Cross & Crescent a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication Features True Brother 3 2008 Measurable Outcomes Centennial News 4 Perspectives from the Sky Fraternity News 6 Control Your Online Image History 8 Legacies of Gettysburg Chapter News 11 Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
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Hall of Fame Pro Wrestler Tito Santana, a former professional wrestler and football player, today teaches Spanish as a way of giving back to the community. Recently, he published a book, Tito Santana: Tales From the Ring, depicting his life in the spotlight and growing up in a poor Hispanic migrant worker family in south Texas. By Chris Barrick
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Million Dollar Man Opera singer Neal E. Boyd Won NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” on October 1, 2008, earning a giant paycheck. A alumni brother from Southeast Missouri State, he recently performed in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, and is beginning work on his first album. Tad Lichtenauer (Denison 1987)
Credits
Contributions
Publisher: Bill Farkas Editor: Tad Lichtenauer Assistant Editor: Chris Barrick 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 15th 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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TRUE BROTHER
2008 Measurable Outcomes Groundbreaking co-curricular educational program proves positive impact on chapter and undergraduate brothers’ personal development By Tim Reuter (Simpson 2003) As a leader in the co-curricular Fraternity movement, Lambda Chi Alpha has redefined and evolved the method of maturational development in fraternity men. Working closely with psychologist Dr. Elgan Baker (DePauw 1971), winner of the 2007 Hans H. Strupp award (his profession’s highest honor), Lambda Chi Alpha is measuring the developmental maturation of its members and comparing the outcomes at a campus to campus level.
It is important that our undergraduate and alumni brothers understand that the True Brother Initiative is promoting positive growth in the lives of our active brothers. These early outcomes are extremely encouraging and provide the brotherhood with affirmation that we are on a course that truly makes brothers better men -- and eventually better husbands and parents.
Under the umbrella of the True Brother Initiative, a comprehensive development program format and structure for undergraduate and alumni members to actively live our core values in every aspect of their lives, Lambda Chi Alpha is using the following instruments to assess member development:
Chapter Performance Chapters integrating True Brother scored higher on ALL measures of performance
The general results from the 2008 participant survey results show:
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• The Self Consciousness Scale (Fenigstein, 1975) • Self Esteem Scale (Rosenburg, 1965) • Multidimensional Emotional Empathy Scale (Caruso and Mayer, 1998) • Self Report Altruism Scale (Rushton et al, 1981) • The Miller Social Intimacy Scale (Miller & Lecourt, 1982)
Chapters most fully and successfully integrating components of True Brother showed significantly greater levels of change than other comparison chapters.
Developed and piloted in 2006, this unique educational program was made available to our nearly 200 chapters and colonies in 2007. Surveys are currently administered to our members at the point of association and initiation, with the intention of a third survey during their final academic term before graduation.
Individual Development Chapters integrating True Brother scored higher than national norms on ALL measures of developmental maturation
A fully comprehensive development program, the True Brother Initiative provides a format and structure to actively live Lambda Chi Alpha’s Seven Core Values -- Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Service & Stewardship, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage -- in every aspect of chapter function, as well as in the individual development of young men.
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Results from the survey and assessment component of the True Brother Initiative indicate that chapters implementing all components of the initiative score above the national norm in the developmental maturation related to self-esteem, self-awareness, empathy, altruism, and intimacy.
Self-Awareness Self-Esteem Empathy Altruism Intimacy
Chapters integrating True Brother demonstrated significantly greater changes from association to Initiation on ALL measures of developmental maturation than chapters not integrating True Brother. The largest increases in developmental maturation were noted on empathy and capacity for intimacy.
Through this groundbreaking initiative, Lambda Chi Alpha has reaffirmed its role as educators and partners with administrators and faculty of our colleges and universities.
Typical decreases in self-awareness and self-esteem noted in college freshmen were not evidenced in chapters integrating the components of True Brother.
As we enter into another century of Lambda Chi Alpha, the entire brotherhood is excited about the Fraternity’s second century as our values, ideals, and Initiation Ritual teachings inspire today and tomorrow’s leaders in Lambda Chi Alpha and throughout society. www.crossandcrescent.com
Recruitment Class Size Retention to Initiation Grade Point Average Campus Involvement Community Service
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CENTENNIAL NEWS
Perspectives from the Sky October celebrations included stops in Boston, Philadelphia, Denver, Indianapolis, and Dallas.
By Dan Hartmann (Truman 2007)
It’s late October, the bite of winter has set in and another flight to see our brothers is underway. My travels take me to the Denver Regional Centennial Celebration. I am especially excited about catching up with a brother who joined the fraternity with me, Vince Colletti (Truman State 2007) who was with me through thick and thin during my undergraduate years. Fellow brother and Associate Director of Development Josh Lodolo (Cal State Northridge 2004) is also on his way to Denver to assist with the reception. Other staff members including Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988), Director of Chapter Services Biff Holloway (High Point 1993), Director of Communications Tad Lichtenauer (Denison 1987), Director of Education Tim Reuter (Simpson 2004), and Director of Risk Management Aaron Parker (Hanover 2006) are already in Denver working towards the advancement of our Fraternity.
However, that leads me to my next question. Was Lambda Chi Alpha the fraternity of Honest Friendship back in the days of pledgeship? After seeing Jim and talking with him briefly about his passion for the fraternity, a fraternity that he experienced 2,200 miles from his current home in Seattle, I have no doubt that the men who came first were the brothers that led by example and thus we have held honesty at the top of the list when it comes to Lambda Chi Alpha.
30,000 Feet View This month’s article comes from a Boeing 737 flying 30,000 feet above the Great Plains. The view up here is fabulous and there couldn’t be a better place for this article about perspectives.
Grand High Alpha Ed Leonard Another interesting perspective that I have recently been considering is the growth of our fraternity. Grand High Alpha Ed Leonard (William Jewell 1979) said it best at our reception at the Union League of Philadelphia earlier this month when he declared, “we are the only fraternity to initiate more than 250,000 brothers in our first 100 years!”
As other staff members and I have held receptions across the country and witnessed the attendance increase from last years’ receptions by an average of 12 brothers/guests, a lot of thoughts have been running through our minds. The average age range from the oldest participants to youngest at every Regional Centennial Celebration we have had thus far is greater than 50 years! I find it inspiring those brothers who attended schools and were a part of chapters 1,000 miles from their current place of residency, yet are compelled to come out to our various regional celebrations because the fraternity played such an important role in their lives as young men.
I believe that Brother Leonard’s statement has much more depth than applause of agreement and satisfaction. Stepping back and putting things into perspective, it is obvious that our fraternity, being amongst the top of total initiated members in relation to other men’s fraternities and being the youngest in that group by quite a few years, has brought to the table a brotherhood and experience second to none.
Jim Stubner, Illinois One example that I am replaying clearly in my head was talking to Jim Stubner (Illinois 1942) at our first reception in Seattle and realizing that Jim lived in the same fraternity house that I visited while a consultant in the northern midwest. Jim’s experiences on the Illinois campus and in the Lambda Chi house differ from the current undergraduates’ who live in a world with different societal norms and fashions.
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Brothers before us and brothers currently active have taken the oaths and obligations of Lambda Chi Alpha to depths not even Jack Mason and Warren Cole could have imagined. Did John Mason truly know what he would leave in his wake after spending countless hours revising, revisiting, and drafting our final Initiation Ritual (which happens to be the 3rd version in Lambda Chi Alpha)?
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CENTENNIAL NEWS
What 100 Years Means to Me Lambda Chi Alpha…for life!
I recently completed my bio for my 50th high school class reunion. Although it’s a quick trip, it has been a great one and looking back I wouldn’t make many changes. While reflecting back I re-enforced what I already knew; Lambda Chi was with me during all of those years. I first fell in love with the idea of fraternity when I was a pledge and the ideals of Lambda Chi Alpha followed shortly thereafter. A smile comes to my face when I think of all the mischief and fun I was a part of with the rest of the chapter. During my undergraduate years my personality evolved as I became part of a team, and eventually the president of my chapter. I was fortunate to have the honor of initiating my father, and our initiation has always stayed with me. Two of my sons became Lambda Chis and I had the honor of being part of their ritual teams too. Those were incredible experiences that will last a lifetime. I have two grandsons — one who shares my name — and I’m looking forward to another brother of the bond in just eight years.
Initiation Ritual This question leads me to my final point. Our Initiation Ritual says it all! For all the 260,000 + brothers who witnessed its grandeur in the first century of our existence and the next quarter of a million brothers who will experience the ritual in our next hundred years, everyone can agree that its message cannot be bound by time.
After graduation I began a hobby, my wife would call it an obsession, as I began researching the history of Lambda Chi Alpha, reading and re-reading all of the issues of the Cross & Crescent, identifying our prominent members, beginning with professional athletes. Returning from Vietnam, I was given the opportunity to interview some of our noteworthy brothers for the magazine. That was so rewarding as I grasped the love that these men still maintained for our great fraternity.
The modern takeaways for brothers are not that much different from the takeaways our first brothers had, those nearly a hundred years ago. And the best part is that every brother in our bond is invested. We have all gone through, participated, managed, and played a key role in the ritual experiences for the younger brothers on our campuses. And henceforth, they will be the guides throughout the next century of Lambda Chi Alpha.
The rewards of being in the circle of Lambda Chi Alpha are endless. The life lessons learned helped shape us into who we are today. The common threads of brotherhood and lasting friendships stay with us long after we have left our chapters. The memories of our youthful journey sustain us in difficult times. But most of all, we are able to pass along the principles and traditions of our great fraternity to the next generations.
As the sun streams through the window of the airplane, I am reminded of a flame that burns on altars late at night and into the early morning on cold November days. That flame is growing stronger as more brothers kindle its awe-inspiring power through secret ceremonies that are truly the catalyst for our fraternity’s advancement.
— Jon Williamson (Maryland 1965)
Jon is the retired executive vice president of the North American Interfraternity Conference and has been a volunteer for the Cross & Crescent for over 35 years.
In the fraternity of honest friendship where a pure heart is the only way to understand the greater good of Lambda Chi Alpha, we must be thankful for those who have led the way and those that continue on, lighting the way for brothers everywhere. From a young alumni director who learned at his chapter to ask the question, “what have you done for Lambda Chi Alpha today?” so do I ask my fellow brothers reading this article. It’s going to be a very bright second century of Lambda Chi Alpha!
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FRATERNITY NEWS
Control Your Online Image The decision of how you present yourself to the world is yours. By Jeff Reisdorfer (Wisconsin-Whitewater 1998) The technologies of today may seem cumbersome and omnipresent to some, while others see these tools as vehicles to move their image and message across the globe with the push of a button.
In Settings>Privacy>Profile, I recommend setting everything to at least “Only Friends.” And if you don’t want that pesky Wall to show up, just set that to “No one.” Consider changing your Photo Album Privacy Settings to only allow specific friends to access photo albums in which they appear.
Like it or not, the accessibility of information on the internet allows anyone the ability to find out information about you as an individual. The decision of how you present yourself to the world online is yours.
In Settings>Privacy>Search, you have the option of letting only Friends or Friends-of-Friends find you through a normal search. You can then set the filter to let other specific groups of people find you, such as people in college networks and so forth.
Why It’s Important Your name and affiliations are easily found online. Consider what your online image looks like friends, family members, (future) employers, and other people. Every group, event, website, blog, and fan club your name is associated with paints a very large picture of you.
Also, think about the way you want people to be able to contact you. When someone does find you, would you like them to be able to see your friend list, see your profile photo, etc? Choose settings that make the most sense for you.
Is this a fair and accurate depiction of who you really are? Probably not, and as the old adage goes “life isn’t fair.” It is important to put your best face forward, as the internet can make the best firstimpression to anyone who is seeking you out.
In Settings>Privacy>News Feed and Wall, you can select which
The ‘How-To’s Membership numbers on social networking sites (SNS) have grown exponentially in the past five years. Unlike regular websites and blogs, social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn, offer individuals ways to associate themselves with their friends and share content across their social network. SNS are great places to find long-lost friends, make new friends, and affiliate with organizations. There are ways to control your image within these new pillars of the internet. Let’s look at Facebook, as it is used by more than 100 million people worldwide. More than 13 million Facebook users in the United States are over 25 years of age. This means that your parents, relatives, employers, professors, administrators are on Facebook — and if yours aren’t, they probably have a friend who is. To control your privacy on Facebook, I recommend dialing back privacy settings to the most stringent, then go through each of them one at a time and decide which setting is best for your needs. Privacy Settings are a great jump-off point. Privacy Settings are system-wide settings that control the flow of your information across the entire world of Facebook. Your settings will control the way that other people see you, your profile, photos, videos and every other item with which you associate yourself.
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FRATERNITY NEWS applications are visible when someone is viewing your profile. Do you really want a potential employer to see your Retro Skateboard Sticker application? In this section you can also dis-allow people from commenting on photos, videos and posted items.
server. That record is then stored and kept for any number of years, which is often found with a simple Google search. What someone posts in a moment of lapsed judgment can be found and used by anyone to whatever ends they choose. It is important for us to remember who we are and how we want others to view us as individuals and a Fraternity.
Use Setting>Privacy>Applications to change settings on how friends see you through applications.
Words and photos that are meant to be funny with no ill-intentions can often be misinterpreted by others who do not know us or the context of our situations. Tone is lost on the internet, and often our impact does not equal our intent.
Privacy Settings are great because they are easily changed and they always follow the rules you create. The hardest part of controlling your image on Facebook relies on your own personal filter. This means controlling what type of content you add to your profile. Status Updates that include vulgarities, posted photos showing lewd situations or illegal conduct, derogatory comments on photos, racy applications, and unsavory posts are all items that have to be controlled by your own personal filter.
Your Chapter Website A chapter website is a great resource for members as well as recruiting new members. It can serve as a source of information about upcoming events, officer and member contact information and other useful items.
“People can’t use things from my profile against me, that’s an invasion of privacy.”
Chapter sites are available 24–7 and allow potential members to see how great Lambda Chi Alpha is at your school and across North America. Chapter websites can be a great public relations tool. They can be a way to show your chapter’s involvement at your school and within your community.
No, it’s not an invasion of privacy. The moment someone posts something to a social networking profile, they are putting that information into the public arena. That information can be accessed by anyone who you have given access to your profile. As recently as this summer, a 20-year old was sentenced to two years in prison for a drunk driving crash that injured a woman. Photos that the defendant, himself, posted on Facebook were used as character evidence against him.
On the flip side, a chapter website can do the exact opposite of all of those great things. It can destroy a chapter’s image and reputation on campus in an instant. Our websites are accessed by our brothers world-wide, potential members, the media, school administrators, professors, community members and parents. Consider what your chapter’s website says about your chapter — about what it says about you as a brother.
“This is my personal account and I can do what I want with it.” Yes, you can do what you like with your account. But remember, more than 100 million people have a Facebook account. Consider that (future) employers, school officials, police officers, as well as people who do not have your best intentions at heart have accounts on Facebook and other social networking sites.
The look & feel of the site’s design as well as the content that is presented are important. If your chapter’s site hasn’t been updated in quite some time, consider making an update or taking the site down until it can be done properly.
Once you post a photo, a comment, or any other item which could be considered inflammatory, you have created a digital record which says something about who you are and what you believe in. Photos can easily be downloaded and circulated outside of your control. Comments can be printed or even copied and pasted into emails. It is important to think about what you are posting to your profile and consider what it says about you, your friends and your affiliations. Personal Blogs/Websites Modern technology allows everyone to have a voice on the internet, which is outstanding. Anything that is posted on the internet is instantly accessible to anyone with a computer — anywhere. These are very powerful tools...we should consider how to wield such responsibility. The moment someone uploads a photo, story, blog post, comment, or a video a digital record of it is made on a (at least one) computer www.crossandcrescent.com
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HISTORY
Legacies of Gettysburg Curiosity from finding a Phi Sigma badge leads to some unexpected discoveries. The badge was silent. Nevertheless, as we searched for its history, we could begin to imagine the sounds of college debating contests, of a professor speaking in a lecture hall, perhaps even the sound of bands playing patriotic music and voices delivering heartfelt speeches, or the firm rap of an oak gavel calling a meeting to order.
much more about their relationships to each other, and also to Donald Lybarger (Gettysburg 1919). Lybarger was one of the 12 founders of Phi Sigma, a signer of the original League & Covenant of Theta Kappa Nu, its first Grand Treasurer as well as a Grand Archon, and then Grand High Omega of Lambda Chi Alpha following the 1939 union. Now our curiosity was at a peak.
We had found a badge of Phi Sigma, a local fraternity established at Gettysburg College in 1916, which later became one of the 11 founding fraternities of Theta Kappa Nu, and that is now Theta-Pi Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha. Its ancestry, by itself, gave this artifact special status but the history of fraternities is also the story of the individuals who helped shape them. We hoped to determine the original owner to see what could be learned from it; and we were not disappointed.
At this point we contacted the Musselman Library at Gettysburg College. Ms. Karen Drickamer, director of special collections and college archivist, took an immediate interest in our quest and assigned a student assistant to help us. This is what their records disclosed. Faust and Lybarger entered college in the fall of 1915, when there were only six national fraternities and two locals. “It was quite natural therefore that a group of boys who were good friends should come together and talk over the possibility of establishing another fraternity,” Lybarger later recounted. He also joked that he took it upon himself to take notes at their first meeting, whereupon someone else nominated him for secretary. That marked the beginning of his lifelong association with fraternal offices. A second meeting was held within a week. Lybarger’s notes show 12 names, including his own and that of Martin Faust, as signers of the new constitution for the establishment of Phi Sigma. Lybarger goes on to mention the names of “a number of brothers who came in shortly after the founding and had just as much to do with the establishment of the chapter as did the dozen original members.
The back is engraved with the initials “M. L. F.” and with what appears to be a stylized numeral 7. This sharpened our interest. If this were an initiation number it would designate the owner as an early member; perhaps even a founder. Since Phi Sigma was active for only the brief eight years, from 1916 to 1924, there was a good chance of finding a matching name.
They were deeply interested in the fraternity and gave so much of themselves to its establishment.” Among those he so credits is Max Floto. Although Floto’s initials did not match those on the badge, what we stumbled upon was totally unexpected.
We referred to the Gettysburg section of the 2003 Lambda Chi Alpha Directory, and, out of 45 last names beginning with the letter “F,” found only two with a first name beginning with the letter “M”; Dr. Martin Faust 1919 and Max Floto 1918, although neither listing included a middle initial.
The Father of Veterans Day Max C. Floto (Gettysburg 1918) grew up in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and was the oldest of these three men. Floto and Lybarger were elected officers of the Chess Club in 1916 and also faced each other on the inter-class debating team as sophomore and freshman, respectively. Floto was on the 1917–18 championship debating team. Later, in 1927, and after the chapter became Pennsylvania-Alpha of Theta Kappa Nu, they continued their close association and their support by serving on the chapter’s Alumni Association Board.
Internet name-searches to determine middle initials for Faust and Floto produced immediate information on both men and their distinctive accomplishments after graduating from Gettysburg College (known as Pennsylvania College until 1921), and revealed
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By Jono Hren (Florida Tech 1975) Bob McLaughlin (Purdue 1963)
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HISTORY Floto graduated in 1918 with a degree in accounting; a year before the other two. He’d also been active in ROTC and was immediately drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1918. “I was a member of the largest band of draftees that ever left Connellsville,” Floto once said. He also remembered that he was one of only three draftees wearing a uniform that day because it had been required by ROTC. The war ended with an armistice, signed on November 11, 1918.
Max Floto died January 13, 1985. Martin Luther Faust Martin Luther Faust was from Ambler, in eastern Pennsylvania, and was the youngest of the three men in our story. With the initials “M.L.F.”, we now knew the badge belonged to him. Faust and Lybarger became roommates, eventually traveling together to Washington D.C. in March of 1917 for the second inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson. By May 1917 both men were active in the Phrena Literary Society, with Lybarger elected vice president and Faust as secretary. Faust’s undergraduate activities also included athletics, debate, student government, and editing the campus newspaper, The Gettysburgian. After graduation he completed work on a Master’s Degree at Gettysburg, instructed at the University of Pennsylvania and Western Reserve University, and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in 1924.
In 1919, Floto made a motion before the Milton L. Bishop Post 301 of the American Legion in Connellsville to make November 11 a holiday and to be known as Armistice Day. The motion passed on September 11, 1919, but Floto wasn’t satisfied to stop with convincing just his hometown. He and another veteran successfully petitioned the first-ever American Legion state convention in Harrisburg, and lobbied the State of Pennsylvania to declare it a legal holiday. It was approved by the legislature on March 31, 1921. They then moved their petition to the national level. “We had a dozen or so Congressmen working on it,” Floto said in an interview with the (Connellsville) Daily Courier in 1978. A resolution was presented in practically every session of Congress until it was finally passed, and then signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 13, 1938.
He then became an assistant professor of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh before moving on to the University of Missouri where he became chairman of the political science department and spent the rest of his career teaching and writing books on economics. “I think a political scientist should have some concern in improving state and local government, and as much as I’ve had time, I’ve tried to help,” he said.
The name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954. Then Congress voted in 1971 to shift the observance to the fourth Monday in October and Floto immediately became part of a committee that battled to have the holiday returned to its original date of significance, Nov. 11. In 1975 they were successful. A Certificate of Appreciation signed by Congressional Rep. Hamilton Fish, Jr., was presented in 1978 to Max Floto and designated him “Father of Armistice Day.”
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Dr. Faust did not limit himself to just the theory of government but found opportunities to work on local and state government committees. Reflecting on his most significant accomplishments he said, “The biggest and most important...was the revision of our (Missouri) State Constitution in 1943–45.” For this project he prepared materials for the delegates including eight informational manuals plus one more to organize the convention itself. Dr. Martin L. Faust died on August 13, 1996.
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HISTORY Cuyahoga County as Recorder, and was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1967 he was chosen Chief Justice of the Court.
Donald F. Lybarger Donald F. Lybarger is a prominent figure in the history of our fraternity. Since his involvement has been well documented in many other sources we will only touch the highlights here. He founded Phi Sigma, was one of the four founders of Theta Kappa Nu, presided over many sessions of that fraternity including its very last, and went on to serve with distinction in the new, combined organization.
In 1958 the Gettysburg chapter held a mortgage-burning celebration and invited Judge Lybarger to be the keynote speaker. His reminiscences that day that day are worth repeating. Consider that this was a man who had founded two different fraternities and then watched as their name and, seemingly, their identity had been eclipsed. His words are especially resonant today as we approach our Centennial Celebration. “I sometimes ask myself whether Phi Sigma died when it helped found Theta Kappa Nu. I ask again whether Theta Kappa Nu no longer lives since, by its union with Lambda Chi Alpha, it lost its identity. I ask myself what is a fraternity? Is it a name? Is it a house, a national organization? Is it a group of alumni? Is it the active chapter of undergraduates? Of course, it is no one of these; but by the same token it is the sum total of them plus that unending spirit of brotherhood which binds us together.”
He entered Gettysburg College in 1915, earned varsity letters in track and debating, was a president of student government, an officer in the military training corps, and graduated valedictorian in 1919.
Donald Lybarger died November 6, 1970. Summary This Sigma Phi badge, that was so silent at first, eventually told us a story of three men who met in college and founded a fraternity at sunrise on May 30th, 1916, then known as Decoration Day. It speaks of a brother who cemented Veterans Day, and of service by all three men to their community, to our country, and to our fraternity.
In 1923 he earned his law degree from Western Reserve University and was admitted to the bar. He was in private law practice, served
Judge Lybarger concluded his 1958 speech by quoting an ancient Greek philosopher: “Reach ever with thy right hand toward those who climb before thee and with thy left steady those who follow in your path.”
Gavel used at national Theta Kappa Nu meetings. It was cut out of a tree and has a bullet lodged in it from the Battle of Gettysberg. This is one of the artifact om traveling to Centennial Alumni Receptions this year.
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CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter News Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death Akron (Gamma-Alpha)
Associate Director of Alumni Relations Josh Lodolo (Cal State Northridge 2004) visited Boston for the Centennial Celebration reception on October 21, 2008. The keynote speaker was Board Member Fletcher McElreath (Mercer 1987). More than 40 alumni and undergraduate brothers were in attendance, including former staff member Kelley McCormick (McGill 1980) and Order of Merit recipient and Master Steward Eric Berger (Boston 1985).
Jeff Sumner (1991) was selected by the Greater Akron Chamber as one of the “30 For The Future” 2008 award winners. These recipients were chosen for their accomplishments in their industries in the greater Akron community.
Alberta (Epsilon-Rho)
The chapter held its 23rd Alumni Celebrity Dinner with guest of honor Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988). This was Farkas’ second visit to the Canadian chapter, his first being in 1989 as an ELC. Forty-one alumni and undergraduate brothers also attended the event, including past staff and Board Member Jack Walker (1972), Order of Merit recipient Ron Holland (1966), and former staff members John Orpe (Calgary 1990), Pat Haney (1998), and Ryan Haney (1999).
Bowling Green State (Phi-Mu)
Anthony E. Snyder (1992) was named the manager of member engagement and community relations for Thrivent Financial, a Fortune 500 financial services organization in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Cal State-Northridge (Beta-Rho) An Associate Member Ceremony was held for 20 new members on October 5, 2008. The ceremony was witnessed by nearly 30 undergraduates, 5 alumni and about 15 parents and guests.
Angelo State (Beta-Alpha)
The chapter placed first in the Homecoming Tailgating Contest and second place in both in the Parade Float Contest and Think-Fast Game Show.
Chapter members held their second annual alumni tailgate and barbecue.
Thirty Alumni and undergraduate members participated in the annual Alumni-Active Softball Game and Picnic on September 21, 2008, at Northridge Park. Once again, the alumni prevailed 8-5, but the chapter kept the score close with the help of four of its 28 new associate members.
Arkansas (Gamma-Chi)
Chapter members participated in the “Walk a Mile in her Shoes” to raise awareness of violence against women.
Arkansas State (Iota-Theta)
Michael Creason (2010) was elected the 2008 homecoming king.
Boston Area Alumni Association
Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988), Educational Foundation CEO Mark Bauer (Cal State-Northridge 1974), and
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CHAPTER NEWS
Drexel (Epsilon-Kappa)
Connecticut (Zeta-Lambda)
Recently profiled in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Brian Gleason (1989) serves as a managing director and shareholder at Phoenix Capital Resources, and has managed or participated in more than 40 turnaround engagements since joining Phoenix. Gleason has been responsible for the successful turnaround of many of Phoenix’s clients over the past 10 years using his operational, financial and negotiating skills.
Christopher Hickey (2009) was elected IFC Vice President of Programming-Internal and Brendan Schlander was elected to the IFC Standards Board, and serves as the chapter’s IFC delegate. At the 2008 homecoming, the chapter teamed with the UConn Kickline Team and placed first in the Greek Parade March and third for the Lip Sync competition.
Drury (Theta-Sigma)
Culver-Stockton (Kappa-Mu)
The chapter won first place in the homecoming float competition, earned the highest GPA of all fraternities and above the all-male average, and added 18 new associate members.
Eastern Michigan (Sigma-Kappa)
David E. Gallagher (1979) died October 20, 2008. He was a mental health social worker and enjoyed being a christian musician.
Dallas Area Alumni Association
The Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Alumni Association held a Centennial Celebration reception on October 28, 2008, at the Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas. Former Grand High Alpha Dr. Murphy Osborne (High Point 1958) was the fraternity speaker for the evening. Staff members present included Educational Foundation CEO Mark Bauer (Cal State-Northridge 1979), John Hauser (Theil 1971), Tad Lichtenauer (Denison 1987), and Dan Hartmann (Truman State 2007). Order of Merit recipients Larry Brinkley (North Texas 1968) and Wayne Gossard (Southern Methodist 1973) were also present. A big thank you to John Pierce (Louisiana State 1966) for assisting the Fraternity with hosting the event.
Florida International (Pi-Phi)
Henric Boiardt (2007) and Chris Rodriguez (2008) started a NASA satellite design project at Florida International University. Chapter adviser Dr. Kenneth Furton (Central Florida 1984) served as the mentor for the competition.
Gettysburg (Theta-Pi)
Former chapter officer Bryant Pappas (1995), a New York police sergeant, is an undefeated professional boxer.
Hanover (Theta-Zeta)
Lawrence Gloyd (1954) died September 6, 2008. He was the former president and CEO of CLARCOR and served numerous contributions to the community including serving on the Rockford College board of trustees, the United Way of Rock River Valley, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Denver (Alpha-Pi)
George C. Aucoin (1955) died October 15, 2008. A former IFC president and vice president, he played goalie for the University of Denver hockey team. He served as a deputy district attorney in Colorado and was elected president of the National Association of County Civil Attorneys.
Denver Area Alumni Association
John Dunn (Butler 1975) hosted the Denver Centennial Celebration reception on October 21, 2008, at the Columbine Country Club in Denver. Approximately 60 alumni, guests, and undergraduates attended, including seven staff members. Board Member Lynn Chipperfield (Drury 1973) was the featured speaker and he gave feedback to all present on the strength of the Fraternity. Other notable attendees were Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988), Order of Merit recipient Jeff Esbenshade (South Dakota 1969), Lambda Chi Alpha Properties President Mike Smith (Denver 1976), 2008 Duke Flad recipient Joey Hamm (Denver 2008), and two former staff members Ken Cope (Montana 2000) and Clint Wheelock (Washington & Lee 1992).
www.crossandcrescent.com
The chapter held its annual Watermelon Fest to raise money for the Ozark Food Harvest.
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Indianapolis Area Alumni Association
The Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis played host to the Centennial Celebration for Indianapolis area alumni, undergraduates, and guests. Ted Grossnickle (Wabash 1973) was the main speaker for the evening and gave great perspective about where Lambda Chi Alpha is today. Former Educational Foundation CEO Chris Molloy (Texas Christian 1980) brought Kennon Shank (Simpson 1942), a former Theta Kappa Nu pledge now living in Bloomington, Indiana. The Columbia Club also was blessed with the presence of Executive Vice President Emeritus George W. Spasyk (Michigan 1949) and a host of other notable alumni. The Indianapolis Area Alumni Association is looking to pick up more steam in the coming year especially with the International Centennial Celebration occurring in downtown Indianaplis next summer.
Indiana State (Iota-Epsilon)
At the annual Indiana State Police department ceremony, Master Trooper Frank Smith (1973) received a Silver Star Award for a rescue that occurred 26 years ago. On January 23, 1982, Smith was off duty when he rescued a mother and child caught in high floodwaters.
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Iowa (Iota-Chi)
North Carolina-Charlotte (Beta-Upsilon)
Chapter members and members of Delta Zeta spent 72 hours from October 16-19, 2008, on an 18-foot teeter-totter to help local charities in their second annual Teeter-Totter-athon. Proceeds benefited the Johnson County Crisis Center.
Jeremy Wilkinson (2001) is the owner of Innovative Color Solutions . Jack Stack (1983) has opened his own residential real estate brokerage firm in Winston-Salem, North Carolina under the name, Jack Stack Properties.
Massachusetts Inst of Tech (Lambda)
North Carolina-Greensboro (Phi-Theta)
About 100 people attended an event on October 4, 2008, to commemmorate the 50th anniversary of the unofficial unit of measurement known a Smoot. Notable attendees include guest of honor Oliver Smoot (1962), Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, State Rep. Marty Walz, and MIT president Susan Hockfield.
Chapter members attempted to break the Guinness world record for the largest Twister board ever played, all in charitable support of the American Red Cross.
North Dakota (Epsilon-Zeta)
Approximately 20 alumni brothers joined with undergraduate brothers and the two representatives from the International Headquarters to make improvements to the chapter, including: building an outdoor storage shed, tearing down an old wood deck, erecting a new volleyball court and wood deck, touching up landscaping, cleaning mold in the chapter room and upstairs shower and repainting, volleyball recruitment event, chapter house Wii tournament recruitment event, Hungry Eye Alumni brick painting, and organizing assistance to undergraduate brothers.
Miami-FL (Epsilon-Omega)
Darren Dupriest (1991) is the president and owner of Validity Screening Solutions, a national provider of background checks and drug testing. Validity Screening Solutions announced the acquisition of Fairfield Information Services, a Lancaster, Ohio-based provider of background checks and drug screening.
The chapter doubled its membership by adding 10 new associates members.
Miami-OH (Zeta-Upsilon)
Ohio State (Gamma-Tau)
John Stulak (1989) serves as the co-CEO of EthoTech, Inc. Prior to forming EthoTech, he built his experiences in the Microsoft Business Solutions channel by leading channel management and consulting services efforts and participating on executive leadership teams for two Solution Developers, both of whom are ranked in the top 1 percent of Microsoft Business Solutions partners.
Jeffrey Stevenson, president and founder of Crazy Uncle Jester’s Inferno World, won the The Golden Chile Award at the Fiery Food Challenge on September 5, 2008. They also won second place in Mustard with Crazy Uncle Jester’s Blazing Hot MustardT, 2nd place in XXX Hot Sauce for Crazy Uncle Jester’s Spontaneous CombustionT, and 3rd place in XXX Hot Sauce for Crazy Uncle Jester’s Select ReserveT. The competition is sponsored by Chile Pepper magazine and pits products against one another in more than 80 categories. Professional judges evaluate hundreds of sauces, salsas and other spicy treats and award first, second and third prizes in each category. Awards are proudly displayed at ZestFest, a spicy food event held the same week as the Fiery Food Challenge, at the Will Rogers Center in Fort Worth.
Jim Boughter (1966) retired five years ago after working as a software engineer for 34 years. Tom Blunk (1970) has spent eight years with BCBS of Indiana, and the rest with various employee benefit consulting groups. Jim Smekal (1974) has worked in marketing as a merchandiser for eight different companies in many regions of the United States.
Oklahoma (Gamma-Rho)
Ben Bigbie (2009) was named 2008 homecoming king. Eddie Coates (2008), the 2007 homecoming king, presented Bigbie with his scepter and crown during halftime of a recent football game.
Brian Kandell (1991) works for Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati. Dr. Mark S. Dorfman (Hon) died December 22, 2006. During his 30-year career, he served as a professor of risk management and insurance for four different universities. He began his teaching career at Miami University and also served as the chapter adviser from 1970 to 1976.
Chapter members teamed with Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and Delta Tau Delta Fraternity for the homecoming competition. The group placed second overall.
Montevallo (Sigma-Epsilon)
The chapter added 22 new associate members, doubling the chapter size in one semester. www.crossandcrescent.com
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CHAPTER NEWS
Oklahoma State (Alpha-Eta)
Arthur E. Irish (1940) died May 1, 2007. He operated a fruit orchard in the Hood River Valley for more than 50 years. Irish served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry during World War II.
The chapter held its annual Watermelon Bust, accumulating more than 8,500 pounds of canned food in support of the North American Food Drive.
William W. “Woody” Woodworth (1940) died June 12, 2008. He served in World War II as amphibian engineer shore unit commander, 592nd engineer boat and shore regiment, U.S. Army. He was decorated several times for valorous actions in battle. He later served in the Korean War and remained an active reservist, retiring from the U.S. Army with the rank of lieutenant colonel. When he returned from World War II, Woody began a 34-year careerwith Crown Zellerbach Corp.
For the first time in seven years, the chapter participated in the Oklahoma State homecoming celebration. With help from the women of Delta Delta Delta Sorority, chapter members constructed a monumental house dec and took 1st prize in the sign competition. Steven Zamsky (1987) was recognized as one of the top 100 graduates of Oklahoma State University. He is a portfolio manager for Pequot Capital out of Westport, Connecticut. He went from OSU to a San Francisco CPA firm. He completed his MBA in finance at the University of Chicago in 1995 and began working as a securities analyst at Fidelity Investments. He then went to New York with Morgan Stanley as a credit strategist and was appointed a managing director in 2000. He became a portfolio manager for Pequot Capital in 2002 where his hedge funds pursue several credit-oriented strategies on an asset base of around $800 million.
Bob D. Downing (1949) died December 27, 2006. After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, he worked as an educator, a coach, and a farmer. Charles W. Harrison Jr. (1949) died July 31, 2007. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was a mechanical engineer for American Sheet Metal for 27 years. When the timber industry slowed down, he went to work for Rader Company. Robert J. Laughter (1949) died October 4, 2006. He was a professor at the University of Nevada-Reno before moving to Portland in 1992.
Oregon (Zeta-Omicron)
Lt. Col. James L. Wiley (1984) died September 18, 2008. He died in Afghanistan from injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 27th Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard.
C. Roderick Kvistad (1949) died November 10, 2007. Charles “Chuck” Van Ummersen Jr. (1956) died January 3, 2007.
Oregon State (Alpha-Lambda)
John W. Anderson Jr. (1965) died September 1, 2006.
Teaming with members of the Alpha Phi Sorority, the chapter won the IFC-All University Sing Competition. Serving as song leaders this year for the chapter were Cody Palmer (2010) and Zak Holt (2009). In addition, the group received recognition for the Best Costumes Award and the Committee’s Choice Award.
Edward R. Gustamante (1984) died on April 18, 2006. He was controller and office manager for Food Chain Films and most recently a computer systems salesman for HTP in Vancouver.
Philadelphia Area Alumni Association
Albert H. Bryan, (1925) died November 25, 2006.
A Philadelphia Centennial Celebration reception was held on October 7, 2008, at the Union League of Philadelphia. Approximately 90 alumni, guests, and undergraduates attended. Grand High Alpha Ed Leonard (William Jewell 1979) spoke about the state of the Fraternity and why Lambda Chi Alpha is the best. Also present at the event were Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988) and former staff members and area alumni chairmen Jeff Glauser (Jacksonville 1999) and Joe Schneggenburger (Kentucky 2000), who helped make the event unique by providing four box tickets to a 76ers basketball game and a Flyers hockey game. Frank Bockius (Drexel 1953) and Brendan Ledwith (St. Joseph’s 2008) were the recipients of the raffled off tickets.
Lloyd H. Griggs (1929) died December 18, 2007. He was a rancher and tree farmer, a life member of Cottage Grove Lodge #51, A.F. & A.M. and a life member and past Potentate of Hillah Shriners in Medford, Oregon. Lloyd served on the Cottage Grove School Board for 24 years. He served as chairman of both Districts 14 and 15, and he was a member of the Cottage Grove Hospital Board of Directors. He was honored as the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce’s First Citizen in 1964. Kenneth K. Kutch (1929) died December 20, 2005. Clyde K. Sherman (1935) died February 10, 2006, Richard L. Taylor (1937) died March 31, 2006. He became a prominent architect in Montana and served in the U.S. Navy, studying Naval Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. William D. Dennis (1940) died May 10, 2007. www.crossandcrescent.com
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CHAPTER NEWS
Purdue (Psi-Zeta)
Jeremy Crozier is teaching in Texas and completed his Master’s degree this past year. He is now working on his Ph.D.
Sam Utley (2009) was voted the 2008 homecoming king at the October 25, 2008 Purdue football game against Minnesota. He is a member of the chapter’s Executive Committee and is the current IFC president.
Craig Irvin is continuing his career in opera. Charlie Chedester recently purchased his partner’s shares in their business and is now the sole owner of Mortgage Innovations in Des Moines. John Osborn is currently in production singing in The Barber of Seville in Vienna and will be returning to Des Moines (DMMO) with John Michael Moore next summer performing in the same opera.
Southeast Missouri State (Delta-Phi)
Billy Garrett (2008) was named SEMO Man of the Year through an award process that recognizes outstanding student leaders who are balanced between academics and their service to the campus and community. Following James Wells (2006) and Matt Knickman (2007), Garrett is the third consecutive member of Lambda Chi Alpha to earn this outstanding distinction; a feat which is unprecedented at SEMO.
San Antonio Alumni Association
The San Antonio Alumni Association held its 3rd Annual LXA Open at The Golf Club of Texas on October 5, 2008. Tournament Directors Jonathan Rivera (Texas-San Antonio 2000) and John Arias (Texas-San Antonio 1984) ensured a fun-filled day of golf for area alumni. Walter Hidalgo (Texas-San Antonio 1998) flew in from Minnesota to participate in the activities. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit all three local chapters’ scholarship programs. The Texas-San Antonio, Incarnate Word, and St. Mary’s chapters assisted with the closest to the pin, longest drive, and the hole-in-one contest. The next SAAA event will be November 20, 2008, at Suede Lounge near the famous San Antonio Riverwalk for more information, send an email to lxa_saaa@yahoo.com.
Chapter officer Matthew Huber (2008) was one of four recipients who received the 2008 Jim Wilkins Excellence in Education Scholarship during a ceremony held on October 14, 2008. The award selections were based on accomplishments in human resources, academics, campus and community involvement and recommendations from professors, advisers, and/or employers. Neal E. Boyd (2001) kicked off the chapter’s particiption in homecoming weekend when the university presented him with the Distinguished Service Award. This award is presented to alumni and friends who have brought distinction to SEMO. Boyd recently won NBC’s hit series, “America’s Got Talent.” Former chapter president Jackson Seemayer (2009) was elected IFC vice president of risk awareness and Nolan Ryan was elected as IFC vice president of community relations.
Simpson (Theta-Lambda)
Joey Begovich is now a cruise director aboard the M/S Carnival Glory. He was promoted to full time cruise director earlier this year after serving as acting cruise director for a number of years. His responsibilities include managing a crew of 65 performers while keeping the guests on board Carnival’s newest cruise ship entertained.
South Carolina-Aiken (Pi-Alpha)
Chapter members cleaned the pathway and road and participated the following day with nearly 200 North Aiken Elementary School students, parents, teachers and other guests in the International Walk to School Day observance.
Ed Guthrie is a buyer for Macy’s Corp. and has been recently transferred to their corporate headquarters in New York City. Patrick Anderson currently works in Minneapolis as a buyer for Target Corp.
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Southeastern Oklahoma (Pi-Sigma)
Wisconsin-Whitewater (Lambda-Iota)
Chapter members participated in the 18th annual Domestic Violence Ceremony at the Southeastern Student Union. The members repeated a pledge promising that they would speak out against rape and all forms of sexual violence.
Tom Kempfer is participating in Stuck in a Truck. a contest with 96.3 Star Country WMAD, where he is trying to outlast other contestants by spending his days and nights inside of a truck. The winner takes home a Ford F-150. The contest began on October 2nd and will go until there is one contestant left inside of the pickup truck. Track Tommy’s progress on his Facebook Fanclub or follow him on the contest webcams.
Texas A&M-Commerce (Iota-Kappa)
The chapter held its annual Watermelon Bust philanthropy event in Spence Park. Eight sororities participated in events that included the crowning of a watermelon patch queen and outdoor competitions. All proceeds and collected food items went to the Brazos Valley Food Bank to benefit Hurricane Ike victims.
Western Kentucky (Lambda-Lambda)
Texas-San Antonio (PhiUpsilon)
The chapter became the first fraternity on campus to have 1,000 members.
Michael Gurka (2010) was crowned Mr. Phi Guy by the Phi Mu Sorority for his dedication to chapter leadership, campus involvement, philanthropic endeavors, talent show, Greek spirit and fundraising efforts. Alex Reyes (2009) placed second in the Mr. Phi Guy Competition.
Paul W. Jones Jr. (1967), president and CEO of Plus3 Solutions, was recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for his dedication, leadership and excellence in all aspects of business development.
The chapter held a Brick Ceremony for the local alumni who recently purchased bricks, and performed a memorial service for our fallen brothers. Jana Kenelly of the University of Texas-San Antonio Advancement Office was the keynote speaker for the evening, expressing the importance that the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter has played on the campus.
Washington & Lee (Gamma-Phi)
K.C. Schaefer (2004), general merchandise manager in the Washington and Lee University Store at W&L, was named one of 21 brightest and most effective young managers in the collegiate industry by The College Store Magazine, published by the national association of college stores.
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November 2008
FEATURE
Hall of Fame Pro Wrestler Tito Santana, a former professional wrestler and football player, today teaches Spanish as a way of giving back to the community. By Chris Barrick (Butler 2004) He was given the name Merced Solis (West Texas A&M 1973) at birth but few know him as anything but his stage name, Tito Santana. Tito is a Hall of Fame professional wrestler and former professional football player. Following his successful career, Tito wanted to give back to the community and today is a Spanish teacher.
Breaking into Wrestling When Santana began his professional wrestling career in 1977 it was more territorial than it is today. He started in Tampa, Florida, moved to Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina, and finally Amarillo, Texas. It wasn’t on national TV but was local.
He recently published a book, Tito Santana: Tales From the Ring, depicting his life in the spotlight. The book takes a look at how Tito came up in a poor Hispanic migrant worker family in south Texas and became a star.
“I was a young guy getting started, it’s what they would do; move you around and let you get more experience in other places,” says Santana. “The next place you would go, they would start you a little higher.”
“I started writing the book because there are black minorities, Hispanic minorities, and whites that are very, very poor that might think that there’s no way out,” says Santana. “I just figured if I made it, anybody can make it if they really believe in something.”
He decided he wasn’t moving up fast enough in the smaller leagues so he and Andre the Giant decided to take a shot in New York with the World Wide Wrestling Federation owned by Vince McMahon Sr.
Football “I feel like I owe everything to a football coach,” says Tito. “When I was in the 8th grade a football coach convinced me to play football. I was afraid because I had never played but I felt the coach made a difference to me.” Santana went on to play throughout high school and in college at West Texas A&M University. While at West Texas, Santana played tight end. Also on the team were future professional wrestlers, “Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase, Dusty Rhodes, Blackjack Mulligan, Tully Blanchard, Manny Fernandez, and Bob Dunkham. “I think the core of the guys became interested in wrestling because of Terri Funk (son of wrestling promoter Dory Funk, Sr.) who was friends with all of these guys and he knew that they had potential to become wrestling stars.”
Following college, Santana signed to play pro football with the Kansas City Chiefs. Two weeks before training camp he injured his Achilles tendon. When he got off crutches he was given a shot with the team. “We had to time run the 40 (yard dash) and my time wasn’t very good, and because I was a rookie free agent, I didn’t want anyone to know that I was hurt.” He started every preseason game but was one of the last guys cut. He was told it was because of his speed. He then went to Canada to play two seasons in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions. During the offseason Santana wrestled. “My initial intent was to wrestle in the off season and playing football; but once I started wrestling I really enjoyed it, so it was a no-brainer for me.”
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“The WWF drew big crowds, selling out Madison Square Garden, in Philadelphia, and Boston Garden,” says Santana. “The south would never draw like the east coast did. Vince McMahon Sr. knew how to promote better than the guys in the south.” Santana left the WWF for a short period and went to the AWA for two years. He was preparing to switch leagues again and go to New Orleans when McMahon called offering Santana a job again. “It was a no-brainer, I was waiting for him to do that,” says Santana. “I came back in 1983 and I will never forget that because it was my birthday on May 10.” Life in Wrestling Santana tells of the long hours he and other wrestlers faced as they wrestled in 87 different cities. “It was pretty brutal both mentally and physically,” says Santana. Promoters would
November 2008
FEATURE tell the athletes who was suppose to win and how but the process of the matches were not staged. “People think we practiced our matches, but wrestling matches were never staged,” says Santana. “We were story writers with our actions and the guys who included the fans the best were the guys that became successful.” Matches needed to be real to convince the people. Wrestlers would abuse their bodies to entertain the fans and to make them think that what they were seeing was real. “To put a percentage, about 90 percent of what we did in the ring was pretty close to real.” Santana wrestled full time for 17 years. He remembers many great experiences of wrestling, most of which came while in the WWF. There was Wrestle Mania III when he wrestled in front of 93,000 people -- the first time he won the Intercontinental championship -- and the first time he was the main event at Madison Square Garden. He also got to travel the world to wrestle. “To see all of those different places, there was really no way if I hadn’t gotten into the wrestling business,” says Santana. “Meeting people like Muhammad Ali, Jerry West, Andy Warhol — who said he was a fan of mine — Liberace, and Arsenio Hall. All of the sudden there are a bunch of movie stars that were big time wrestling fans and wanted to take pictures with you, that was unbelievable to me.”
Santana had taped up his knee really good that night and went into the ring trying to not show a limp. Vince McMahon Jr., then owner of the WWF, had videotaped the surgery. Santana did an interview right afterwards when he was still groggy, so people knew that it was legit. “We protected the business; you didn’t see good guys hanging out with bad guys very often,” says Santana. “Our business is kind of funny. While I was there my friends were not the good guys, they were the bad guys. I was competing against the good guys because they were trying to take my spot, and people never really understood that.” The last thing Santana did while in the WWF was a gimmick as El Matador. Tito stayed in Tijuana and was trained as a bullfighter. The WWF broadcasted vignettes of Santana’s training. “I actually did do some passes on small bulls, and even the little ones that I practiced with were mean,” says Santana. “Those big bulls, man they were scary! I don’t think Vince wanted to take the chance of me getting gored by a bull.” When Santana came back from training he was suppose to get a big push, but it never
Funking Conservatory
Dory Funk Jr. (West Texas A&M 1963) began in the NWA in 1968. It didn’t take long for him to be on the top league. He won the World Heavyweight Championship in 1969, and held it for four and a half years. “It affects my life to this day; there’s not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t ask me about it, and what it was like,” Funk says of the winning the NWA belt. “That would be my biggest experience of my professional wrestling career for sure.” In 1986, under the name of Hoss, Funk began wrestling Tag Team in the WWF with his brother Terry. The Funk Brothers took on The Junkyard Dog and Tito Santana (West Texas 1973) in WrestleMania 2. The Funk Brothers were victorious. “It’s a thrill every time I step in the ring but being at WrestleMania with Tito and my brother as a partner made it extra special,” says Funk. “WrestleMania is a tremendous event to be a part of and I felt privileged to be a part of it.” The only time Dory fought a singles match in the WWF was in 1996 at the Royal Rumble. Dory now runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional wrestling school. His students include current stars The Hardy Brothers, Christian Cage, Kurt Angle, and Edge. When asked about his fraternity memories Funk simply replied, “Initiation.” http://www.dory-funk.com/
Feud & Gimmicks The feuds were created by the promoters but a lot of times the wrestlers themselves had a lot of input. Santana’s most notable feud stemmed from a knee injury.
materialized. He decided it was time to retire from wrestling and spend time with his wife and three children
“People thought that it was Greg Valentine, well I had my knee hurt by Mr. Wonderful,” says Santana. “We did a situation where (Valentine) put me in a finger-four leg lock and people thought that had done the damage, but the damage was already done.”
Hall of Fame In 2004 Vince McMahon once again called on Santana. This time it was to induct the two-time Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion into the WWF Hall of Fame. Santana admits that he didn’t take it very seriously, and if it hadn’t been for a large payday he wouldn’t have even attended.
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November 2008
FEATURE “Not attending would have been a big mistake,” says Tito. “The experience I had as I was being inducted was great, and now it has made a difference on how people look at you now that you are a Hall of Fame wrestler from the WWF.”
TV for a year, but ultimately wasn’t able to stay afloat. Santana then began substitute teaching. After a couple years he began to feel he was making a
The event was held at Wrestle Mania in New York. Tito was inducted by Shawn Michaels. Others inducted that year included Jesse “The Body” Ventura, Sgt. Slaughter, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and the Junkyard Dog.
he returns from Chile and South Korea where he’s been concentrating on human rights. His youngest son is a senior at James Madison. “My wife and I, we dedicated our lives to our kids,” says Santana. “To have successful kids is a blessing.” Fraternity While at West Texas A&M Tito joined the Lambda Chi Alpha Brotherhood. There were 10 football players who joined the Fraternity at the same time. “The guys that were there were more my style. Lambda Chis were just a bunch of guys who enjoyed having a hell of a time,” says Santana. “Although we had a mixture of everything there, but I thought the brotherhood was what I was looking for at West Texas.”
Giving Back When Santana left wrestling he didn’t do much other than take up golf for a few years. He soon decided he needed something to do. He and Sgt. Slaughter began a wrestling league called AWF. The league’s matches consisted of three-minute rounds. AWF was on
Santana’s time in the fraternity brought him a lot of friendships, the kind he says are hard to find. It was also important was to him that he was accepted into a mostly nonHispanic fraternity.
difference in kids’ lives and decided to do it full time. He now works in a middle school where he teaches Spanish and coaches basketball. “I have been teaching for 11 years and I am really glad that I am doing this,” he says “I really enjoy it and I think I’m making a difference.” Santana is proud of what he’s doing but is more so of his children. His eldest son attends American University Law School. His middle son, who graduated from Princeton, is also going to law school when www.crossandcrescent.com
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“There were some good people who took you for who you are. I think that I now consider myself, that I achieved some success; I never forgot those roots and the way I was treated by complete strangers and accepted,” says Tito. “I think I learned more about life in the fraternity than just being in between beers…” The most unique experience he had in the fraternity was the Initiation Ritual. “The light in Initiation, you know that’s it, that’s life. It is something that you carry for the rest of your life,” says Santana. “Looking back, there were some great moments in Lambda Chi, but nothing compares to the feeling of that moment and it’s something that we will all take to our graves. Unless you are a Lambda Chi it’s something that you can never explain.”
November 2008
FEATURE
Million Dollar Man Opera singer Neal E. Boyd won NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” on October 1, 2008, earning a giant paycheck.
By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison 1987)
Since childhood, Neal E. Boyd (Southeast Missouri 2001) had a dream to become a great singer.
an intern in the Missouri House of Representatives, where he was elected speaker of the entire Intern Caucus.
His dream came true on October 1, 2008, when Boyd was declared the “Best New Act in America,” winning the NBC hit television series, “America’s Got Talent,” and becoming the winner of a $1 million prize.
In 2000, Boyd gained more attention when he became the National Young Artist Vocal Champion. He was the winner of the 2000 National Collegiate Artist Voice Competition of the Music Teachers National Association; a frequent winner at the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition; a guest soloist for the 2001 Missouri All-State Choir; and a member of the 1996 Missouri All-Collegiate Choir.
“This is something I’ve been waiting for my whole life,” says Boyd, an insurance salesman from Missouri. “Dreams do become a reality.” Ever since this year’s season of “America’s Got Talent” started, Boyd has been a star of the NBC ratings blockbuster, which is produced by “American Idol” producers Fremantle Media North America and Simon Cowell’s SYCO Television. From the beginning, the Missouri native was a standout in the pool of the more than 200,000 people who tried out for the show. He began appearing in national commercials weeks before the season premiere in June, and was featured in an emotional 10-minute segment that closed that premiere. NBC had the No. 1 ratings hit on television from that point forward. Upon being declared the winner during the live season finale, Boyd thanked his mother, Esther; Sikeston, Missouri; the State of Missouri; and America. He was then celebrated by his idol, the world renowned tenor Placido Domingo, who said to him, “Congratulations Neal. By participating in ‘America’s Got Talent,’ you have brought to America’s ears opera, so be proud of it. And I’m sure from today on that you are starting a brilliant career.”
College, Politics, and Insurance At Southeast Missouri State University, Boyd was an active student leader and a speech communication major, with minors in music and political science. In addition to his Southeast Missouri degree, he also holds a degree in music from the University of MissouriColumbia and a master’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix. While at Southeast Missouri, Boyd was a frequent soloist for the university choir and performed many lead roles with the Opera All-Stars. Along with his academic and musical activities, Boyd also was very active in Student Government and was a member of the Interfraternity Council, the Residence Hall Association, and the Student Activities Council. He served as a presidential ambassador and spent a semester in Jefferson City, Missouri, as
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Boyd has become known for appearances throughout Missouri, including solo performances at the memorial service for the late Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, the Inaugural Ball for Gov. Bob Holden, the dedication of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, the opening of the 2004 Missouri Senate General Session, and the Inauguration of Gov. Matt Blunt. He has performed at world-class national venues including Carnegie Hall in New York, and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. When Boyd began his involvement with “America’s Got Talent” earlier this year, he was working in St. Louis as a District Sales Coordinator for Aflac (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus). His title as “Insurance Salesman Opera Singer” would stick throughout the “America’s Got Talent” season. Although Hollywood and Las Vegas have demanded much of his time lately, Neal has maintained his Missouri residency and looks forward to the opportunity to spend some more time “back home.” He is proud of his continued involvement with the State of Missouri, where he was appointed by Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt to the Missouri
November 2008
FEATURE “It was the perfect way to expose America to the real Neal E. Boyd — the same one I know.” Officially, LeGrand resides in the Washington, D.C. area and works as a major fundraiser for the University of Maryland-College Park, with a specific emphasis on the West Coast. Because of his job’s focus in California, he was able to be there for much of the production and he was in the audience and behind the scenes for all but one of Boyd’s live “America’s Got Talent” episodes. Boyd makes time to return to the Southeast Missouri chapter at least twice a year, providing advice and support to the undergraduates. When he visits, he always stays in the chapter house.
Training and Employment Council (MTEC) in April 2007. Earlier this year he was appointed to the Missouri Workforce Investment Board for a four-year term. Boyd is often referred to as “The Voice of Missouri.” Fraternity Brothers When Boyd enrolled at Southeast Missouri as a freshmen, he had no plans to join a fraternity. “I said I would never go Greek,” he says. One day when he was in the gym, he was invited to visit Lambda Chi Alpha so he decided to check it out. He immediately loved the atmosphere and knew he had found a place where he could just be himself. “It just felt right,” he says. Also when he joined, Boyd met his best friend and big brother Jason LeGrand (Southeast Missouri 1997) and since then the two have been there for each others during the good times and bad times. They also were roommates in Los Angeles during much of this season of “America’s Got Talent.”
Through the Fraternity, Boyd and LeGrand discovered they were two people with very similar values and ideals. Both men placed a very high value on loyalty and honesty, and those simple things became the foundation of a lifelong friendship. “Neal came to college a skilled communicator, but the Fraternity made for an incredible laboratory where he sharpened those skills and developed a truly amazing ability to connect with people from all sorts of backgrounds and perspectives,” LeGrand says. When LeGrand first met Boyd, he saw a likable, compassionate young man with an incredible ability to disarm anyone with a few words. “Our friendship developed over time through college -- based on our loyalty to our friendship and to the fraternity, an unspoken commitment to protect each other, a love of politics, a love of Imo’s Pizza, and a strong drive to be successful in our lives,” LeGrand says. The great benefit of “America’s Got Talent” is that it showcased Boyd’s personality — his heart and soul — and not just his voice
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“I can never forget becoming part of something that is bigger than you,” he says about joining Lambda Chi Alpha. “Thats why I always sign ‘In ZAX.’ It’s always great to go back.” On October 25, 2008, Boyd did make a return visit to Southeast Missouri to received a Distinguished Service Award. “I think this is going to be one of the best years of my life,” he told the crowd.” The Next Chapter The day after Boyd won “America’s Got Talent,” he, LeGrand, and his new management team from Octagon Music met with Epic Records to discuss a recording contract. During the meeting, legendary manager Peter Rudge (The Rolling Stones, The Who, Duran Duran, Lynyrd Skynyrd) turned to LeGrand and said, “Are you interested in getting into the recording industry?” “Without thinking about it I said back, ‘What I’m interested in is Neal’s success and happiness.’” Today, Boyd is currently in the studio recording his album.
November 2008
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