Phi Gamma Delta - University of Kansas

FIJI Jayhawker 2 Dean Smith '53 to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom F IJI graduate and former KU basketball star Dean Smith '53 will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama later this year. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian award. The White House will announce a date for the medals to be awarded in Washington. Dean was a member of the national championship team in 1952, under Coach Forrest "Phog" Allen. Dean later served as an assistant coach with Allen in 195354 before taking the head coach position at North Carolina from 1961 to 1997. Dean led North Carolina to two national championships and was the winningest coach in college basketball at the time of his retirement. While coaching, 96% of his athletes graduated from college. Additionally throughout his career, Dean was a dedicated civil rights advocate. Congratulations to Brother Smith on the distinguished award! Bursting at the Seams Full Chapter House Has Undergraduates Full of Pride A nother successful semester at Pi Deuteron is in the books. Our spring 2013 Chapter G.P.A. was 3.05, above the all-fraternity average and our fifth straight semester above a 3.0. It has been a busy start to the semester with serenades, a successful field secretary visit, social events, and intramurals. HOUSE AT CAPACITY We have a full house of 68 men for the first time since I have been in college and another eight brothers living out of the house. Everyone is excited to be back on campus for another great year. Last year's recruitment chairmen, Chris Bohannon '15 and Reid Augustine '15, worked extremely hard to bring in our biggest pledge class in years consisting of 32 men, including four sophomore pledges. The pledge class of 2013 is diverse, representing 11 states and 25 high schools. The pledges worked hard on house improvement projects with the help and generosity of Brother Monte Soukup '88. We appreciate and value your recruitment recommendations. Please keep sending your recommendations to Recruitment Chairmen Jeff DeGolia '15 and Adam Smith '15 at KUFijiRecruitment@gmail.com. FIJIS ARE CAMPUS LEADERS We continue to make involvement with Pi Deuteron and campus involvement a priority. We have members serving on the Rock Chalk Revue executive and advisory boards, Board of Class officers, Greek Ambassadors and Student Senate, among other organizations. The re-established Board of Chapter Advisors is beginning to work closely with the current Chapter officers to continue the upward trend in important areas such as scholarship, service, and social events. PHILANTHROPY GOALS The FIJI Run for Leukemia will be taking place in late November and we are making a push to out-fundraise the Chi Deuteron brothers at Kansas State. If you wish to make a donation, feel free to contact me through my contact information below. We will also be adding a spring semester philanthropy for the first time in years that will support the USO, which is partnered with our national Fraternity. Many of the goals set by our elected officers have been achieved through the help of the graduate membership. As always we appreciate graduate involvement in the Chapter and hope to see you at Pi Deuteron in the near future. Fraternally, Steven Melton '14 Chapter President (785) 760-2471 meltonstvn@gmail.com Perge! SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS J Doug Wheat '72 Inspired by Past Alumni oining a fraternity became a great way to make a large school smaller for small town Kansan Doug Wheat '72. "I knew few students at KU when I first arrived. The FIJIs made me very welcome, and I quickly formed close friendships," Doug said. He remained active with the Chapter while receiving his bachelor of science in business administration and juris doctor from the law school. Doug was constantly inspired by the success of FIJI alumni, making him certain that he would be following in their footsteps. "I always felt that there was no limit on my future success. Looking at those who preceded me and their success reinforced that conviction," Doug said. Today Doug is the owner of a private equity firm that buys and sells businesses. After practicing corporate/securities law for ten years, Doug was recruited by a New York investment firm to leave the practice and become an investment banker. He helped form their private equity business and has been in that field since. Thinking back on his undergraduate years, Doug says he wouldn't change a thing. He said, "I think it is best that you don't know what the future holds. It could lead you to believe it's too hard. If you take it one day at a time, you can just keep moving forward." He stops by the Chapter House at least once a year and encourages other alumni to do the same. "Try and reconnect. It's worth it," Doug said. While his residence in Texas makes it difficult to stay very active, he stays in touch with a number of his Pi Dueteron brothers. Doug and his wife, Laura, have four children: Adam, Cassie, Kyler, and Tanner. Doug said he encourages his sons to consider the Fraternity but won't push them to join. Doug and Laura have shared their success by supporting the causes they care about, including the Wheat Community Room at the Cancer Support Community–North Texas, the Douglas D. and Laura L. Wheat Law Library at the University of Kansas, and the Wheat Family Children's Area at the Gladney Center for Adoption. Doug never misses a KU basketball game on TV and attends all the Final Four games if KU is playing. He also enjoys golf and hiking, which he gets to enjoy at his second home in the California mountains, offering an escape from the heat of the Texas summers. Contact Doug at dwheat@southlakeequity.com.

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