The Beaver Fiji Kappa Omicron Spring 1999 348 NW 25th St., Corvallis, OR 97330 President's Perspective: State of the Chapter Your Kappa Omicron Chapter is alive and well. We have become the first OSU fraternity to assume the status of a "dry" house and have gained numerous benefits from this decision. One benefit is being the first fraternity house at OSU to be connected to the Internet, an im provement which was made possible by the $10,000 grant that we received from Phi Gamma Delta headquarters. We finished fifth in grades for the 1997-98 school year and were third in the fall of 1998. During the winter term, our live-ins were second. Our objective is to become the first in grades, and we are well on our way. of dry-rot, new carpet, and various other things you'll see upon walking into the house. We thank all of you who have donated time or resources to making these renovations possible. Socially, we have had at least one function per term this year, including the mid-valley's largest haunted house (a philanthropy co-sponsored with Chi Omega), a Valentine's Day formal attended by 40 people, and the rave/ discotheque we'll hold soon with Delta Gamma and Alpha Tau Omega. In ad dition, we had a successful Pig Dinner on April 17, with many graduate brothers showing great enthusiasm for current events at the chapter. As our numbers in crease, all of this will become much easier, and we look forward to a full palette of events scheduled for next year. The one thing that remains a challenge is recruitment. Although 18 men have joined the chapter since Celeste Weaver, Coordinator for reopening in 1997, keeping them all here Linn Benton Food Share, publicly thanked (via the Barometer)the Fiji undergraduates for their dona tions to her agency. Chi Omega joined with Fiji to operate a at the same time has been difficult. With one brother on exchange in Germany, one on internship in Portland, one record ing a CD in Nashville, and graduation taking its toll, it has been hard to keep our numbers up. Next fall, we will start with 15 brothers in the house. Our rush prospects, though, are ex cellent. Thanks to an innovative scholar ship program created by Mark Gardner, '01, we have gained contacts with over 30 promising high school seniors. In April, 15 of these men visited the house for a scholarship weekend. Because these prospects were so impressive, it was hard to choose the one to receive a $500 award. (This award is contingent only upon the student's enrolling at OSU Haunted House at Halloween. We Are Wired! Last term, the chapter scored another first by becoming the first frater nity or sorority at OSU with every study desk wired to the Internet. Earlier, we reported to you that the chapter had been selected to receive a special grant from Phi Gamma Delta Headquarters for early implementation of the alcohol-free policy. We used that $10,000 grant to purchase the computers, wire, and fixtures necessary to provide each study desk with a connection to the central server in the second-floor library. The server not only contains a full library of software for all brothers to use, but offers a high speed connection to the Internet. Brothers Bill Anderson and Andrew Ibert drilled the holes, pulled the wire, built the cabinetry, and made all the con nections to install the system for the chapter. By doing the work themselves, they saved thousands of dollars in labor costs and stretched the grant dollars to enable us to purchase additional items such as a laser printer and a scanner. We owe many thanks to Bill and Andrew for their hard work. Lastly, we have enjoyed great press coverage in the past year, with several ar ticles in The Barometer highlighting re cent events at the Fiji house, and a few appearances on the television news. We are striving to carry on the legacy of Phi Gamma Delta and are achieving things that were thought to be impossible by some. One of the greatest graduate brothers I have met summed it all up when he looked me in the eye, shook my hand, and said, "I made a good bet on On April 22, 1999, we conducted an open house at the chapter to show off our computer facility to members of the house corporations of other fraternities and sororities on campus. More than 40 people attended the demonstration, in cluding OSU President Paul Risser and his wife, Les Risser. Mrs. Risser chairs the Greek Task Force which is charged with the responsbility of assessing ways to enhance the relationship between the in the fall.) Thanks to donations by brothers you gentlemen." Thanks for the invest A. L. Smith III, '60-598, Bob Moody, ment in our future, brothers. I now know The meeting was organized by Clay '60-593, Bill Long '59-568, and Bob Mor rison,'43-302, we will be able to offer ad ditional scholarship money to Fiji pledges next fall. We have created a scholarship fund to aid incoming freshmen, and any what"Not for college days alone" means. Torset, OSU's Coordinator of Greek Life. — Bill Anderson, President university and the Greek system at OSU. Clay is a strong supporter of fraternities and a good friend of Kappa Omicron. Finally, many students arrive at donations would be greatly appreciated. OSU these days with their own personal The more scholarships we have to offer, the more appealing we will be to quality computers. Having one has almost men. With the support of our devoted system will provide extra machines for graduate brothers, we are well on our way those who do not have their own, as well to becoming one of the most influential chapter house itself is impeccable, as a as a high-speed Internet connection for every member from his study desk. We all anticipate that this exclusive new system will be a strong rushing tool. result of the work supervised by Norm Sccthoff,'45-346. We have made count Photo at left: Brothers Andrew Ibert chapters on campus. The structural integrity of the become a necessity. The chapter's new less improvements, including a new roof, and Bill Anderson installing the wir new paint, up-to-code fire system, repair ing needed to put Fiji "on line." \r\nPage 2 Spring 1999 THE BEAVER FIJI Meet the Undergraduates Who Will Carry the Fiji Banner Into the 21st Century Bill Anderson I'm Bill Anderson, a native of Oregon. Originally, I lived in Eugene but decided that 1 needed a change of atmosphere after graduating from high school. OSU provided that change and offered me the ability to go home on short notice to see my family and friends. In my first year at school, 1 lived in the dorms, having decided not to join the stereotypical fraternity. My initial response was negative when my friend asked me to look at Phi Gamma Delta, and it took him a whole summer to convince me even to consider it. Upon meeting the guys and weighing the benefits, 1 decided to give it a try. 1 will never regret my decision. Opening that school year was the TEAM leadership weekend and, from then on, the Tyler Ashburn chapter became my life. 1 created friendships that cannot be eclipsed. The guys became my family away from home,and 1 know that 1 can trust my brothers with my life. Soon 1 met some graduate brothers, and 1 realized the meaning of"not for college days alone." 1 have learned lessons available only in a fraternity and have had dramatic personal growth. Now, in my second year as a Fiji, 1 hold the position of president. Serving in chapter leadership positions has allowed me to gain knowledge that has been useful in all areas of my life. It has also promoted a desire in me — previously nonexistent — to become involved. 1 consider Phi Gamma Delta to be the most beneficial aspect of my college education. Gabriel R. Carlton ■ .. ~n name is Harold Tyler My name is Gabe Carlton, ^ ^ Ashburn, a freshman civil and 1 am enjoying my third k engineering major. 1 am from year here at Oregon State and f ^11 I Eugene, but lived in Veneta, completing my first as a ' Oregon, for the last eight member of Phi Gamma Delta. years. 1 attended Marist High 1 am an enthusiastic person School in Eugene. There, 1 was who has many hobbies and things to do. love B in the National Honor Society, rBBi N I I I Spanish Club, and Computer as well as the Key Club, Club. 1 graduated with a 3.85 "Vangelis," and building with I • GPA. The past few summers, 1 have worked for a Eugene the chapter include recording |\ .7 A contractor, and now 1 work at an ARCO gas station there. At OSU, 1 pledged just before the Pig Dinner and hope to become a member next fall term. 1 am in the Honors College, as well as Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta honorary societies. So far, Oregon State has been a positive experience J world soccer, NFL football, reading books, listening to WtfHKKf the fraternity. My positions in I ' ^ ^ secretary and pledge educator. A chemical engineering major, 1 wish someday to be part of an inventive design team, but 1 also want to travel the globe and see the different cultures of the world. 1 get great enjoyment out of watching the fraternity grow, and 1 am proud of being a Fiji. In my free time, 1 enjoy spending time in the outdoors. 1 like Late News Flash! Since the biographies of all the brothers went to press, we have pledged four more men, bringing our numbers for the fall to 17. With a good pledge class, to camp and fish, and 1 love to play basketball and water-ski in we will be pushing 30 men living in! KO is back! See p. 3. for me, and 1 hope that my career here continues so well. the summer time. 1 moved into the house halfway through spring term. Thus far, 1 have really enjoyed being here. I'm sure that in the future 1 will continue to enjoy it, and my participation in Phi Gamma Delta will improve my overall college experience. My name is Mark Gardner, and 1 am a sophomore at OSU. The road that brought me to OSU is not the typical one. 1 graduated from Culver High School in rural central Oregon Jeff Elliot (huge graduating class of 17), and unlike many people, 1 did not go directly to college. During high school, 1 was heavily involved with FFA, a youth leadership development organization based in agricultural education. 1 am a junior in computer am now on an ship at LSI Logic in Gresham, Oregon. The internship runs for six months, and 1 will return to the KG chapter for fall rush and the beginning of next school year. Some things Mark Gardiier like to do in my spare time include hanging out with friends, playing sports, and listening to music. Also, 1 am glad ' ■ to be a Fiji and excited about the things happening at the house. CT^BV/ i _ \ I •] Before attending college, 1 took a year off to serve as the state president of the Oregon FFA Association. In this job, 1 spent a year traveling all over Oregon and the US, giving leadership presentations to high school students and FFA members. In all, 1 visited over 40 high schools and middle schools across the state, a different school almost every day from September until after Thanksgiving, in this position, 1 had many other responsibilities, inchiding acting as an advocate for the agriculture industry, as well as serving on the Student Leadership Organization com mittee for the Oregon Department of Education. Life is becoming more exciting and my experience as a Fiji is becoming even more beneficial as we bring more men into the brotherhood and continue to expand. There is no limit to where we can go, and 1 look forward to moving ahead with my brothers. I can honestly say that I am mighty proud to be a Fiji! After this year of traveling and working with young people through FFA, 1 came here to OSU. After going through four dif ferent majors, 1 have settled on English. 1 have always liked writing and public speaking, and those interests combined with my drive to work with young people, have led me to pursue a \r\nSpring 1999 Page 3 THE BEAVER FIJI Andy Hill Mark Gardner (contd.) career as a high school English teacher. I've been working as a mentor and counselor for high school ^ * students for several years now, I and the most significant ex- Itj ■ came last year during my sum- 'B >» perience with regard to this k \i||lja I mer job. ^B^M Last summer, I worked in L ^^^^B Washington, DC, for the na- ^ tional FFA in the FFA's Washington Leadership Con ference Program. Here, I worked with four other college students as camp counselors in seven one-week leadership training camps. About 150-200 high school students attended these camps each week, and the staff not only toured them around all the sights in DC, but we also worked with the students on developing their own leadership skills and realizing their own personal potential. I became close friends with many of the students I worked with during the sum mer and still write and e-mail back and forth with them. I fail when I try to explain the power that this conference had in these young people's lives, but the results I see coming from the kids that came through our program are amazing. Now I proudly represent the KO Fiji chapter here on cam pus. I have found more in this brotherhood than I ever would have expected. I am the chapter historian and scholarship com mittee chair, and along with all the brothers, have been work ing feverishly on rush. One of my goals has been to bring the Fijis back strong to OSU; another is to help the OSU Greek com munity move in a positive direction through work on the Greek Action Team. All in all, becoming a Fiji brother was one of the best decisions I have made in my college career. 1 look forward to a great future — I am and always will be mighty proud to be a Fiji! I was born in Pendleton, Oregon, and lived there until the age of eight with my parents and four brothers (one older, three younger). In 1987, we moved to Toledo, Oregon, where we lived for two years. In 1989, we moved again, this time to Reedsport, Oregon, and my parents and younger brothers still live there. My older brother lives in Los Angeles, where he attends Life Bible College. My parents are both Christians, and throughout my life they have shared their faith with me, but never even once became aggressive or forced me to become a Christian, too. They never made me go to church or reminded me to read my Bible or pray. I do go to church every week, though, and read my Bible and pray daily because of my own special relationship with God. My faith is very much a part of who I am. My faith is not what me a to however; I am here for the AFROTC program. When I was five years old, I remember sitting in the family room with my dad f >I f BH m 1 H I H watching a space shuttle . landing. At that age, I told him that when I grew up, BfeP' il ; was to be a In H H he you have to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force." I said, "Well, I'll just start looking forward to that now." For the next five years, that's exactly what I did: I wanted to be a USAF fighter pilot so that I could become an astronaut. Andrew Ibert But, by the time I was in the fifth grade, I had ruled out the thought of space flight completely and wanted only to be a fighter pilot in the world's finest air force. This year is my first in My name is Andrew Ibert. I'm the chapter treasurer as well as AFROTC, and the more I learn about the Air Force, the more proud I am to be a part of it. the oldest member in the house. I've been treasurer for the last year . and a half and served as rush iIb ' j chair last summer. I'm a senior in mechanical engineering with about a year to go until I graduate with my BS (and a minor in *■ iJ 9 business). Some of my interests ; are hi-fi sound systems, music, I enjoy life as a Fiji brother at Oregon State. Although I have spent more than half of my college life living elsewhere, I can easily say that just a few terms living in the house have brought more opportunity for fun and personal growth than I ever could have imagined while living on my own. The feeling of belonging and having a great group of people to associate with makes my efforts in the house worthwhile. I've been here for almost two years and have worked towards developing the house and bring ing quality members into our circle. It's been fun for me to be a part of this development. I envy those who plan to join the chapter in the near future and spend all their college days as brothers in Phi Gamma Delta. I became a Fiji, really, at the last minute. The chapter I was planning on pledging told me on the last day of rush that I would not be offered a bid for fear that I would not fit in there. They referred me to Phi Gamma Delta, noting my high standards of morality and my distaste for the abuse of alcohol. When I pledged. Phi Gamma Delta was just a place to live. 1 didn't know any of the men and knew nothing about the chapter, and nobody in the house knew me for anything more than a first impression. For all I know, they offered me a bid only because they were short of men. Over the past few months, however, as I have learned about the chapter and gotten to know its members, a bond has been formed. It's a relationship that can only be accurately described as brotherhood. I now feel like Phi Gamma Delta is my home, and Reedsport is a place to vacation. Vincent Kimura My name is Vincent ^ Kimura, was Honolulu, Hawaii. I was ^ f^ raised abroad in cities like Hong Kong, Beijing, and ^B|y|| Kuala Lumpur for over half KO'S NEWEST PLEDGES: Jon Albright, jr., biology, (3.0 CPA) Tim Bishop, jr., geology (3.5 CPA) Perry Scanon, soph., mechanical engineering (3.9 CPA) Shane Tsubaki, jr., biology/pre-med, 3.98 CPA my life. I am a junior major■ng environmental and minoring in TS earth information systems and technology, Chinese, and multimedia. I hope to earn an International degree. ' \r\nPage 4 Spring 1999 THE BEAVER FIJI Vincent Kimura (cont'd.) responding secretary, as well as helping all the brothers with Since arriving at OSU in 1996,1 have truly felt that a higher power has paved my path for future goals, my values as a Phi Gam, and my interests. Since I've been here, I've found, for ex ample, that SCUBA is a great hobby, and I've gone so far as to receive my Dive Master in it. The fraternity has provided me with opportunities of leader ship, scholarship, and brotherhood. I hold the positions of social chair and philanthropy chair, and I am excited to see our brotherhood grow and flourish. Our path is the future of the Greek system, and we are the ones who will make it work. Tom Lien f P name is Tom Lien; 1 r am a freshman at Oregon State. 1 came to OSU because ^ ^ \ 11 I ff business program here is better than that of rival U of O. J I am majoring in business with ^M I an option in hnance and hope '1 I to become a stockbroker in the H. I ' graduated from St. Helens High School in St. Helens, Oregon, in 1998. Dur ing high school, I was involved with various academic groups as well as participating in many sports — football, basketball, baseball, and track. I am now a member of the track club here at OSU. I am also a track coach at Corvallis High School. Coaching has taught me the great art of patience as well as a sense of community. rush. I am looking forward to next year and to filling up the chapter house. Proud to be Fiji! Dennis Picht My name is Dennis Picht, ^ and I am a freshman majoring in ^^BF business. Originally from Bothell, ^^ y ' Washington, 1 have lived in Cor- « vallis since 1 was eight. I attended W '| Marist High School in Eugene. I At Marist, 1 was involved in many types of activities. 1 was the | . J ' I I vice president of the computer | I club, in the Key Club, and a member of the National Honor | Society. 1 played baseball for two I ) years and golf for one. As a freshman, 1 worked at the Corvallis Country Club, and now 1 work at Papa's Pizza, where I have worked for almost three years. I was accepted by the University of Washington, but decided to attend OSU because here 1 had been accepted into the Honors College. 1 thought the Honors College would provide me with a good experience. 1 moved into the house during spring break. 1 have tried to do a lot for the house in the short time that 1 have been here. 1 was elected to be the house manager the first week of this term. Jimmy Zachor My name is Jimmy Zachor, —W and 1 am a freshman majoring in ^ engineering. 1 am the son of ^ There are many aspects of the KO chapter that 1 don't think I would find anywhere else, particularly the unique bond that we all have and also the support of the graduate brothers who just stop in to hang out. The brothers here have taught me numerous and call Mountlake Terrace, a things that I would not have learned without them. The house small suburb of Seattle, my home. has been more to me than just a place to live — it is my "family." 1 graduated from Mountlake Ter- Evelyn and Jim Zachor,'66-709. F 1 was born on February 10, 1980, rS Jn I am the IFC representative and rush chair and have been work race High School with a 3.9 GPA. ing on new methods and ideas to make next year's fall rush the most successful yet. I believe that my choice to join the chapter My main reason for attending Oregon State is a baseball f was one of the best decisions that 1 have made thus far. scholarship. I am also following in [ fl I my father's footsteps by joining | Bt B fl i KO and Phi Gamma Delta. Michael Peterson When not spending my time playing baseball and studying, I am found lifting weights, spending time with the guys, playing My name is Michael Peter- son, and this is my first year in the V chapter. I am a freshman, and I ' have not decided on a major. Right now, I am leaning toward « microbiology, but I am also in- | 'I terested in fish and wildlife management. 1 decided to go to OSU because of f ,i i I ■ I I strong I I sciences program and world I renowned football team. 1 was born in Hawthorne, Nevada, hut have lived most of my life in ^ A A ^ Albany, Oregon. I went to high school at West Albany and was heavily involved with my school. At West Albany, I played several sports, including soccer and ski racing. (Note: My basketball career was cut short because of lack of skill.) My hobbies arc fishing, hunting, hiking, and skiing. These activities have consumed my time and kept me out of any serious trouble. Last summer, 1 worked in a small store on the coast. Here 1 learned the importance of a college educa tion and became highly motivated to start school. After the sum mer, 1 arrived at OSU and pledged Fiji. Here 1 have enjoyed an unparalleled brotherhood and full social schedule. 1 am the cor video games, or engaged in a variety of other sports, such as basketball or swimming. Brothers Not Pictured: Charles Woods — Charles is a junior from Eugene. He majors in geography and is a member of AFROTC. He plans to enter the Air Force upon graduation. Charles does not live in the house and is inactive at this time. Brandon Antoni — Brandon was one of the original seven members of the revived chapter. He is a junior business and Ger man major from Portland. This year he is on a fellowship in Ger many and will return to OSU and the house next fall. if you have e-mail, would you like to receive our elec tronic newsletter? The chapter periodically supplements The Beaver Fiji with e-mail updates. To be on the distribu tion list, send an e-mail message to Tom Lewis at thlewis@ibm.net, and we will sign you up...no cost. You will also see the e-mail addresses of other KO brothers all over the country, it is a great way to keep in touch. \r\nSpring 1999 Page 5 THE BEAVER FIJI Another Successful Norris Pig Dinner, This One in Corvallis! Thanks to the hard work of brother Alan Thayer, '81-1002, the Norris Pig Dinner was a great success. Held on April 17 at the Valley Football Center, it at ects underway. He did so at his own ex pense, and he used his considerable knowledge and talent to make a difficult undertaking appear to be easy. A plaque tracted 42 brothers of all ages to share has been memories and celebrate brotherhood. recreation Ranging from Scram Graham (class of '35) to a pledge of just one week, Harold Ashburn ('02), the brothers renewed ac quaintances, honored many, and heard from brother Stu Evey(U of Washington '56), the founder of ESPN and Phi Gamma Delta Archon Councilor. mounted in the basement room to commemorate Norm's effort. Thank you again. Norm. Fiji Sires and Sons Awards were pre sented to two father-and-son pairs: Dr. Ken Stevens,'60-599, and Mike Peterson, '02; and Jim Zachor,'66-709, and Jimmy Zachor,'02. It was a pleasure to present the award to two new brothers in the Awards: Bob Morrison,'43-302, received a "Not for College Days Alone" award for being the consistent driving force behind the "Fantastic Forties." This group of alums from the 1930s and 1940s is the spiritual backbone of the KO graduates, and Bob is the head cheerleader. We all thank him for his dedication and hard work in rais ing funds for the remodeling project and for helping to keep brotherhood alive through tough times. His "never let up" attitude is an inspiration, particularly con sidering that he graduated 56 years ago. Congratulations and thanks again. Bob. Norm Seethoff,'45-346, was presented with the first "Norm Seethoff — Not for College Days Alone" award for his tireless dedication and personal sacrifice to the remodeling project. Countless times same pledge class. Congratulations to all of you. Ron Enna,'65-672, was also recognized for his tireless efforts in conducting the fund-raiser for the house remodeling. He has raised over $150,000 from KO brothers, all of which has been expended on much needed repairs to the old chapter house. Our thanks again to Ron and his team for all they did. Stu Evey, Washington'56. While an ex ecutive with Getty Oil, brother Evey started the new television sports cable channel that evolved into ESPN. At the Pig Dinner, he addressed the gathered brothers and relived for us the struggles against the naysayers that he faced in getting ESPN off the ground. He com pared that effort to the current attempt at Oregon State and on other campuses Stu Evey and congratulated the chapter on the progress that has been made in such a short period of time. We thank brother Evey for coming to Corvallis to be with us and for his inspiring words. Before the dinner, the brothers en joyed a guided tour of the new Valley Football Center, located at the north end of Parker Stadium, and following the din ner, we all adjorned to the chapter house to see the renovations and the new com Norm commuted from his Seattle home to launch Phi Gamma Delta nationwide to meet with contractors, arrange new as an alcohol-free fraternity. He was puter facility. Brothers came from Seat tle, Boise, and all over Oregon to celebrate. We thank them for coming and look forward to an even bigger Pig Din ner next year. If you missed it, you missed work, and inspect the status of the proj pleased with what has happened at KO a lot! — Tom Lewis, '60-592 3 Scenes from the 1999 Pig Dinner: Top left (1-r): Son and Sire, Mike Peterson and Ken Stevens. Lower left: Gabe Carlson, Don Bourne, and Bill Anderson. Top right: Norm Seethoff, Andy Hill, Bob Morrison, Bob Weigand, and Bert Lind. \r\nPage 6 THE BEAVER FIJI "The Fabulous Forties'': Devoted Fijis An enduring example of the loyalty and fnendship of Phi Gamma Delta can be found in the closeness of the ^Fabulous Forties." This devotion developed during our Kappa Omicron undergraduate years, 1940-1946, and it remains to this day. In 1946, about ten brothers and their wives formed a poduck group which still meets most months of the year in the homes of the brothers. In addition, most of these families look forward to the annual Labor Day camping trip on the slopes of Mt. Jef ferson in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. In 1999, we "potluckers" are enjoying the 53rd year of these special get-togethers. Unfortunately, the Kappa Omicron Chapter was closed in 1996. In the fall of 1997, however, we proudly reopened as a substance-free chapter, llie poduck group was a leading force in this endeavor, helping with funding and other assistance re quired in making it possible to start up KO again. The cherished memories, principles, and enjoyable times we experienced as Kappa Omicron brothers have played a promi nent role in the success of our families throughout the years. We sincerely hope our younger brothers will make a special ef fort to establish such enduring relationships. Let us never forget that Phi Gamma Delta is not for college days alone. — Don A, Bourne, '42-278 Obituaries Robert P. Moser, '28-98, of Seattle, Washington, died September 5, 1998. His daughter, Mary Thomas, provided this information. William B. Johnson, '30-118, of Beaverton, Oregon, passed away January 4, 1999. He was 89. Bill was born in Corvallis. His father. Bob Johnson, owned and edited the Corvallis Times, a weekly newspaper which evolved into the Corvallis Gazette-Times, After graduating from Corvallis High, Bill attended Reed College for two years and then transferred to Oregon State College. He received a degree in business and economics in 1929. Brother Johnson then moved to the Portland area, where Spring 1999 believed that Phi Gamma Delta was *not for college days alone.'" {Note: A photo of brother Sims proudly accepting his 50-year pin appeared in the Spring 1985 Beaver Fiji.) George E. Covert,'31-124, died November 2, 1997, at the age of86, as reported in the last issue of The Beaver Fiji, Because we learned of his death just as that issue was going to press, we could not print a detailed obituary at that time. Brother Covert was born in Covina, California. He was unable to complete his education at Oregon State on account of the depression, though his widow, Winnifred, writes,"George surely enjoyed his time as a Beaver Fiji." He worked for the US Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Serv ice in California after leaving Corvallis, and in 1941, went into business for himself as a produce shipper based in Tracy, Califor nia. By the 1950s, brother Covert had become the largest tomato shipper in North America. In 1959, he purchased a 500-acre property which later became known as Covert Farms, and began developing it for vegetable production. Its first crops were tomatoes and onions, but by the late 1960s, other vegetables were being grown at Covert Farms. Then brother Covert decided to expand into wine grapes, and by the mid 1980s, he was raising grapes on 150 acres. Ultimately, though, those grapes had to be removed because of NAFTA provisions. Fortunately, brother Covert had encountered his first Gala apple back in 1985 and predicted that it would become a popular variety. He was right; as it happens, those acres which had been devoted to wine grape production are now supporting Gala apple orchards. In addition to Winnifred, his wife of 57 years, George is sur vived by his son, Michael; five grandchildren; a sister. Dale Linstrom; and seven nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Calvin, in March 1996, and by two brothers. John M. Alexander,'39-223, passed away February 19, 1998, in Coronado, California. His widow, Virginia, sent some obituary information to The Beaver Fiji. "Johnny" received a football scholarship at Oregon State in 1935. He performed well at left halfback, both as a runner and a passer. After college, he spent a few years at Certified he remained for the rest of his life. For 40 years, he worked in the insurance business, eventually becoming president and chair man of the board of Jewett, Barton, Leavy & Kern Insurance Company. He co-chaired the United Fund, and served as presi dent of Oregon Insurance Independent Agents in the 1950s, chairman of the board of directors of Catlin school(now Catlin Gabel), and president of Waverley Country Club. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Edith P. Johnson, active service was completed. By the time he retired, he was senior vice president with responsibilities for warehousing and in 1995. He is survived by daughters Marilyn E. Johnson and distribution, labor relations, and personnel. When hostilities Grocers of California before enlisting in the Army. In an infantry rifle company, he fought through Europe from France to Ger many. He received a presidential citation and a medal for bravery in action. Brother Alexander returned to Certified Grocers after his Susan J. Larsen of McMinnville and Kathleen J. Jones of San broke out in Korea, brother Alexander, an inactive reserve of Jose, California; seven grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. His daughter Sue Larsen wrote: ^He was a longtime and loyal member of the Fijis. His death was sudden and peaceful, from what we could tell." ficer, returned to active duty for two years. In 1980, he retired L. Wade Sims,'30-122, died May 2, 1998, at the age of 89. William W. Sims,'67-727, his son, provided the follow ing: "Born on May 14, 1908, in Walla Walla, Washington, Dad attended Oregon State in the late 20s. He pledged Phi Gamma Delta and lived in the original Fiji house at 660 Madison as well as at the present location. He graduated in 1930 and joined the Standard Oil Company. He and his wife, Margaret, moved to Portland in 1941, and in 1943, he began a 28-year career with the Internal Revenue Service, retiring in 1971 as chief of the col lection division. For many years thereafter, he worked in the proshop at Colwood Golf Course in northeast Portland." Brother Sims was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret J., in 1989. They had married in 1931. In addition to Bill, a San Jose, California, resident, he is survived by his daughter, Judith S. Wakeman of Sunnyvale, California, and three grandchildren. Bill concludes,"Dad was very proud to be a Fiji and sup ported the KO Chapter unfailingly throughout his life. He truly from Certified Grocers and spent his time in Coronado sailing. He also enjoyed traveling. Each year, he returned to Oregon, where he visited friends and fished the Rogue River. In addition to his wife of 55 years, Johnny is survived by his children, Scott, Kim Laurie, and Brett, and by two granddaughters. Jack E. Moirison,'39-235, a former resident of the Bend, Oregon, area, died January 15, 1999. Karl D. Berman,'42-277, passed away January 1, 1999, in Las Vegas, Nevada. A native of Corvallis, he received a bachelor's degree in business in 1942 and another in pharmacy in 1958. During the 1939-40 school year, brother Berman was the president o'the junior class at OSC. He was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. His parents, A. K. and Mary Murphy Berman, owned Berman's Drugs in downtown Corvallis for many years. Karl operated the store until his 1963 move to Las Vegas. There he managed a FayLess Drug Store. Brother Berman is survived by his wife, Marian; by his sons, Bruce, Steven, and Arthur; his daughter, Carol Wittman; a brother, Robert Berman; and six grand children. \r\nSpring 1999 THE BEAVER FIJI James L. Johnson,'52-451, died August 3,1998, accord ing to a notice received at the graduate office. Wallace A. Portouw,'52-457, died January 27, 1998, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was born February 22, 1925, in Portland, Oregon. He received his BS degree from OSC in 1954 and received three varsity letters as a result of his participa tion in the Beaver rowing program. Brother Portouw received many medals for his World War II service in the Air Corps. He was an active member of several Masonic organizations. He worked as an engineer for RCA,and he retired from the Steamboat Springs, Colorado, police depart ment. Wally is survived by his wife, Shirley; his three sons, Lawrence J., Steven J., and William G.; his brother, Robert C.; three grandsons; and three granddaughters. John K. Bosking,'59-555, died in California on August 11, 1998. He was bom June 19, 1937, in Omaha, Nebraska. Brother Bosking graduated from OSC in 1960 and received his master's degree from the University of Southern California in 1967. He served as a captain in the Army and retired as an engineer with the Western Test Range at Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1987. He is survived by his son, Steven Bryce Bosking; his daughter, Dana Michelle Bosking; his parents, Herman and Margaret Bosking; and his sister, Linda B. Long. His brother-in-law, Don Long, notified the graduate office. Jon H.Zurcher,'61-615, of Ranchos Palos Verdes, Califor nia, has passed away, according to the Post Office. Robert L. Jeremiah,'69-763, died May 4, 1999. Corvallis Gazette-Times sports editor Jeff Welsch reported,"He wasn't the biggest, strongest, or fastest Giant Killer, but none had a bigger heart than BJ Jeremiah. *That was a repeated refrain Saturday, May 8, when an overflow crowd — including about 40 of his ex-teammates — jammed into Our Udy of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Cot tage Grove, Oregon, to pay final respects to the former Oregon State football standout. "Jeremiah, who was given the game ball after OSU's ftimous M top-ranked Californialateral in 1967, died Mayvictory 4 alter aover three-year battleSouthern with amyotrophic sclerosis 1AL5>), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was 51. Page 7 They have three children,"all married with spouses,"five grand children, and one great-grandchild. Bob "had a slight stroke in June[1998]. Affected speech, thought, and writing. Golf was high on list of priorities. Have only played five or six times this year." Richard B. Bailey,'40-243, receives mail at PO Box 1153, Camas, WA 98607, and phone calls at 360-834-3636. "Con gratulations on the last Beaver Rjir he says."Maybe it will loosen up some of the purse strings which haven't yet been untied." Dick, whose wife's name is Virginia, is retired. John W. Barnes,'40-244, a retired Army major general, lives at 22022 SE 40 Ct., Issaquah, WA 98029(425-392-2022). He writes,"My wife, Mary,died oflymphoma on January 4,1998, after 55V2 years of a wonderful marriage." Send e-mail to Jack at jackmary@seanet.com. John C. Biiggs,'43-292, says he's retired but that he still does "writing and research at the University of Georgia." Jack and his wife, Eila (Bryn Mawr, Yale), are the parents of nine. The Briggs'reside at 1180 Kennedy Rd., Arnoldsville, GA 30619 (706-353-1945). Raymond P. Koch,'49-388, lives at 2904 Old Dufur Rd., The Dalles, OR 97058, with his wife, Diane. In response to the question about "special interests," he writes: "Biochemistry. After forming a task force entitled'LEAP'for'Libido Enhancement and Augmentation Project.' We were successful in developing an her bal diet supplement that rejuvenates the lagging libidos of the geriatric crowd. Merck and Johnson & Johnson are bidding for our formula right now. We sent it to Bill Clinton gratis." Hmm.... Call Raymond at 541-296-6061. Robert A. Moffitt,'51-434, writes from 10 Seward Ave., Springfield, OR 97477,"Keep up the good work and your drugfree (alcohol, tobacco, and all) approach and higher GPA with higher character pledge program!!!" Richard A. Koch,'51-453, is a "semi-retired MD,rancher, and banker.""Doing mostly medical work at the prison and jail," he says. "My years growing up in the Jeff Hi District and with the classes of'51 and'52 were excellent training for this change. 1 enjoy helping my friends in the Indian gaming industry(gam bling) in their success." Rich and his wife, Mary (AT), are the parents of Mary Ann and Susan. The Kochs receive mail at PO Drawer C,Pilot Rock, OR 97868, phone calls at 541-443-7371. 9reat young man, a real tribute to himself and I He was always Knechtaofjoy Corvallis, his former position coach at UoU. to be around. 1 never saw him without a smile.' "In perhaps the most famous game in OSU history, the Beavers shocked the Trojans 3-0 in a muddy, gritty game befit ting Jeremiah's style of play. Afterward, the team gave the game ball to their inspirational leader. That night, while his teammates partied, he packed his bags, caught a bus, and headed for Viet nam. Jeremiah was wounded in the shoulder in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart. He played one more year at OSU before returning to Cottage Grove to work in rock drilling and crushing." Brother Jeremiah was born June 6, 1947, in Lindsay, California. He married Sandra Thoreson November 9, 1974, in Cottage Grove. She survives, as do his son, Kristopher, and his daughter, Katie, both of Cottage Grove; his mother, Willa Dean Jeremiah, and his sister, Karen Jeremiah, both of Payette, Idaho; his brother, Ted Jeremiah, of Council, Idaho; and his father, Standley Jeremiah of LaPine, Oregon. Kappa Omicron brothers who attended the funeral were Steve fleece,'69-772, Bill "Earthquake" Enyart,'69-756, and Billy Main,'69-766. Jerry Belcher,'69-750, was also a Giant Killer. Brother Jeremiah is the second member of The Giant Killers to die of Lou Gehrig's Disease. The other is former defen sive back Jim Scheele. John D. Mlnto^ Jr.,'55-500, wrote in an attempt to clarify why he'd received a mailing from another fraternity's national headquarters: "Way back in the fall of 1951,1 was a 'rook,' and when 1 pledged the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, a group of seniors gathered the pledge class together and told us a little bit about the campus. They told us that the 'Phi Delts' were the jocks of the campus, the Sigma Chis were a bunch of ladies' men,and that we,the Fijis, were the best damn beer drinkers on campus and we could prove it at any time! Slightly mentioned were the SPEs. They, we were told, had the best GPAs on campus, but, overall, could not find their way out of a paper bag! I never really believed this...but anyway take my name off the [non-Fiji] mailing list!""Damen" resides at 41205 Anderson Rd., Nehalem, OR 97131. Donald N. MacDonald,'56-512, and his wife, Sally, reside at 1935 El Monte Ave., Sacramento, CA 95815. They are the parents of three, "ail adults." "1 was very happy to see Kappa Omicron opened again and going full steam in a forward direc tion," says Mac."1 have many fond memories of my past associa tion with the great members. My Fiji days had a positive influence on my life. Good luck — perge!" Andrew O. Hesse,'62-626, is a partner in Hesse Stobbe & Associates. "No news of my era in winter 1998 Beaver Fiji^ he notes,"so here's from me! Nice to see a picture of Tom Lewis r60-592]after ail these years. ..he hasn't changed a bit (pro bably dyes his hair). Delighted to see such diversity in the Fiji Fables reconstituted KO chapter. Perhaps my youngest — Frank (10) — can follow my footsteps." Andy has four other children — Scott Robert H. Theis,'39-241, and his wife, Wilma, reside at 15720 SW Alderbrook Cir.. Tigard, OR 97224(503-620-6128). (36), Michelle (30), Jason (29), and Erin (27) — as well as four grandchildren. His wife's name is Deborah (AE0, Chapman \r\nP^ge 8 Spring 1999 THE BEAVER FIJI College). The family resides at 9195 Saddle Ridge Way, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 (916-987-1418; hsa@ix.netcom.com). Andy, a tennis player, is a trustee in the American College of Ad ministrative Law and a member of the St. Michael's Episcopal Church vestry. joined Remax-Elite in Hinsdale, Illinois, as a realtor. 1 would enjoy hearing from any of my brothers." The Meeks family also includes daughter Lauren, a 15-year-old freshman at Hinsdale Central at the time Thomas wrote. To contact him, write to 344 Reserve Cir., Clarendon Hills, IL 60514, call 630-455-1320, or send email to Tom_Meeks@mbcc.com. Robert W. Bomengen,'66-691, received a Distinguished Service Award at the 1998 OSU commencement ceremony. A family practice physician in Lakeview, Oregon, he is one of three doctors serving 10,000 people in a large and sparsely populated area. He also serves as team physician at the local high school, cpordinates the county's sports physical program, and acts as Shane Riley f77-942]at our wedding and Steve Farago f78987]in the past year.) Wonderful honeymoon to Europe(major trek from Hawaii). We welcome calls from paradise-bound Fijis. Lake County Public Health Officer. In 1994, brother Bomengen was honored as the national Family Doctor of the Year by the employed the past 15 years with Tradewind Charters, Inc., and American Academy of Family Physicians, the first Oregonian to receive this award. In April 1995, at the time a bomb exploded at the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, he was ad dressing medical students at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He was one of the first physicians to arrive and the only one equipped with emergency supplies. He spent the entire day at the disaster site. Brother Bomengen originally planned to train as an orthopedic surgeon, but after serving as a general practioner on a southern Montana Indian Reservation, he realized that rural family medicine was his true calling. He receives mail at HC 64, Box 152, Lakeview, OR 97630. Kenneth A. Middleton,'77-963, has exciting news: "Mar ried Rosalie Miramontes on June 1, 1997. (Saw Nancy and Let's rendezvous for a sail! Aloha to all!" Ken has been self- he's worked the past four years with Excel Communications as an independent rep and senior director. Ken receives mail at 1833 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 612, Honolulu, HI 96815, e-mail at captken @pixi.com, and phone calls at 808-395-5795. Dennis A. Thompson,'80-983, has written twice. 'The company in which I was part owner. Crows Nest Entertainment, was purchased by Digital Music Express, Inc.," he writes. "I've agreed to manage DMX's northern California office ~ yet another transition! Hoping El Nmo goes away so 1 can start play ing some golf...." Referring to a news note he had submitted previously, Denny comments,"A couple of guys who Tve always John L. Smith,'68-744, is self employed. His business is been close with like to write to The Beaver Fiji, In the past four years, I've gone through a bunch of changes — a divorce, two called High Ridge Media Associates. **Busy traveling Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington selling books and library automation software," he says.''Year 29 as a ski patroller[now with Powder Mountain Ski Patrol] and still keeping up with the young bucks." John and his wife, Laura, are the parents of Karen (29), Mike(27), Josh (24), Jenny(22), and Nathan (19). The fam The Beaver Fiji and everything'Oregon State' keeps stability in my life." "Ringo" and his wife, Nancy, reside at 107 Allyn Ave., San Anselmo, CA 94960. He is the father of Griffin (4). Call ily makes its home at 714 W.1900 N., Clinton, UT 84015. Direct Denny at 415-721-0534 or send e-mail to drringo@pacbell.net. phone calls to 801-776-9096 and e-mail to JLSUtah@aoLcom. John W.Hubbach,'69-762, and his wife, Dana Benkelman Hubbach(KKF,OSU),live at 14 Canon Dr., Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (e-mail: JHubbach@aoLcom). They are the parents of Mimi (24) and Jeff (20). "Retired in November [1997] from 25-year dental career to have more time for Christian ministry, leading men's Bible studies, and teaching internationally,""Hub" reports."Just returned from two weeks in Kiev, Ukraine,teaching at a Bible Institute." He enjoys travel, tennis, running, and fishing. new jobs based on corporate takeovers, a new marriage, a new house in Marin — it goes on and on. The communication with Andrew D. Foorman, '95-1308, married Mindy Gill on December 31, 1998, at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Portland. The wedding celebration continued into the new year at the Portland Golf Club. Andrew's father is John Foorman, '63-646. The wedding party featured several other KG Fijis, as well: Fhil Traa, '95-1324, Feder Traa, '99-1359, and Brett Roach,'95-1318. R. Keith Henley,'89-North Alabama, writes from PC Box Thomas I. Meeks,'76-912, has been with Mercedes-Benz 4599, Lexington, KY 40544,"As director of chapter services, 1 worked with the local graduate brothers to restart the chapter. Credit Corporation for 15 years. "Moved to 'Chicagoland' in The men recruited and their philosophy of'what a fraternity is December 1997, accepting company promotion to cover the 11 Western states as regional finance manager," he says."We have really about'are most impressive. I truly enjoyed my time in Corvallis and look forward to a return someday."Send e-mail to Keith enjoyed El Nino's mild winter [1997-98]. My wife, Kathryn, has at pgdhq6@phigam.org. 1998 Honor Roll of Contributors Each of the 76 brothers listed below contributed to the graduate communications program in 1998. Their donations totaled the impressive sum of $8,165. In addition, six brothers have already contributed $375 in 1999. Please place your name on the 1999 Honor Roll by sending a check now.(Note: brothers whose donations were $160 or more are designated by the star before their names.) Name Class Yr. & Na Charles M. Cartwright 30 -A-William B. Johnson Hubert M. Cook John T. Heeler 30 32 33 Malcolm S. Bryant 34 A Charles V. Ruzek, Jr. 37 Jerome P. Ruzek 37 114 118 133 156 162 203 204 in memoriam A Robert H. Theis Robert P. Zenter 39 39 Richard B. Bailey 40 John W. Barnes 40 Robert S. Binford 41 A John S. Fisk 41 Donald A. Bourne 42 John C. Briggs 43 Rupert E. Fixott 43 Robert A. Morrison, Jr. 43 Robert E. Wiegand 43 241 242 243 244 255 261 278 292 293 302 310 A Warren F. McClure 44 A Robert R. Bergis 45 330 323 G. Patrick March A James O. Centers 45 46 342 352 A Charles H. Herman, Jr. 46 358 A Andrew D. Hesse 62 A Merle A. Mosar A John D. Rowell 46 48 365 377 A David L. Long 63 640 A Michael S. Lucas 63 A Raymond P. Koch 49 388 A Thomas F. Basgen 64 652 Richard R. Harlow Richard N. Dodd 50 51 410 426 A John E. Geiger 64 658 A Richard L. Engdahl 51 A Robert A. Moffitt A Richard A. Koch A. T. Woodhouse 51 52 52 61 612 626 641 65 686 427 Stephan J. Vrtiska 66 706 434 453 459 A Gerald C. Schmidt David R. Dahlstrom A John L. Smith A John W. Hubbach Arthur H. Kroeger 53 469 53 474 53 477 Norman H. Silver 53 A Donald N. MacDonald 56 A John H. Hudson 60 Gary W. Runes 592 599 610 Peter J. Zurcher James L. Moreland A George D. Shields A Thomas H. Lewis 60 A Kenneth M. Stevens 60 A Kenneth R. Poorman 61 479 512 585 67 68 68 69 802 808 John K. Hedges G. Andrew LaFrazia A Eric R. Leonard Anthony J. Pulicella A Scott K. Campbell A Andrew S. Enna R. Keith Henley 816 N. Alabama 726 732 744 762 A Courtney C. Smith 70 796 A Bruce G. Bronson ATerrence H. Dunn 71 71 AC. Tannert Pinney, Jr. 71 Jon P. Hudson 72 James E. North 72 836 William L. Beckley 73 847 A Gregory S. Schuler 73 860 A Terry W. Smith 75 900 ALon D. Haberlach 76 905 A Thomas 1. Meeks 76 912 A David E. Willard 77 917B Dennis A. Thompson 80 983 A Steven M. Barton 80 1006 Theodore G. Squilanti 82 1010 A Michael L. Hutchinson 84 1055 830 84 86 86 88 1061 1107 1122 1145 92 1282 99 1361 \r\nKappa Omicron Chapter The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Deita Friendships are important! Our fraternity is important! Let's perpetuate both of them, not only for our own benefit, but so that our sons and other young men may share in the fellowship offered by Phi Gamma Delta. MAIL TO: Phi Gamma Delta Kappa Omicron Graduate Office PO Box Q Corvailis, Oregon 97339 017-4002 0 06/09/99 Phi Gamma Delta Executive Director Please report address changes or corrections to PO Box 4599 the Graduate Office. Lexington, KY 40544 r -0 1 Please return this form with your contribution. 1999 Voluntary Alumni Contribution for Beaver Fiji, etc.: □ $100 □ $75 □ $50 □ $25 □ $- □ $50 □ $25 □ $- $. Other Support for the KG Building Fund: □ $100 □ $75 $. other $. Enclosed is my check payable to "Kappa Omicron Association" in the amount of Contributions are NOT deductible for Federal Income tax purposes. Detach Here Positive Publicity Pays Off! i Gazette-TiSSl These days, it seems, when the name of a fraternity appears in newspaper headlines, it's there because fraternity Rat back and drug-free members have broken the law or — at the - coffvAuts one Good Morning SATvocwr scnc.MaER 37 1997 very least — have behaved boorishly. That's why graduate brothers of Kappa Omicron Chapter can take special pride in Hot stuff MarMltkBrwki ion miiflo Singer n hett baufit ewrrt VeOajftail tuffrr tu» hut\ Mostly sunny ihth Ta tjn. •« /f S/i»Unl I'lM Ofcjton MONDAY Fijis mark year one as dry fraternity Trouble brewmg at the 'Cock the headlines reproduced (and reduced) in the box at left. The KG undergraduates take constructive and responsible actions, based on decisions they've thought out carefully. These undergraduates make their graduate brothers beam with pride, not cringe, when they read newspaper headlines! High 55,1 A SeuJmt Puh/i*j/tsn Oftpio Sijif t)nl«mcv, C.irvilljj, Oregvn MONDAY Fijis access the information superhighway WkInformationalmeet'mgTueiday mtlhtrntlandOSmfinl lncirn/ogica/.,ui,tana-JhlfrMfm!ry Si-.SX c.™ Ni c, in li, Gmi lyam an diity n^g>k« ion ontM Bnlllna The current residents of 348 NW 25th Street also genuinely seem to appreciate the attention they get from you, their graduate brothers. Please continue that support, finan cial and otherwise. We want those glowing headlines to continue! (Headlines at left used by permission.)