VOLUME LXXVIl SPRING, 1977 THETA Tlieta UKUTi^ Theta Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta — The University of Alabama THETA PHI GAMS GATHER FOR PIG DINNER Leading off the march at the Norrit Pig Dinner are Dr. William D. Anderson (Theta '26)(back to camera). Dr. Robert H. Cochrone, Jr. (Theta '25). William M. Cochrane (Theta '31), William Homer Bryant, Jr. (Theta '39), and Fred Maxwell (Theta '10),(Not Pictured), Dewey looks on os these Brothers pass the pig on the left, end head for a delightful dinner and speech. The 1976-'77 Frank Norris Pig Dinner was a highly successful and enjoyable affair. Theta was certainly blessed with a large turnout of her graduate members, porticulorily the pledge class of 1956-'57, who picked this occasion to celebrate their twentieth reunion. The festivities were kicked off by a 6:00 cocktail party held in the living room and library of the house. The undergraduates took advantage of this affair to meet their graduate counterparts and exchange stories and ideas. The Alumni spent a good deal of time off to themselves, however, laughing while they thumbed through the composits and scrapbooks, talking about "the good old days". After a half hour's hard persuasion, everyone was finally convinced that it was indeed time for dinner, so we retired to the dinning room at about 8:00. The dinner began with the traditional "Bringing In the Pig" march of the graduates, undergraduates and pledges in order of pledge class. After the Brothers and prepared by our fine housemother, Mrs. Nell Trotter. After dinner, everyone sot bock to enjoy our distin guished speaker. Brother William Lanford (Theta '59). Brother Lanford is currently serving as President of The University of Alabama National Alumni Association, and as such is very familiar to all Alabama graduates. We were indeed fortunate to hove Brother Lanford come speak to us, and would like to express our thanks to him for taking time from his busy schedule to stop by. The keynote of Brother Lonford's address was the dual obli gation to fraternity and university shared by alumni and the common bonds which grow from our fraternity and college experiences. Following Brother Lonford's address, Brother Robert Goodsell (Theta '56) took the podium and related various stories and facts concerning the 1956'57 pledge class. We would like to thank all of those who attended, and a special thanks to all of those undergraduate and graduate Brothers who worked to moke this event such a pledges had kissed the pig's snout or tail, depending on success. We hope that even more of you will be here their status, everyone sat down to a delicious dinner next year. \r\n— CAI^S INVOLVEMENT— Theta Chapter has certainly asserted Itself in campus activities this year. The University yearbook, the COROLLA, has two Phi Gams serving on it's staff. Theron Nolen (77) is Editor, and Chad Crowther (79) is Fraternity a Editor. Baker Crow (78) is the newly elected SecretoryTreasurer of the Inter Fraternity Council, and Jimmy Killion (79) is a IFC representative. In the Student Government Association, Will Brooke is serving his EDITOR: Will Brooke WRITERS: Bart Adcox, Baker Crow, Steve Lester, Hood Croddock, Carl Jamison, Donny Trolono The THETA FIJI is a publication of Theto Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and is intended exclusively for her graduates. second term as Fraternity Senator, Tommy Snow (79) is Commuter Senator, Bob Baker (80) is an Off-Campus Senator, and Donny Mecke (78) is serving on the Student Insurance Commission. We salute these Brothers for their hard work and accomplishments in these areas. to our alumni: As much as we like to brag about Chapter accomplish ments, we would much rather include more news about you, our Alumni. Not only do we at the Chapter want to hear about what you ore doing, but your fellow graduate Brothers would like to hear any recent news about you. Please take the time to drop us a note about yourself, and after we've enjoyed it, we will pass it along in our next newsletter. Also, we need your recommendations for rush, so tack them on and we will give them our careful attention. The graduates of any Chapter are the force which keeps it strong, through good times and bad. Keep in touch, let us know what you are doing, and most of all, drop by to see us sometime. Fraternally yours: Will Brooke, Editor from the president: Looking bock over the post few years which I have spent here at Theta, I can see many changes which have taken place. One change which is long overdue has never taken place, however; there has not been a substantial improvement in Alumni relations. In my mind this is an unfortunate situation. Theta Chapter is a very strong one,she has much to offer both to her undergraduate and Brother William Lonford (Theta '58), guest cpeoker for Pig Din ner, browsing through composits and talking with some of the brothers ot the cocktail party prior to dinner. HOUSE SEES MANY IMPROVEMENTS Looking back over the past year, the Brothers of Theta Chapter are proud of the many improvements and ad ditions which hove been mode to the chapter house. We owe many thanks to our House Corporation President, Brother Homer Bryant (Theta-'39), and to our Alumni for their continued support. We started out with a new living room, which was beautifully coordinated by Mrs. Richard P. Holman, mother of Brother Richard Holman (Theta-'77). Mrs. Holman is a prominent interior decorator in the Tus graduate members. These two groups also have much caloosa area, and her assistance has proved invaluable in this and other endeavors. The living room was exten ta offer to each other. sively re-decorated, from new point on the walls to all In the past, the undergraduates have not made an attempt to isolate their graduate Brothers, there simply new or recovered furniture. With the final additions of has been no real attempt to strengthen our relationship. Beginning today, however, I would like to see this gap closed, and I intend to do all I can to do just that. The Chapter will hold a series of cocktail parties next fall, usually an the Friday night before a home football game. Then, before and after these games, the house will be open to all Phi Gams. I urge yau to attend these weekends, and get ta know us, and give us the chance to get to know you. As these events, and others arise, we will let you know. Also I urge you to make plans to attend next year's Norris Pig Dinner. We have tenatively scheduled this event for September 30, and will let you know a firm date early in the Fall. Also if there is sufficient interest in additional activities, such as tennis or golf, they could be planned for the afternoon. Let us hove your ideas on this one. There is one goal which we all have in common: to keep Theta of Phi Gamma Delta the strongest Chapter on The University of Alabama campus. Your ideas, suggestions and criticism can help us reach this gaal. We will be in touch with you with our ideas and plans new curtains and decorations by Mrs. Holman, we now hove a beautiful and distinguished room of which we can be proud. After building a long needed basketball court on the west side of the house, work paused for spring and sum mer rush. Work resumed in the fall however, and first on the agenda was a new library. This renovation work, con ducted once again with the help of Mrs. Holman, in cluded new wallpaper, shades, tables, chairs and new lighting. Next we moved on to bottom floor. The basement had long been in need of work, so we decided to re-do the entire room. A new ceiling, new walls, re-covered furni ture, two new bar tops, and new lighting has once again made the basement the perfect place for small parties and informal gatherings. Next we turned to the outside of the house, and faund it badly in need of a new coat of paint. The House Corporation took this project over and we soon had a fresh paint job, just in time for Homecoming. We are now in the process of re-decorating the House Mother's apartment, and looking towards the future, we see the dining room area in need of a little work. But soon, let us hear from you. Fraternally yours: Bart Adcox, President we will now pause for Spring rush, and look forward to the Fall when we can approach this and other projects. \r\nAd Astra •W/iaf we hear fi&m the Brothers: We were indeed sorry to hear of the loss of Brothers Robert Clyde Shorpe (Theto '24) of Fort Payne, Alabama, on November 25, 1976, and Andrew G. Scarborough (Theto '19) of Delroy Beach, Florida, on September 11, 1976. Charles Fletcher (Theta '73), past Field Secretary, was last heard from in Atlantic, Virginia, where he is working for a pork producer and preparing to go to work on his M.B.A. Good luck Charlie! Don Northington (Theto '72) is now travelling the country with the Trade Research Department of CocaCola. cAlumni Next fall's newsletter will contain alumni address changes. If you hove additions, deletions, or changes, please send them on to us and we will publish them. Also we hove just finished compiling a new directory of Theto Chapter members and alumni. This book con tains names addresses and occupations of ail Theta's graduate and undergraduate Brothers, and is as accurate and up to date as we could possibly moke it. If you haven't gotton one yet, please let us know. William Walley (Theta '44) is in Long Beach, Califor nia, where he is employed as Chief Areodynamics En gineer for Douglas Aircraft. Don Bevill (Theto '73) is onw in Baltimore, working for Proctor and Gamble. Congratulations go to Eddie Knox (Theta '73) on his recent induction to the Million Dollar Roundtable. Eddie is living in Miami, where he works for Northwestern Mutual Life. He and his wife Pam have a son, and another child (hopefully a daughter) on the way. Robert Sturdevant (Theto '35) is in Paris France, the last that we heard, and is working as a foreign news correspondent for one of the major networks. Well, another year has almost passed already, and its time to start thinking about football season again. This year promises to be a good one for Bear and the Tide, so if any of you wont to go to a gome here in Tuscolooso, let us know and we will be glad to help with the arrangements. Also, don't forget that the Chapter House is always open both before and after the game, so be sure to drop by if you're in town. We've always got snacks and mixers, and usually have a band party the night of the gome, so come on by and see us. Donny Mecke (Theta '78) (L) converses with Bob Goodsell (Theto '59} (R) during cocktail party at Pig Dinner. Brother Goodsel! was later to descend -Phi Gams Dominate Sports SceneDuring the past year Theta Chapter has managed to bring home a championship trophy of some sort from nearly every major intra-murol sport. In football we brought home the overall Champions on the speakers platform to fill us in on what the pledge class of 1956-'57 hod been up to for the lost 20 years. —RUSH — trophy after defeating every opponent in 1975. 1976 saw The Brothers of Theta Chapter are eagerly looking another impressive year, with the Phi Gam team winning forward to the upcoming rush season. Rush started off our league championship only to be dethroned as the overall champions in a hard fought battle with the great with the annual "ROARIN' TWENTIES" party, held on February 25th, 26th and 27th. Over seventy DKE's. rushees attended, and all enjoyed themselves tremen dously. The Brothers all had a great time, but still man aged to put on on impressive rush. The annual "FIJI ISLAND" fiasco will be held April 15th, 16th, and 17th, and we are expecting another good In Softball our team saw a nearly perfect winning record, only to find themselves down 12-2 in the second inning of the championship gome. A fontosic roily put us in the winners circle, however, with a final score of 22-18. How they did it, we're still not sure, but they brought home the championship trophy and that's good enough. turnout of rushees. This annual celebration has often been deemed as the finest party on campus, and even now the Brothers ore getting ready for the strenuous preparations and the spirited celebration which follows. The last major rush function, "SUMMER RUSH" is In addition to the above, we managed to win our league championship convincingly in swimming, winning slated for June. This mid-summer rush gathering draws meet after meet. Our only soft spot was basketball but the Brothers bock in a sense of mutual celebration and our team did quite well, just missing a shot at the league obligation towards rush. We are proud of the Brothers championship. Now that we hove our own court beside the house, however, things should improve there. for their enthusiastic work in this area and grateful to our Alumni for their continued assistance in rush. The coming year looks quite bright, especially in foot ball and baseball. We've decided to look beyond cham pionships this year to the All Sports trophy, and with the participation and enthusiastic support we're getting, we just might win it. Putting together a fine pledge class to continue the standing traditions here at Theta is no easy task. This has always been true, and that is why Alumni recom mendations ore so important to a successful program. If you have any young men which you think would make a good addition to Theta please be sure to let us know. \r\nSOCIAf HAPPENINGS Bart Adeox(Theta'78), Pretident of Theta Chapter, giving blood during the recent Phi Gamma Delta/Kappa Delta blood drive. The drive nettled well over 100 semester. But then in February, came the happiest time of the year, when we were able to bring them up into Chapter. They did a great job while they were pledges, and we expect them to do even better in Chapter. pint*, and went to Lisa Gaddell, a Pi Beta Phi lorority member stricken with leukemia. We hove since received a community ser vice award far this effort. Pledges: 'soIah' The 1976-'77 pledge class of Theta consisted of 23 fine young men, all born and raised in the fine state of Alabama. Although they were a little hard to find at times, when you could lay your hands on 'em, they were some of the hardest working boys you've ever seen. They practically redid the basement all by themselves, with a little help from the House Manager and a little encouragement and moral support from the Brothers. Did a fine job, too. But when it come to social service projects, these boys didn't mess around. The first one that they tied into was an annual affair, a fund raising drive for the BrycePartlowe hospital, sponsored by the Elks Club. Well it so happens that the first place trophy has been here in the house for the lost two years, so the Brothers were sort of eager to see them win this year. Well, win they did, collecting over $800 and the first place trophy in one afternoon. We were all real proud of them, to soy little of the Elks, and they were just about the 1976 was marked by another exciting year for social life here at Theta Chapter. The social season was opened with our annual Black Diamond Formal last January, ■fiiis event was held in honor of our fine pledge class and was enjoyed by all. The "Roarin' Twenties" returned to Alabama in Feb ruary with the twenty-sixth renewal of our Flapper Party. It was a tremendous rush success and everyone enjoyed donning the nostalgic garb of the twenties. The evening was highlighted by the naming of our Fiji Flapper for 1975-'76. She was Miss Melissa Mikell of Prentiss, Mississippi. Melissa is a member of Kappxa Delta sorority. In April, the distant drumbeats of Fiji Island brought the long awaited arrival of the Fiji Island weekend. In keeping with tradition, this fiasco continued to reign as the most spectacular of the spring social events here at Alabama. Our Summer Rush party was held in June and all the Brothers returned to Tuscoloosa to put the final touches on our fall pledge class. We had a tremendous turnout of rushees and pledged several boys during this successful and enjoyable weekend. Fall arrived in full force here at Alabama and enthu happiest bunch of boys you've ever seen. siasm filled the air as everyone anticipated another exciting season of Crimson Tide football. Our fall social Next on the odgendo was the annual Kappa Kappa Gamma/Phi Gamma Delta Bryce/Partiowe Christmas celebration which we were able to enjoy with our Alumni party. Every year we get together with the Kappas and invite about twenty or thirty of the children from the hospital to come over and have a Christmas party. The Kappas bring the presents, and we bring the food and everyone has a fine time. The Theta pledges supplied a Christmas tree, a Santa Clause (complete with police escort) and elves to pass out the presents. It was a fine party, and everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously, especially the children from Bryce. We asked the pledges to please get us a Christmas tree for the front of the house, kind of a big one, and next thing we knew, they had a hook and ladder fire truck in the front yard to put a 40 foot high tree in the ground. Fine effort. Between these projects and other things which came up from time to time, they stayed pretty busy all fall ^heta ^iji P.O. Drawer AN Dniversity, A I. 35486 calender was highlighted by the annual Homecoming and friends. A cocktail party in December for our grad uating seniors brought another truly succesful social year at Theta to a close. But before we knew it, it was time to begin again. "Roarin' Twenties" was right around the corner when we returned from Christmas break, and with the new year came a new party spirit. Once again a raging sucess, this party saw both a good time by all and a tremendous rush. Once again, it was time to select the new Fiji Flap per, and although we hated for Melissa to step down from the throne, we were certainly delighted to see Miss Cilia Wyatt, of Luverne, Alabama step up. Cilia is a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. So here we ore, on the verge of Fiji Island once again. The preparations are lengthy, but as always, we know it will be worth it.