The Sigma Omicronicle Phi Gamma Delta ♦ Sigma Omicron Chapter ♦ Oklahoma State University ♦ Spring 2009 Sigma Omicron Housing Association, Inc. President - Kim Cunningham ‘75 okcarchitect@cox.net Treasurer - Chris Neurohr ‘03 cneurohr@scissortailenergy.com Secretary - Randall Whittaker ‘70 rwhittaker@pixius.net Directors & Members Ryan Bebee ‘95 Tanner Cooper ‘04 Marty Muck ‘78 Richard Howell ‘64 Shannon Wilkerson ‘92 Joe Berry ‘65 Eric Knam ‘93 Michael Martin ‘05 Sigma Omicron Board of Chapter Advisors Chairman - Taylor Shinn ‘07 Taylor.shinn@chk.com Member Education Advisor Ross Bebee ‘97 Treasurer Advisor Clayton Nelson ‘07 Advisor At-Large Jeffrey Pinter ‘02 Cabinet Advisor Trent McKnight ‘02 Historian Advisor Wesley Reed ‘02 Recruitment Advisor Jay List ‘97 Grad Relations Advisor Joel Embry ‘99 46th PIG DINNER RECAP By: Randall L. Whittaker 1970 February’s Pig Dinner proved to be another success. The number of attendees for the banquet reached close to 225 and, of this total, 109 were graduate brothers. The new brothers began the program marching in with Zeus held high and chanting the mantra “We will come rejoicing bringing in the Pig”. We were all relieved that L to R: Dan Deaver, Greg Dennis, Ralph Heatly, Jim Keating, Greg Winters, the generosity of Robert Keating, Rollie Heatly. Kneeling l to r: Randall Whittaker and Bill Brother Val Wheeler Maas. (1966) made it possible of the longest distance traveled, Brother to obtain “real pork” for this procession. Rocky Hill (1971), had flown all the way All agreed that “tradition does not gradufrom Hawaii. There was a tie for second ate” and that there will always be a genuplace between Brother Phil Webb (1972) ine Zeus for the Pig Dinner. (Calif) and Brother Roy Myers (1973) After a rousing rendition of “An (Fla). Exiles Toast” was delivered to the commitBrother Chris Neurohr (2002), tee by Brother Trent McKnight (2002), our Treasurer of SOHA, presented the finanthree new graduate initiates (Kirk Jewell, cial statement for the organization. The Graham Hill, Greg Winters) each gave an good news is that even after several mainspiring insight into their individual jor repairs and purchases there is still a paths to Fijiland and added a new dimenpositive balance of funds. Brother Neusion to our motto “not for college days rohr summarized upcoming projects and alone.” made an appeal for donations. Brother The undergraduate brothers preEric Knam (1993) hit the podium sented several awards to both their peers charged with enthusiasm for a donation (listed on page 4) and graduate brothers challenge. As a result of these appeals, alike. A special recognition plaque was the brotherhood has responded with given to Brother Ryan Bebee (1995) for his almost $6,000 in new gift dollars. many years of dedication to Sigma OmiBrother Taylor Shinn (2007) cron. Additionally, Brother Kim Cunningaddressed the group and informed us ham (1975) was given a standing ovation that a Board of Chapter Advisors has for his past and current service as a Direcbeen revived. The BCA will be separate tor and President of Sigma Omicron from SOHA and will assume responsibilHousing Association. Brother Randall ity for coaching, mentoring, and counselWhittaker (1970) humbly accepted the ing the chapter officers, rush chair, and Graduate Brother of the Year Award. All attendees were impressed that the winner (Continued on page 2) \r\nPAGE 2 T HE S IG MA OMIC R ONIC LE 46th Pig Dinner Recap continued... (Continued from page 1) pledge education chair. Brother Shinn also noted that the Tulsa gathering of graduate brothers is gaining steam and an Oklahoma City group of Sigma Omicron grads is being formed. The graduate brothers were very impressed with the display of Fiji history artifacts being gathered by Brother Ben Barker (2010). All are asked to participate in building our Sigma Omicron archives by sponsoring selected items for the house or donating any personal “relics” related to Sigma Omicron. Please check out the work Brother Barker is doing at www.okstatefiji.org. After the banquet was finished, all Fijis were ready to party. The PIG GIG, featuring the FIJI House Band, started at 9:00pm at the “319” bar on the strip. This event was meticulously planned and executed. Behind the scenes, the Band Bros. were lugging their equipment, setting up, sound checking and generally doing due diligence to insure a great dance. The peak of the evening was the World Premier of the Band’s original single, “I’m a Fiji, Baby”. There is a link to this track at www.okstatefiji.org. Though a bit shy at first, the group got into the dance mode and boogied the night away. Special thanks to House Mom, Rena Sterling, for her willingness to dance in spite of the potential foot injuries. The Chairman of the 46th Pig Dinner, Brother Brett Merritt (2011), has reported that not only did the chapter break even, but, a small profit was made this year. As with everything else in the world, the costs for this event continue to escalate. In order to continually improve our annual Pig Dinner, a call for feedback was issued. Listed below are several ideas generated. If you have any other ideas, please send your comments to the www.okstatefiji.org website. Comments from Brother Merritt, the Pig Chair 1. Due to the growing attendance and limited capacity at the ConocoPhillips Center, we will need to consider eliminating the dates and having a brothers only event; or go to a larger venue. 2. A big issue is the number of plates for the banquet. Make sure the date is announced early and ask for a commitment from attendees. Utilize registration via PayPal. 3. Raise the registration fee for everyone. General Comments and Criticism from the General Brotherhood 1. Enlist graduate brothers to assist in the planning, organization, execution of the Pig. Help choose an emcee, PowerPoint Master, Pig Procurer, et. al. 2. Combine the registration fee with a donation. Make the minimum fee $50. If a brother wants to donate, include his gift with the registration. 3. Have more than one bar. 4. Make the chapter house available for “tours” the day of the Pig Dinner. 5. Have some activity for early arrivals. A golf tourney, campus tour, happy hour, etc. 6. Make sure all “after party” events are in a smoke-free environment. 7. Make any “after party” open to all brothers (ie. ID those under 21). 8. More input from the undergrads…tell us what accomplishments, etc. 9. Better organization for the Tshirts…announce them early; who is the vendor, are they a secured site, have the shirts more easily available for pickup. 10. Start the event with the Doxology and end with “I would rather be a Fiji.” In closing, we can say without a doubt that the annual Pig Dinner continues to be “our common link”. The time, effort, and money that goes into a venue that brings all Sigma Omicron brothers together rewards us all. The graduate brothers appreciate all the energy that goes into this event. Our payback is having an opportunity to reconnect with our brothers and be assured that the chain continues to grow as every brother becomes a graduate brother. As Brother Brett Merritt notes on the Pig Dinner: “everyone agrees that we had another successful Pig. All thoroughly enjoyed the after party as well! They had a good time hanging out with the grads.” NOT FOR COLLEGE DAYS ALONE Jordan Stivers (L) presents Graduate Brother of the Year Award to Randall Whittaker. L to R: Luke Phillips, Paul Smith, Bob Hamm and Joel Embry. See more photos from Pig Dinner on page 7. \r\nT HE S IG MA OMIC R ONIC LE PAGE 3 GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT - PHIL WEBB 1972 home one year depressed about the state of the house and thinking that our fraternity would never be the same again. What kind of influence has the Fraternity had on your life? It has given me lifelong friends and taught me a lot about people and leadership. Being president was good training for being a prison warden. What activities were you involved in during college? Beer drinking, girl chasing, and Air Force ROTC. With whom do you stay in contact? Why did you choose Oklahoma State and pledge Fiji? I originally planned to attend OU but was invited to a Fiji rush party by Charlie Abercrombie, who was from Clinton and had run around with him in high school. John Gearhart, Bill Teel, and Ron Perkins were also from Clinton so I felt very comfortable in the Fiji house. I had such a good time with the people I met, I decided to attend OSU and pledge Fiji. With the Internet, it is easier to stay in touch than it was in the “old days” but I talk mainly with Steve Thomas, Greg Dennis, and Don Greenamyer, except during Pig Dinner season when I talk with anybody brave enough to answer the phone. Tell us about your family. I never had the courage or desire to have children so it is just my wife Marshia (Elk City) and 2 dogs. I met Marshia at OSU at a Fiji party. What is your favorite memory as an undergraduate? Did you live in the chapter house? If so, who were your roommates? It wasn’t my favorite but my most memorable and embarrassing was not making my grades and having to pledge 2 semesters. I guess the favorite would be living in the house during summer school and the lack of supervision. I lived in the chapter house all 5 years (4 undergraduate, 1 graduate) at OSU. Among my roommates were Ric Jamison, Ed Bogle, Steve Thomas, Gil Child, Craig Hicks, Steve Bell, Joe Gilliland, Steve Smith and then the memory fades. What is you favorite memory as a graduate so far? Tell us about your career. No doubt it would be this year’s Pig Dinner. It was my pledge class 40th Pig Dinner and 14 of us showed up for the occasion. It was so much fun reliving those thrilling days of yesteryear and so surprising that we all survived and grew up to be somewhat productive citizens. It is also sobering to realize that some are already retired and all of us will soon be entering a different stage of life. The house and the undergraduates are super and it is much better than those dark years when only a couple of us showed up for the Pig Dinner. I remember flying In my last semester of graduate school, I took and passed the CPA exam and then in Jan 1973, it was off to Air Force pilot training at Laughlin AFB, Texas near Del Rio. After pilot training, my first assignment was flying C-141 transports at Travis AFB, CA. In 1975, I participated in the evacuation of Saigon when the north Vietnamese overran the south, ending American involvement in the war that all of my generation remembers. In 1976, I left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserves at Travis still flying C-141s. In 1977, I went to work for Braniff Airlines in Dallas, TX, and stayed with them until they went bankrupt in 1982. I then went to work for Pacific Express airlines in San Francisco until they went bankrupt in 1984. I then went to work for American West Airlines in Phoenix until 1986 when I went to work for United Airlines where I presently work. I am a Captain on the B-777 flying to Asia and Europe. During all these jobs, I stayed in the Air Force Reserves and retired in 2002 as a Colonel with 30 years. My last job in the reserves was as the Operations Group commander in charge of 3 flying squadrons flying C-17s at McChord AFB, WA. In 1991, I was activated for Desert Shield/ Storm and have participated in most of the wars since 1973 (Panama, Grenada, Iraq, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan). What are your major interests now? Flying and physical fitness. I own a small airplane and do a lot of bike riding. Still do 12 oz wrist curls when I can. What are your goals for the next few years? Making enough money to have a comfortable retirement with toys and good enough health to enjoy it. What is your favorite Pig Dinner memory? Brother Whittaker’s last 2 pre-parties at the Atherton. More time to visit with Graduate Brothers in a secure atmosphere with attractive bar maids serving us cocktails. What are you famous for doing as an undergraduate? Not making my grades the first semester and then being on the honor roll the rest of my career. What are you famous for outside of PGD? Nothing I can think of. Haven’t landed in any rivers but I have landed in Antarctica. (Continued on page 4) \r\nPAGE 4 T HE S IG MA OMIC R ONIC LE WAYS TO GET AND STAY CONNECTED The undergraduate brothers are making sure they are on top of all things technological. In the past semester, a number of different forms of media have been developed to communicate with the brothers and other Fijis. Visit these sites to stay connected with the Chapter: Twitter: www.twitter.com/sigmaomicron Website forum: www.okstatefiji.org/forum YouTube: www.youtube.com/PhiGamTV Blog: perge.wordpress.com Podcast: coming soon! Graduate Spotlight - Phil Webb 1972 continued... (Continued from page 3) What have been major take aways from the many Pig Dinners you have attended? I have missed 3 Pig Dinners in 40 years. The major take away I have noticed is the importance of leadership and picking the right people and providing them with the proper environment. The quality of the undergraduates today is far above those of the “dark years” and we would not have a chapter today if it had not been for the leadership of people like Randall Whittaker, Greg Dennis, Kim Cunningham, Bob Murphy, Dr Hamm, Ryan Bebee and others. Describe any instances of Phi Gamma Delta keeping you on the path to becoming an Officer and Pilot. After pilot training, we had to go to survival school at Fairchild AFB, WA. Part of the training was being a prisoner in a North Vietnamese prison camp. I drew a lot of confidence that I could make it because I had been through initiation week. If I could survive Roy T Hoke, Bill Fowler, Phil Bowersox and the others, I knew I could make it through that prison camp. Get in touch with Phil at: PhilWebb2@AOL.com AD ASTRA Sigma Omicron was notified of the death of two brothers earlier this year. Thomas Hardesty 1973 and Alvin Crable 1942 We extend our deepest condolences to their families. CHAPTER HOUSE AWARDS • • • • • • • • • • Best out-of-house Brother: Brent Morris '10 Friendship: Chad Duty '10 Knowledge: Race Clark '10 Service: Ben Stukenborg '10 Morality: Tim Friske '11 Excellence: Brett Tatum '11 Downright Purple: Jonathon Allison '10 Most Athletic: Taylor Field '10 Brother of the Year: Matt Winzeler '09 Model Pledge: Will Winzeler '12 \r\nT HE S IG MA OMIC R ONIC LE PAGE 5 GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT - CLINT JOHNSON 1992 Why did you choose Oklahoma State? Love orange and I can’t stand crimson. Why did you pledge Phi Gamma Delta? In 1988, the fraternity had just recolonized. The pledge class I was a member of was the first fall pledge class since the re-colonization and the fraternity at the time was very small. I think our pledge class doubled the size of the fraternity and there were only about 15 of us. I wanted to be part of something that I could immediately influence, where I wouldn’t be just a number and where I could make a positive impact. A number of my pledge class brothers and I went to high school together and it was a perfect fit. The rush chairmen at the time, John Frohrip and Rew Woosley, could have sold ice to Eskimos and I bought what they were selling. One of the best decisions I ever made. Not including beer drinking, I was active in the fraternity serving as a cabinet officer and pledge instructor. I also participated in a number of prelaw societies and social groups on campus. With whom do you stay in contact? I always stayed in contact with a number of individuals. As the years passed, that group became smaller and smaller as the business of living took over. I always stayed in contact Jay Reinking, Chris Woosley, John Duffy and Greg Rine. I recently moved back to Tulsa after being gone for almost 12 years. I was amazed at how many fraternity brothers I re-connected with in such a short amount of time. What is your favorite memory as an undergraduate? Tell us about your family. Still remember our pledge class sneak to South Padre Island, Fiji Islanders and intramural athletics. It was a great time. I guess I enjoyed the sense of being part of belonging and brotherhood that came with being part of the fraternity. I married my fantastic wife, Lisa Johnson, in 1997, and we now have two kids. Conner is age eight and loves all things science and soccer. My youngest is Noah and he is age six. His favorite pastime includes driving my wife crazy and making me laugh. What is your favorite memory as a graduate so far? What is your nickname and how did you get it? I went to a Pig Dinner a number of years after graduating. It was great to see all my old friends again and relive some or our undergrad days. My nickname in college was Chief. Not even sure how it started exept that my initials were CJ and I loved to argue. One day someone asked me if I thought I was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and that was just shortened down to Chief. My wife still knows if someone calls from college because they always ask for Chief. What kind of influence has the Fraternity had on your life? The fraternity has had a very positive influence. Some of my best friends in life are individuals who I went to school with and have now known going on over 20 years. The fraternity taught me a lot about the value of hard work, persistence and working with and in an organization. What activities were you involved in during college? Did you live in the chapter house? If so, who were your roommates? Yes. Lived in the house for three years. It was not even an option NOT to live in the house. Fraternity was very small and the Housing Corp needed the rent. I lived with Chris Woosley, Jimmy Valentine, Brian Smith, Stan Ha and others. Moved out my senior year and lived with Jay Reinking about a block from Joe’s. Tell us about your career. After graduating college, I went on to attend the University of Tulsa College of Law. Graduated in 1995 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Generals Corp. I served as a prosecutor and defense attorney on active duty at Ft. Sill and Ft. Carson. I left active duty and joined the Department of Justice in 2002 and served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of New Mexico focusing primarily on crimes involving narcotics, firearms and immigration. I recently left New Mexico and moved back home to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Oklahoma where I focus on crimes involving guns, narcotics, violent crime and public corruption. I currently serve as Lieutenant Colonel in U.S. Army Reserves and I have been called back to active duty twice where I served at Ft. Bliss, the Pentagon and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. What are your major interests now? My family. Most of my time and energy outside of work is focused raising my two boys. I help coach soccer and soon (Continued on page 6) \r\nPAGE 6 T HE S IG MA OMIC R ONIC LE THANK YOU 2009 DONORS Sigma Omicron would like to thank and recognize our 2009 donors. Your generosity has resulted in contributions of almost $6,000 so far that will be go toward house renovations this summer. If you would like to make a donation to the Sigma Omicron Housing Association Fund visit www.phigam.org/OKState_Donations or send a check along with the form on the back page. Michael G. Crocker 1963 Steven H. Dennehy 1972 Patrick Fabian 1995 James D. Boyer 1964 Richard W. Hatter 1972 Cason E. Grover 1995 Richard P. Cornish 1964 J. Robert Keating 1972 Michael J. Morgan 1995 Joe G. Berry 1965 James S. Sheehan, USAF 1972 Gregory C. Sparks 1996 Vaughn S. Bryan, Jr. 1965 Philip D. Webb 1972 Matt Barnes 1997 John P. Gallagher, Jr. 1966 Frank Crabtree 1973 Jeremy Welter 1999 George H. Ramey 1966 Paul Parsons 1973 Daniel R. Cahalan 2001 Darrel D. Fry 1967 Kim W. Cunningham 1975 Justin E. Boatsman 2002 Richard C. Howell 1967 Martin A. Muck 1978 Zachary R. Keller 2002 Robert B. Lindsly 1967 Jules D. Roberts, IV 1978 Christopher R. Neurohr 2002 Michael C. Hill 1968 James P. Quigley 1979 Jeffrey R. Pinter 2002 Terrell F. Potts 1968 Bruce E. Baugher 1985 Wesley B. Reed 2002 Tripp Fezler 1969 Don VanCuren 1991 W. Tanner Cooper 2004 William R. Killough, Jr. 1969 Shannon L. Wilkerson 1991 Michael R. Gilbert, Jr. 2006 William H. Teel 1969 Christopher K. Woosley 1991 Graham R. Hill 2009 Philip G. Bowersox 1970 Stephen K. Boeckman 1992 Kirk A. Jewell 2009 Michael E. Hopping 1970 Clinton J. Johnson 1992 J. David Jensen 1970 Eric Knam 1993 Randall L. Whittaker 1970 Ryan J. Welter 1993 Ralph O. Heatly, III 1971 Joshua W. Randolph 1994 J. Herschel Beard 1972 Ryan J. Bebee 1995 Graduate Spotlight - Clint Johnson 1992 continued... (Continued from page 5) What is your favorite Pig Dinner memory? will be working the football fields as well. Going back to Pig Dinner as a graduate. Staying at the Best Western, seeing old friends, waking up the next morning and remembering that I am no longer 18. What are your goals for the next few years? I love the work I am doing and so I do not see any major career moves in the near future. I just want to focus on my family, put some bad guys in jail and have a little fun in the meantime. What are you famous for doing as an undergraduate?! Phi Gamma Delta may not be for college days alone but any infamy I may have had as an undergrad will have to stay as a memory and not be printed! What are you famous for outside of PGD? I am not famous for anything and I like that just fine. My greatest accomplishment is my family and if I do some good work in the Army and the Department of Justice that works as well. Get in touch with Clint at: Clinton.johnson@us.army.mil \r\nT HE S IG MA OMIC R ONIC LE PAGE 7 GOOD TIMES AT PIG DINNER Cabinet Officers Chad Duty and Omar Hossain with their dates Megan Kirkpatrick and Merideth Roberson. Class of 70: (l to r) David Jensen, Ralph Rogers, Steve Bowersox, Gary Markus, Ric Jamison and Dave Ferraro L to R: Ryan Vogler, Zach Overton, Eric Knam, Matt Woosley, Jason Turner and Ryan Bebee. Fiji House Band performs the world premier of “I’m a Fiji, Baby.” New Graduate Initiate Brothers (l to r) Kirk Jewell, Greg Winters, and Graham Hill Wes Reed and Justin Reed WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Michael G. Crocker (1963) - Lives in Trinity, Florida, and is proud to have been the first graduate of the Sigma Omicron Chapter. Contact Michael at crockermrwater@aol.com. James Westermeyer (1984) - Lives in northern California and is a private wealth advisor for his own company, Sage Mark Consulting. Contact James at james_westermeyer@lfg.com. Mark Lookabaugh (1988) - Is a software engineer at Risk Metrics and lives in Oklahoma City with his wife Tamara. They have a one child, Erin, who is 19. You can contact Mark at mark_lookabaugh@att.net. Have an update you want to share? Return the form on the back cover of this newsletter and we will post your update in an upcoming issue of the Sigma Omicronicle. \r\nPAGE 8 T HE S IG MA OMIC R ONIC LE Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity 1201 Red Mile Road Lexington, KY 40504 Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 Information Update - Tell us about you! Please detach and return with your contact information so we can update our records. We will feature graduate updates in upcoming newsletters. If you want to share your recent news, fill in the news section for your information to be published. Name________________________________________________________ School/year___________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip_______________________________________________________________________________________ Phone (H)___________________________________________(W)____________________________________________ E-mail_______________________________________________________________ News to share with classmates: ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Occupation _____________________________________ Employer ___________________________________________ Spouse’s name __________________________________ Anniversary Date ____________________________________ Children/Grandchildren Names and Ages: _______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Contribute to the 2009 SOHA Annual Fund! I am pleased to make a contribution to Sigma Omicron of : $1,000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $25 Other ________ I would like my donation to be used in the following area: ________________________________________________ Donations can be made on-line at www.phigam.org/OKState_Donations, by phone at (859)255-1848 ext 156 or send checks payable to Phi Gamma Delta - Sigma Omicron to: Attn: Bob Baney, Sigma Omicron Donations, PO Box 4599, Lexington, KY 40544 and include this form. Design, printing and mailing services provided by the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.