Volume CXVI, No. 2 December 2023 TH E K N O X G.D. FIJI # 218 Published by Gamma Deuteron Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta - Knox College G. D. FIJI PAGE 2 THE KNOX Powe is Knox's leading receiver G.D. FIJI The Knox football team employs a run-first offense, but when the Prairie Fire do take to the air, the lone Phi Gam on the squad is their go-to receiver. Niko Powe ('26) led the 2023 PUBLISHED BY team in both total receptions (21) and GAMMA DEUTERON CHAPTER OF receiving yards (259), accounting for more than PHI GAMMA DELTA one-third of the team's passing yardage during KNOX COLLEGE a 3-6 season. A 6-foot-0 sophomore from GALESBURG, ILLINOIS Kewanee, III., Powe had his first college 100- December 2023 (Vol. CXVI, No. 2) yard receiving game in a 31-14 win over Midwest Conference foe Beloit on Sept. 9, Editor: Cole Andrews ('26) including the season's longest play from scrim- Contributors: David Brackman ('81), Joe mage of the season, a 71-yard catch-and-run. Krantz ('26), Cole Shepherd ('24) The multi-sport athlete also President: Cole Shepherd ('24) is a reserve on the Knox Treasurer: Edward Brees ('24) basketball team, which Recording Secretary: Nick Stan ('25) began the 2023-24 season Corresponding Secretary: Cole Andrews ('26) with a 6-3 mark (through Historian: Joe Krantz ('26) Dec. 15) and travels to Purple Legionnaire: Randy Cox ('88) Hawaii for two late- Field Secretary: Jeffrey Stinson December games. Powe (Western Michigan '20) also serves as the risk Faculty Advisor: Tianna Cervantez manager for the Gamma Niko Powe Deuteron chapter. CONNECT WITH US! Click on any of the icons above to access our website and social media channels E-mail: gdgradinfo@gmail.com Mailing Address: 2 E South St., K-Box 1805, Galesburg, IL 61401 G. D. FIJI PAGE 3 From the chapter president's desk Dear Brothers, was a wonderful opportunity for graduates and under-graduates to spend time together at the A successful fall term has come to a close, and chapter house. the holiday season is upon us. The bulk of our chapter members have returned to their homes Winter recruitment will see a new group of men for winter break, but many remain on campus put themselves forward to become brothers of as members of the men's basketball team our esteemed chapter, which will be operating (which is off to a solid 6-3 start this season), under the new model for recruitment and new and the rest of us look forward to cheering them member education as outlined by the on when we return to campus. international fraternity. Many qualified individuals from a diverse range of athletic and The chapter had a number of noteworthy academic groups have already expressed interest successes this fall, with several exciting in our chapter, generating great excitement developments to look forward to in the near within the house. We hope to add a large group of future. In the realm of service, Gamma Deuteron qualified members. hosted a table during "Fresh Check Day" in association with the Knox College Counseling As my tenure as president and as a student at this services. Brothers were able to interact with institution concludes, this may be the last time other students and share helpful information you will hear from me in a formal capacity. I am about suicide prevention and awarness. deeply honored to have had the chance to serve Additionally, a number of brothers participated and guide our fraternity. Your unwavering in the FSL day of service at the Knox Farm to support, dedication, and passion have been the help them prepare for the winter. driving force behind our collective achievements. Being part of this remarkable journey has been a As for philanthropy, the chapter hosted a FSL privilege, and I am grateful for the friendships philanthropy volleyball tournament on our sand forged, the lessons learned, and the memories volleyball court to raise money for Special created. To the graduates, your legacy remains Olympics. Each fraternity and sorority an integral part of our fraternity's story. To our participated, and a team of Fijis brought home current members, I have full confidence that the the hardware. Socially, the chapter threw two unity and spirit we've cultivated will propel this registered parties at the house, and held our fraternity to even greater heights. Thank you for annual fall semi-formal dance. Scholarship was allowing me to be part of this incredible journey. a clear priority of the brothers this fall. With a 3.33 GPA, the chapter ranked first not only for Fraternally, all fraternities, but also exceeded the all men's average and the Knox College average. Finally, Zob the chapter hosted its Frank Norris Pig Dinner Cole Shepherd 24 in combination with Knox College Homecoming Gamma Deuteron Chapter President and it was a great success. Graduate attendance increased significantly from past years, and it P! G. D. FIJI PAGE 4 Pig Dinner/Homecoming 2023 Nearly 100 people descended on the Knox Fiji In addition to the undergrads, graduates and house for a combined Frank Norris Pig their families, we were joined this year by Dinner/Homecoming celebration on Oct. 28. A friends and family members of the under- short program that began at 4 p.m. featured grads, including parents and siblings. Those remarks by chapter treasurer Eddie Brees assembled enjoyed a buffet-style feast of ('24), House Corporation vice president David pulled pork - provided by a donation from Brackman ('81) and Marty Glickman ('80), former chapter president and ex-Galesburg who recently completed a two-year term on mayor John Pritchard ('78) - with plenty of the Knox College board of trustees. sides and dessert offerings. The Gamma Deuteron chapter house living room was lined with dinner tables and a few hearty souls sat on the south porch in the chilly weather. Les Hunter ('77) received his Gold Owl certificate for 50 years of membership in Phi Gamma Delta during the Marty Glickman ('80), who served on the Knox College 2023 Pig Dinner/Homecoming ceremony at the Gamma Board of Trustees from 2021 to 2023, spoke at Gamma Deuteron chapter house on Oct. 28. Hunter, who lives in Deuteron's 2023 Pig Dinner/Homecoming ceremony Galesburg with his wife Julie, was an assistant baseball about the college's mission and its relationship with the coach at Knox for more than a dozen years and also was Gamma Deuteron chapter. the director of Knox's Gale Scholars program. G. D. FIJI PAGE 5 Pig Dinner/Homecoming 2023 wanna 2021 2022 Knox College Doug Francke ('06), left, of Galesburg, speaks with Phi Gamma Delta Section Chief Bob Schaich (Bradley '06) during the 2023 Pig Dinner/Homecoming event on Oct. 28. FEJII FIJI Undergrads pose beneath the new color photos of Phi Gamma Delta's Immortal Six on the first floor of the chapter house at the 2023 Pig Dinner/Homecoming event on Oct. 28. Front row, from left: Tyler Bialek ('24), Isaiah Cole-Jones ('24), Andrew Garrett ('26) and Jake Baker ('26). Back row, from left: Jeff Ripka ('26), Cole Andrews ('26), Joe Krantz ('26) and Eddie Brees ('24). G. D. FIJI PAGE 6 Frank M. Johnson ('52) is Gamma Deuteron chapter's newest Diamond Owl honoree He was surprised when he received a package Johnson followed up his call with a letter to that was postmarked Lexington, Ky., then the G.D. Fiji, recalling prosperous days for the elated when he opened it. Frank M. Johnson Gamma Deuteron chapter: "We had 100 ('52) is the newest Gamma Deuteron alumnus actives and pledge classes of 25," he wrote. to receive the Diamond Owl award, Seventy-five years ago, "an arts and letters recognizing 75 years of membership in Phi class was mandatory" and "we had Gamma Delta. mandatory chapel once a week at the (Central Congregational) Church on the (Galesburg Johnson, 93, a retired insurance agent, now public) square. Had to turn in attendance lives in Kalamazoo, Mich., after many years slips." residing in southwest Florida with his wife of 67 years, Carol. Of the chapter house, Johnson said, "They built it pretty well to hold up until now, more "They sent me a nice certificate," " said than 100 years." He recalled a Fiji party in the Johnson, who was initiated in early 1949, early 1950s when "we brought in a load of when contacted by the G.D. Fiji. "I'm just sawdust to cover the living room floor." When happy that I made it this long!" Johnson lived in the house, there was "no fire escape [or] basketball court." Originally from Rockford, Ill., Johnson has fond, vivid memories of his time at Knox: And Johnson remembered a "warm dorm" "The Fijis had really good intramurals teams; (heated) and a "cold dorm" (not heated) one year we won six of eight titles," he said. where everyone slept. (The "warm dorm" was He also remembers serving as a house waiter on the second floor, he said - a confusing (when the chapter house had a functioning detail, as the second-floor "rack" definitely kitchen and daily meal service for was not heated in the 1970s and 1980s.) undergraduate members) and as house Johnson was unfamiliar with the term "rack" manager during his senior year. in reference to those sleeping areas - although he said they had "bunk" beds. "But Johnson also was sports editor for the Knox we never called it the 'rack,"" Johnson said. Student newspaper and played on the football The third-floor rack was converted to rooms team. "We beat Monmouth a couple of years," long ago; the second-floor rack was converted he boasted. "In 1949, the basketball team had to rooms during major renovations to the to practice at the Galesburg Armory while chapter house in the early 1990s. Memorial Gym and Lay (Natatorium) were being built." JOHNSON continued on next page JOHNSON continued from previous page homes in Venice, Bonita Springs, Boca Grande and Englewood, they relocated back to After graduation, Johnson worked in the Michigan less than two years ago to be closer insurance business, first for Fireman's Fund to family. in his hometown of Rockford. The company later transferred him to Michigan. Settling in After retiring, Johnson took up furniture Saginaw, Mich., he stayed with Fireman's painting as a hobby in 2001. He estimates he until 1961. He handled business lines for has painted at least 1,800 pieces (chairs, "hospitals and banks, etc." Later, he became benches, doors, etc.) over the past two an independent insurance agent, offering decades, including about 200 pieces he has commercial lines of insurance to metal given away to friends and relatives. He workers affiliated with Detroit's automotive describes his art as "whimsical." industry." "I took, maybe, two group lessons. I just did it Frank and Carol had three children and now for fun and to keep busy." He also paints have five grandchildren and five great- small household items, such as drink coasters. grandchildren. After several post-retirement He prefers nautical themes: fish, boats, birds decades along Florida's west coast, including - "to remind me of Florida." Frank M. Johnson ('52), of Kalamazoo, Mich., displays the Diamond Owl certificate he recently received from International Headquarters to mark his 75 years of membership in Phi Gamma Delta, along with an original owl drawing he made. G. D. FIJI PAGE 8 Kris Nelson named to Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame; reflects on his brother Erik Nelson's influence on him in school and through his life Kris Nelson ('98) was One of the best among seven recent offensive linemen in inductees into the school history, he Knox-Lombard Athletic played the right guard Hall of Fame. Nelson position, anchoring a was a four-year letter unit that allowed just winner for the Knox one sack in 27 games, football team who while helping the team helped lead the team to set several offensive three straight winning records. As a sopho- seasons and three more, Kris lined up straight victories over right next to his older archrival Monmouth. brother, who played He played alongside his right tackle on the Knox older brother Erik offensive line. Nelson ('96) at Knox when Kris was a "Kris was blessed with freshman and sopho- good athletic ability and more and Erik was a possessed a great work junior and senior. Kris Nelson ('98) was an imposing force for Knox football. ethic, said former Knox head football coach Andy Gibbons. "He Kris Nelson also lettered in wrestling at Knox was a leader and one of the strongest players his senior year, in the heavyweight division we have ever had at Knox. However, what (at about 225 pounds, he competed at 25 to 35 made Kris special was his unbelievable desire pounds less than his football weight). He won to win and it was that desire that drove him to two matches in the 1998 NCAA Division III play as hard as anyone I have coached. In his Western Regionals against higher-ranked mind, we were always in the game whether we opponents to complete his college athletic were way up or way down." career. He graduated in 1998. After graduation from Knox, Kris Nelson went Kris Nelson was a National Strength and on to play semi-professional football for two Conditioning Association All-American, years for the nationally-ranked Palos/Orland National Scholar Athlete and first team All- Force, based in the south suburbs of Chicago. Midwest Conference selection in football in 1997, his senior season. NELSON continued on next page G. D. FIJI PAGE 9 NELSON continued from previous page and daughter Klara, 12. He was recognized as Broward County Schools' co-volunteer of the Then, on a vacation to Spain, one of Kris' year in 2019 and received the Florida Dept. of football friends recruited him to play Education Outstanding Volunteer Award, professionally for Spanish team Pioners de District 5, in 2020. L'Hospitalet, in the LNFA (Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano). But tragedy struck in December 2022, when Erik Nelson had a heart attack and died at the "I stayed for four months - the full season - age of 49. The Nelson family returned to their but I had been working in commercial real hometown of Harrisburg, Ill., in the southern estate (for Regions Bank) in Miami, so when part of the state, to put Erik to rest. the season ended, I went back to Miami," Kris Nelson told the G.D. Fiji. "I turned down other "We gave my brother a Viking-style ceremony offers to play in Germany." and service," Kris Nelson said. "Many of the Knox Fijis who were in school with us Older brother Erik Nelson had already earned attended. He was my only natural brother, but a law degree (from St. Thomas University in it was great to have so many of my fraternity Miami Gardens, Fla.) and Kris Nelson brothers [there] to help us deal with our loss followed in his older brother's footsteps into and celebrate his life." the law, enrolling at University of Miami School of Law in 2006 and earning his law (Editor's note: Information from Knox degree in 2009. They were roommates for College was used in this report. Click here to nearly a decade. read Erik Nelson's online obituary.) "Erik definitely helped me on some strategies for the final law school exams," Kris Nelson said. "Erik was the reason I went to Knox and the reason I became a Fiji. After Knox, we lived together for 10 years before, during and after I went to law school." Kris Nelson graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors) from UM Law and worked at prestigious international law firm White & Case for four-and-a-half years, then went into private equity law, before landing nine years ago with his current employer, NR Investments, a Miami real estate development and construction company, as general counsel Kris Nelson ('98), right, wearing No. 75, talks with and chief legal officer. Kris Nelson lives in brother Erik Nelson ('96) on the sideline of a Knox Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with with his wife Lara football game in 1995. (Photo courtesy of Kris Nelson.) G. D. FIJI PAGE 10 Class of '78 remember former chapter president Paul Brauer, share memories REUNION REUNION Phi Gam members of the Class of 1978 celebrated their 45th anniversary since graduation at the 2023 Knox Homecoming. Above, from left, Glen Thompson, David Bates, David Schramm and Bob Voss, all members of the Class of '78, and a few other grads and undergrads from other classes not pictured spent a few moments on Saturday morning, Oct. 28, visiting the 55-foot fin whale skeleton that is mounted in the atrium of the Knox College science and math center (SMAC). Knox Fijis were the primary donors to the whale project, which honors former Gamma Deuteron chapter president Paul Brauer ('78), a Knox chemistry major who passed away in 2015 at age 59. Members also told a few "Brauer stories." Thompson recounted an anecdote from Brauer's wedding in 1981 in Tulsa, Okla., which 16 Knox Fijis attended: Most of the Fijis stayed at a cheap motel arranged by the groom - who was unaware that dozens of state police officers had booked the same motel that weekend while attending a nearby convention. And wow, those cops were in a mood to party! In the end, Brauer tied the knot and the Knox Fijis came and went without incident, while meeting some new "friends" - those crazy cops (including "Bud" from Del City). Everyone laughed at the memory, then laughed some more. G. D. FIJI PAGE 11 From the editor's desk Dear Brothers, Additionally, the undergraduate officers and House Corporation members coordinated and As we enter the countdown to Christmas and were able to purchase a new set of brushed 2023 comes to a close, there is a lot to reflect metal Greek letters to replace the old wooden on and to look forward to in 2024. From our letters on the south wall of the chapter house. members' participation on Knox's sports The letters will be installed soon and will be a teams to our winter rush, we have a lot of great update from our previous letters. exciting events involving many of our brothers in the coming months. Members of the Knox basketball team, including myself and six other Phi Gams, are This issue of the G.D. Fiji newsletter featured a excited about the team's trip to Hawaii, where recent Silver Owl winner who was elected to we will play two games before Christmas. the Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame, a Gold Owl recipient who lives in Galesburg and As we head into the rest of this year and into a Diamond Owl honoree who is celebrating 75 the winter, I encourage anyone who has alumni years of membership in Phi Gamma Delta. Our stories or updates they would like to share to chapter is extremely proud that we are able to please email them to gdgradinfo@gmail.com. award these alumni for their years of We would love to feature more alumni stories membership to our fraternity. We hope to and make that a recurring section in our continue to present these membership awards newsletters. to our alumni as a part of future Pig Dinner events. Fraternally, We also recapped events surrounding the 2023 Pig Dinner/Homecoming event on Oct. Coba 28. We have now published five newsletters Cole Andrews '26 since last April, totaling 125 pages. Gamma Deuteron Chapter Corresponding Secretary and G.D. Fiji Editor Looking into 2024, the annual Phi Gamma Delta Academy will be held Jan. 5-7 in St. P! Louis. Three brothers, Joe Krantz ('26), Joe Williams ('26) and Jeff Ripka ('26), will be Correction: The September issue of the G.D. Fiji had attending. This will be the second trip for incorrect volume and issue numbers. The September Krantz and Williams to a Phi Gamma Delta issue should have been Vol. CXVI, No. 1. The G.D. Fiji educational academy. They previously debuted in 1908 and is now in its 116th year of brought back lots of information and skills to publication. You can view more than 100 archived share and benefit our chapter. copies of our chapter newsletters at gdfiji.org.