship with the Clemson football team. David and Jacob are two young men that understand fraternal values and the importance of friendships. Their positive spirit shapes who they are and their drive is an inspiration to not only the people with disabilities, but every person and group they touch. “David and Jacob add positivity to everything they attend. Very few people can give a smile like they can. They mean a lot to us,” said Drayton Reeley, philanthropy chair of Zeta Alpha Chapter.
Family relationships In 1972, William (Billy) Stark was initiated into the Alpha Eta Chapter at Samford. Billy is Jacob’s dad. As an undergraduate, Billy showed his strength as a leader and rose to the rank of archon. Executive Director
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Bobby & Diane Saville, Sallie & Billy Stark Emeritus Durward Owen took notice and appointed Billy to serve on the first national Council of Archons. Billy has also built a strong friendship with Glenn Aspinwall, Gamma Kappa (Georgia Southern), and Bobby Saville (David’s dad). The three, living in the Atlanta area, have been close for decades and belong to the same men’s group at church among other activities. When Jacob was born he suffered from severe seizures. His parents had to make serious decisions on how to deal with his medical situation. Already close family friends, Bobby and Diane Saville were
supportive of the Starks as they searched for either a cure or relief for Jacob’s seizures. Six months after Jacob’s birth, David was born with Down syndrome. In an interesting twist of fate, the Stark family now had the opportunity to repay their friends’ kindness and stand by the Savilles as they worked through the early years with David. Their parents’ bond paved the path for Jacob and David’s friendship. Jacob continued to battle with seizures until age 14, when he had a surgical procedure that eliminated his seizures. “It was one of the hardest decisions we
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