Pi Kappa Alpha - Purdue University

Page 3 PI KAPPA ALPHA A s we prepare for Beta Phi's centennial in 2022, it's important that we celebrate our brotherhood's history and do our part to help the Chapter flourish in its second century at Purdue. Beta Phi Foundation Historian and Secretary Rex Martin '72 understands that every brother has played a big role in Beta Phi's success over the past 99 years and is committed to documenting it for all to see. Rex has been hard at work with collecting Beta Phi's past composites that are missing and is calling upon all brothers to help with the project. "It is imperative that we maintain a record of our brothers, so that those who came before us are never forgotten," Rex said. "So far you, our alumni, have done a great job contributing your composites. Yet we still have some gaps to fill to complete the project. The biggest gap is from 1985- 1986 through 1995-1996. If you have any of these years, please contact me. If you don't want to give up your original, we can arrange to make a copy." Rex's passion for PIKE has been evident since the day he joined Beta Phi. He's enjoyed the opportunity to build upon his Beta Phi experience while serving on the Beta Phi Foundation board for the past 17 years. When Rex took on the role of Foundation secretary in 2010, Rich Russell '58, who was the president at the time, realized how copious and detailed his minutes of each meeting were. Rich eventually asked Rex to also serve as the Foundation's historian and he's been a natural fit in both roles. The lifelong friends that Beta Phi has given Rex have been a constant reminder to him of how important it is to build upon PIKE's tradition-rich legacy at Purdue. Rex has remained in close contact with the brothers from his era and is thankful for the traditions that have strengthened their bonds over the years. He is proud to be part of a group comprised of Beta Phi brothers, their spouses, and even their children that has met up for New Year's Eve every year since 1975. "There are more than 40 individuals in the group, but there's a core group of about 10 to 15 that participates most every year," Rex said. "To add fun and competition, we began staging an air guitar contest in 1980 with the winner taking home a traveling trophy to hang with honor on their wall. Each year during the holiday season, we look forward to joining together again to celebrate our friendship and love of life." With the passing in recent years of several members of the New Year's group, we are reminded of how important it is to remember those who enter Chapter Eternal. The composite project is yet another way that Rex hopes to honor those brothers no longer with us so that their impact at Beta Phi will never be forgotten. "I would really like to complete this project by the time of our 100th anniversary in 2022," Rex said. "I hope that those from other eras and especially ones who have recently graduated remain in close contact with their brothers. A friendship that begins as a PIKE brother can last a lifetime with just a little effort and a lot of love." If you have one of the missing composites listed to the right, or would like to reconnect with Rex, you can reach him at rexmartinpiano@gmail.com, (317) 445-5077, or 8912 Keevers Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46234. Preserving PIKE's History Rex Martin '72 Calls Upon Beta Phi Brothers to Help with Composite Collection Project Help Us Find These Beta Phi Composites All years prior to 1950 1950 1951 1952 1955 1957 1959 1961 1968 1972-1973 1985-1986 1986-1987 1987-1988 1988-1989 1989-1990 1990-1991 1991-1992 1992-1993 1993-1994 1994-1995 1995-1996 1997-1998 1998-1999 2000-2001 2003-2004 2007-2008 Jayden Alton | Oceanside, Calif. Jackson Burkholder | Zionsville, Ind. Tejas Chandrasekhar | Raleigh, N.C. Brennan Chopp* | Carmel, Ind. (Father) Teagan Compton | Carmel, Ind. Thomas Comte* | Newnan, Ga. (Father, Matthew Comte, Upsilon '98; Uncle, Kevin Smallhorn, Epsilon Nu '96) Mark Fillar* | Naperville, Ill. (Brother, Paul Fillar, Delta Xi '19) Fulton Greiner | Valparaiso, Ind. Christian Gutwein | West Lafayette, Ind. Jack Harper* | Seattle, Wash. (Father, Dan Harper, Iota Mu '90) Avery Hollinden | Jasper, Ind. Jared Hughes | Brownsburg, Ind. Blake Iftiger | Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Erik Jacobson | Chicago, Ill. Martin Kim | Derby, England Vineel Kothuri | St. Louis, Mo. Jason Mair | Jasper, Ind. Jack May | Warsaw, Ind. Mitchell Oh | Ames, Iowa Tommy Park | Orange County, Calif. Amit Sundaram | Austin, Texas Nick Super | Plainfield, Ill. Reed Tillinghast | Weston, Fla. Kamron Tower | Flanagan, Ill. Carlos Velasquez | Lafayette, Ind. Grant Zore | Fishers, Ind. *Legacy; relation in parentheses WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS Rex Martin '72 holds up Beta Phi's 1956 composite photo. Chapter eternal Charles Edward Eastwood III '75 entered Chapter Eternal on November 12, 2020. He moved to San Diego, Calif., in 1977 and worked for Anthony Industries, where he designed and implemented electrical, cable, and wire assemblies. He then started his own business, EastElect, as an electrical engineer. But, perhaps he was best known as a consummate musician, singer, and guitarist extraordinaire. While a student, he performed in the group Bandana. More recently, he was playing with the San Diego group The Tone Junkies and was working on a solo recording project. Ed is survived by his partner, Patti Smith-Martin, daughter, and granddaughter.

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