December 2011 Upcoming Event Pig Dinner February 17 Pope Box Stay tuned to www.epsilonpgd.com and your monthly eLetter for more details. Graduate Report What Does Phi Gam Mean to You? By Oliver Wheeler ’01 On the Web Epsilon Chapter now has a presence on Facebook. Go to www.facebook.com/ epsilonpgd and click the “Like” button at the top of the screen to join our community. If you’re not yet a Facebook user, go to www.facebook.com to create your profile. In the Words of Our Brothers Thank you to Doug Chesson ’82 for posting this on our Facebook page! “I will get back to the House this year. It has been a long time. last time I was there, reconstruction was just under way. The place and the brotherhood have never left my thoughts! I think about being a Phi Gam every day. Perge!” Ad Astra We have recently learned of the deaths of the following graduate brothers… Sanford W. Thompson ‘50 Robert Crawford ‘94 The Epsilon Owl Happy holidays and happy new year! I hope that you and your family enjoyed a blessed holiday season. Each year around the holidays, I think about the people and things in my life that mean the most to me. I’m happy to say that more than a decade after graduation, Epsilon of Phi Gam still has a strong influence on my life. The friends I made and skills I developed during my fraternity days will last a lifetime. I am so thankful for the experience I have had, and continue to have, thanks to my membership in Phi Gam. This issue of The Epsilon Owl showcases great photos and stories from other graduate brothers who have been enjoying the lifelong benefits of Phi Gam. If you haven’t connected with us in a while, I’d like to ask you to think back to your fraternity days and the years since graduation and answer the question: What does Epsilon of Phi Gam mean to you? I’d love to read your responses to this question. Please send your stories and photos to our editors at content@affinityconnection. com (mention Epsilon of Phi Gam). The best submissions will be featured in upcoming issues of The Epsilon Owl and/or our monthly eLetter. Also, be sure to send us updates on what is new in your life today, and of reunions you’ve recently had with other brothers. Enjoy this edition of The Epsilon Owl. I look forward to reconnecting with you in 2012. Graduate Events Fore! Brothers Make New Phi Gam Memories at Golf Reunion Thank you to Hayes Holderness ’79 for sharing this photo on our Facebook page! It is of Emmett McLean ’77, Davy Davidson ’77, Bill Creekmuir ’77 and himself on the 18th green at Shoal Creek in Birmingham, Ala. Hayes writes, “It was a great get together for two rounds of golf and catching up; a lot of good Phi Gam memories.” Have you recently reconnected with other Epsilon brothers? Share your stories and photos at www.epsilonpgd.com or at www.facebook.com/epsilonpgd. www.epsilonpgd.com 1 \r\nRetraction What It Should Have Said There were a few typos in the last edition of Epsilon Owl regarding the caption for this photo. Dixie Greene ’48 submitted the photo, but our editors inadvertently got some facts wrong in the caption. Dixie submitted this great picture of the pledge class of 1941, not of the class of 1950 as written in the Owl. He clarifies that he is proud that he got to know 25 of these 31 men when they returned from war in 1944. In fact, Dixie got to know a tremendous number of Epsilon brothers during the 1941-1955 era, as he continued his graduate studies at UNC after graduating in 1945. Our graduate relations firm apologizes for the misinformation that was printed in the Owl. 2011-12 Honor Roll of Donors Thank you to the following graduate brothers who have supported the annual fund so far this year… Epsilon Legacy Circle ($1,000+) John W. Hughes III 1966 White Owls ($500-$999.99) Thomas E. Capps Norman S. Goode III Stephen L. Cornwell J. Dixon Fleming Jr. 1958 1963 1974 1976 Purple Club ($250-$499.99) Kenneth F. Anderson Jr. Joe Lamb Jr. Laurence B. Maddison Jr. William E. Bowman Jr. Richard W. Zollinger MD Herbert R. Clark M.D. Van W. Martin Stephen L. Wheeless 1956 1956 1965 1967 1973 1977 1979 1982 1848 Society ($184.80-$249.99) Robert T. Wright Jr. Marvin J. Carver III Gregory L. Richardson DDS George T. Barnes Jr. Rob Young III 1968 1975 1984 1992 1997 Hut Club ($100-$184.79) Raymond H. Goodrich Jr. James C. Fort Lewis T. Nunnelee II Harry G Walker Jr. R. Bryant Hare III Emsley A. Laney Jr. James W. Maynard 1943 1948 1949 1949 1953 1953 1954 2 Richard N. Hoggard Jr. Robert Exum Jr. William H. Redding Jr. Marvin E. Ward Welton Curtis Sewell Jack H. Spain Jr. W. Ward Marslender Eugene E. Record Jr. Burt Aycock Jr. J. Dwight Hudson John S. Hughes James M. Tanner Jr. Charles P. Gaskins Jr. Hart Lee Steve Gravely John M. Winesette Robert P. Hortman Al R. Chesson Jr. Blair D. Shwedo John H. Coffman Thomas O. Hollinshed H. Reid Jones Jr. John D. Marriott Jr. Curtis H. Hathaway Jr. Michael B. Holder Norborne Gee Smith III William P. Mayo Jr. Stephen P Covington Edwin D. Miller Hart Miles David M. Connor III Benjamin Kyle Saylors Graham Edward Farless William Randolph Robins Jr. www.epsilonpgd.com 1955 1957 1958 1958 1959 1960 1962 1963 1964 1966 1968 1968 1969 1970 1974 1974 1976 1977 1979 1981 1982 1982 1982 1984 1984 1984 1987 1988 1988 1991 1992 2001 2004 2005 Fijis ($50-$99.99) Gene M. Cushman Thomas B. Lathrop William R. Martin Jr. Frank P. Meadows Jr. F. Rockwell Poisson John S. Whichard Rowland Burnstan Jr. Gene F. Lyon Edward Harvie Hill Jr. Kevin A. Shwedo Hayes R. Holderness David Avery Sparrow Wood J. Farless Mark Breckenridge Gibbs Tram Williams 1944 1947 1948 1949 1950 1950 1954 1954 1964 1978 1979 2002 2003 2004 2005 Graduates Club (Up to $49.99) John K. Hoyt Jr. Edwin M. Braswell III David B. Strickland Steven Dunn Strickland Michael Ryan Linden 1956 2003 2003 2005 2008 Reflects gifts received as of December 12, 2011. Add Your Name to the List You can put your name on the Honor Roll by making an annual fund gift today! Do so by logging on to www.epsilonpgd.com or by calling 800-975-6699. December 2011 \r\nGraduate Profile The Benefits of Being a Phi Gam Can’t be Measured in Dollars and Cents As a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall of 1977, Ronnie Batchelor ’81 already knew he wanted to pledge a fraternity. His father had been a member of Sigma Chi at NC State, and was always talking about the lifelong friendships formed by joining one. So Ronnie decided to pledge Phi Gam in the spring of 1978. He already knew several of the brothers from Raleigh and was able to reunite with many people from Camp Sea Gull at the house. “The Phi Gam house seemed like the best fit for me as a freshman,” he said. Memories were created immediately. Ronnie said he was always reminded of the common bond he had with his brothers each semester during The Pilgrimage experience. The rituals at the end of formal chapter meetings also created special bonds amongst the brothers. And, of course, Fiji Island is something he will always remember. “While the weekend of the actual events was always special, the preparation was even more fun,” he said. He and his brothers did “Boo Runs,” where they rode around the North Carolina county roads in the back of rented U-hauls with a cooler of beer and chain saws. Football games were spent first outside of Vance Hall, where Ronnie and his brothers would tailgate with his father, eating food from the red and white checkered tablecloth he set up every year. As president of the house in 1980, Ronnie was able to learn how to “build a consensus” among a group as large as 50 individuals. He said there were many situations in which brothers had differing opinions. “The challenge was not having winners and losers, but trying to make sure everyone walked away with a feeling that their voices were heard and opinions valued,” he said. “Others have done it before me and now, it’s my turn. We all have an obligation to support our undergraduate chapter.” Apart from learning time management, budgeting, and leadership skills, Ronnie learned how to form and keep lasting friendships and relationships. Every Friday morning, he eats breakfast with brothers Reid Jones ’82 and Bobby Woronoff ’82, and regularly keeps in contact with many other brothers through phone and email. He also attends the annual Pig Dinners and as many football games as he can. Ronnie says it is important to give back to the undergraduate chapter. One of the ways in which he does so is by supporting them financially. “Others have done it before me and now, it’s my turn,” he said. “We all have an obligation to support our undergraduate chapter.” While Ronnie was supported financially as an undergraduate, he says it is impossible to measure in dollars and cents the benefits he’s received from being a Phi Gam. “It is important for the undergraduate brothers to see that while the four years of undergraduate life are probably the most intense years as a Phi Gam, the relationships created during that period last a lifetime and grow exponentially overtime,” he said. Today, Ronnie works at Raleigh CPA firm, Batchelor, Tillery, & Roberts, LLP, where he is a co-founding partner. He says his brothers have been supportive of his career. “I feel very fortunate to have developed professional relationships with many of the brothers that I met during my undergraduate years.” He and his college girlfriend, Marlene, have been married for 28 years. They currently reside in Raleigh, NC with their three sons. Ronnie says having his son, Andrew, become a Phi Gam at UNC rekindled his love for the fraternity, especially the Epsilon Chapter. “I know that it is difficult for the undergraduate brotherhood to recognize its importance, but the multi-generational bond created by fathers and sons, brothers or any other family relationship within the fraternity is what will sustain us for years to come,” he said. “It cannot be over emphasized.” Reconnect with Ronnie at rbatchelor@btrcpa.com. From the Archives We love coming across great old photos from our chapter’s history! This picture is of the Epsilon Chapter, from the 1976 edition of Yackety Yack. Do you have great pictures from your era to share? Upload them to our web site at www.epsilonpgd.com or to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/epsilonpgd. The Epsilon Owl www.epsilonpgd.com 3 \r\n778-152 FN MH Graduate Updates ’50s Bill McLean ’57 and his wife were interrupted by Hurricane Irene on a trip to the Outer Banks but were able to swing by Washington, N.C. to see John Gray Blount ’57 and Josh Tayloe ’57 before the hurricane struck. Tayloe lost part of his pier on the river but both John Gray and Josh are doing well. Reconnect with Bill at 205 W. 30th St., Lumberton, NC 28358 or gailbillmclean@ gmail.com. Don Furtado ’59 writes, “With sadness, I report the death of my brother and fellow Phi Gam, Bob Furtado ’59, on May 6, 2011 after a brave battle with cancer. He was 73. Bob graduated from Garner High School in 1955 and UNC at Chapel Hill in 1959, and also earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Pepperdine University. Bob was in the Marine Corps for 25 years, serving with distinction in Vietnam, where he earned a Navy Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and a Purple Heart. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1984, after which he was employed for over a decade in computerrelated companies in the Raleigh-Durham area. A memorial service in Chapel Hill was attended by lots of family and friends, including five 1959 fraternity brothers: Curt Sewell, Jeff Hare, Case Herring, Frank Farrell and me.” Reconnect with Don at dfurtado@mcnair.net. sons, Rushman (28) and Smith (26) who are both married and work in the Raleigh area. I am a very blessed man!” Reconnect with Russ at 815 Marlowe Rd., Apt. 4, Raleigh, NC 27609 or russ.andrews@findingpurpose.net. ’70s John “Russ” Andrews ’76 reports “I received my Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary May of 2003. In August of that same year I, along with 12 men, started a ministry to men in Raleigh, NC called Finding Purpose. FP exists to help men find their purpose in life (Acts 17:28) which can only be found through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. I currently teach a Bible study that draws about 300 men. We meet on Tuesday nights from 7-9 PM. If you are ever in Raleigh be sure to drop in on me. My wife, Creecy, and I are getting ready to celebrate our 33rd anniversary. I have two Donald Hardee ’76 reports that he has a grandson, William David Yelle, born June 3, 2011. His brother Charles ’78 also has a grandson and granddaughter, twins, born June in 2011, named Tucker and Charlie Blodgett. Reconnect with Don at 1912 Forest Hills Dr., Greenville, NC 27858 or hardee.don@gmail.com. What’s New with You? Share your news, updates, stories and photos at www.epsilonpgd.com or on Facebook at www.facebook. com/epsilonpgd. You can also send submissions directly to our editors at content@affinityconnection.com or mail it to the return address on this newsletter (mention Epsilon of Phi Gam). 778-152 FN Address Service Requested What Does Epsilon of Phi Gam Mean to You? Graduate Relations Processing Center P.O. Box 7007 Albert Lea, MN 56007‑8007 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA Epsilon of Phi Gamma Delta, Inc. PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID State College, Pa. Permit No. 2 4 www.epsilonpgd.com December 2011