Phi Kappa Tau - Mississippi State University

P H I K A P PA TAU 2 Vice President Collier Rogers '20 Treasurer Mason Payne '21 Vice President of Alumni Relations Garrett Harpole '19 Secretary Jack Flower '20 Membership Orientation Officer Tanner Marlar '20 Recruitment Chairmen John Baladi '20 Ethan Rogers '21 Director of Events George Willis '20 Finding Support… Thinking back on his life, Mike Waggener '72 credits each milestone as a point of development. A specific milestone for him was during the spring of 1973 when he chose to leave Mississippi State University. "I packed my car and stopped by the fraternity house to say goodbye and that I was headed home for good," Mike shared. "I felt like I owed it to my big brother, Tony Acosta '71, to give him a heads up that I was leaving." The men sat down together, and Tony calmly told Mike he had to make his own decisions but to consider the effects of what he was doing. Tony asked, "Do you have a game plan and a goal or are you just leaving?" Ray Johnson '72 walked in and immediately knew something was up. Mike shared that he could not handle the pressure of working and going to school at the same time. Not in the same calm manner of Tony, Ray let Mike know that this was the worst decision he could ever make. "You leave now, then you will have to explain for the rest of your life that college was too much pressure, and if you can't handle this pressure, how are you going to work and handle a family?" Ray said. "You can't quit under these circumstances; you are at a milestone in your life." As a result of this heartfelt brotherly advice, Mike thought it over and finished the spring semester at MSU and then took a year off to work full time. With experience in the real world and money in his pocket, he returned to MSU and Phi Kappa Tau with the ability of working less and having a goal to work toward. On the way to completing his degree he even had the honor of serving as the fraternity president. "It is only my hope that I was able to influence another brother the way my brothers were there for me," Mike said. …and Supporting the Future Mike felt that an investment back into his roots had the best growth potential, which is why he chose to give back through Alpha Chi's campaign. "I was given a chance to turn my life into something meaningful, as were many others, so get involved by getting connected," Mike advises. Mike enjoys spending time riding bikes on Rails to Trails with his wife, Carol. He also remains connected to his brothers. "Many friends have come into my life, but I mainly connect with people from the fraternity," Mike said. "Even during the era of having no house on campus, a group stayed in contact because we were more than a house, we were a home." You can connect with Mike at oliverwaggener@gmail.com. Ray Johnson '72 sitting on the running board of his truck at the renamed Oktibbeha County Coop in 1973. Ray is the one wearing letters with no hat. Alumni gather at Alpha Chi in April 2017. From left: Chip Hardy '76, Tony Acosta '71, Ross Hamilton '72, Durward Dunn '72, Mike, Glenn Marchant '75, and David White '75. Mike and his brothers in Boone, North Carolina, in July 2017. Back row, from left: Mike, Blane Davis '74, David White '75, and Jimmy Moynihan '76. Front: Jimmy Joiner '77. The Missing Piece to His Puzzle Mike Waggener '72 Shares How Alpha Chi Fit Perfectly into His Life "A good life is built in stages as a person develops physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You never stop building; you just stop growing." CHAPTER OFFICERS CHAPTER OFFICERS

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