File GMI Volume III Number 1 April, 1994 The Delta News For The Alumni and Undergrads of Alpha Gamma Upsilon Fraternity, Delta Chapter; Alpha Gamma Fraternity; 1702 Men's Club; and the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, Alpha Gamma Chapter from General Motors Institute and GMI Engineering & Management Institute April 20th. Board Meeting News about Delta alums Did you mark your calendar last fall for I had the pleasure of talking with Shirland "SG" Eddy, '36, who the next scheduled board meeting? It will was President of the house way back when it was at 1902 be on April 20th. in the rear meeting room Cartier Street, right across Dupont from the school. SG said that of the Club Venetian at 29310 John R, he's sort of retired and working in real estate with his wife down just north of 12 Mile. This location will in Texas. Brother Eddy, no relation to Col. Eddy, turned 80 on provide the privacy and quiet the last two St. Patrick's Day. SG asked about his best friend in the house, meetings didn't, and allow us to play cards Lloyd Greenleaf, '37, whom I called at his home in Franklin, and sing (Tom Brady, '62 will be there Michigan, a few miles from mine. Lloyd is 82, says he's in fairly and we have a piano, so We've set up good health, and wants to get together to fill me in on more a buffet of chicken, pasta with meat sauce, salad, relishes, rolls, memories. butter, dessert and coffee. I've eaten here many times; the food While seemingly on a hot streak, I tried to find somebody from is GOOD! We'll have all the draft beer or wine we need for the original eleven founders, specifically, their leader, Edward $30.00 per man. This includes tax, tip, bartender, room rental Jehn. The GMI Alumni Directory had no listing for Ed, but did and $8.00 for the kitty (now empty). Buffet will be open from list a Thomas Jehn, '57, so I called him to see if he might know 6:30 to 7:30. Ed. Well, Tom is also an Alpha Gam and turned out to be Ed's Please call or FAX me if you're coming to dinner. son. Through him I wound up talking with his mom, Catherine, Club Venetian needs a count by Monday, April 17th. in Dayton. She'll be 80 this year and is doing fine. She told me Let's make this a success; bring a buddy! (How about your big Ed was a good 220/440 man in track out of Stivers High school or little brother? Your worm brothers?) in Dayton. Then she dug out some old copies of Links And make a note of the next board meeting this fall on Magazine and gave me the nicknames of the original eleven. October 12th. For future reference, we'll schedule board We promised to speak together again real soon. meetings for a Thursday in April and October. (These will all be Jack Klett, 43, who happened to be my fifth year plant stag functions unless otherwise notified. If there's interest in a advisor, related nearly a half hour of reminiscences on tape. The couples event, we can plan one. Feedback, please.) house was on the corner of West Court and Fox then. "Scurvy" told about Pearl Harbor and the start of W.W.II, along with Norris Pig Dinner house hunting they did (sans money). He gave me a lot more March 4th was the date of the 1995 Norris Pig Dinner, the 30th than I could use in a half hour talk, so it's filed away for anniversary under the Fiji name. Nearly 70 brothers turned out inclusion in a future house history (now in the works). and had a great time. Your editor was asked to give the keynote Dick Veazey, '48 is retired in Arizona and says he's doing address, which was a history of the house from its founding in well. He was chapter advisor for many years and became our 1932 until the initiation into Phi Gamma Delta in 1964. Most of it first Purple Legionnaire in 1964 at the charter initiation into appears below starting on page 2. Corrections are welcomed. PGD. Frank Fleck, '49 reports that he got a copy of the "rag" from his son-in-law, Glen Santelues, and is glad to be back in touch Last chance to register with us guys. Frank is retired from GM, living in Grand Blanc If your name isn't listed below, this is your last issue, unless and playing golf, working with computers and RC model aircraft. you return the survey on page 4. It'l only take a minute. Jack Goodrich, '59 says business is boomin'. He's expanded Ableson 57 Corbit 66 Kadolph 84 Schmidt the resistance welding product line of his business, Cellar Adams 70 Cousineau 66 Kline 73 Schneider 68 Services, Inc., via a number of inventions to help welding Andrade 87 Delmastro 69 Krentz 87 Schomer 65 robots run better. He is also serving his 3rd term on the Arndt 71 Draper 69 Kyne 73 Tate 90 executive board of AWS (American Welding Society). Jack says Bailey 88 Fleck 49 Lovelace 65 Tavarozzi 64 his 1994 sales rose 100% over '93. Quote: "Tell 'em I spent Baker 66 Fluegge 64 MacKool 71 Thelen 93 most of my money on beer and women; the rest I just wasted!" Banyai 62 Gabriel 73 Marra 91 Tisch 95 Good show, Jack. Bergemann 65 Gates 51 Meek 94 Twork 91 While cooling my heels in the lobby at GM Truck in Pontiac Berwick 88 Gathen 65 Mills 85 Vatalaro 89 recently, I paged through their divisional newsletter "What's Blain 88 Goodrich 59 Morgan 87 Werenski 61 New," and found an article by pledge brother, Fred (Bud) Cook, Brady 62 Gray 63 Munger 73 White 64 '65, who had just been named General Sales Manager of GMC Breitenbach 66 Hall 69 Ray 70 Wong 93 Truck (now North American Truck Group). Way to go, Bud! Brodbeck 89 Haun 93 Robinson 90 Yates 66 Tom Davis, '70 was recently appointed VP Engineering at GM Brooks 72 Heutel 66 Ronayne 69 Zibell 66 North American Truck Group. Brother Davis had served as VP Brown 58 Hresko 80 Rowley 68 of the Lansing Automotive Div. until the move. Congrats, Tom! Cook 65 Jurca 62 Rysenga 84 PLEASE! Ken MacKool, '71 is living in Grosse Pointe Park where he The House is also the same entity, whether its name was runs MacKool & Assoc. Welcome to the home office club, Ken. Alpha Gamma Upsilon (most schools call it oopsilon, but I was Joe Andrane, '87 was recently assigned Supt/Manufacturing firmly corrected the first time I pronounced it that way), or its Engrg in D/H Assy at Cadillac. Kudos! Wife Arlene was due with later names: Alpha Gamma Fraternity, 1702 Men's Club, or 2nd child on 11-1-94. Let us know. 1st. son, Jason is now 3. Alpha Gamma Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. The point is it's an Kurt "Jabba" Vatalaro, '89 was attending Oakland U. at last institution; a really close family of brothers. report, studying for his MBA and working at Ford in Reliability. In going over documents I got from the house, the school and Harry Brodbeck, '89 is also working on his MBA at EMU. the national, there are discrepancies. There wasn't enough time Harry's at Cincinnati Milacron and lives at Pleasant Lake, MI. to research and establish all the facts, but I've combined what Good hearing from you all! If anybody out there has info which appears to be the critical information to arrive at this history. I've would be suitable in this department, please drop me a line, changed the details where I found them to be wrong. Here goes: whether it's about you or another brother, either AGU or PGD. A spring track meet in 1931 is where eleven students, lead by And thanks to the guys above for their help. Edward Jehn, were competing against DIT (Detroit Institute of Technology). During the day they met and were impressed by a House Happenings group of men belonging to the two year old Gamma Chapter of Alpha Gamma Upsilon Fraternity (its third chapter). The active brothers need help for rush. The membership is Within a year, by January 4, 1932, Jehn's room at 211 Cartier down to only about 20 guys in both sections combined. The Street was the site of meetings with the National Board of annual IIOC golf tournament is scheduled and a canoe trip is Directors and its president, Clayton M. "Sparky" Force (known planned for summer. If you'd like to participate in these events as Mr. Alpha Gam). Less than two weeks later, on January or help in other ways, contact them or me. Maybe we could have 16th., the Delta Chapter was installed at GMI by a special a joint canoe trip. They'll be mailing us the particulars soon. meeting of the Supreme Council, AGU. (Addresses on Cartier have 4 digits.) News Items Needed The first home occupied by Delta Chapter in May, 1932 was located at 1321 Glenwood, which is now a parking lot for one of The newsletter editor needs some help. News about yourself, the GM plants down on Chevrolet. These guys were apparently other brothers, or even a tale of something that happened in "the not satisfied with the Glenwood site and in November, 1932 they good old days" would sure be appreciated. Possible topics: Hell moved to 1902 Cartier, staying for about five years. The next Week, pledging, how you got your nickname, house parties, all- move, in 1937, was to 1526 West Court, on the corner of Fox. niters, or just a fond memory. Are you a Cardinal? Certainly, sir! This house, like the other two, was leased. It still stands. The meeting minutes of AGU kept back then reveal the A history: Delta Chapter, AGU growing pains all new organizations experience. Expenses were (From the March, 1995 Norris Pig Dinner address by Gary Gathen, '65) number one on the list of old business each week, it seems, I'm glad to be an Alpha Gam and I'm glad to be a Fiji. And I'm from house bills of $24 per month and party contributions of fifty lucky to have been one of the 79 guys who crossed that bridge. cents per man to the problem of compensating a physician for I was telling Patty, my wife, last Sunday, while working on the his cost of installing new flooring in the basement of the house, research for tonight, "I'm really feeling my age today. It's my where he maintained his office, to the perpetual problem of the birthday, so I know I'm 54. (I try to tell myself I'm middle aged, Candy Drawer cash being out of balance (curses!). This was but even Rose Kennedy's middle age was 52!) And on top of also known as the Cigarette Drawer at times and contained that, I was just now reading a history of the house when I found cigars, candy, cigarettes, razor blades and similar items. There an error -- not because of my research, but because I was there! was always a pile of IOU's which never matched the shortfall. It Then it occurred to me that when we were in the house, the finally became a sort of store with a brother acting as clerk. It original founders, who we thought were ancient, were only about was a cause for comment whenever it was found to be in 54 years old back then! That really made me feel strange. I'll get balance. The membership in 1937 was 15 or so, and these men into that error in a few minutes. had it good with a cook and a MAID! The maid, Laura Whenever I meet brothers as a result of my little rag of a Turnipseed, cleaned, made beds, even did windows. What are newsletter, the Delta News, they ask me what it was like back in pledges for, anyway? the old days. That is, the AGU days; the changeover, and the I had the unique experience the other day of talking with early years in PGD. Shirland "SG" Eddy '36, president of the house that year. SG I can't get into too much detail for lack of time, but you should lives in Texas now, and seemed really happy to help me out. We get a rough idea of how things developed from our founding in agreed to get in touch again soon so we can talk about the 1932 until we became Fiji, during my 5th year in 1964. If you house in more detail. already know some of the facts from your pledgeship, bear with I also looked for Edward Jehn in the GMI Alumni Directory, me and try to stay awake, because there will be an essay test but he wasn't listed. There was a Thomas Jehn '57, so I called before the house party starts tonight. If you flunk it no beer! him, hoping he might know who Edward was. It turns out he is Ed's son. Sadly, Ed passed away in 1977 of a heart attack. Tom The early years - 1930s is also an Alpha Gam. He put me in touch with his mom, One of the funniest things I came across in the several Catherine, and we had a nice chat. As a matter of fact, I could histories of GMI that I read, concerned the social activities. In hardly get her off the phone! She told me the names of the other the earlier days it was reported that they held engineers' balls ten charter members, some of whom are still alive, she thinks. once a year. They seemed to take great pride in it, and usually She got out some old Links magazines and gave me their had several hundred turn out. (This was not actually sanctioned nicknames, and so on. Ed's nickname was Engine, as in Ed- when we were in school, and we called it something else.) Jehn. The nicknames were clever plays on words then. The House, as you know it or knew it, was and still is the I didn't make these contacts until just this week, so I need to organization of GMI men who had a common ideal. We all tend get more information from them in the near future. to think of The House in terms of the way it was when we were a part of it, but the fact is, sure, it's the physical real estate of five World War II years and after - 1940s locations in Flint, Michigan, but it is, more importantly, the spirit To put things in a frame of reference, our class of '65 was just of the men who lived there together sharing the good and bad. being born in 1941 & 42! Jack Klett, '43 was an Alpha Gam whom I first met when he In the May '63 A Section, during the traditional run from the became plant advisor for my 5th year project. When I began old house, a pledge fainted right on the front steps of the school. preparing for tonight's talk, I called Jack, who is now retired to A security guard saw it and we wound up on social probation. Aiken, South Carolina. He was kind enough to speak into a tape During that semester of pro we jokingly called ourselves the recorder and reminisce about the years from 1939 to 43. He 1702 Men's Club. I haven't found another mention of that name, says that in 1942 they were living on Court St. at the corner of and don't remember any, either. When we came back from Fox, across from a small park and looking for a new house. The probation we had been released from the national, so we main problem was that they had no money (when was the last needed a new name, which had to be Greek letters. We thought time the house had that as a concern?). They looked, though, it would be really convenient to just drop the Upsilon -- so we and found a nice one in another nice part of town, but the place took one letter off the front of the house and made a few other was $15,000! They also found one with a three car garage and a minor changes. We just became Alpha Gamma Fraternity, full length bowling alley in the basement. That one was over which lasted for only about a year or so before we became PGD near the GMI President's house (Major Sobey, at the time). The in 1964. price of this beauty was $25,000, so they didn't buy it either. Jack remembered December 7, 1941 when the US went to The decade of changes - 1960s war with Japan. The brothers were playing football in the park I like to tell this story as if it actually happened. My dad was in across the street when the news came. Within a short time Flint late one night and decided to stop by the house to say many of them were in the service. A similar thing happened to hello, but wasn't sure if he was at the right place. The front door us in the 1960s, when we all faced going to Vietnam as soon as was locked, so he pounded until someone stuck his head out of we graduated. I lucked out, though, because the height limit at an upstairs window. "Does Gary Gathen live here?", he asked. that time was six feet six, and I had a comfortable two-inch And the response was, "Yeah, just leave him on the steps; I'll "excess vertical endowment dimension", which disqualified me. send a pledge down to drag his ass inside!" (After all, the foxholes were only six feet deep!) The living room addition was built in 1963, and our class gift Jack was House Manager; he said he was too stupid and took to the house was the furniture and decorations (the fountain). the job. Didn't know any better and no one else would take it. I remember we won the school athletic trophy 2 of our 4 years There were only two cars in the house; they walked to school, against Phi Tau Alpha (now SAE) after they had won every and came home for lunch, about the same distance as now. single trophy from the first -- over 30 years in a row. They won it The second world war caused a lot of change in the house, as in '61 & '64; we won in '62 & '63. We each were second place it did at GMI, to GM itself, and to the country. Membership was finishers the two years we didn't win. The other nine houses hard hit because so many students went to war. finished well behind us. (You know you're deep athletically when your piano player's nickname is "Jock"!) Growing years - 1950s Our scholarship was usually just a little above the all men's Meeting minutes are scarce for this whole decade. I found the average. We were always among the top houses in per capita proposal for the new house project, and know some of the main beer consumption, though! Community Service was one of our players, especially Eric Mittelstadt, '57, house president, (now strong suits right from the beginning; we had the Christmas President of Fanuc Robotics), and Dick Veazey, '48 who were party, Easter egg hunt, and so on. both very active in the financial management of AGU. Dick was We dealt with Bill Zerman to become PGD -- the first time a our chapter advisor when we became Fijis and was our first chapter was installed without regular colonization. I can't Purple Legionnaire under Phi Gamma Delta. remember what our chapter Greek letters were supposed to be, The 1953 meeting minutes talk about looking for a site to but I asked Bill if we could be Alpha Gamma Chapter, and we purchase and build a new house. The membership was about got it changed at the last minute. We were initiated in two 95 men & pledges. groups, morning & afternoon. There were 74 undergrads, plus No minutes are available from 1955 thru 57, a critical time Dick Veazey, our alumni advisor, and four faculty advisors who concerning the new house. We pick up again from 1958 & 59, had been with us in AGU. Eight of us went to the Ekklesia in when they did new house planning, building, and moving in. French Lick, Indiana where we were installed as a chapter of The error I mentioned earlier is in the Phi Gam pledge PGD. Also, Larry Deck was in our BD Section pledge class; a manual, which says, "The popular story is that the charter of wonderful young man who died of cancer while still a freshman, Delta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Upsilon was taken away in I believe. 1958. To the best of our records this is true, officially and legally Other incidents the chapter maintained its identity with AGU, however called itself the 1702 Men's Club. In the constitution there was no My downstairs room, the guest room, was eavesdropping heaven! Located just outside the membership room, I could put provision for reclaiming chapter property. However, legally we could no longer use the name Alpha Gamma Upsilon. Sometime my ear to the grille in the door and hear what plans were being made for us pledges by the actives. The only problem was that I in that four years, the house corporation changed to AGU, Inc., couldn't tell anyone until the next day, and had to spend several and the chapter changed to Alpha Gamma Fraternity, Inc." sleepless nights in anticipation of a lineup or whatever. The That's wrong, because we were pledges in 1961 when Delta other eavesdropping occurred when we had house parties. The Chapter hosted the national convention of AGU in Flint. What heat duct in the ladies' john also served my bathroom, so we actually happened was that in '57, according to Tom Jehn, they could listen to what the girls had to say about their dates while got into trouble with the doctor behind the house on Welch powdering their noses. This was a major advantage. Blvd., who caused trouble at school by reporting them every Lake St. Clair, where my folks lived, was the scene of the time they had a little drunken brawl. How intolerant! One version mystery trip for the worm class one year. The family Sea Skiff says that they wound up getting kicked out of there by the was used to transport eight blindfolded 18-year olds to Harsen's landlord just before moving to 1702 Flushing. Another story Island, where they were dropped off. Unknown to us, we had says they owned the Welch house. This was just before my been observed by motorists on our drive down I-75, so when we time, so I'm not sure. returned to the marina, we were arrested for murder! Fortunately At the time, Delta Chapter paid more national dues than the the father of one of the brothers, a Lieutenant on the Detroit PD, other chapters combined. We wanted out so we broke away, but had attended the Police Academy with the Sergeant in charge it may have been precipitated by the Welch problems too. that night, and we were released with a stern lecture. Jerry Gray, '62 had a hearse, and several of us used it to escort our moms barhopping in Flint one Mother's Weekend. Membership Survey Mine loved waving to startled drivers out the back window! She still talks of that night as one of her most memorable, as I do. Name Class 19 What "The House" means to me I had a sister, but no brother. I had wanted an older brother Degree Nickname Section (and a younger one too). Now I have more than anyone could want. Sometimes more than anyone could stand. And they Major range in age from 18 to almost 90. This was the most important Street reason I wanted to go Greek. Before coming to GMI, I attended the University of Michigan for two years in pre-med. While there City ST ZIP I pledged, but did not go active in Delta Chi. And for coincidence - right straight across the street was the Fiji house! I enjoyed Phone Wife the fraternalism and wanted to join a top house when I came to Flint. I liked the house parties, senior meetings at BJ's, beer Employer bouts at Lorinden's and skin flicks at Woody's, which were our versions of the KA (Knight's Arms). Our picnics and canoe trips Title were great too. We especially liked 4-section weekends, when we all got together, A, B, C & D sections. It was great because Street we had many more of them then. A & B were 4-week sections, while C & D were 8 weeks, since they had out of state co-ops. In City ST ZIP '62 they combined C section with A and D with B, and put everybody on 6-weeks. Phone FAX The house molded us just as much in the 60s as it did in the 30s or does now in the 90s. I've always appreciated what we Hobbies each got from having been through pledgeship, especially Hell Return to: Gary Gathen Week, and the years of being a part of this fraternity, right up to 21 Elm Park Blvd., Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069 now, as an alum. I hope the chapter house continues forever, call: (810) 543-3366 Home or (810) 543-5410 FAX and that it will mean as much to you in 2025, 30 years from now This rag written, designed, laid out, typeset, edited & published by G Corp. as it does to me today. under the supervision of Watusi, the Wacky, Weird Wordsmith. Direct all blame and lawsuits to him alone Perge! newsv3n1.doc ORKER Old-Glory OldGlory The Delta News APRIL 1995 Alpha Gamma Upsilon / Phi Gamma Delta USA G USA G For U.S.addresses only For IS.addresses only 21 Elm Park Boulevard Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069 To: Bill Martin Phi Gamma Delta PO Box 4599 Lexington, KY 40544-4599