TexaS H Fiji The longhorn Fiji–The University of Texas at austin established 1883 Fall 2011 Tau Deuteron Thanks Graduates for involvement Chapter Experiences Successful Rush and Elects New BCA President i am happy to report that all is well at Tau Deuteron. The spring semester included a successful Pig Dinner and Parent’s Weekend. Jon Brumley ’57 was the keynote speaker at the Pig Dinner and gave a wonderful talk that was enjoyed by all. Chapter Completes Successful Rush Tau Deuteron put a lot of effort into a very successful 2011 rush. The captains effectively managed the rush budget and pledged 55 outstanding young men. We have a great Chapter because of the undergraduates who value and proudly carry on the Texas Fiji tradition. If you have sons, grandsons, nephews, or brothers who are thinking about the University of Texas at Austin, please inform Chris Renaudin ’10 so that he can get their name on a recruitment list for next summer. marshall merritt ’79 elected BCa President I extend a hearty welcome to Marshall Merritt ’79, who is the incoming Board of Chapter Advisors president. Marshall, along with the board, has helped guide the Chapter with the fall and spring schedule. On the schedule are tailgates at Buen Retiro starting two hours before every home football game. Other members of the board who have made an impact on the Chapter’s schedule include Bill Fowler ’73, who is in charge of pledgeship oversight, Robert Canon ’72 who helped plan and execute the Pig Dinner, and Mark Winter ’79, who has overseen the Chapter’s finances. The WalTmon Family: Four Generations of Fiji Tradition Great MeMories HiGHliGHt tHeir History F or the Waltmon family, the Fiji tradition is engrained and a strong part of their history. From the oldest graduate, DeWitt Waltmon ’19, to the youngest, Austin Waltmon ’11 (pledge), Fiji has been a lifealtering experience for four generations. DeWitt Waltmon Sr. ’45 grew up in Hearne, Texas. But due to his father’s untimely death when he was only two years old, he never heard firsthand how much Phi Gamma Delta meant to his dad. Nevertheless, through his mother, his father’s college photo albums, and influence from other family and friends, primarily his uncle, Ghent Graves Sr. ’20, he maintained the family tradition and pledged Fiji with his cousin, Ghent Graves Jr. ’44. “I pledged because of the all the Phi Gams before me, including my dad.” As an undergraduate, he held the position of social chairman. “My undergraduate experience meant lifetime friendships.” DeWitt Sr. graduated with a bachelor of arts. From his life experiences, he offers sound and simple advice to younger alumni. “Maintain your friendships, marry well, and raise a great family.” Over the years, DeWitt Sr. has had a chance to experience leadership and councils individuals to “be a good leader or a good follower, listen to others.” Both of his sons, DeWitt Jr. ’76 and Scott ’83, carried the Waltmon Tau Deuteron Fiji tradition to the third generation. (Continued on page 2) We also extend a thank-you to the many graduates who support the Chapter with their time, talents, and resources. Please stop by the house before any home football game. The undergraduates are looking forward to visiting with you and hearing about your time at Tau Deuteron. Glad to be a Fiji! GTBO, Bobby Orr ’75, Outgoing BCA President borr@orrinc.com Perge! Three generations of Waltmons enjoy a Fiji tailgate. From left: Scott ’83, DeWitt Sr. ’45, Austin ’11, and DeWitt Jr. ’76. inSiDe: Fiji maintains academic Standard page 3 • 2011 Pledge Class page 3 • Donors page 4 \r\nH Page 2 Phi Gamma Delta The WalTmon Family (Continued from front page) DeWitt Jr. pledged Fiji and never looked back. “Regardless of my family history at Fiji, I went through full rush with all the other fraternities, but ultimately decided on Fiji because of the active Chapter at that time. In the end, it was a 1-2 punch that made the decision a no-brainer.” That attitude has continued and DeWitt Jr. says that his time spent as an undergraduate was the greatest time of his life. “Who I am and the successes I have achieved, and most importantly, the enjoyments in my life, all revolve around the relationships I made at Phi Gamma Delta. Members of my pledge class are still my very closest friends.” He graduated with a degree in marketing. The leadership opportunities available at Tau Deuteron still have a huge impact on DeWitt Jr., much like his father and grandfather before him. “The brothers of our Fraternity taught me so much in life and continue to be the individuals I look up to, respect, and just plain enjoy being around. Those relationships bring rewards and successes on a personal, financial, and spiritual level for the rest of your life.” For over 30 years, DeWitt Jr., Scott, and their father have been responsible for hosting multiple Fiji gatherings, including rush parties, bus trips to and from football games, and reunions at their river home in Hunt, Texas. DeWitt Jr. remembers, “My dad was such a friend and gracious host to all of our Fiji friends, that they gave him the nickname ‘Summer Santa’ for being so jolly and jovial year round.” In 2008, DeWitt Jr. hosted a 25th reunion for his Fiji brothers, which was followed the next year by a surprise gathering where DeWitt Jr. and his father were honored with the gift of installing new lights at their river home tennis court, along with a plaque commemorating the appreciation the Texas Fijis had for the many years the Waltmon family helped keep them all together. DeWitt Sr. is now retired and lives with his wife, Margaret, in Houston, DeWitt Waltmon ’19 and Ghent Graves Sr. ’20 stand outside Buen Retiro. Texas. He is a self-described goof-off and a member of the board of Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation. Scott and his wife, Emily, have three boys: Travis, John, and Ben. DeWitt Jr. and his wife, Karen, live in Houston, and DeWitt is a member of the Tau Deuteron BCA. DeWitt Jr. and Karen have three children: Amanda, Matt, LSU ’05, who was the first fourth-generation Fiji, and Austin ’11, the first-ever direct fourth-generation Tau Deuteron Fiji. The plaque honoring DeWitt Sr. ’45 and DeWitt Jr. ’76 for their dedication to Tau Deuteron. meet the Board of Chapter advisors President Marshall Merritt ’79 Dallas, Texas marshall@ merritt-capital.com (214) 987-9808 Chapter Administration Mark Muecke ’00 San Antonio, Texas Finance Mark Winter ’79 Austin, Texas Graduate Relations/Newsletter DeWitt Waltmon Jr. ’76 Houston, Texas Insurance Peter Pincoffs ’73 Austin, Texas Legal/Risk Management Bryan Campbell ’78 Austin, Texas Philanthropy/Service Evan Williams ’78 Austin, Texas Recruitment (South Texas) Bobby Orr ’75 Houston, Texas Advisory Member Carcy Clinton ’76 Irving, Texas Pig Dinner Robert Canon ’72 Austin, Texas Ritual David Duke ’87 Austin, Texas Advisory Member Ardon Moore ’77 Ft. Worth, Texas Pledge Education Bill Fowler ’73 Austin, Texas Advisory Member Brad Fowler ’56 Austin, Texas Purple Legionnaire Max Reinbach III ’07 Austin, Texas Recruitment (North Texas) Jeff Hickey ’77 Dallas, Texas Advisory Member Delano Womack ’56 Austin, Texas \r\nPage 3 Texas Fiji H Fiji maintains academic Standard and Community involvement W e have had an incredible summer at Buen Retiro. Recruitment went exceptionally well and a lot of the credit goes to the four state recruitment captains. We surely have one of the most exceptional pledge classes in Tau Deuteron history. academic Success a high Priority Fijis around the World I would like to highlight some unique experiences from brothers during the summer vacation. Michael Atmar ’09 interned at a seminary in Barcelona before traveling to Israel. Jack Holtzman ’09, Trevor Howard ’09, and Will Carabasi ’09 made a trip to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Texas Fiji maintains our record of academic excellence. We were ranked in the top 10 among all IFC fraternities for yet another year. Starting from the moment a brother receives a bid to the day he graduates, the brother’s academic support of other brothers creates a learning environment incomparable to other fraternities on campus. New members attend Luke Stone ’09, Charles Beckendorf ’09, Milam weekly study hall sessions and are encouraged to Miller ’08, and Tripp Ballard ’09 worked in New use the study house. York City this summer. In lieu of Fiji Island, the brothers found the closest thing to the famous sand-filled front yard at Buen Retiro. Undergraduates involved in the Community and intramurals Tau Deuteron recently held a raffle benefiting the Beyond Battens Disease Foundation. Thanks to the support of many Fiji families, the Chapter was able to make a sizable donation to the foundation. Fijis also continue to set example in athletics: we won the intramural softball championship and placed second in intramural basketball. Patrick McNamara ’08, a wide-receiver walk-on, led the Texas football team in receiving yards this past spring. As we look forward to the year, graduates, here are a few things to keep in mind for the fall semester. I would like to cordially invite all family and friends to congregate at Buen Retiro before each Longhorn home football game this season. Food and music will be provided, and the tailgates will begin two hours before each game. Parent’s Weekend will be October 28-30, the weekend of the Kansas home game. We look forward to seeing you and we would like to thank you for your continuing involvement and support as we begin another exciting year for Texas Fiji! Yours in the Bond, Chris Renaudin ’10 Chapter President cwrenaudin@gmail.com Perge! Jess Cole ’09, Nick Barham ’09, and Jeff Wilson ’09 spent this summer touring Europe. 2 01 1 PleDGe C laS S Gus Chestnut Amarillo Burwell Thompson Corsicana Hayden Carson Ft. Worth William Case Houston Chris Fouggerousse Lufkin Mickey Chevans Tyler Sam Boyce* Amarillo (Beaumont Boyce ’04) Brian Cavanaugh Dallas Connor Mannon Houston William Reade Houston Ross Montgomery Midland Will Deshazo Tyler John Paul Ackels Dallas Dillon West Houston Matt Luna Houston Nelson Grimes* Midland (Link Grimes ’83) Zach Dorflinger Dallas Holden Hamblen Houston Buc Howard Houston Alex Bryan Southlake Graham Bayley Houston Cole Marlow Dallas Jay Mullen Houston John Cotton* Houston (Taylor Cotton ’11, John Cotton ’14) Graham McGregor* Wichita Falls (Robert Edwards ’66, Joe Flack ’69, Mark Edwards ’74, Joe Flack III ’98, J.P. Finley ’01) Austin Shealy Atlanta, Ga. Billy Bedillion Austin Brew Houston Austin Reid Hairston* Austin (Kyle Hairston ’10) Spence Howden Austin Jack Scharnberg Austin Reed Clemons Corpus Christi Lyles Carter* Austin (Carl Brumley ’50, Harold Brumley ’51, Jon Brumley ’57) Carson Ashbaugh Dallas Harrison Duncan* Eagle Lake (Vance Duncan ’74) Matt Williamson* Houston (Brant Williamson ’09) Steven Gay Houston Preston Moore* Ft. Worth (Arden Moore ’77, Tucker Moore ’11, Hudson Moore ’12) Thomas Duncan* Houston (John Duncan ’12, William Duncan ’14) Will Schumacher Austin Joe Robertson* Burnet (Robby Robertson ’76, Tyler Robertson ’93, Will Robertson ’08) Chase Russo Houston Austin Waltmon* Houston (DeWitt Waltmon ’19, DeWitt Waltmon Sr. ’45, DeWitt Waltmon Jr. ’76, Scott Waltmon ’83) Dylan Case Lubbock Mauricio Garza Dallas Charlie Fitzpatrick Houston Carter Thurmond San Antonio George Shaw San Antonio James Uhl* San Antonio (Arthur Uhl ’77) Will Huddleston Wichita Falls *Legacy; relative in parentheses Richard Sparr San Antonio Coley Kellogg San Antonio Taylor Thornton* San Antonio (Mark Thornton ’72) Kelly Kuni* Houston (Doug Kuni ’78) Rye Hinkle* Lake Travis (Carl Brumley ’50, Harold Brumley ’51, Jon Brumley ’57) \r\nSave the Date october 28-30 Greek Parent’s Weekend texas vs. Kansas april 12, 2012 Pig Dinner Please mark your calendars: two hours before every home football game, there will be a tailgate sponsored by the men of tau Deuteron. Please join us! TexaS H Fiji Phi Gamma DelTa BUen ReTiRo CommiTTee P.o. Box 4769 aUSTin, Tx 78765 Address Service Requested hoUSe CoRPoRaTion President Jim Rodman ’82 Austin, Texas Robert Heiser ’74 Austin, Texas Kevin Snodgrass ’78 Houston, Texas Buddy Pletz ’56 San Antonio, Texas aTTenTion: this newsletter is intended for alumni and parents. if your son is still attending the University of texas, he will receive a copy at the Chapter House. if he has graduated, please send us his permanent address to update our records. thank you. Donors Who Made Recruitment 2011 Possible T hank you loyal donors for supporting Tau Deuteron’s recruitment. If there has been a mistake recording these names, please contact Marshall Merritt ’79 at marshall@merritt-capital.com. Marshall Adkins Thomas Allen James Armstrong Steve Arnold David Aycock Brian Bacharach Craig Bailey Jeff Bailey Michael Ball Brian Barnard Rick Beeler Charlie Berkey Tim Blonkvist James Broussard Jay Brown John Buchek Jr. Ben Bufkin Kyle Burnett James Burke* Zane Buttler Will Campbell Robert Canon Lon Carpenter Scott Carr Clint Chaffin Scott Christy Marshall Clegg Carcy Clinton Roy Coffee Jr. Kent Collins Porter Corrigan Gary Cox Richard Danner Doug Dawson Danny Dexter Stephen Dexter Gardner Dudley Robert Dullnig Billy Dwyer Ross Eastman Michael Ellington Howard Etheridge Jim Fallon Will Fawcett Robert Flannery Campbell Foster Stephen Fox Casey Fry Brian Gammill Richard Gannett Bert Graham Joseph Gray Eric Greenfield William Griffin Andrew Guinn Stephen Gunn Mark Hablinski* Hall Hammond Preston Hart Matt Hawkins Ned Heiser Robert Heiser Jeff Heller Steve Herrmann Jeff Hickey Bruce Hill Brian Hodges Brandon Holcomb Reeves Hollimon Clayton Hudnall Charlie Huey Grant Johnson Cullen Kappler Allan King Bill Kingman John Kinzer Richard LePere Adam Lieck Larry Loyd Bill Lyons Will Marsh James Mason James Mason Jr. Wilson Mason Larry McAfee William McAfee Dick McCaleb Jim McCuistion Scott McDonald Tom McGaughy Barton McLaughlin James McLaughlin Matthew McLaughlin Joe Merritt Marshall Merritt Fred Middleton John Mitchell Taylor Moody Ardon Moore Glenn Mortimer MarkMuecke Matt Muecke James Murphy Jack Nahoum John Nelson Tom Newton Michael O’Shell Mike Oldham Steve Oldham David Ott Bobby Orr Scott Parsons Stephen Pearce William Penny Jr. Carter Perrin Paul Peters Scott Petty Buddy Pletz Charles Plummer Jr. Thomas Rachal Karl Rathjen Brent Ratliff Robert Ray Michael Reilly Max Reinbach Rick Renaudin* Marvin Rickabaugh Rick Roberts Tom Robinson David Roche Jeff Rochelle Will Rogers Trebes Sasser James Satel David Shulman Scott Sledge Michael G. Smith Kevin Snodgrass Clayton Stanley Chris Stellar Russell Stith Ned Stocker Herbert Story Max Stubbs Ryan Taaffe C.B. Team Scott Tellkamp Taylor Thaggard Clayton Thomas John Thomas Layne Thompson Mark Thornton Trent Thrash Tim Timanus Keller T. Towns Arthur Uhl Ryan Wald Patrick Walker Rob Walls Scott Waltmon DeWitt Waltmon Jr. DeWitt Waltmon Sr. Jeff Webb James Wells Kirk Wiginton Larry Wilkey James Willerson Evan Williams Ron Willis Jack Womack Charles Woodward Robert Wooten Dan Zocht *Indiciates Fiji Dad