Phi Gamma Delta - University of Texas

The Longhorn Fiji–The University of Texas at Austin Established 1883 TEXAS FIJI H Spring 2022 H ow honored we are to have Dr. Charles "Chuck" Fraser '76 as our speaker for this year's Pig Dinner on April 30! Raised in Midland, Chuck is a Texas Fiji and a member of UT's varsity tennis team. He currently serves as the medical director and surgeon of the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease at Dell Children's Medical Center. Dr. Fraser was always a rising star in the medical profession. In 2002, his team developed the first pediatric lung-transplant program, which grew to become the largest in the nation; in 2005, he performed the first successful pediatric heart/lung transplant in the Southwest; by 2011, he was the surgeon-in-chief of Texas Children's Hospital. He has saved countless lives! In 2018, Dr. Fraser was recruited to the University of Texas to develop an integrated center focused on pediatric and congenital cardiac care. He has published over 300 journal articles, chapters, and textbooks in medical literature and has performed over 18,000 congenital cardiac repair surgeries in children. This is a Pig Dinner you won't want to miss. Thank you, Chuck! Fiji Presses On Much to Be Thankful for in 2022 O n behalf of the Board of Chapter Advisors, I'm pleased to report that the state of our Chapter is strong. As you can imagine, with a (mostly) COVID-free springtime in Austin, spirits are positive, and things are happening! READY FOR DINNER? Save the date for the 2022 Texas Fiji Pig Dinner on Saturday, April 30. The Pig Dinner is the longest continually running, Chapter-based Graduate event in the world of fraternities and sororities. It serves to welcome graduate brothers back to their undergraduate Chapters. I will serve as your emcee, and Dr. Charles Fraser '76 will be the speaker. Charles is an international rock star doctor, and we couldn't be more excited to hear from him! IN MEMORY OF JAKE In our ongoing efforts to develop a culture of community service at Tau Deuteron—and to instill brotherhood with new pledges and the Chapter at large—Texas Fiji will host a campus-wide philanthropy concert this fall, September 9th (the Friday night before the Alabama game!) in memory of beloved Fiji and UT football player Jake Ehlinger '19 —all proceeds will go to the Jake Ehlinger Memorial Scholarship Fund. We will be reaching out to alumni to help underwrite what promises to be a major inspirational event. PRESERVING OUR HOME The Purple Owl House Corporation has retained an architect for the upcoming—and much needed—renovation for Buen Retiro. As the house is a Texas Historic Landmark, it is subject to approval by both the Austin Historic Commission and the Texas Historic Commission. We are trying to secure state tax credits to help cover the renovation expenses in addition to launching a fundraising campaign to preserve this treasure for future generations of Fijis. THANK YOU, BROTHERS I'm so grateful for the BCA partners who have served Fiji over the past couple of years, especially: Mark Winter '79, Gene Shepherd '78, Bryan Campbell '78, DeWitt '76 and Scott Waltmon '83, and Bob Butchofsky '80. Special thanks go to Paul Hains '83, our section chief; Ben Fortson '16, our Purple Legionnaire; and Gary McClure '76 with our house corporation. Please let me know if you'd like to be part of this stellar group! After all these years … still glad to be one! GTBO, Rev. Stephen Kinney, Ph.D '74 Head of the BCA swk.kinney@gmail.com Honoring Chuck Fraser '76

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