THE COMET FIJI Phi Gamma Delta at The University of Texas-Dallas | Est. 2010 May 2015 Chapter President Will Moorman (2017) Treasurer Josh Manning (2017) Recording Secretary Jason Ngyuen (2016) Corresponding Secretary Robert Walker V (2016) Historian Dalton Moore (2015) utdfiji.com @utdfiji utdfiji.alumni @gmail.com Our “special guest” had the best seat in the house at the 2015 Norris Pig Dinner. FOUNDER’S DAY 2015 We would like to thank everyone who attended the 2nd Annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner on Saturday April 18th, 2015 at the Hilton at UTDallas. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our graduate volunteers and the hard working undergrads of Tau Delta, that have made Fiji the top fraternity house on UTD’s campus for 5 years now. It was a night to remember, sharing our brotherhood with our closest friends and family, even if the thunderstorm outside knocked the lights out for a few seconds. So here’s to us; our friends and family, the Immortal Six, Frank Norris, to the thousands who came before us, and our own who couldn’t be there to share in our joy on that wonderful night—Here’s to many more years of Comet Fiji at the University of Texas-Dallas, and to another 167 years of the great Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, on this Founder’s Day, 2015. \r\nTHE COMET FIJI Phi Gamma Delta at The University of Texas-Dallas | Est. 2010 May 2015 DEL RO’S WALK: UPDATE Tau Delta BCA Khris Harris (Texas -Arlington 2003) Aaron Maestas (Texas-Arlington 2005) Charlie Barker (Emory 1967) Dave Harben (Ball State 2004) Rhett Hicks III (Texas-Dallas 2013) Jai Sondhi (TexasDallas 2011) Mitch Miller (Texas -Dallas 2011) utdfiji.com @utdfiji utdfiji.alumni @gmail.com After being picked as the captain for the North Texas chapter of the Out of the Darkness Overnight walk for the American Foundation on Suicide Prevention, brother Daniel Del Rosario (2017) set the goal of $100,000 for his team to raise in honor of those lost. With the help of brothers Charlie Barker (Emory 1967, pictured above with Daniel) and Tyler Ortega (2016), Daniel and his team met their goal and more. The 16.3 mile journey through downtown Dallas was led by their team for the North Texas chapter, who led all teams in fundraising thanks to the leadership of our brothers and the persistence they instilled in everyone to accomplish that goal. Brothers, we are inspired by your ambition to help save lives. To dedicate your time and energy to such a great cause and raise awareness to help others, gives us and everyone around us a desire to do more. We can’t thank you enough for your hard work. Pergé! \r\nTHE COMET FIJI Phi Gamma Delta at The University of Texas-Dallas | Est. 2010 Chapter President Will Moorman (2017) Treasurer Josh Manning (2017) Recording Secretary Jason Ngyuen (2016) Corresponding Secretary Robert Walker V (2016) Historian Dalton Moore (2015) May 2015 3rd ANNUAL TAU DELTA AWARD WINNERS Scholarship Awards Luiz Blumm (2017) Christian de Lara (2018) Tanner Landry (2015) Kyle Lo (2018) Nick Reina (2018) Lewis Warne (2015) Khris Harris Most Valuable Member Award Jason Ngyuen (2016) Dave Harben Most Involved Graduate Award Charlie Barker (Emory 1967) Charlie Barker Outstanding Scholarship Award Lewis Warne (2015) Aaron Maestas Brotherhood Award Luiz Blumm (2017) Tau Delta Distinguished Service Award utdfiji.com Khris Harris (Texas-Arlington 2003) @utdfiji utdfiji.alumni @gmail.com Congrats, brothers! Display your awards proudly as the newest centerpiece in your home or office! \r\nTHE COMET FIJI Phi Gamma Delta at The University of Texas-Dallas | Est. 2010 Chapter President Will Moorman (2017) Treasurer Josh Manning (2017) Recording Secretary Jason Ngyuen (2016) Corresponding Secretary Robert Walker V (2016) Historian Dalton Moore (2015) utdfiji.com @utdfiji utdfiji.alumni @gmail.com May 2015 \r\nTHE COMET FIJI Phi Gamma Delta at The University of Texas-Dallas | Est. 2010 May 2015 GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT Chapter President Will Moorman (2017) Treasurer Josh Manning (2017) Recording Secretary Jason Ngyuen (2016) Corresponding Secretary Robert Walker V (2016) Historian Dalton Moore (2015) utdfiji.com @utdfiji utdfiji.alumni @gmail.com CHARLIE BARKER (EMORY 1967) If there is anyone more inspirational and encouraging than brother Charlie Barker, you’d be hardpressed to find them. His words of wisdom, his meaning behind every action, that loveable smile and laugh, and his love of friends, family, and God, make every day brighter knowing that he is a part of our lives. No words can truly describe what a great man Charlie is, because he outdoes himself and everyone in just about everything in life, while still staying true and humble before others and the man above. His short little autobiography on the back of our Pig Dinner program is just a snippet of who he is as a person, but there is nothing better than meeting him face to face and getting to know the man behind the badge— “Ok, so I guess the best place to begin is at the beginning— wow, that was a long time ago… born in 1945 and raised in Valdosta, Georgia. Graduated 1963 from good ol’ Valdosta High, home of the famous Valdosta Wildcats football team, off to Emory University, joined Phi Gamma Delta fraternity (more affectionately known as ‘Fiji,’ where I got my nickname ‘Charlie,’— and a fraternity definitely ‘not for college days alone’ as I recently, 2011-2015 helped establish Tau Delta at UTD— one of the newest Fiji chapters— and currently serve as a scholarship advisor… Back to Emory college, question: what shall I be when I grow up: a doctor, a lawyer, a minister? Ok, doctor of medicine, and after graduating from Emory’s School of Medicine 1971, I did a 3 year stent as a Navy Flight Surgeon (non-negotiable since we were in Vietnam) from 1972-1975. since I was able to fulfill all of the requirements for Board Certification in Family Medicine while in the Navy, I decided to return to my beloved hometown, Valdosta, where I practiced primary care medicine for fifteen years. Those from Valdosta who knew me then, remember Conoly my wife and I were in a private \r\nTHE COMET FIJI Phi Gamma Delta at The University of Texas-Dallas | Est. 2010 May 2015 GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT Chapter President Will Moorman (2017) Treasurer Josh Manning (2017) Recording Secretary Jason Ngyuen (2016) Corresponding Secretary Robert Walker V (2016) Historian Dalton Moore (2015) utdfiji.com @utdfiji utdfiji.alumni @gmail.com CHARLIE BARKER (EMORY 1967) airplane crash in November 1977, a plane I was piloting, and I remember thinking as we were going down in the pitch blackness of the night, ‘I can’t believe this is all there is to life.’ Well, it wasn’t… by the grace of god. God had other plans for Conoly and me— we were blessed with so many friends, family, and patients over the next 13 years in Valdosta and I was privileged to help develop one of the first ADA approved Diabetes Education programs in the nation. Then in 1988 I felt the call to go into medical ethics work, so we left Valdosta, entered law school at Georgia State 1990, finishing first semester when I was called back to active duty Navy with Marines for Desert Shield/Desert Storm helping to push Saddam Hussein back into Iraq; decided to remain in the Navy where I completed a residency in Aerospace Medicine in 1996 with a Master in Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins; assigned senior medical officer on USS Enterprise 19961998 (where on one occasion I ‘one up-ed’ the Engineer— you remember ‘Scotty’ on Star Trek— and on another occasion filled in for the Skipper of the ship… but that’s another story.) 1998-2001 assigned as Director Aerospace Medicine in Washington, DC, a great tour with an office over-looking the Lincoln Memorial; then assigned as Executive Officer of US Naval Hospital Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico 2001-2004, and then on to Hawaii for three years as Commanding Officer of all the naval health clinics, a great finale to my Navy Career. I guess I did a pretty good job: two Legion of Merit awards, three Meritorious Service Medals, a Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and multiple other service medals and ribbons. Conoly and I retired in 2007 to Dallas, Texas, where our two daughters and their families live. The Lord has blessed us over the years with three children, their spouses, and five grandchildren— we’re all soulmates. Since retirement I have been \r\nTHE COMET FIJI Phi Gamma Delta at The University of Texas-Dallas | Est. 2010 May 2015 GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT Chapter President Will Moorman (2017) Treasurer Josh Manning (2017) Recording Secretary Jason Ngyuen (2016) Corresponding Secretary Robert Walker V (2016) Historian Dalton Moore (2015) CHARLIE BARKER (EMORY 1967) active in our church as elder and in outreach missions, and working part time at the Military Evaluation and Procession Station Dallas helping applicants medically enter the military. I enjoy gardening, running/walking, reading, and theological/philosophical studies. Most recently I graduated from SMU Perkins School of Theology with a Master of Theological Studies degree. It has been an interesting adventure. I tell people I’m passionate about compassion, have affirmed the Charter for Compassion International, and am actively working with Compassionate DFW seeking affirmation of intentional compassion and compassionate action by all organizations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area— I think a worthy project for the rest of my life.” Charlie— we are forever indebted to you for all that you have done, not only for Tau Delta Fiji, but for the lives you’ve changed around the world. Commending you as the recipient of our Most Involved Graduate award is but a small token of our appreciation for the wonderful life you continue to lead, and the direction and drive you have given to us. It is our honor to have you in our lives, as member of our Board of Chapter Advisors, as a mentor, and as our brother. You are what the Immortal Six envisioned each Fiji brother to be like, 167 years ago, on our Founder’s Day, May 1st, 1848, and you are what God intends for every human being to strive to be, day in and day out. Thank you brother Barker. Fraternally, utdfiji.com Tau Delta Fiji @utdfiji utdfiji.alumni @gmail.com Pergé!