the gamma rhoar - omegafi · pdf file · 2016-09-02the. gamma rhoar. the newsletter...
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the GAMMA RHOARTHE NEWSLET TER FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF GAMMA RHO CHAPTER OF THETA CHI FR ATERNIT Y AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSIT Y - FALL 2016
REUNIONADO 2016 | By: Allen W. Hallas '72As I looked around the assembled alumni out on the beach
behind the Hilton Singer Island on the Saturday afternoon of Memorial Day Weekend, I thought it was going to be like herding cats to get all of these men to move about 20 yards for a group photo. Amazingly, as I walked with the large red & white WELCOME banner over to the spot to take the picture, alumni followed me, spent very little time deciding who should be in the front and rear of the group and turned towards the cameras. After a minute, several alumni shot their fists into the air and alumni from six different decades performed a thunderous HIDY TIDY. IT WAS TRULY GREAT!
Gamma Rho Chapter began meeting for reunion back in 1971 when about a half dozen fairly recent graduates got together in Columbia, South Carolina to 'rekindle old memories while making new ones.' That group, including Gene Walden '66, Larry Sloan '66, Rayford Taylor '67, Irwin 'Bob' King '65 and the late Gaines Pickett '64, probably never thought the tradition would hold up for 45 years and see more than 100 alumni (actually 104) attend this year's gathering. Brothers Mark Hillis '63 (member of the Foundation Chapter for National), Dale Knapp '67 and Skip Pletzer '67 were our senior members while Dan Daley '09, Robby Holroyd '10, Michael Mahoney '12 and Logan Kanai '12 were the youngest.
The weekend started on Friday with a Memorial Happy Hour at Duffy's on PGA Boulevard. After the untimely passing of several alumni recently, the organizing committee, at the suggestion of Clif Curry '76, decided we should plan an event to remember the nine brothers, eight alumni and one undergraduate, who joined the Chapter Eternal since our 2014 Reunion. Kevin Mahoney '78
graciously eulogized and honored the nine: Ray Wise '68, Bill Magill '71, Joe Grimail '78, Brian Christman '81, Mark Sturge '84, Hal Clarke '83, Mark Welch '88, Joe Adams '79 and our undergrad brother, Oliver Bucknell '12 who recently succumbed to leukemia. A crowd of over 90 alumni and their wives paid their respects and toasted these Men of Theta Chi, including Tim McDulin '80, Chung Wong '90 and Bob Johnson '80. It turned out to be a great kickoff to the weekend as the solemnity of the event didn't seem to interfere with a good time which appeared to be had by all. Most alumni left Duffy's by 10:00 p.m., but a crew of Rick South '79, Jim Armstrong '83 and his younger brother Rob Armstrong '84 kept the bartender busy back at the Hilton until closing.
Randy Welsh '74, Brooks O'Hara '74 and Dennis Taylor '76 rose early on Saturday for a half day fishing charter offshore. Randy's girlfriend Cindy caught a lot of sun but that was the only thing they seemed to catch. Planning Committee Members Pat Poston '73, Terry 'the Beerdog' Verner '72 and Glen 'Bull' Hughes '81 were busy that morning icing down all the beverages for the day at the beach and, without their help, there would have been a lot of thirsty folks that afternoon. Among a large group of Reunion neophytes, we were happy to see George Turnbull '88, Craig Eisner '89, Brian Goodwin '85 and Kevin Sharpe '85 show up early Saturday. By noon, we were all set up and ready for customers and thanks to Tom Kupcik '79, we had commemorative
All years after a brother's name designate initiation year in the fraternity, not graduation year from college.
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More than 100 alumni traveled to Palm Beach to reconnect at REUNIONADO 2016.
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It may have been some time since you reflected on the significance of Theta Chi during your college years. However, many of us realize those friendships and college experiences are still treasured today. The impact that our fraternity brotherhood had on each of our lives inspired our current vision to construct a new and permanent chapter house for Theta Chi at Florida State.
The Gamma Rho Legacy House Campaign will raise over $2 million to build a brand new, state-of-the-art, 17,000 square foot chapter house on a lot recently purchased by the alumni corporation facing West College Avenue.
We secured a prime location next to campus: 1.5 blocks east of Westcott, 2 blocks north of the Civic Center and 3 blocks west of Downtown and just around the corner from the traditional concentration of sorority houses along Copeland, Jefferson and West Park Avenue. With five other fraternities located in the same area along West College Avenue, our chapter house will be the crown jewel on the new "fraternity row."
We are currently working to build our campaign leadership team as well as recruiting volunteers to help accomplish this once-in-a-lifetime project for our chapter. We invite you to be a part of the team by reaching out to a member of the committee, listed on the left-hand side of this page.
To learn more about the Gamma Rho Legacy House Campaign, contact our National Campaign Chairman, Steve Mudder '91, or Major Gift Chairman, Mark Hillis '63. In the coming months, we look forward to producing more information about the campaign and the new Gamma Rho Legacy House.
For up to date information about the campaign, and to see a copy of our campaign fact sheet, current donor list and more, visit gammarhoar.com.
Gamma Rho Legacy House
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Campaign Committee
National Campaign ChairmanSteve Mudder '91
Honorary Campaign ChairmanBob Sasser '72
Major Gifts ChairmanMark Hillis '63
DirectorDon Ramsden '56
Class Agent Chairman Allen Hallas '72
TreasurerKen Snyder '64
Major Gifts CommitteeJoe Sowinski '68Todd South '79Ben Esco '80
Andy Rubinacci '86
Class AgentsSteve Coonrod '82Mike Forslund '88Rob Johnson '91
Robby Holroyd '10Logan Kanai '12
Campaign Counsel John RossOmegaFi
[email protected](800) 276-6342
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This blast from the past photo certainly brings back memories to brothers who lived in the old Theta Chi house at 109 Wildwood.
Theta Chi brothers gathered on July 13, 2016, to assist with our newly acquired property renovations.
Gamma Rho Legacy House Richard "Dick" Roberts: Leadership in Sports and Business By: Steve Mudder '91
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When I think about our Gamma Rho alumni, I am always amazed at the incredible leaders our Chapter has produced, whether they pursued careers in business, sports, law, medicine, politics or academia. In each newsletter we will highlight one or two brothers who have excelled in their fields and have exhibited extraordinary leadership and accomplishment.
Brother Richard "Dick" Roberts '63 came to Florida State in 1960 on a track scholarship and rushed Theta Chi during his junior year. He proudly wore his Theta Chi pin with its winged foot intramural chairman dangle and still has it today. As a member of the Seminole Cross Country and Track and Field teams, Brother Roberts set five school records and served as team captain of the Cross Country team in 1962-63 and as co-captain of the Track and Field team in 1964. Following graduation in 1964, he remained on campus for two seasons as a graduate assistant, coaching the Cross Country Team to a 10-0-1 record and receiving a master's degree in 1966.
Brother Roberts coached at Dunedin High School for three years where he won two State Championships and coached 10 individual state champions and established 13 state records. He returned to FSU in 1970 as the head coach for the Cross Country team, assistant coach for the Track and Field team and academic advisor for FSU men's sports. He replaced Mike Long as the head coach of the Track and Field team in 1978. In all, Roberts coached at FSU for 21 years before retiring in August 1988. During his coaching career, Roberts felt blessed that each day of his life he was able to go somewhere he wanted to go and do something he wanted to do.
Brother Roberts enjoyed an unprecedented level of success during his tenure as head coach. His 1980 Track and Field team earned the school's then highest ever ranking when it finished third at the Outdoor NCAA Championships. He coached six National Champions and 38 athletes who won 74 All-American awards. His squads never lost a Metro Conference crown (winning 11 in a row) and they beat the University of Florida 8 out of 10 times in dual meets. Overall, his teams amassed a 119-31-2 record in scored meets and had 5 top 20 NCAA finishes, three of them in the top 10. Most important to Coach Roberts was watching so many young men mature as individuals, earn their degrees and go on to become responsible and productive citizens.
Roberts is a member of six Halls of Fame for his career in Track and Field, including the State of Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame and the FSU Sports Hall of Fame. He was named NCAA District III Coach of the Year twice, Metro Conference Coach of the Year six times and served two years as the President of the NCAA Track and Field Coaches Association. He also coached several US national teams and has been nominated for the United States Track Coaches Hall of Fame.
After retiring from coaching in 1988, Brother Roberts began a 20 year career as a national account manager for the nation's most prestigious synthetic track surfacing company. After going through several mergers of the business and remaining in charge of track surface sales, Roberts retired from Beynon Sports Surfaces in 2008. Interestingly, his last project was to redesign and resurface FSU's track.
Brother Roberts has been married for 36 years to his loving wife, Allene. Although he attended Junior and Senior High School with Allene as acquaintances, they reconnected at their 20 year High School Reunion, began dating and were married shortly thereafter. During their marriage, Allene served as a mother to countless track kids, as most coaches' wives do, and as an office manager for
PresidentMike Forslund '88
Vice President/Assistant Secretary
Steve Coonrod '82
SecretaryDon Ramsden '56
TreasurerKen Snyder '64
Director/Capital Campaign Chair & Chapter House
Design LeaderSteve Mudder '91
Director/ Chapter AdvisorChris Hill '12
Director/Current Chapter President
Ryan Nugent '14
DirectorsRobby Holroyd '10Rob Johnson '91Brian C. Keri '90
Richard Roberts '63Andy Rubinacci '86
Raymond Schroeder '63Ken Snyder '64
Non-Voting DirectorsJesse Bauer '10
Terry Johnson '70Joe Sowinski '68Huel Wheeler '64
Theta Chi of Tallahassee, Inc,the Alumni and
Housing Corporation
Communication support and assistance provided by OmegaFi.
(800) 276-6342 | omegafi.com
Gamma Rho of Theta Chi Foundation, Inc.
400 Capital Circle SESuite 18345
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone: (850) 320-7227 (forwards message to
(440) 897-1330 by text)
Email: [email protected]
Corporate Address
Richard "Dick" Roberts '63
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Summer Fun in Atlanta | By: Steve Mudder '91
In June of 2009, Mike "Slundy" Forslund '88 was on a boat on Lake Lanier, located just north of Atlanta, with his wife and a few friends driving around the lake. As he was passing a boat, he saw the hair of Mike "Shaggy" Cronin '89 blowing in the wind and realized it was a bunch of Theta Chi's on Mark Diaz's '90 boat celebrating his birthday. They found a cove, tied up and had a blast. The five brothers who reunited that day for sun and suds were Mark Diaz, Mike Forslund, Mike Cronin, Billy Jacchia '89 and Chuck Lee '89.
They had so much fun that they did it again in 2010 and then made it an annual tradition held each June thereafter. As stories of the legendary good time have grown, so has this annual summer reunion. It is now a weekend long debacle with many brothers in Atlanta attending and a few more flying in from across the country. Over the years, in addition to the five founding brothers, the following ΘΧs have attended: Andy "Cubby" Rubinacci '86, Joe Garner '89, George Turnbull '88, Chip Ringo '88, Joe Monroe '88, Steve Mudder '91, Mike Mitchell '92, John Loehrer '86, Mac Lowry '88, Matt Bower '89, Jeff Verkon '91 and Chip Chadwell '89. For the big event held this past June 24-26, Chuck Lee was gracious enough to host all of the guys at his house for
(L to R): Steve Mudder '91, Andy Rubinacci '86, Chuck Lee '89, Billy Jacchia '89, Mac Lowry '88, Joe Monroe '88, Mark Diaz '90, Jeff Verkon '91, Matt Bower '89 and Mike Cronin '89
Sunday, September 4 - To kick-off the 2016 Seminole football season in Orlando for the Ole Miss game, we reserved the entire upstairs at Harry Buffalo in downtown Orlando starting at 7:00 p.m. We will have drink specials and finger foods to welcome all brothers and their family and friends. Harry Buffalo is located at 129 W Church St, Orlando, Florida.
Friday, September 30 - Theta Chi will host a Happy Hour at our new property (429 W College Ave) on Friday before the FSU v. North Carolina game from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday, October 7 - Theta Chi will host a Happy Hour the day before the FSU v. Miami game. Location and details to be announced.
Friday, October 28 - Theta Chi will host a Happy Hour at our new property (429 W College Ave) on Friday before the FSU v. Clemson game from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Florida State University Football ScheduleDate Opponent Location
Monday, September 5 Ole Miss Orlando, FL
Saturday, September 10 Charleston Southern Tallahassee, FL
Saturday, September 17 Louisville Louisville, KY
Saturday, September 24 USF Tampa, FL
Saturday, October 1 North Carolina Tallahassee, FL
Saturday, October 8 Miami Miami Gardens, FL
Saturday, October 15 Wake Forest Tallahassee, FL
Saturday, October 29 Clemson Tallahassee, FL
Saturday, November 5 NC State Raleigh, NC
Friday, November 11 Boston College Tallahassee, FL
Saturday, November 19 Syracuse Syracuse, NY
Saturday, November 26 Florida Tallahassee, FL
Theta Chi will host alumni events for the following games:
the weekend, leaving his wife and kids to fend for themselves. Now that's Theta Chi hospitality!
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REUNIONADO 2016 continued from page 1
REUNIONADO koozies for all our attendees. It was pretty hot out there and the stories flowed about as fast as the refreshments. Memories picked up and conversations moved along between men who hadn't seen each other in years as if it had only been a few weeks or days. Charles 'CK' Keller '69 attended his only other Reunion in 1974, and after a 40 year absence, it didn't seem that living outside Boston all these years had changed him a bit, although his red hair was not quite as obvious as it used to be. Joey Stark '80 showed up with his wife and his FSU cheerleader daughter and Steve Rothman '83 anchored his boat off the beach and swam ashore with Brad West '80 and Craig Downs '80 to join the group. Glen Merchant '90 and Paul 'Ponch' Gonzalez '91 dropped by to swap some stories with Chip Chadwell '89. We said the beach party would end around 5:00 p.m., or about the time we ran out of beer, and amazingly I saw Gene 'Buckshot' Sanders '83 reach in and grab the last Bud right about 5:00 p.m. We broke down the tents, gathered up our coolers and headed into the hotel to get ready for dinner and guest speakers that evening.
The Hilton has been the site of our last four reunions 2010-2014, because we always draw alumni so well to Palm Beach. As a matter of fact, we have more Gamma Rho alumni living in Palm Beach County than any other county in the state. 140 alumni, wives and even a couple of kids joined us for dinner at the Hilton. Frank Kreidler '69, a Reunion mainstay for many years, even put in an appearance at the dinner and it was good to see him. Then, Steve Mudder '91 took a few minutes to tell us about the Legacy House Project. After a dozen years leasing at Heritage Grove, way out on Ocala Road, the chapter and alumni committee purchased property for a move to West College, a prime location one block from Westcott that we luckily discovered thanks tothe scouting of Todd South '79. Designs and lot plans were shared and Steve's enthusiasm for the project assured us that this was definitely an endeavor we could do with the help of our dedicated alumni.
We invited Jerry Kutz '91, Vice President of the Seminole Boosters, to speak to us about the upcoming Seminole football season. It was obvious he has realistic hopes for another great ball club this fall, a point all of us seemed to share. DJ Jeff Saunders '72 volunteered his time and talent to play tunes the rest of the evening and he never disappoints. Scott Neuman '82, who had briefly left the party with Tim 'Big Bucks' Landers '78 in tow to rally Rob Reynolds '80 to join the festivities, won $370 in the 50/50 raffle which he promptly donated to the bar for a free round of drinks to toast newlyweds Christina and Terry Verner '72, married the weekend before.
Sunday was golf day and just about everything worked out as planned for the 32 golfers who gave up another day at the beach
and pool on Singer Island for a round at the North Palm Beach Course. Tim Stinneford '72 was back to defend his win in 2012 but, being teamed with two other golfers over 60, Verner and Kirk Levy '78 as well as Rob Roberts '85, they just didn't seem to have the stamina, or alcohol capacity, to compete with the team featuring Ray Premuroso '79 and Bill Schack '86. Though the tournament was shortened by a couple of holes due to the threat of lightning, everyone agreed they probably would have finished if not for the free beer made available behind the house of the golf chairman, Martha and Brian Mahoney '80, along the 13th fairway.
The rest of the Reunion crew spent the day at the Hilton and essentially took over the shallow end of the pool. Melissa and Craig Sowers '71 along with Joy and John Pinkerton '71, Max Martin '80 and Mike Kuehn '80 held down the far side of the pool while Tri Sig sisters Suzie Levy and Barb Lindsey, the wife of Bill Lindsey '75, camped out on the pool chairs long enough to save a spot for Jeff Wallace '75 who made his first Reunion in almost 30 years. Ben Esco '80 and his girlfriend Laura were there and could arguably say they were entitled to the Man-Mile Award since they chopped off the end of their annual Vegas trip to make it to West Palm to join in. Dozens of other Reunionators were there but it was great to see one of our more famous alumni make an appearance out on the pool deck that afternoon. Rob 'Sweat' Hill '86, of the Seminole Tomahawk Chop fame, came by to 'sign autographs' and retell the story of how he single-handedly changed FSU history by standing up in the block to order yet another mixer and somehow his waving arm was construed as THE CHOP!
We spent our last evening, as we have at the past three Reunions, at Poston's favorite watering hole, The Pirate's Well. Todd Burrows '93 was finally able to break away from a family obligation and snuck over with Brian Condo '89. It was great to see Tom Stark '84 after a long reunion drought and we were happy Kim and John Raudenbush '79 spent his birthday weekend with us while Brenda and Dennie Jones '80 celebrated their anniversary. We had a chance to thank all those brothers that planned and organized the Reunion (Poston, Verner, John Broz '83, Saunders, Dan Oliver '80, Hughes, Kevin Falvey '83, Ed Sweeney '80, Ernie Arill '82, Mudder, the Mahoney's, Premuroso, Kupcik and Joe 'the Pole' Sowinski '68) without whose efforts the Reunion would certainly not been as much of a success. I know there are a lot of other alumni I failed to mention here that certainly made this Reunion arguably the most successful of all time. It certainly was the largest turnout! Good food, great tunes and a great neighborhood pub atmosphere at the Pirate's Well gave everyone a chance to tell one more old war story and have an opportunity to say so long until the next reunion, or until we see each other at a ballgame this fall. Let's go NOLES!
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Visit our alumni website! Visit gammarhoar.com to:
• Learn more about the GammaRho Legacy House Campaign
• Learn more about recent newsand view event photos
• Search for alumni
• Review the status of ongoingfundraising efforts
• Update your address, phonenumber and email address
• Post noteworthyaccomplishments (a new baby,a recent marriage or promotion,etc.)
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PO Box 2187Columbus, GA 31902-2187
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Help us keep our alumni records up-to-date! Edit your member profile at gammarhoar.com, or email your contact information to Steve Mudder '91 at [email protected] or clip this form, place it in a stamped envelope and send to:
Theta Chi Florida State University (2966)
PO Box 2187Columbus, GA 31902
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Richard "Dick" Roberts continued from page 3
Robert's successful track surface business. Brother Roberts and Allene are now both retired (although Allene quickly notes she still has a full time job taking care of her husband) and they currently reside just outside of Tallahassee. In addition to his continued support for Florida State University Athletics, Brother Roberts continues to serve Theta Chi as a Director on Gamma Rho's Alumni Corporation and has generously contributed to the Legacy House Capital Campaign.
When asked about his experiences as a member of Theta Chi, Brother Roberts quickly recalls the good times he had living the fraternity life and how it greatly enhanced his college experience. "It is all about Brotherhood. The commitment we have to each other as brothers has lasted a lifetime. As an undergraduate, it was all about the group - pride for our organization; accomplishing goals, whether that be maintaining a high GPA or through competing in intramural sports; an active social life; and never wanting to let our brothers down. When I think of Theta Chi, it is truly heartwarming to me and makes me want to give back based on a lifelong experience."
When I think about the life and career of Brother Roberts, I am drawn to the ideals of leadership, a Hall of Fame career, devoted husband, love of his Alma mater and love of his fraternity. He has lived the Creed of Theta Chi and continues to inspire us all.
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