» y A MESSAGE TO THE ALUMNI FROM THE PURPLE LEGIONNAIRE . .. This word to you is at the expense of the undergraduate chapter to which you belong. It accompanies a piece of com position by the chapter which represents a rather considerable effort directed to the Alumni as a manifestation of the good will which the actives bear toward the graduate members. Although the making of a good alumnus starts with the pledge member and carries right through the years spent in the fraternity house, the chapter seeks to encourage your continued interest through the Wiji Fiji. As an alumnus you want to back a winning team. Your chapter is one in which you can take satisfaction. You can and should recommend it to the boy in your block who intends entering W. & J. and you should take the time to recommend good boys to your chapter. Much of interest to alumni is happening at W. & J. Centennial focused national attention here. The The Phi Gamma Delta's lead story in the January issue concerns W. & J. On the North Campus a valuable fraternity house is being erected. The chapter and the alumni of Washington especially invite you to attend this year's Pig Dinner to be held on March 11th. A luncheon will be held at the George Washington Hotel at 1:30 on March 11th. Later that day will follow the initiation and the Pig Dinner—all at the hotel. You will have an opportunity to get up to date on Phi Gamma Delta at W. & J. and I hope that you will make the most of it. —JOHN H. DAVIDSON '29 \r\nAlpha this year began its rushing season in mid-summer hy sending each member of the freshman class a pam phlet Introducing Phi Gamma Delta and fraternity life In general at W. & J. Ralph Ritchie and Miles Durfey were appointed co-rushlng chairmen, and with the fraternity firmly behind them the rushing machine was put Into action. Numerous letters of recommendation from our alumni and members of other chapters were received with pertinent Information concerning various members of the Incoming class. In accordance with the rushing rules of the College, two nights of each week were set aside for the purpose of Intro ducing every frosh Into the fraternities on the campus. From these "open houses" we were able to judge upon and select for open rushing, during which time in vitations listing the variety of activities were given to the favorable prospects. In cooperation with the social committee, headed hy Shel Myers, entertainment such as a football game and a Monte Casino party, mingled with several smok ers and meals at the house, enabled both the actives and the future pledges to become better acquainted with each other and to create a more effective "at home" atmosphere. Here Is a brief word picture of the sixteen new bearers of the white star: William Elton Allen, brother of a former Alpha alumnus, came to W. & J. from Sharpsvllle, Pa. While In the Sharpsvllle High School, he took part in the junior and senior plays, was a mem the men whom we knew would make the ber of the chorus, held the top position as president of the Audio-visual Club, best and was an active member of the Latin Fljis. Following this visitation schedule a period of three days was given Club. I P The "New House Pledges." Yes, that's what we're calling Alpha's 1949-50 pledge class which Is pictured above near the foundation of the new chapter house. Front row, left to right: Minier, Vrooman, Peay, Hammers, Prole, Fleming, Difenbacher, Augur. Second row; Alward, Harvey, Allen, Hoover, Pfohl, Walter, Ertel. Missing: Cunningham. \r\nSamuel Anderson Alward, a tall red headed likeable lad, hails from Erie, Pa. Sam's high school days were spent at Strong Vincent, and while there he par ticipated in varsity football, the Acapella Choir and the Student Council. His efforts were rewarded by his election to the National Honor Society and the National Athletic Honor Society. Sam was elected as prexie of the pledge class last year, and we are sure that he will be an equally important part of the active chapter. This year's freshman football team was helped along a good deal through the work of George Morris Augur. While attending Bronxville High School in New York, George took part in varsity foot ball, track and swimming. Edward Earl Cunningham came to us from McKeesport, Pa. He is known around the house as the "Phantom," due to a disappearing act which caused quite a fervor among the actives. Ed played in the band at McKeesport High, and while there at school he also took a very active part in sports. He has con tinued his basketball career and is now a member of the varsity squad here at W. & J. and his partner (a gal who is pinned to^ one of the actives) have been dancing together for years and have compiled quite a reputation. At present "Tiny Ted" is shaping up for intramural light weight wrestling and we are looking for great things. Stanley Glenn Hoover, known as "Big Stan," who is destined to be one of the luminaries on the future W. & J. football teams, came here this year after com piling quite an athletic record at Wilkins- burg High School. Stan played varsity football for three years at Wilkinsburg and captained the team in his senior year. Baseball and basketball also took up a great part of Stan's time as he played on those varsities for three years, co-captaining the basketball team in his senior year. Another Pennsylvania representative is quiet and reserved Willard Albertson Harvey. "Smiling Bill" is pursuing the course of an economics major here. While at Whitehall High School in Pittsburgh, Bill was a very versatile chap, taking part in writing for his yearbook and newspaper, being a member of the Pho tography Club, The Order of DeMolay, Quiet, respectable Fred Henry Diefenbacher has added and will add a great deal to the Fijis at Alpha. While attend ing the Andrew Jackson High School in Long Island, New York, Fred took an active part in intramural softball and track, the Visual Aide Squad, and the and holding the position of business man ager of the chorus. Edward Lewis Minier spent his first year of college at Seton Hall College in West Orange, New Jersey. The "Bat man," as we have nicknamed Ed, attend ed West Orange High School and there he founded his interests in varsity track "School Guard." Westfield, New York, is credited with sending Robert Carlton Ertel down to Washington this year. While at Westfield High School "Wake Me Up Again" Bob played football, baseball and track, and was a member of the orchestra and and the Dramatic Club. Joel Fredric Fleming came to Alpha from Butler, Pa., High School. In Butler Joel played on the intramural basketball and Softball teams. He was on the gym nastic and volleyball teams and was a member of the Hi-Y along with the Joel took part in three class and school plays and finished his high school life as the com mencement speaker. "Tiny Ted," by name George S. Ham mers, the dancing-wrestler, is a resident At Seton Hall he added to this list of activities by enter ing the Glee Club, the Psychology Club and the American Chemical Society. "Dickie Dare" as Gordon Neill Peay 111 has been tabbed the chorus. Leaders Club at the Y.M.C.A. of Washington. Ted is well known about this area for his tap-dancing antics. He about the house is a versatile and diminutive lad who, it seems, is always willing and agreeable to face anything that may arise. "Gordo" comes to "J" from Columbia High School in South Orange, New Jersey. At Colum bia he was a member of the Civics Com mittee, entered into intramural basket ball and baseball and the "Senior Night" play. When you attend a freshman basketball game you'll always notice a tall thin fellow wearing number "17" and it will Continued on Page 7 \r\nOFFICERS VISIT On Saturday, October 29, 1949, three of our national offlcers came to Washing ton and Jefferson College for the cere mony marking the dedication of the Founders' Memorial Gateway on the for the new house being constructed on the North campus. The gates are an imposing brick struc ture on the College Street entrance to Old Main and bear the official crest of campus. President Penfleld Mower, SecretaryEditor Cecil J. Wilkinson, and Historian Danner L. Mahood joined the Alpha brothers on the Friday night preceding the dedication for dinner. Phi Gamma Delta on the left, and a placque listing the "Immortal Six" on the right of the entrance. Also honored as part of the Homecom ing celebration was Brother Walter B. Anderson, who was awarded the honor As part of the Homecoming celebra tion, President Mower presented the gates to Park J. Alexander, President of the College Board of Trustees, who stated that the College was honored to have the national officers present and that the College was further honored ary degree of Doctor of Laws in a cere mony preceding the dedication of the gates. Alpha cordially invites the officers to return as soon as the new house is com pleted. ■ ' f- ■/ ■9 I Three of Phi Gamma Delta's national officers visited Washington and Jefferson College in late October for the purpose of dedicating the Founders' Memorial Gateway, which was ordered to be constructed by vote of the Cen tennial Ekklesia. Left to right: Historian Danner L. Mahood, President Penfield Mower, and Secretary-Editor Cecil J. Wilkinson. \r\nATHLETICS When a group of athletes has sunk to such depths that the only way it can go is up, something is bound to happen. The comeback trail is a rough road to travel, da Chis were our victims in the play offs. The Fiji superiority was testified but this was the situation facing the sports-minded of Alpha last spring. The mantels, which once bore bright and shining trophies, had only to show dingy and lusterless cups from victories far in the past. Suddenly, on a day in May, the spark ignited a fire which was des tined to sweep Jay's intramural sports system. Beware all comers, the Pijis East Wheeling Street. had arrived! Under the fiery tutelage of Bill" Heinle" McGoughran, the softball sluggers blazed the path to this new era. After a careful refinement of candidates. Coach Mc Goughran posted the following lineup: George Singer, pitcher; Jack Munnel, catcher; Russ Stein, 1st base; Joe Ingle- field, 2nd base; Jim McGregor, shortstop; Phil Reinhard, 3rd base; and a rotating outfield composed of Bill Cosey, Mike Tappin, Bob Gordon, and McGoughran. Tom Bucar and Phil McMahon stood by for battery relief while Ralph Ritchie was available for pinch-hitting duty. The mushball men, undefeated during the reg ular season, ran up the following scores: Jeff Hall, 15-1; Faculty, 9-1; Campus Club, 7-4; Phi Belts, 4-0; and Belts, 2-0. by the thorough 12-2 pasting which brought the second successive cup to A new sport was added to intramurals in the form of volleyball, and the Purple and Whitemen demonstrated their adap tability by finishing in a three-way tie for first place. In the first play-off round our netmen conquered the Lambda Chis but fell victims to the eventual winners, the Skulls. Coach Phil "Max" Rein- hard's team, composed of Rice, Alward, McGowan, Salmon, Hoover, Burfey, Rit chie, Inglefield, Justice, Cook, and Bucar gave an excellent account of itself. Basketball was the next sport to hit the headlines and, up to this date, the Alpha hoopmen, under the coaching of Ralph Ritchie, have netted a 1-4 record. The season is only half over so better things can be expected. As this issue goes to press, visions of the bowling trophy are appearing. Coach Bill "Lumper" Cosey's team of Singer, Rice, Ford, Jones, Eustis, Vrooman, and Sword have met and defeated their six opponents in the first round of play. As the pins are falling, preparations for a big season in wrestling are forming. The cup was won in three thrill-packed play-off games with the Lambda Chis, And, to top off the whole athletic situ ation, the Fijis are resting comfortably winners of their section. Scores were as in first place in the race for the Big Cup, follows: 3-0, 0-9, and a 4-3 triumph, in which Alpha's four runs were all scored a trophy awarded at the end of the school year for the organization having the most in the last of the ninth. points in intramural competition. —by CLIFF SMITH. The pace set by our masters of the ball and bat was briefly delayed by sum mer vacation, only to be regained again by our monsters of the gridiron. Follow ing some gruelling practice sessions. Coach George "Bimbo" Singer named the following varsity: Linemen—Ed Cun ningham, Shel Myers, Tex Burfey, Bill Cosey, Cliff Smith, Bob McGowan, Bave Salmon, and Pearson Furst; backs—Phil McMahon, Bob Gordon, Bill McGough ran, Ralph Ritchie, Mike Tappin, Phil Reinhard, and Singer. This squad, in the regulation season, won 4 out of 5 games in this manner: ATO's, 15-7; Betas, 14-9; Phi Psis, 3-2; Hays Hall, 31-0; and a 14-9 loss to the Kappa Sigs. Again the Lamb RUSHING Continued from Page 4 be William Mitchell Pfohl. While at Edgewood High School in Pittsburgh Bill took part in the activities of the Bramatic Club, the Science Club and he played varsity basketball. Jack L. Proie, another outstanding ath lete, hails from Pittsburgh where he attended South Hills High School. Jack was a member of the varsity football, basketball, baseball and track teams throughout his high school career. Continued on Page 8 He \r\nCHAPTER NEWS With this issue of the Wiji-Fiji we are deserting the standard newspaper type publication, which has been printed since 1923, for a return to the magazine style booklet which was carried out for years before that date. The chapter hopes that the efforts of the editors will meet with the approval of all loyal Fijis . . . The chapter was honored last Fall when Brother Walter B. Anderson '05 was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws at Homecoming. ''Abe" still manages to amaze the boys at the house with his energy and devotion to the cause of Phi Gamma Delta as well as to the College . . . The appointment of Brother Ira W. Leech '19 to the newlyformed Athletic nounced. Council has been an The Council replaces the old athletic setup which was canned with the resignation of Henry W. Leucht as football coach in early February . . . Changes in the steward's department have made our chief cook and bottle washer, Charlie Rendlesham, the idol of the house. Our new cook. Flora, and her assistant have whipped up meals lately which will match any chow "west of the Alleghenies" . . . Another new addition to the house is "Sam Spade," a black cat which Jim Hughes brought home one night in order to control Al pha's mice . . . "The Top Fraternity in the Tri-State Area" was the title recently awarded Alpha by the gals at Mellon Hall, Pennsylvania College for Women. The girls topped off the dorm-wide vote, which was featured by ballot box stuffing RUSHING on the part of Fiji gals, by holding an "open house" for the members. The whole chapter turned out en masse for the caravan to Pittsburgh . . . With Shel Myers as Social Chairman, the Fijis have had a gay social whirl with a Pledge Dance, the Creek Swingout, and the PanHel. Shel was also chairman of the Swingout Committee at the College . . . Tom Bucar is engaged in turning out the 1951 Pandora. As Editor-in-Chief, he promises the best yearbook for the Jun iors since 1780 . . . George Singer, Andy Mestrovic, Jim McGregor, and Jack Munnel have paced the Varsity basketball squad to a 10-4 mark this season . . . Married men include Jim Hughes, Pear son Furst, Bill Fowler, and Phil McMahon . . . Many of the boys took in "Boogie" Nau's wedding reception in Wheeling after the Pan-Hel. Don Allen and Russ Stein tied the fatal knots last year . . . Hal Addis stood out at center on the Jay football team last Fall which won two, lost seven and was made up of only 29 players . . . Cliff Smith, Dave Crimes, and E. B. McCrew make up a good little jazz combo which has enter tained at many functions this year . . . The appearance of the national officers, though brief, was appreciated by all the brothers ... Bill Rice and George Singer came back from Cranville, O., raving about the Fiji Academy which was held out there last Summer . . . Alpha's 16man Pledge Class topped all other fra ternities on the campus. The boys really joined in with Ralph Ritchie's and Tex Durfey's rushing program. Florida, is the place Jim left to continue his education here at "J." Continued from Page 7 played beside Stan Hoover and George Augur on this year's freshman squad and distinguished himself with aggres sive and rugged play. One of the pledges this year will soon be taking over the job of the retiring Andy Crimes at the pianoforte. James Southwick Vrooman not only has the ability with the keyboard but also has helped with the intramural program. The sunny, specifically West Palm Beach, Tall, good-looking Thomas Frederick Walters, III, adds to the number of men in the house from Pittsburgh. His high school days were spent at Crafton High where he took part on the baseball team, in the Key Club, the Physical Chemistry Club and the Popular Song Club. The Scouts and the Order of DeMolay kept Tom busy in his spare time which was also partly filled by his wanting to obtain experience in sales work. —TEX DURFEY and BOB IVIE. \r\nINITIATION and PIG DINNER SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1950 GEORGE WASHINGTON HOTEL Washington, Pa. Alumni Luncheon — 1:30 P. M. Initiation — 5 :00 P. M. Pig Dinner — 6:00 P. M. Make plans to attend the initiation of the "New House Pledge Class." Mali your reply cards today if you already haven't done so! The Wiji-Fiji is the official publication of Alpha Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania. Address; P. O. Box 253.