Sigma Pi - Missouri University of Science & Technology

spring 2014 the crossing A. i. SP S i g m a P i • a l P h a i o t a C h a P t e r The Crossing Building association Plans for renovations Support the Chapter with Your time, talent, and reSourCeS g reetings, brothers. Planning is underway to improve our properties. Your generous donations since the start of our annual campaign have allowed us to complete survey work of the properties. Our framework planning has begun by issuing requests for proposal from architectural firms to provide master planning of the properties, concepts for improving the curb appeal of the properties, and replacing/ integrating the 11th Street Cathouse into our properties. Included in this program is increasing the capacity of the properties to a 75-man house, a common area for activities between the 11th and 12th Street properties, and providing additional paved parking. As we embark on this investment in our properties, we are mindful of our financial position. While we invest in our improvements, we must also retire our debt from the 2000 and 2002 renovations. Our financial position is included in this issue and we ask alumni to help us accelerate the elimination of this debt. The sooner this is accomplished, the sooner we can invest in substantial improvements to our properties. Please reach out with comments and suggestions. The biographical updates are very popular and help us stay in touch with each other, find lost alumni, put alumni in touch with other alumni, and announce alumni news. By doing so, you are helping to fulfill the mission of The Crossing! Fraternally, Kurt W. Steinmann '97 Alpha Iota Building Association President (636) 821-1184 ksteinmann@hbdgc.com alumnuS helped purChaSe FirSt FraternitY houSe K enneth Wilhelms '46 came to the Missouri University of Science and Technology during World War II. Studying engineering, he made close friends with Sigma Pi members in his classes. They invited him to visit the fraternity, and he quickly decided to pledge. When Kenneth joined the fraternity it was a small group of men who were renting a house from the university behind Wilson Library. When the members were presented with the opportunity to purchase a permanent residence for the fraternity, they jumped at the chance. They purchased the house at 206 E. 12th Street. "We were very proud of the house and to promote Sigma Pi at the university." Looking back now at 90 years old, Kenneth is still proud to see the legacy he helped build grow and flourish. "The fact that we had the opportunity to move and improve what we had gave us all a deep sense of pride. It was important to establish a foundation for the chapter to grow and create a legacy of home ownership at the university. We helped prepare the fraternity for the post-war expansion of the university and lay the groundwork for Sigma Pi to become what it is today." He took the lessons he learned as a member of the Alpha Iota Chapter and carried them throughout his life. "Living in a place like that gives you responsibilities you've never had before: learning to maintain a house and how to take care of each other. You learn how to respect other people, and it builds a sense of camaraderie that has held strong." His best memory from the house is all the close friendships that were established between the members. Today, some of member's fondest memories come from St. Pat's celebrations; however, when Kenneth attended the university it was in the latter days of WWII. "It was rather simple. We just had a dance. There was no parade or any of the other events that happen today." Kenneth retired in 1987 from Williams Crusher Company. He and his wife, Betty, live in a retirement community in Ballwin, Missouri, and have two grown children. In his retirement he enjoys reading and traveling. "I take life pretty easy, and it is a peaceful life." E-mail: beken407@yahoo.com

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