Phi Kappa Psi - University of Texas

ALPHA AVALANCHE | TEXAS ALPHA | PHI KAPPA PSI | | FALL EDITION 2019 STRIVING FOR THE TOP FORMER CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN KELLY FISH '77 CONTINUES TO SUPPORT PHI PSI As chairman of the Texas Alpha to the Top campaign, Kelly E. Fish '77 had lofty goals for Texas Alpha and its alumni. "I remember lamenting as an undergraduate that the top chapters on campus had help from their alumni, while we received nothing," he said. "As an alumnus, I wanted to provide that help." The campaign, of course, was a massive success, raising $7.6 million for the new chapter house. "We now have the best house on campus, and it is testimony to the strength of our alumni." In addition to the surge in alumni support, Kelly found it a pleasant surprise to make so many new friends with alumni brothers during the campaign. "Whether it was at tailgates, Founders Day, golf outings or sporting events, I had fun hanging with my fraternity brothers." He retired from the Texas Alpha House Board once the campaign concluded, and after taking time to recharge, Kelly is honored to serve the chapter as president of the Texas Alpha Educational Foundation (TAEF). How Alumni Can Continue Their Support Under Kelly's leadership, the TAEF will be the fundraising arm of Texas Alpha, providing a tax-advantaged conduit to support the chapter. "TAEF will now focus on the 20/20 annual campaign, which will help restore the chapter as the best fraternity on the UT campus. This campaign is different because we are looking for smaller annual amounts, and all brothers can participate," Kelly explained. "The annual campaign is the perfect vehicle to return Texas Alpha to top status." He added, "Mark Mayer '90 did an outstanding job as TAEF president and we all owe him a debt of gratitude." A True Brotherhood In addition to achieving premier fraternity status, Kelly hopes Texas Alpha remains a meaningful, lifelong experience for its brothers. "Imagine many alumni returning during football season for tailgating and fellowship at the chapter house; Founders Day becoming a large celebratory weekend of brotherhood with recognition of our outstanding brothers." The active chapter has already flourished thanks to current alumni support, and Kelly believes it will only improve. "They have eliminated hazing, they have done everything we asked of them, and they have grown the chapter to 164 members. They know that we are their brothers and want them to succeed." To those alumni who may have lost touch or simply not visited recently, Kelly highly encourages attending a tailgate or the next Founders Day weekend. "Don't make it conditional on others from your era attending; just show up and you'll meet some great brothers. I have made many close friends with brothers I never went to school with – after all, we're all Phi Psis." Kelly and his wife, Kathy, are empty nesters living in Memphis, Tenn. Since finishing the campaign, Kelly enrolled in night nursing school and will sit for his RN in March. After that, he and Kathy plan to build a medical clinic in Layaye, Haiti, where they have worked as health care volunteers for the past 15 years. If you would like to connect with Kelly about the chapter or the 20/20 campaign, he can be reached at kfish@astate.edu. THANK YOU, 20/20 VISION DONORS Founders Society ($7,500-$19,999) Robert Johnson '64 Spencer McGowan '83 A. Scott Noble '81 Amici Society ($3,000-$7,499) R. Evan Cox '07 Edward A. Figueredo '83 Bennett J. Roberts III '77 Hugh B. Ruckman III '64 Legacy Society ($1,500-$2,999) Duane Campbell '78 Kelly E. Fish '77 Timothy M. Freeman '86 William E. Joor III '58 Andrew Schumacher '94 J. Spencer Stewart '91 Creed Society ($1,000-$1,499) James A. Bartlett '59 Brian Crow '90 Bradley S. Fisher '90 Jack T. Ivey '85 Aaron Lyons '03 Jason A. Martin '01 Lance Speck '94 Thomas Pennington '80 Longview Society ($750-$999) Darrell R. Spaulding '90 Gentleman's Society ($500-$749) Ken Francis '65 Robert M. Gray '76 Mark A. Mayer '90 James H. McGuire '54 Bryan Muecke '75 Douglas Putney '80 Tower Society (Up to $499) Neil Bowie Jr. '83 L. J. Calley '66 Billy W. Doornbos '66 James Futterknecht Jr. '67 Michael P. Henry, M.D. '03 Parth V. Kalaria '14 Henry A. Kelly '63 Doren C. Martin '76 John B. Meadows Sr. '67 Lamar Sellers '03 Alden B. Smith '56 Forrest Smith '01 Brian Specht '85 John C. Steinberger '51 Gary W. White '69 Glenn Wilkerson '61 "We now have the best house on campus, and it is testimony to the strength of our alumni. "

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