Lambda Chi Alpha - University of Illinois

Chi Zetagram 2 A Long-standing Legacy Bob Lumsden '52 X638 Cherishes His Many Relationships from UIUC F ew people know the city of Champaign quite like Bob Lumsden '52 X638. Aer growing up in Champaign, Bob had the best of both worlds between going to college and living in his hometown while attending the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. Although Bob didn't live in the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter house, the time spent with his Chi Zeta brothers made his undergraduate days at UIUC that much better. "Don Memler '49 was the president of the chapter for a year I was there. George Deihs Jr. '50 X609, Don Plote '52 X639, Don Gordon '52 X634—the names will come back as I continue to look back," Bob said. "It was a very enjoyable time of my college experience. When I was a member, Lambda Chi had a reputation of doing very well in Spring Sing. Chi Zeta won Spring Sing my junior year. Two others and I were selected as lip movers that year to complete the required size of the group." In retrospect, Bob wishes he could've been even more involved at Chi Zeta, but little did he know at the time that his legacy at UIUC was just beginning. Bob graduated in 1953 and then went on to serve his country. In 1962, Bob returned to Champaign and he's lived there ever since. He spent 30 years working on campus, all in the Illini Union. Bob was a new hire with the Alumni Association in 1975. Part of his duties included student relations, which was a new area and led to him founding and advising the Student Alumni Association and later a spinoff organization, Student Ambassadors. "I got to work with students all those years," Bob said. "I enjoyed working with them very much." When Bob retired in 1993, he didn't really look back too much, but the same couldn't be said for many of the students he worked with. In 2015, the Student Alumni Ambassadors president gave Bob a call and wanted his help with planning the Student Alumni Association/ Student Alumni Ambassadors' 40th anniversary celebration. at led Bob to joining Facebook and reconnecting with several students that he mentored. "at worked out so nice," Bob said. "It was so interesting to drop in on people I hadn't seen for 25 to 35 years and see them in the middle of their careers with their families and so forth. at was one of the most interesting things I did in retirement was reconnecting like that." Now 89 and still residing with his wife in Champaign, Bob's long- standing legacy at UIUC is still being recognized by his alma mater. Bob was presented with the Lou Liay Spirit Award in 2020. You can connect with Bob at bslumsden@gmail.com. Help Us Feature Our Lambda Leaders C hi Zeta needs your help spotlighting brothers in future issues of the Chi Zetagram. Do you know an Illinois Lambda Chi who's making a difference in the world during the coronavirus pandemic? Are you one of them? We want to hear from you! Tell us stories about healthcare heroes, men handling crisis management, brothers who are involved with nonprofit or volunteer organizations that are community lifelines—any brothers with purpose whom we should feature in a future Chi Zeta publication. Let's shine some light on our courageous brothers. Please send submissions to egorby@penningtonco.com. ank you for staying connected with Chi Zeta. We appreciate your support and encourage you to reach out to your brothers during this time of uncertainty.

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