Cross & Crescent
a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication
INSIDE: Choose Responsibility Founder
Dr. John McCardell, former Middlebury president
Texas State Legislator
Joe Driver, successful leader and businessman
March Madness
A Look At D-I Basketball Coaches
Update from the EVP March 2008 . XCV . Issue 3
Cross & Crescent a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication Features Chapter News 4 Chapter and Alumni News Fraternity News 8 Update from the Executive Vice President History 10 100 Years of Notable Alumni
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Choose Responsibility Founder Middlebury College President Emeritus Dr. John McCardell is the founder and director of Choose Responsibility, a nonprofit organization established to engage the public in informed and dispassionate debate over the effects and consequences of the 21year-old drinking age. Having sparked a renewed discussion on this important topic, he will be featured in an upcoming segment on CBS’ “60 Minutes.” By Tad Lichtenauer
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Texas State Legislator Guest speaker at the Fraternity’s 2008 Winter Leadership Retreat, Joe Driver is currently serving his eighth term in the Texas House of Representatives. A former chapter president, he also is a successful businessman, serving as an agent for State Farm Insurance Companies for the past 34 years. By Tad Lichtenauer
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March Madness Ronnie Arrow, University of South Alabama head coach, and Tommy Dempsey, Rider University head coach, look to finish their successful seasons by making a big splash in the Big Dance. By Chris Barrick
Credits
Contributions
Publisher: Bill Farkas Editor: Jason Pearce Assistant Editor: Chris Barrick Assistant Editor: Tad Lichtenauer Illustrator: Jeff Reisdorfer Podcast Voice: Fuzz Martin Photographer: Walt Moser Assignment Editor: Jon Williamson Historian: Mike Raymond Contributing Editors: Jono Hren Aaron Jones George Spasyk
Content for consideration should be submitted by the fiftenth of the month. Lambda Chi Alpha 8741 Founders Rd Indianapolis, IN 46268-1338 (317) 872-8000 editor@lambdachi.org www.lambdachi.org www.crossandcrescent.com
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Cross & Crescent
March 2008
CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter News Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death Arkansas (Gamma-Chi)
Bucknell (Delta)
More than 500 alumni, undergraduates and guests attended a banquet on February 2, 2007 at the Peabody Little Rock Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas, to celebrate the chapter’s 2007 Grand High Alpha Award. Special guests included Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988) and Grand High Alpha Dr. Ed Leonard (William Jewell 1979), who also served as the evening’s keynote speaker. Chapter Adviser Drew Ledbetter (Northeastern State 1997) served as the master of ceremonies, and the event also included speeches from all chapter presidents since 2002, as well as a chapter video presentation.
Nick Panaro (2008) won the Outstanding Senior Award at the 2007 Greek Awards.
California-Davis (Delta-Gamma)
Adam Cook (2007) was named to the NIC’s 2007 All-Fraternity All-American Football first team.
Cal State-Fresno (Iota-Gamma) James E. Davis (1972) died. John F. Guzzo (1957) died. Scot Millar (1973) died.
Cal State-Northridge (Beta-Rho)
Louis D. Trager Jr. (1958) died 2004.
Eric Thayer’s (1997) California wildfire photos were published in The New York Times and USA Today.
Boston (Alpha)
The chapter added nine new associate members during the spring 2008 semester.
Central Missouri State (Lambda-Pi)
Justin Schaefer (2010) was elected IFC vice president of risk management.
Bowling Green State (Phi-Mu) Anthony Snyder (1992) has been named manager, business development for American Hardware Manufacturers Association in Schaumburg, Illinois. Previously, he served as the director of membership and marketing for the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Jeffrey Crouch (1977) died February 1, 2008. He was the owner of Johnson County Title Co. in Warrensburg, Kansas. Previously, he served as a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and as a police officer for the University of Missouri-Columbia Police Department.
Cincinnati (Gamma-Gamma)
Thomas J. Austin (1969) died February 17, 2008. He began his retail career as a buyer with Federated Department Stores, then served as a divisional merchandise manager for Kohl’s Department Stores, and later as a senior vice president with Montgomery Ward, before retiring in 2000.
Bradley (Kappa-Upsilon)
Wayne G. Klasing (1964), president and CEO of Klasing Industries, Inc., is retiring and has sold his familyowned business to New York Air Brake Corp. He is a member of the Educational Foundation board of directors.
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Denver (Alpha-Pi)
Herrick S. Roth (1938) died January 31, 2008. A World War II veteran, he was a teacher in the Denver Public Schools, a leader of the American Federation of Teachers, and a representative in both the Colorado House of Representatives and Colorado Senate. He also was the president of the Colorado Labor Council from 1954 to 1972, and a founder of the Colorado Forum.
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March 2008
CHAPTER NEWS
Drury (Theta-Sigma)
Florida Tech (Beta-Nu)
Grand High Pi Lynn Chipperfield (Drury 1973), a 25-year veteran of Furniture Brands International Inc., is retiring from the Clayton, Missouribased company. Most recently, he served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of the furniture manufacturer and importer.
Philip Meyer (2009) was elected IFC executive vice president.
Franklin (Kappa-Gamma)
The chapter has 34 members, 16 of whom are members of the football team, including R.J. Hartsfield (2008) who was named to the NIC’s 2007 All-Fraternity All-American Football first team.
Georgia State (Delta-Epsilon)
Ben “Todd” Parnell III (Drury 1969) was named the new president of Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, by the board of trustees on January 31, 2008. Having served as the interim president since June 1, 2007, a search committee recommended him to the board after a nationwide search.
Lance Krall (Georgia State 1993) is the co-creator and star of “Free Radio, “a new TV show airing on VH1. Krall was featured in the October 2006 Cross & Crescent.
Georgia Tech (Beta-Kappa)
For the second year in a row, the chapter won the Ultimate Frisbee championship. In addition, the chapter made the soccer and flag football playoffs, and the associate member class defeated the new members of Theta Kappa Epsilon in a traditional football game, 20-6, for the first time in five years.
Eastern Illinois (Phi-Alpha)
Scott Eichberger (2008) was elected IFC president, and Dirk Bennett (2010) IFC vice president of recruitment.
Elmhurst (Pi-Zeta)
Toby Proctor (1957) died February 6, 2008.
Elmhurst chapter has 30 undergraduate members, including six members on the soccer team: Phil Ruskin (2008), Greg Henry (2008), Colin Stringer (2008), Mike Sarlo (2009), Zach Jaggard, and the captain Andrew Smith (2008), who also was named to the second team of the all-conference squad.
Hanover (Theta-Zeta)
Seth Blakeslee (2009) serves as a local elementary school tutor as a part of the education remediation efforts for at-risk children, made possible by funding from the Lilly Community Alliances to Promote Education.
Ruskin is president of Omicron Delta Kappa, and James Gelement (2008) serves as vice president. Gelement is also the outgoing treasurer of the Greek Council.
Houston Area Alumni Association
More than 35 members attended a Houston Area Alumni Association reception held on January 22, 2008, at the Houston Club in Houston, Texas. The reception was hosted by Charles Bacarisse (Southern Methodist 1986), and attendees included Grand High Alpha Dr. Ed Leonard (William Jewell 1979), and former Fraternity staff members Ty Weaver (Oklahoma City 2004) and Al Saylor (Delaware 1977). The Houston alumni association’s next event will be April 22, 2008, at the Houston Astros baseball game and will include former professional baseball player Larry Dierker (California-Santa Barbara 1968). For more information, contact Saylor at skysaylor@aol.com.
Chapter President Dave Bogaerts (2008), Frank Cook, and Joe Re (2009) are active in campus musical and theatrical productions. The chapter is active in the North American Food Drive, and annually holds a 100-hole golf marathon with proceeds benefiting the Jimmy V Foundation.
Embry-Riddle (Sigma-Phi)
The chapter alumni association has awarded its annual scholarship to Kris Ward (2008), who is an aerospace engineering major with a cumulative 3.20 GPA.
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Cross & Crescent
March 2008
CHAPTER NEWS
Indianapolis Area Alumni Association
Los Angeles Area Alumni Association
More than 35 members attended the Indianapolis Area Alumni Association’s first happy hour social event on February 7, 2008, at the Rathskeller restaurant in Indianapolis, Indiana. Organized by the association’s steering committee, 10 chapters were represented at the event, which included current and former Fraternity staff members Tom Smith (Butler 2007), Ted Nord (Purdue 2007), Educational Foundation President and CEO Mark Bauer (California State-Fullerton 1979), and former Educational Leadership Consultant Mitch Woods (Georgetown 2005). The next event is scheduled for April 18, 2008, at Ye Old Library restaurant in Carmel, Indiana. For more information, contact Associate Director of Alumni Relations Josh Lodolo (Cal State-Northridge 2004) at jlodolo@lambdachi.org.
More than 30 members attended the Los Angeles Area Alumni Association reception held on February 6, 2008, at the Universal City Hilton in Universal City, California. Attendees included 1973 Cyril F. “Duke” Flad Award recipient Michael Wilson O’Neill (Auburn 1973), and Order of Merit recipients Howard Brightman (California-Los Angeles 1968), John Gezelius (California-Berkeley 1978), Jack Kabateck (Southern California 1948), and Tom Lawrence (Northwestern 1958).
Louisiana State (Upsilon)
Dr. Homer Lee Hitt (1937) died January 27, 2008. The founding chancellor of the University of New Orleans, he led the university from 1958 to 1980, helping develop it from a small urban offshoot of Louisiana State University.
Jacksonville (Delta-Upsilon)
After completing an Initiation Ritual for six new associate members last fall, the chapter now has 17 brothers. Chapter members have implemented the new Seven Core Values as part of the True Brother Initiative, helping make significant chapter improvements.
Muhlenberg (Nu-Epsilon)
John E. McCormick (1950) died.
Sandro Negron (2009) serves as IFC treasurer.
Nevada-Reno (Epsilon-Iota)
Attilio M. Genasci (1931) died January 29, 2008. A chapter founder, he was a Sierra Valley rancher who launched a local movement to protect the agricultural area from development, earning him a lifetime achievement award from the Sierra Business Council.
Jimmy Guerin (2008) has led the establishment of the lacrosse club on the campus, of which six members are Lambda Chis. The Pumpkin Bust philanthropy raised $700 for a local charity.
Kansas State (Gamma-Xi)
Newport Beach Area Alumni Association
Rich Macha (1980) was promoted to vice president customer service for the Independence Blue Cross Family of Companies.
More than 35 members attended the Newport Beach Area Alumni Association reception held on February 7, 2008, at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. The event was hosted by Ryan Kelly (CaliforniaSanta Barbara 1990), and Executive Vice President Emeritus George Spasyk (Michigan 1949) served as the keynote speaker. One of the reception’s highlight was a reunion between Spasyk and Francis X. Nutto (Michigan 1945), who were together at the Michigan chapter in the 1940s.
Kettering-A (Lambda-Epsilon (A)) Christopher Smith met U.S. presidential candidate Ron Paul (Gettysburg 1957) at a rally in Greenville, South Carolina.
Kutztown (Sigma-Gamma)
Dominic Costanzo (2009) was elected IFC director of community service.
New Mexico State (Zeta-Gamma)
Lehigh (Gamma-Psi)
Chapter members helped replace the shed at the Otero Boys and Girls Club that was destroyed in a recent fire.
Harold A. Strohman (1939) died January 22, 2008. A World War II veteran, he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was later employed at Baldwin Locomotive, and Cummins Engine until his retirement in 1978.
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Nick Wiegel (2009) was elected IFC vice president of administration, and Josh Lyon (2010) IFC vice president of public relations.
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March 2008
CHAPTER NEWS
North Carolina-Chapel Hill (Gamma-Nu)
Southeast Missouri State (Delta-Phi)
Richard M. Love (1956) died January 25, 2008.
Joe Gholson (2009) became the first student named to the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation board of directors. He also serves as SGA vice president.
North Florida (Delta-Alpha)
Former IFC and chapter president, Daniel May (1996) was named the new director of career development for Jones College in Jacksonville, Florida.
Nick Griggs (2009) was selected as a member of the cheerleading squad, joining Scott Burle (2008) and team captain Ryan Shipp (2008).
North Texas (Iota-Zeta)
Franklin Grey (2008) was elected president of Group Area Council, the governing body of Greek housing.
Michael L. Bailey (1966) died February 9, 2008.
Pittsburgh (Gamma-Epsilon)
The chapter earned a 3.0 GPA for the fall 2007 semester, second highest among all fraternities.
Randolph-Macon (Kappa-Tau)
More than 70 alumni and undergraduate members, including former Fraternity staff member Jason LeGrand (1996), attended an alumni event at a St. Louis Blues hockey game.
Lawrence L. Gross (1940) died 2005.
Kyle Wiggins was named to the NIC’s 2007 All-Fraternity AllAmerican Football first team.
San Antonio Area Alumni Association
More than 40 alumni, plus undergraduate members from the three local chapters, attended the San Antonio Area Alumni Association reception held on January 23, 2008, at the Hotel Valencia in San Antonio, Texas. Attendees included Grand High Alpha Dr. Ed Leonard (William Jewell 1979) and Grand High Gamma Dr. Greg Smith (Washington 1962). For more information on the alumni association, please contact Alan Psencik (Incarnate Word 2005) at lap01@flash.net.
Gary Kellmann (1991) and Mike Kuhn (1991) have coauthored a novel, entitled “White Ghost in China .”
Southern California (Zeta-Delta)
The chapter has 101 active members and a 3.26 GPA. Matt Jordan (2009) is a cornerback on the football team. Arjan Ligtenberg (2009) plays two meter on the NCAA runnerup water polo team.
San Diego (Delta-Kappa)
Andrew Camera (2009) was elected IFC president, and David Cook (2008) IFC vice president of membership.
Murphy Troy, named 2007 Volleyball Magazine first team AllAmerican in high school, is a member of the volleyball team. Sean Dennis, named 2007 Volleyball Magazine second team AllAmerican in high school, is a member of the volleyball team. Brad Keenan is a member of the volleyball team.
Eric Bakhtiari (2008) was named to the NIC’s 2007 AllFraternity All-American Football Teams first team.
San Diego Area Alumni Association
Texas-Austin (Alpha-Mu)
More than 35 members attended the San Diego Area Alumni Association reception held on February 5, 2008, at the La Jolla Marriott in La Jolla, California. Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988) presented a Fraternity update to the attendees. Mert Hill (Drexel 1967) spoke to the group about the alumni association’s social calendar, which includes a baseball game at Petco Park against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 10, 2008. For more information, contact Greg Ervice (San Diego State 1966) at gervice@cox.net. www.crossandcrescent.com
John H. Sheffield (1929) died May 9, 2007. Laurance “Lanny” Priddy (1966) died February 13, 2008. A former chapter president, he served in the U.S. Army and became a commanding officer of a military police company while serving in Korea. A practicing lawyer, he left his private practice in 2000, and began working as a managing attorney for Advocacy Inc. He also taught law classes and published three novels.
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March 2008
CHAPTER NEWS
Texas-San Antonio (Phi-Upsilon)
Mark W. Rutherford (1982), an attorney with Thrasher Buschmann Griffith & Voelkel, P.C., of Indianapolis, Indiana, was elected chairman of the Indiana Public Defender Commission.
At the 2007 Greek Awards ceremony, the chapter won the following awards: 2007 Greek Week Champs; Michael Lopez (2008), Greek Man of the Year; Lopez, IFC Officer of the Year; Highest GPA Spring 2007; 2007 Outstanding Alumni Relations; Most Service Hours Fall 2007; Most Money Donated Fall 2007; and, 2007 Outstanding Program, North American Food Drive (218,000 pounds).
Dr. John D. Chase (1942) died February 14, 2008. A chapter founder, he was a physician with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from 1952 until his retirement in 1978, serving as chief of staff, associate chief medical director, and chief medical director. In 1992, the John D. Chase Award for Physician Executive Excellence was established and is presented annually to a senior military physician who has exhibited sustained outstanding performance and leadership in an executive position.
Texas A&M (Delta-Mu)
Mark Pollet (2008) is a committeeman on Student Government Recruitment. Tom Stewart (2008) and Kris Smith are members of the Corps of Cadets.
Texas Christian (Iota-Pi)
Washington (Alpha-Psi)
Chris Manfredini (2008) was named to the NIC’s 2007 AllFraternity All-American Football first team.
Assistant coach Jim Mora Jr. (Washington 1983) received a five-year agreement with the Seattle Seahawks, allowing him to transition into the head coaching job once head coach Mike Holmgren retires after the 2008 season.
Towson (Phi-Omega)
Chapter members participated in 12th annual Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge on January 26, 2008. The chapter raised $3,200 for the Special Olympics Maryland.
Washington State (Tau)
Union (Lambda-Zeta)
Chapter members volunteered to help host the Whitman County Humane Society’s Fur Ball and Yappy Hourfundraiser held on February 9, 2008, benefiting the shelter and its animals.
All chapter members were unharmed after a tornado touched down at Union University on February 5, 2008, destroying two major residential complexes and blowing the roof off one of the main academic buildings. Chapter members are helping with clean-up and relief efforts, using their chapter house as a storage and distribution area for high priority items. The tragedy also forced the members to postpone the scheduled Initiation Ritual for the associate members.
Western Kentucky (Lambda-Lambda)
Aaron D. Klem (2006) died February 2, 2008. He was a city planner in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
Western Michigan (Lambda-Tau) Dennis Hague (1976) died 2005.
Wabash (Alpha-Kappa)
Adrian Pynenberg (2008) was named to the NIC’s 2007 AllFraternity All-American Football first team.
Widener (Beta-Chi)
Maj. John W. Jackson (1992) died November 10, 2007. Assigned to Pacific Air Forces Headquarters, he was an electrical engineer for the U.S. Air Force, and was serving a special duty assignment with the International Affairs Division of PACAF as the China/Taiwan regional affairs strategist. He served as the chapter’s fraternity educator, and as the University of New Mexico’s chapter adviser.
Indiana’s Solicitor General Tom Fisher (1991) argued before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a well-documented case involving Indiana’s controversial voter identification law. Greg Castanias (1987), who has argued cases before the nation’s highest court, attended the proceeding to support Fisher.
Wisconsin-Whitewater (Lambda-Iota) Andrew T. Ullrich (2008) died January 23, 2008.
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Cross & Crescent
March 2008
FRATERNITY NEWS
Update from the Executive Vice President
By Bill Farkas (Butler 1988)
percentage of men, had higher grades, and had higher campus involvement. On the individual side, we have learned that associate members from chapters implementing the outer circle retained a stronger sense of self-awareness and self-esteem once initiated, compared to chapters not implementing the outer circle. This work is truly groundbreaking, not just for Lambda Chi Alpha, but for the Greek movement and the higher education community.
This past fall, I was in Boston, Massachusetts, and had a chance to visit some of our Fraternity’s historical landmarks. One of these places is 22 Joy Street — which is where it’s believed the words “Lambda Chi Alpha” were first mentioned.
2007 Stead Leadership Seminar In July, more than 750 brothers gathered at the University of Memphis, for the 2007 Jerre L. and Mary Joy Stead Leadership Seminar. There, the True Brother Initiative was introduced to the chapters, in addition to other programming that chapter leaders were able to take away, including updated tools and information about recruitment and ritualism.
This also is where founder Warren A. Cole (Boston 1912) and his friends began to brainstorm about what would one day become one of the world’s largest fraternities. The founders who met at 22 Joy Street could not have envisioned that their ideas would result in a Fraternity with more than 255,000 initiated members, or where 10,000 undergraduates would be experiencing Lambda Chi Alpha on 200 campuses across North America.
Alumni leaders assisted as facilitators, coaches, and mentors, bringing an educational experience of a lifetime to the undergraduates who attended. The event was the largest gathering of Lambda Chi Alpha members in decades, and many feel this single experience can be credited with the reason for a solid increase in membership this fall.
True Brother Initiative With our history in mind, today’s undergraduate brothers (the “Millennial Generation”) are very different than generations from the past. The Baby Boomers, the Greatest Generation, and Generation X have more in common with each other than they all do with the Millennial Generation. This new generation is not better or worse than the rest, just very different.
The Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation granted $140,000 to underwrite the educational aspects of this program, essentially lowering the cost to attend by $200 per brother. We feel that this funding enabled several hundred additional men to enjoy the personal benefits of the experience and return to assist, lead and strengthen their chapters. What a difference alumni support makes!
To remain relevant to today’s students, who prefer an experiential learning model with a road map to success, the Fraternity has created The True Brother Initiative, an educational model with three progressions.
Neville Advisers College Attendees at the 2007 Stead Leadership Seminar also included more than 100 chapter advisers from across North America. These brothers joined together for a new educational certification program designed and facilitated by experienced Lambda Chi Alpha chapter advisers.
One of the single most important aspects of this new initiative is that we are measuring outcomes. Specifically, we are taking stock of our chapters, as well as individual brothers, to establish the direction we need to provide for the experiences we offer. On the chapter side, early information collected this past fall (August 2007 through December 2007) indicates that chapters implementing the outer circle, when compared to chapters implementing little or none of the outer circle, recruited more men, initiated a higher www.crossandcrescent.com
This experience has been named The Ronald A. Neville Alumni Advisers
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March 2008
FRATERNITY NEWS College. New chapter advisers and “seasoned” veterans came together Alumni Associations to share and learn about mentoring and coaching today’s college men. In the summer of 2006, three This was the third such annual gathering. regional alumni associations were on the Lambda Chi Alpha The Neville Alumni Advisers College provides new and experienced map — Dallas-Ft. Worth, San advisers with the tools and information that will help them as the Antonio, and San Diego. As of fraternity and campus environments become more complicated. February 2008, the Fraternity has a regional alumni Specific topics covered included: association presence in 12 • Understanding a new philosophy of advising additional cities, bringing our • Facilitating member development in Lambda Chi Alpha total to 15. • Advising within Lambda Chi Alpha’s mission, vision, and values While Lambda Chi Alpha’s primary focus is to develop undergraduate • Updates and training in Lambda Chi Alpha initiatives leaders of character, additional resources have been dedicated to • Understanding our partners in fraternity: the university, the growing alumni volunteers across North America. More than 90 parents, the community alumni are actively engaged in the leadership of these 15 regional • Helping chapters demonstrate their relevance on today’s alumni associations. campuses and their educational goals • Case studies on current challenges facing chapters and their Some of the alumni association activities include social and advisers professional networking events, community service projects, and the use of online communities that bolster more than 1,400 registered A grant from the Educational Foundation of $68,000 made the alumni participants. difference for this conference and other educational opportunities to engage alumni to enhance the undergraduate experience. With the General Fraternity’s support, five new associations were formed in the fall of 2007: Washington, D.C.; Indianapolis, Indiana; 2008 Winter Leadership Retreat Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; St. Louis, Missouri; and Nashville, Over the years, winter and spring educational conferences have taken Tennessee. a variety of forms, from conclaves hosted on campuses, to regional conferences, to the international leadership retreat that has been held Our 15 alumni associations all have the common goal of bringing a for several years. greater number of alumni back into touch with the Fraternity and creating a greater awareness of Lambda Chi Alpha in their respective This year, in January, 300 undergraduates and alumni gathered at the city. T Bar M Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas, for the 2008 Winter Leadership Retreat. Centennial Celebration Yes, our Fraternity will turn 100 years old in 2009, and we have a For the undergraduate members there were workshops on: century of true brothers as evidence. • • • • • • •
Leadership and chapter operations Recruiting based on Lambda Chi Alpha’s Seven Core Values Sexual harassment and respectful relationships with women Team building experiences Accountability Legal liabilities and responsibilities History and ritual of Lambda Chi Alpha
In Lambda Chi Alpha, anything that’s worth doing is worth overdoing. Therefore, we will celebrate our centennial for 18 months, not just one year. The Fraternity will kickoff the Centennial Celebration this summer at the final dinner of our 52nd General Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona. We will then bring the celebration to our members with more than 30 events in various cities across North America. The pinnacle celebration will take place from July 31–August 1, 2009, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The undergraduate members also were able to meet the Grand High Zeta members and Fraternity staff leadership team. By video, attendees were welcomed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Alumni brother Joe Driver (North Texas 1971), a representative in the Texas State Legislature, declared the attendees honorary Texans and inspired everyone with his reflections on what it means to be a Lambda Chi. www.crossandcrescent.com
Our final event, November 6–7, 2009, will be a tour of our historical landmarks in Boston, Massachusetts. We hope you can join the thousands of alumni and undergraduate members who will participate in some aspect of our Fraternity’s Centennial Celebration; in addition, we look forward to what the next 100 years will bring for Lambda Chi Alpha. Lambda Chi Alpha is truly a great Fraternity — and our alumni and undergraduate members are what make it so.
Cross & Crescent
March 2008
HISTORY
100 Years of Notable Alumni Highlights from science, arts and literature.
By Jon Williamson (Maryland-College Park 1965)
In the January 2008 issue of the Cross & Crescent, we began a multi-part series honoring 100 years of outstanding alumni. Our initial installment featured famous and successful athletes, both intercollegiately and professionally.
Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Following World War II, he served as the director of the Enrico Fermi Institute of Nuclear Studies from 1946 to 1957, and again from 1963 to 1965. Dr. J. Michael Bishop (Gettysburg 1958) is an immunologist and microbiologist who won the Nobel Prize in 1989 for physiology or medicine. Bishop, and others, clarified the origins of cancer. Bishop was a researcher with the National Institute of Health and then worked at his present location, the University of California-San Francisco. For his Nobel Prize, he found that healthy body cells contain dormant viral oncogenes, which when triggered cause cancer.
In my research of our history, I continue to marvel at how Warren A. Cole’s (Boston 1912) dream attracted so many top-flight students without a base of established alumni, almost from the beginning. Our great Fraternity is blessed with a challenge: How do we single out a handful of our brothers to represent so many who have achieved success? Frequently this has been accomplished for us by the awarding of the Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize, or the highest award presented in their chosen occupation. In this article, we have identified a few of our brothers in the fields of science, engineering, and the literary arts. Enjoy and be proud!
Dr. Donald J. Cram (Rollins 1941) was awarded the 1987 Nobel Prize in chemistry for synthesizing threedimensional molecules that could mimic the functioning of natural molecules. Cram was a professor at the University of California-Los Angeles and also received the National Academy of Science Award in chemical science.
Science Lambda Chi Alpha is represented well by members who have made significant contributions to the various fields of science. Below are a few of the notable brothers: Dr. B.F. Skinner (Hamilton 1926) was one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. He developed what is now called “operant conditioning” and articulated the now widely accepted term “reinforcement” as a scientific principle of behavior. He received the following awards: National Medal of Science in 1968; Gold Medal of the American Psychological Foundation in 1971; Humanist of the Year in 1972; and, in 1990, Skinner received a citation for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology.
Charles G. King (Washington State 1918) was a nutritionist who codiscovered vitamin C. Although he began his college work at Washington State University, he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh following his service in World War I. He was an active researcher for 40 years, working to establish the functional role of vitamin B and working in the areas of fats and enzymes. He authored 200 articles on good nutritional practices and the positive effects of vitamins. Beginning in 1942, he was the scientific director of the Nutrition Foundation and in his later years assisted in establishing the Recommended Dietary Allowances of food products.
Dr. Samuel K. Allison (Chicago 1921) was a physicist best known for his work on the Manhattan Project, and he was a member of the National Academy of Science. The Manhattan Project’s main goal was the development of an atomic bomb and Allison was the person in charge of the “countdown” of the test explosion on July 16, 1945, which occurred on the White
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Ralph B. Lightfoot (Rhode Island 1935) was able to prove that a baseball curve really does exist, using wind tunnels and high speed photography. He was also a top engineer with Sikorsky Helicopters. Dr. Donald F. Othmer (Nebraska 1924) was an acclaimed chemical engineer. He helped develop the explosive RDX used in World War II. He obtained more than 150 patents, including the Othmer Still. He co-authored the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical
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HISTORY Technology, which is a multi-volume reference work. The Othmer Gold Medal is awarded annually by the Chemical Heritage Foundation to honor individuals who made multifaceted contributions to our chemical and scientific heritage. Othmer and his wife left estates valued at $800 million to charity.
style. He was one of the founders of the Western History Association in 1961. He also shares a unique distinction of having been awarded the Purple Heart while serving in the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Robin Lee Hood (Tennessee-Chattanooga 1965) received the Pulitzer Prize for photography in 1977 for a photo of a Vietnam veteran holding a small child while watching Chattanooga’s 1976 rain-soaked Armed Forces Day parade. The picture appeared in the Chattanooga News-Free Press.
Blair Benson (Worcester Polytechnic Inst 1941) was a co-developer of a videotape machine using rotating heads for use in the television industry. This invention led to his winning an Emmy for engineering in 1956. He was a fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
Edward D. Keukes (Baldwin-Wallace) was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for his political cartoon “Aftermath,” which also received numerous awards and honors including Freedoms Foundation. His collection is housed at Syracuse University.
Frederick A. Farrar (Worcester Polytechnic Inst 1931) developed the first dimmer for car headlights. Arts and Literature In the field of arts and literature, members of Lambda Chi Alpha have been recognized for their achievements and honored with accolades and awards.
Chester Gould (Oklahoma State 1921) was a cartoonist who was best known as the creator of the comic strip, “Dick Tracy,” which he produced from 1931 to 1977. He has been honored with the Reuben Award in 1959 and 1977 by the National Cartoonists Society. This award is presented annually to the cartoonist of the year.
Edwin Markham (Rollins 1928) was a poet most famous for his poem, “The Man with The Hoe,” written in 1898. Markham’s inspiration for the poem was a French painting of the same name by Jean Francois Millet. In 1908, he was honored by his election to the National Institute of Arts and Letters. On the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1932, he was honored with a party in Carnegie Hall attended by President Herbert Hoover, who honored him for lifetime accomplishments and named him one of the most important artists of his age. He frequently visited Lambda Chi Alpha chapters in his travels and penned the poem, “Brotherhood,” which appeared in the March 1940 issue of the Cross & Crescent.
Frank Reynolds (Wabash 1946) was a reporter and anchorman. He served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II and received the Purple Heart. He is best remembered for his work as an anchorman on ABC News which earned him a Peabody Award in 1969 for excellence in broadcast journalism. He was featured on the cover of Time Magazine on November 21st of that year. On May 23, 1985, President Ronald Reagan presented posthumously a Medal of Freedom to recognize Reynolds for his “fair-minded reporting and devotion to his profession, to family, and to country.”
William Manchester (Massachusetts 1946) was a historian and biographer. He was a best-selling author who wrote 18 books that were translated into 20 languages. Some of his better known works were: “Portrait of a President,” “Death of a President,” “American Caesar: Douglas McArthur,” and “The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill.” He served in World War II and was wounded twice. Manchester worked for the Baltimore Evening Sun and later for Wesleyan University.
When some of the estimated 22 million daily listeners hear the familiar expressions, “Page Two,” or “And now you know the rest of the story,” they know they are listening to Paul Harvey (Culver Stockton 1939). His show is carried on 1,200 radio stations, 400 U.S. Armed Forces Network stations, and appears in 300 newspapers. In 1993, Harvey received a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting, and in 2005, President George W. Bush recognized Harvey by presenting him with the Medal of Freedom “for his extraordinary career in broadcasting and for his contributions to the intellectual and political life of our Nation.”
Dr. John Alexander Carroll (Texas Christian 1950) shared the Pulitzer Prize in 1958 for the book, “George Washington: First in Peace.” Carroll was a professor at Del Mar College, Texas Christian University and the University of Arizona, where his students regarded him as a high energy, highly-entertaining and demanding professor. He was also described by his penchant for dressing in an Old West
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Choose Responsibility Founder Dr. John McCardell is the founder and director of Choose Responsibility, a nonprofit organization established to engage the public in informed and dispassionate debate over the effects and By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1988) consequences of the 21-year-old drinking age. In 2004, the editors of The New York Times asked Middlebury College President Emeritus Dr. John McCardell (Washington & Lee 1971) to write an essay reflecting on his experiences.
Robertson’s foundation gave Middlebury a grant that allowed McCardell to hire student research assistants and they spent a year composing an essay, entitled “The Effects of the 21 Year-Old Drinking Age: A White Paper.”
He agreed and submitted a 1,500-word, six point article, entitled “What Your College President Didn’t Tell You.”
In the summer of 2006, after McCardell submitted the piece to Robertson, he again assumed that would be the end of it. “We’ve done the study and we’ve fulfilled the terms of the grant,” he says. “This has been a very interesting exercise and we’ve discovered some things that we think show that 21 is not working as well as its supporters claim.”
Unfortunately, the editors then said they could only publish 750 words, so they asked him to reduce his article to three points including a particular one about the drinking age.
But Robertson didn’t want to let the issue drop so he asked McCardell what funding it would take to create a non-profit organization to educate the public. McCardell put together a very modest budget and presented it to Robertson who asked, if his foundation put in half could McCardell raise the other half?
“So I sent it in and it appeared in September of 2004,” McCardell says. “You have your 24 hours of fame generally when those things appear and then it kind of evaporates....” Well 700 of his words did evaporate, but the remaining 50 about the drinking age, received an extraordinary response. He received e-mails, and letters, and even a few phone calls — almost entirely positive.
“Well what’s a former college president and fundraiser to say when confronted with a challenge?,” McCardell says. “’Of course, Mr. Robertson. Of course, I can do that.’ So the foundation over the last 12 months has given us several hundred thousand dollars and we’ve managed to raise an equivalent amount.”
Chance Encounter One of the calls was from Julian Robertson, the founder and former chairman of the legendary Tiger Management Corp., which at one time was one of the world’s largest hedge funds.
Media Spokesperson Choose Responsibility incorporated as a non-profit in December 2006, with a bare bones operation -- three staff members and offices on a second floor over a storefront in Middlebury.
Robertson told McCardell that he agreed with the point about the drinking age issue and wanted to know what they could do about it.
In April 2007, the Choose Responsibility website went live and almost immediately they began to receive public attention.
“And I said, ‘Mr. Robertson, I really don’t know what we’re going to do about this...I’ve just stepped down as the president and I’m going to go back to being an historian,’” McCardell says.
The other “turning point” came when columnist George Will found out about the organization and wrote an article for The Washington Post in April 2007. “We were off to the races after that,” McCardell says.
However, the two did agree to meet and subsequently convened several meetings over the course of 2004 and 2005, which involved other former college presidents. The group decided the next step would be to prepare a white paper.
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The media interest has increased steadily -- including coverage from CNN, Fox News, National Public Radio, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, Parade Magazine, and college newspapers across the country.
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FEATURE In addition, Leslie Stahl with CBS’ “60 Minutes” interviewed McCardell in late January of this year and the segment about the drinking age is scheduled to be broadcast in the coming weeks. “I don’t think anyone would have predicted the degree of public response to this issue, which really says to me it’s time to reopen this debate,” he says. Public Educator In 1984, federal law did not set a national drinking age. It said the states may set the age limit wherever they chose but, if they set it lower than 21, they would forfeit 10 percent of their federal highway funds.
In 1977, he received the Allan Nevins Prize from the Society of American Historians for the best-written dissertation on an American subject. His dissertation was later published by Norton & Co., under the title of The Idea of a Southern Nation.
“A law that a vast majority of the affected population is not observing is not a law that should remain unchallenged.”
As president, McCardell led a strategic planning effort that produced a 10-year plan for Middlebury. The plan took a comprehensive view of the institution and boldly projected a 15 percent increase to an enrollment of 2,350 by the year 2004, an addition of 30 new faculty members, and a facilities plan for $200 million in new or renovated space.
He led a successful capital campaign, which closed its books on June 30, 2001, having exceeded its $200 million goal by almost $12 million, and a second mini-campaign that raised $40 million during the academic year 2002–2003.
“Well that was a pretty effective way of stifling debate,” McCardell says. “So the legislative remedy, or the change that needs to take place, which we are beginning to advocate, is the lifting of that 10 percent condition.”
He stepped down from the presidency in June 2004, but continues to serve as a tenured history professor.
Ultimately, the decision would then fall to the states to determine what the drinking age would be — but it is unlikely any state legislature or governor would consider a new bill and risk a cut in federal funding.
Renewed Energy McCardell jokes and says his role with Choose Responsibility “makes you get out of bed in the morning.”
McCardell plans to spend the rest of this year doing his best to educate the public. He hopes that by some time in 2009, with a new president and a new U.S. Congress, there will be a chance to introduce a new bill to remove the 10 percent penalty.
He never could have imagined that The New York Times article would evolve into starting a new business. He thought that when he stepped down as Middlebury’s president he would just go back to being an historian and a college professor.
“The day after this happens the drinking age will still be 21 in every state,” he says. “But the day after that happens we also will be able to see this debate resume, unencumbered and on a level playing field. So that’s really what we’re really looking towards.”
“Well, I have to say, it has been energizing,” he says. “It has been stimulating. It has been fascinating. I have enjoyed the give and take. And I happen to believe, I happen to agree with, the people on the other side who believe this is a very serious public health issue.”
Middlebury President In 1992, when McCardell was named the 15th president of Middlebury College, he was only the second president in the almost 200-year history of the college to be selected from the ranks of the faculty.
The essential message McCardell wants to share is that legal age 21 assumes that most young adults, if given the chance, behave irresponsibly and therefore need to have a law on the books to prevent that. The Choose Responsibility view is that a legal age of 18 assumes that most young adults will behave responsibly, given the chance, and that the more responsibility you expect of a young adult the more responsible behavior you’re likely to get.
After graduating from Washington and Lee University, he completed his graduate work at Johns Hopkins University and then earned a doctorate in history from Harvard University in 1976. That same year he joined the Middlebury history department.
In the eyes of the law, 18 year olds are adults in every other respect. “It is inconsistent, and frankly indefensible, to say that maturity and judgment are there to vote, to sit on a jury, to sign a contract, and to defend your country — but not to buy a beer,” he says. “A law that a vast majority of the affected population is not observing is not a law that should remain unchallenged.”
During the past 32 years, in addition to his teaching responsibilities, McCardell has been dean for academic development and planning, dean of the faculty, provost and vice president for academic affairs and acting president.
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Texas State Legislator Y’all. Fixin’. Purt’ near. Hankerin’. Gully washer. Sgoweat. Awlbidness. These were just a few of the colorful terms guest speaker Texas state Rep. Joe Driver (North Texas 1971) cited at the Fraternity’s 2008 Winter Leadership Retreat in New Braunfels, Texas, when he made all of the attendees honorary Texans. Representing District 113, which includes Garland, Rowlett, and Sachse, Texas, he is serving his eighth two-year term as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, with plans to run for reelection again this fall. In 2007, Driver was appointed to his third term as chairman of the Law Enforcement Committee, and a second term on the Environmental Regulation Committee. In addition to his political and legislative duties, he also has been an agent for State Farm Insurance Companies for 34 years with an office in Garland, Texas. North Texas Driver played basketball in high school and played one year at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, as one of the coaches recruited him to be a walk-on player. “I was just not quite good enough to get a scholarship,” he says. “So North Texas was far enough away from home but close enough to home that it seemed like a pretty good school.” After his freshman year, North Texas changed basketball coaches and the new coach recruited new players, so Driver was recuited to a Texas junior college by another coach he knew. Unfortunately, that eventually didn’t work out either, and transferred back to North Texas to focus on earning his degree. Upon his return, he discovered that a general business degree required three semesters of accounting instead of two. Not wanting to delay his graduation any futher, he earned an insurance degree, which only required two semesters of accounting. Lambda Chi Also when Driver returned to North Texas, some of his friends encouraged him to pursue joining Lambda Chi Alpha. One of those friends was Larry Caldwell (North Texas 1969), who only a short time later was killed tragically in a car crash. “With Larry gone, I had to re-evaluate whether I really wanted to stay in the Fraternity,” Driver said. www.crossandcrescent.com 14
By Tad Lichtenauer (Butler 1988) Luckily, he did stay and eventually became the chapter’s president, even though he never campaigned for the position. “It’s kind of like ‘if called upon I will serve,’” he says. “Three or four of us said if we’re going to hold this together we’re going to have to have somebody we can count on. And they started looking my way.” During his tenure, he dealt with all types of challenges and issues surrounding the chapter and its members but he cherished the opportunity. “It was fantastic,” he says. “It was literally one of the most growing experiences I’ve ever had other than the Texas legislature.” Texas Legislature After graduating from North Texas, Driver became a successful insurance agent, working alongside his dad. He also volunteered for various community leadership positions in Garland, Texas, and became one of the city’s civic leaders. Anita Hill, the previous state representative for Driver’s district, told him in the early 1990s that he needed to take over for her when she retired. Without any political experience, Driver quickly learned as much as he could and was elected to his first term in 1992. “And then I went down to Austin going, okay I won, what do I do now?,” he says. Eventually, he found his way around the political arena and won over many fellow Republicans and Democrats, including leaders of both the Texas House and Senate, as well as then Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Driver says he has no plans to run for higher office as he thinks it would be too political and involve too much delegation, which goes against his nature. He believes that in the service business, whether it’s politics, fraternity or insurance, you have to sell to survive. When thinking about his accomplishments, he recites a phrase he once read: “’You can be an ordinary person put in extraordinary circumstances’. And I felt like each time something happened, I was just an ordinary guy put in extraordinary circumstances.” Cross & Crescent
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March Madness Lambda Chi has been well represented in the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament since its inception in 1939. Henry Iba (Westminster 1927), Larry Brown (California-Los Angeles HON), and Rick Pitino (Massachusetts) have led their squads to a combined four National Championships, and nine Final Four appearances. March Madness isn’t always about who wins the title but about the upsets and underdogs. This year Ronnie Arrow (Texas State-San Marcos 1969), head coach at the University of South Alabama, and Tommy Dempsey (Susquehanna 1996), head coach at Rider University, hope to be among the Cinderella teams. Arrow has coached in three NCAA Tournaments, including a secondround loss to eventual national champion Michigan in 1989. “Getting into March Madness is amazing,” says Arrow. “There is no greater sporting event then the NCAA Tournament. It gives yourself, your players, and coaching staff something major to shoot for each year.” Dempsey has never coached a NCAA Division I Tournament game but hopes that changes this season. Rider Coach Dempsey says it was during his junior year of college he decided he wanted to pursue coaching basketball as a career. “I wanted to do something that I was passionate about and at that stage in my life the only two things that I was truly passionate about were family and sports,” he says. Following a short stint as an assistant at his alma mater, Susquehanna University, Dempsey began his head coaching career at the age of 24 at Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School in Kingston, Pennsylvania. The following year, he moved to the college ranks coaching Keystone College from 2000–2002 and Lackawanna Community College from 2002–2003. He took each team to the NJCAA Final Four and twice was a finalist for National Coach of the Year honors. In 2003, Dempsey became an assistant coach at Rider and was named interim head coach during the 2005–2006 season. He took the reins full-time the following season. Currently, his team is tied for the lead in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. He says the season has been very rewarding thus far but there is a lot of work still to be done. His Rider team’s goal is to make the field of 65 in the NCAA tournament. They also have the school record for wins in sight. www.crossandcrescent.com
By Chris Barrick (Butler 2004) “We feel we have as good of a shot as anyone heading into the conference tournament,” says Dempsey. “To cut down the nets and advance to the Big Dance would be a dream come true.” South Alabama Coach In 1988, Arrow was named head coach at South Alabama. In his eightyear stint he won two Sun Belt Conference Tournaments, giving his teams automatic births to the NCAA Tournament. In 1998, Arrow took on the task of starting the Texas A&M–Corpus Christi program from scratch. “We started A&M from nothing: no players, logos, pens, pencils, basketballs, or uniforms,” says Arrow. The team played its inaugural season in 1999. It spent seven seasons without any conference affiliation, meaning it had no real shot at making the NCAA Tournament field. During this time though they made their presence felt, including defeating powerhouses Florida State and Old Dominion in the 2004–2005 season. In 2006–2007, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi joined the Southland Conference. The team put together a 26-7 record behind six seniors. They won the conference regular and tournament championship, giving them a bid to the NCAA Tournament. As a 15th seed they led Wisconsin by 18 points before eventually losing the game. “I was very proud of the six seniors we had last year,” says Arrow. “They gave themselves the opportunity to have a memory they will never forget in playing in the NCAA Tournament.” Following the season, Arrow was given the opportunity to return home to South Alabama. He has led his squad into a tie for the lead in the Sun Belt Conference this season. His team has beaten the large conference school of Mississippi State and took Vanderbilt to double overtime. “I think the Sun Belt has shown this year that we can play with the big boys,” says Arrow. “We play a lot of the big boys and we don’t back down from them. It’s an opportunity to sell your kids on that they want to play against good talent, and good teams.” His short-term goal is to win out the regular season giving his team the top seed in the conference tournament, which South Alabama is hosting. When asked about his expectations for the conference tournament and beyond, Arrow simply says, “To win it and to go as deep as possible into the NCAA tournament as we can. There is nothing like winning your conference tournament in front of your fans and student body.” Cross & Crescent March 2008 15