The Omicronicle | Fall 2017

OMICRONICLE Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi H University of Alabama H Fall 2017

Thomas Mills ’14 and Justin Lukas ’14 with the Omicron Chapter centennial plaque.

T

A Celebration 100 Years in the Making

he weekend of April 21-22, the Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi celebrated its 100th anniversary at The University of Alabama. On Friday night, the Chapter hosted Brothers and dignitaries from all over the country as well as our National Headquarters for a black tie event that was truly worthy of such an occasion. Following dedication speeches from me, Omicron Club President Matthew Jones ’98, Executive Director of Pi Kappa Phi Mark Timmes, and National President Tom Sullivan, those in attendance danced the night away to the sounds of The Music City Toppers, which featured Motown and classic rock hits.

Saturday morning, the Chapter provided a brunch to all attendees, which featured both meaningful and hilarious dedications to the 100th anniversary time capsule. Many Brothers provided keepsake memorabilia for the time capsule, which is now safely hidden away awaiting the 125th anniversary in 2042. Afterward, all initiated Brothers were invited to a very special Alumni Chapter meeting that ended with Brothers repeating the very same oath they had recited so many years before.

Warren DeBardelaben ’82 with his wife during the centennial celebration in April.

Thomas Mills ’14, Housemother Linda Crawford, and Matthew Jones ’98 with the Omicron centennial memorial.

We then adjourned and moved outside for the dedication of the 100th anniversary monument, which is placed on the west side of the Chapter House. It is a striking 5-foot-5-inch tall granite obelisk. This monument should easily last for the next century and provide a strong reminder of those Brothers who built this Fraternity and this Chapter into what it is today.

For those Brothers who were able to attend, we thank you and hope you had a wonderful and truly memorable experience reuniting with so many Brothers from faraway places and rekindling friendships from decades ago. If you were not able to attend our 100th anniversary celebration, be sure to stop by soon to see the monument and marvel at how Omicron has grown. God Bless our Fraternity.

Fraternally, Warren DeBardelaben III ’82 (615) 310-6267 | debardw@bellsouth.net

Chase Johnson ’14, Alex Windsor ’14, Housemother Linda Crawford, Justin Lukas ’14, Walker Lamberth ’14, and Chase Moran ’14 during the centennial festivities.

Elliott Rowe ’08 with his wife during the centennial celebration in April.

OMICRONICLE

I

STAY INVOLVED WITH OMICRON

Omicron Alumni Acknowledged Among the Top in Pi Kappa Phi

am very excited to announce that the Omicron Alumni Chapter has been selected to receive several awards for this past year. Omicron is an Excellence in Engagement Chapter this year in addition to being selected to receive one of our Alumni Event of the Year awards for your recent centennial celebration.

Excellence in Engagement alumni organizations are those who regularly exceed or excel beyond the expectations of a group of volunteers. Beyond the fundamentals of alumni engagement, these organizations provide an active, enriching experience for their alumni as well as support to their student Chapter and/or their community.

The Omicron Chapter is doing a fantastic job of providing your alumni with a true lifelong experience with Pi Kappa Phi. Fraternally, Andrew Bublitz, Iota Rho ’13 Director of Alumni Engagement

OMICRON CLUB BOARD MEMBERS President T. Matthew Jones ’98

Vice President Warren DeBardelaben III ’82 Treasurer David H. Richardson ’97 Secretary Elliot Rowe ’08

W

PAGE 2

Jimmy May ’71 Shares Lasting Omicron Memories and Strong Brotherhood Bonds

hen Jimmy May ’71 started his college experience, he knew that he wanted to join a fraternity. He would later encounter countless life lessons and make long-lasting relationships during his time at Omicron Chapter. Throughout the recruitment process, Jimmy quickly knew that Pi Kappa Phi’s values of excellence and achievement matched his own personal philosophy. “I was impressed by Pi Kappa Phi,” Jimmy said.

“They were different from the others.” He said the others were simply “frats or social clubs,” but the Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi was a real fraternity; it was unique. Jimmy’s time in the Omicron Chapter impacted his college experience as he was involved in a number of Omicron’s functions and activities. He also believes his involvement with Omicron helped him grow and mature into the man he is today.

“If I had to do it all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat, without hesitation,” Jimmy stated.

After returning to Mobile, Jimmy worked in sales with Waller Brothers Inc., for 21 years and served as vice president of sales. In 1994, he left Waller and joined Quality Printing & Business Systems, where Jimmy provides support to local offices by offering printing and copying solutions, as well as office supplies and add specialties. Jimmy says he learned a number of important skills during his time at Omicron that impacted his life and professional career. “The social impact was huge,” Jimmy stated. “I learned how to work with people from all walks of life.” The experiences he shared with Brothers from various parts of the country changed Jimmy for the better.

As an alumnus, Jimmy has stayed active by helping plan numerous alumni activities and

events, including alumni lunches and in recent years, a football party known as the Omicron Homecoming on the River, which continues to grow each year. “It is a wonderful experience when alumni come together,” Jimmy said. “It is like Homecoming, only more intimate.” He encourages alumni to reconnect with other Brothers by organizing or attending alumni events. Jimmy believes it is also a great opportunity to meet with the Brothers who are carrying on Omicron’s traditions. He cherishes the lifelong memories and friendships that he had the opportunity to build at the University of Alabama. “Every day was an experience,” Jimmy stated. “My time in Pi Kappa Phi is something I will never regret.”

Jimmy lives in Mobile, Alabama, with his wife, Karen. They have two children. Jimmy enjoys hunting, being outdoors, and spending time with his family. If you would like to reconnect with Jimmy, you can reach him at jmay@teamquality.com or at (251) 610-0922.

Members Walt Dendy ’72 Seth Chapman ’84

My time in Pi Kappa Phi is something I will never regret.

The Omicron Club wishes to thank Robert Bowers Jr. ’75 for his 10 years of service as a member of the board. Robert served in various roles during his term, and his contributions were significant. His dedication transcended personal selfishness, and he worked tirelessly to help make Omicron an ideal Chapter. Thank you, Brother Bowers.

Sid Trant ’80 Joins UA System as General Counsel and Board Secretary

If you would like to nominate an Omicron alumnus for membership on the Board of Directors, please email one of the current board members by December 31. You can find their contact information in the alumni directory available at uapikappaphi.com.

S

id J. Trant ’80 was appointed general counsel for The University of Alabama System and secretary of the Board of Trustees in September.

He was a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP prior to appointment, serving the firm for more than 30 years. Sid is a summa cum laude graduate of The University of Alabama. He served as archon of our Chapter and was recognized as Outstanding Fraternity President in 1983.

He also received honors from Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, and was recognized as an Outstanding Student in Economics, B.A. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

PAGE 3

UPDATE ON ACTIVE CHAPTER

PI KAPPA PHI

Several brothers volunteered with the Miracle League. Ryan Dolmanet ’14 helps coach a Miracle League team.

RECOGNIZING DEDICATED EFFORTS OF OUR BROTHERS

T

Omicron Recruits 38 Men and Raises Philanthropic Funds for Lasting Change

hanks to the hard work of many of Omicron’s most dedicated members, our Chapter has made significant strides in improving programming, strengthening our foundation, and inspiring future leadership.

BROTHERHOOD GAINS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Our recruitment team executed a well-planned strategy this summer and brought 38 outstanding men into our new member program, which brought our undergraduate total to 126 members!

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Efforts to maintain and improve our academic standing are in the works and making a difference in the classroom. Our collective spring GPA was 3.04 with 30 men on the dean’s list and seven on the president’s list.

PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS

With great pleasure, we continue our commitment to philanthropy and community service. So far this semester, we’ve contributed 50 service hours on top of co-hosting an event with Alpha Tau Omega, which raised

Ben Cox ’15, Fran Pecci ’15, and Will Hamilton ’15 won Battle of the Bands benefiting B+.

$2,000 for the Houston Food Bank, and participated in Alpha Chi Omega’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. Additional fundraising efforts include $150 to sponsor a kickball team for Alpha Omicron Pi’s Strikeout Arthritis event, $250 to Phi Mu’s Bonnamu for the Children’s Miracle Network, $500 for Hungry for Music, and $400 to Zeta Tau Alpha’s Barbecue for Breast Cancer.

THANKFUL FOR ALUMNI SUPPORT

I greatly appreciate your continued interest in the happenings of our Chapter. I invite you to get involved and make a difference within the many lives of men committed to excellence through service to Pi Kappa Phi. Fraternally, Thomas Mills ’14 Archon (334) 482-2562 tfmills@crimson.ua.edu

Nico Prendes ’16 (middle) interned for Blue Missions to help bring clean water and sanitation to the Dominican Republic. As an intern, he was assigned a month in the Dominican Republic, where he led three mission trips. Each trip had between 25-30 volunteers and was about nine days long. While on each trip, their goals as leaders were to help impact the lives of every volunteer. Blue Missions has been helping the communities in the Dominican Republic since 2010 and has provided clean sanitation to more than 500 homes and given over 4,400 people access to clean water.

Chapter Officers Archon Thomas Mills ’14 Luverne, Ala. (334) 482-2562 tfmills@crimson.ua.edu Vice Archon Dalton Anderson ’15 Huntsville, Ala.

OMICRONICLE PI KAPPA PHI P.O. Box 1880 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 Address Service Requested

Treasurer Ryan Dolmanet ’14 Austin, Texas Warden Walker Lamberth ’14 Memphis, Tenn.

Secretary Tyler Gonska ’15 Brewster, N.Y. Chaplain Francisco Pecci ’15 Davie, Fla. Historian Peyton Johnson ’15 Huntsville, Ala.

Keep Up with Omicron Online www.uapikappaphi.com

@UA_PiKappaPhi

ATTENTION: This newsletter is intended for alumni and parents. If your son is still attending the University of Alabama, he will receive a copy at the Chapter House. If he has graduated, please mail us his new address to help update our records. Thank you.

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS

Grayson Alexander | Birmingham, Ala. Arthur Barnes | Birmingham, Ala. Alex Barr* | Enterprise, Ala. James Byrd* | Marietta, Ga. Austin Cambas | Tampa, Fla. Sam Dorsey* | Charleston, S.C. Michael Edenfield* | Roswell, Ga. Henry Frenzel | Charleston, S.C. Will Gardner* | Huntsville, Ala. Matt Gastaldo | Natick, Ma. Jake Gross | New Freedom, Pa. Christian Hart | Plymouth Meeting, Pa. Harrison Hughes | Brewton, Ala. Reid Hunt | Birmingham, Ala. Eric Johnston* | Westwood, N.J. Jack Kaiser | Middletown, N.J. Alec Kaplan | Huntsville, Ala. Eric Lind | Cary, Ill. Ryan Lundgren | Chicago, Ill. Mike Martino | Freehold, N.J.

John McAllister* | Dothan, Ala. J.D. McGilvray | Birmingham, Ala. Patrick Morris* | Dothan, Ala. Houston Needham* | Birmingham, Ala. Will Neeves | Leesburg, Va. Logan Owen | Huntsville, Ala. Alex Passi | Glen Ellyn, Ill. Matt Pflaum* | Birmingham, Ala. Davis Pugh | Birmingham, Ala. Davis Romanowski | Birmingham, Ala. Alec Schwartz | Baltimore, Md. Zach Shutters | Dothan, Ala. Chris Sikora | Chicago, Ill. Jack Tobin | Miami, Fla. Layton Waldrop | Birmingham, Ala. Tanner White | Richmond, Va. Adam Wiese | St. Louis, Mo. Erdin Zukic | Bowling Green, Ky.

Alumni News

Pi Kappa Phi–Omicron Chapter

* Legacy

Mack O. Matthews III ’49 lives in Mobile, Ala., with his wife, Doret. They met at a pledge swap more than 68 years ago and have three children. “Back in the day, the old house on Hackberry Lane was a mecca of fraternal fellowship, great parties, intramural sports championships, campus leadership, and scholarship,” Mack said. “It is true that this tradition has continued. Keep up the good work.” E-mail: macko@bellsouth.net