Pi Kappa Alpha - University of Texas

4 www.texaspikes.com The Beta Mu Review T here have been many father/son and brother/ brother pairs in the Pike fraternal bonds over the years. A brief sampling of these of Beta Mu family connections over the years includes the Biddle boys (Randy '72 and John '73); Bean (George '83 and Chris '84); Biskamp (Eric '80, Brett '78, and Mark '77); Durso (Mark '80 and Steve '81); Elliott (Mark '78, Mike '76 and father Mickey '47); Halbach (pledge Hayden '14 and Harry '12); Jones (David '76 and Doug '73); Lott (Wayne '70, David '71 and father William '48); Mowles (Garrett '13 and Conner '07); Ray (Tom '70, Dennis '70, Steve '69, and Phil '68); Swope (Paul '80, David '78, and Randy '75) and Winter (Steve '82 and Mark '78). Spencer '82 and Steven Sockwell '87 add to the long line of related Pike brothers. Spencer and Steven grew up in Corpus Christi and both attended Richard King High School and have always been very close. During their college years, their parents were very involved in supporting Pike, including hosting many brothers in Corpus during spring break. The Sockwells have fond memories of their time in Austin and the Pike house, jointly recalling activities like mixers and matches, Big John's Birthday Party, Swamp, football game weekends including Texas-Oklahoma road trips, ski trips over Christmas and spring break trips. Spencer is a healthcare banking executive with BBVA Compass Bank in Dallas. At U.T., he earned a B.A. in economics in 1986 and went on to earn an MBA from Texas A&M in 1990. Spencer and his wife, Kathy, a University of Arkansas, Pi Beta Phi, have been married for 22 years and have lived in Dallas since 1992. They have two daughters attending Highland Park High School: Elizabeth, a senior, and Camille, a freshman. Spencer fondly recalls many of his 1982 pledge brothers, including Chris Bull '82, now a partner in an executive search firm in Southern California, who said, "We all played hard, but Spencer, perhaps earlier than some, was ahead of the curve and fully committed himself to studies. This preparation and persistence have served Spencer well in a highly successful banking career." Spencer, who was pledge class secretary, rush chairman and a Texas Cowboy, said, "I enjoy seeing all of my fraternity brothers from time to time today—both Steven's vintage and my own—but it's never often or frequent enough. Every day is a blessing, but those Pike days were very, very special to me." Steven earned a B.A. history in 1990 at U.T. and is today vice president of marketing at Hart InterCivic, a leading election technology company based in Austin. Steven oversees all aspects of corporate branding, demand/lead generation, online, social, sales enablement and marketing automation. He is thrilled to work with his pledge brother Philip Braithwaite '87, who serves as Hart's CEO. Prior to Hart, Steven was at Dell for more than 17 years in a variety of U.S. and global marketing leadership roles across business units. He is married to Laurel, a U.T.-Austin Delta Delta Delta, and they have resided in Austin's Westlake area since 1995 with their three children who attend Eanes schools: Claire, a high school freshman; sixth grader Ella; and Joe, a fourth grader. Steven said, "Having an older brother as an active Pike made for very fun trips to Austin for football game weekends and other functions. During rush, I enjoyed getting to know the actives and meeting the other rushees who would become my pledge brothers. I felt very much at home and knew Pike was right for me." Steven remains in touch with a number of 1987 pledge brothers, including David Clifton '87, Billy Dunnill '87, Cody Lusk '87, Carter McCrary '87, Richard Winfield '87, and Todd Quisenberry '86. Quisenberry, now in the insurance business in Lubbock, said, "Steven is one of my closest friends from Leon Street, or any other street. The type of friendship that lasts forever. I am grateful that I met Steven. We all wish we all could go back to the fraternity and do it again." Of his Pike days Steven says, "Being a Texas Pike was a unique opportunity to develop and grow as a person, but it also helped to build relationships and skills such as being exposed Several members of the "Neighbors" 1987 pledge class in a photo taken circa 1989 at the Pike house. Seated (left to right): Cliff Morris '87, John Granmayeh '87, Bill Hancock '87 and Wes Gross '87. Middle row: Phillip Braithwaite '87, Cody Lusk '87, David Patterson '87, Lin Espey '87, Alan Rucker '87 and Carter McCrary '87. Standing rear: Eric Moore '87, Steven Sockwell '87 and David Clifton '87. Tyler Weido '12, Philip Braithwaite '87 and Steven Sockwell '87 during Tyler's summer 2014 internship at HartInterCivic in Austin. The Sockwell family enjoyed being together in Port Aransas to celebrate the 85th birthday of family matriarch Wenonah Sockwell recently. Spencer '82 and Steven Sockwell '87, Pike "Band of Brothers" ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:

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