Beta Theta Pi - Miami University

Alpha Slants of BETA THETA PI PAGE 3 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS Beta Celebrates 175 Years Following tradition at all milestone conventions, attendees gathered around the Beta Campanile to celebrate Beta's birthday on August 8. Joined by several Alpha Chapter members on stage the Fraternity leadership presented Miami University with a commemorative plaque to hang on the Beta Campanile for generations to come. And with that, the traditional Parade of Chapters began. Led by three undergraduate flag bearers, brothers from more than 160 chapters marched to Millett Hall for the initiation of eight young neophytes seeking the Beta stars. Alpha Chapter Reunion and Q&A Session Over 80 Alpha alumni and guests returned to Oxford to celebrate Beta's birthday and reunite with other Alpha brothers. During the reunion dinner, Ron Helman '55, received the distinguished Shepardson Award (see below for complete details) and Tom Fey '68, was honored for his long years of service to the house company and chapter. Zac Haines '05, also reminded us of Alpha's distinguished 175- year history in an inspiring short narrative. Additionally, there was a Q&A session that gave alumni the opportunity to ask more about the chapter closure, the plans for the coming years, and how to get more involved. Lewis Place, home of Miami University President David Hodge. commemorative plaque for the Beta Campanile. (Below) The parade of chapters marching line at the 175th Convention. Ron Helman '55—A Beta to Make All Betas Proud t was a unique series of events that led Ron Helman '55, to his lifelong involvement in Beta Theta Pi. With his father's death during Ron's senior year of high school, attending college at all was an uncertainty, but with a job at a sandwich shop 20 hours a week, Ron began working his way through school. "Working in the sandwich shop, I would see the Betas come in after their dates and could tell they were outstanding guys. I was invited to pledge the Fraternity and it truly became a pillar in my life. I received so much as an undergraduate; my brothers gave me the opportunity to work as head waiter and at the time I didn't realize how much I was learning about communication and service." Ron's involvement with Beta has only grown since graduation. From 1965 to 1972 he served as administrative secretary for Beta Theta Pi, helping launch the Beta Leadership Fund, which now raises almost $1 million a year to support outstanding Beta leaders. Ron served on the Board of Trustees 1984-87 and on the Foundation Board for two terms from 1996 to 2002. Ron has had a successful career outside of Beta as well. He served as the assistant to the president of Berea College in Kentucky from 1974 to 1976, as district manager for Congressman Walter Powell, and as executive director of the Michigan Tech Fund, where he was later promoted to vice president for advancement and served for 20 years. Ron's service to Beta and those around him has been recognized many times, including with the Miami University Bishop Medal in 2013. The award is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves in service to mankind. In August, at the Fraternity's 175th anniversary General Convention, Ron was singled out as the 22nd recipient of the Francis Wayland I (Continued on page 4) heRbeRt bAlDwin wiepking '41 tuRns 100 erb was born April 30, 1914, at home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the third of four boys. At age 10 the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated from Shaw High School in East Cleveland. Herb followed his brothers, Bob Wiepking '33, and Karl Wiepking '39, to Miami and into the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. There he met his wife, Lydia Perlee Osborn, in front of the Beta Theta Pi house. He enjoyed singing and recalls singing at the dedication of the Beta Bells on campus in 1939. To get through Miami, he washed dishes at the Beta house and spent a few summers with Mom Troth in Bay Village, Michigan. He painted her house and others in the compound and fell in love with the Petoskey-Harbor Springs area. Later he and Karl bought summer homes on Crooked Lake and entertained many Beta brothers there. In 1941 after graduating from the Miami School of Business, Herb enlisted and became a chief warrant officer at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in the overseas supply section of the Air Service Command, where he assisted in the organization and operation of other H (Continued on page 4) Courtesy of Miami University.

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