Pi Kappa Alpha - University of Texas

www.texaspikes.com Pi Kappa Alpha 5 Harman Parrott '46 Makes Significant Memorial Gift to Honor Frank Youngman '46 R etired attorney Harman Parrott '46 has enjoyed a long and productive life and he has never forgotten the many close friendships he made at Pi Kappa Alpha and U.T. after his return from World War II where he was an Army Air Corps pilot. Harman recently made a $10,000 memorial gift to the Beta Mu Building Corporation to remember his pledge brother and close friend, Frank Youngman '46. A celebratory lunch was held in San Marcos in September with Harman, his son Frank '73, Mickey '45 and Mike Elliott '76, Doug Phelan '65 and his son, Matt Phelan '09, and Russ Keene '80. Harman credits Pike with "anchoring me as a person in the university days and of course meeting my wife, Melba, who was a Zeta Tau Alpha at U.T." Harman and Mickey reminisced over lunch and recalled many Pikes of that era, including Bill Aufricht '46, Harry Gump '40, Paul Mayo '43, Clarence Mabry '43, Ramsey Metcalf '41, Dick Moore '42, Fess Parker '48 and Morgan "Tommy" Woodward '49. Harman and Mickey have always been thoughtful alumni, recalling as alumni dads hosting "and largely funding a very nice rush party at the Westin Galleria Oaks Hotel" in the mid-1970s for the chapter. Harman, who was born and raised in Waco, always wanted to go to U.T. After serving as a P-51 pilot in the war in 1944 and 1945, he went to Austin, pledged Pike in the spring of 1946, studied business and graduated from U.T.'s School of Law in 1950, followed by a move to Houston where be built a distinguished railroad transportation law practice, representing many of the long haul lines in East Texas in the explosive industrial growth days for rail from the 1950s to '80s. Harman spent 30 years practicing as a partner with what is today known as the Gardere Wynne Sewell law firm, which has more than 200 attorneys in offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Mexico City. Harman said, "I made many wonderful friends in those post-war days at the Pike house and want to pay it back by remembering Frank Youngman with a special bequest related to the Pike house." Harman remembers Frank as "exceptional man and fraternity brother who provided a lot of leadership to us." In addition to their son, Frank, the Parrotts have two daughters and two grandchildren. Harman and Melba have been married for 64 years and retired to Boerne for a number of years. They now reside just a few doors away from Frank and his family in San Marcos. Frank attended U.T. as well as Concordia University in Austin and, having been in central Texas since the early 1980s, recently retired from a 38-year career in the lumber brokerage business. Harman Parrott '46 and Mickey Elliott '45 enjoyed a recent lunch together with their sons, Frank Parrott '73 and Mike Elliott '76, to recognize and thank Harman for a gift to the Beta Mu Building Corp in memory of fellow Pike Frank Youngman ' 46. to different types of personalities. It's great that not every Pike is the same, and it's a great opportunity to learn people skills which I've be used for life." Steven counsels today's Pikes to "find a good balance between studying what interests you while learning a marketable skill." Both Sockwells are proud of where Pike is today. Steven and Philip Braithwaite '87 were impressed by newly elected chapter President Tyler Weido '12 over the course this summer where he had an internship at their firm, Hart InterCivic in Austin, where Tyler "performed exceptionally well in the marketing department." Similarly, Spencer said, "I've spent some time with these men at the house and at football tailgates. I recommend to all of my friends with high school sons that they should seek out Pike. This strengthening of the fraternity comes from within, and I'm grateful for a growing alumni movement and for the actives who have transformed and sustained Pike, especially in recent years." Spencer spoke to the chapter in a 2013 career development session on financial services careers. He thoroughly enjoyed it, finding the men to be "exceptional campus leaders and strong students." The Pike experience forms lifelong brotherhood, including a deeper shared bond between family members. With brothers like Spencer and Steven Sockwell among our alumni, many more such men and husbands and fathers of character, scholarship, leadership and business success will come forth from 2400 Leon in the years ahead. Spencer can be reached at Spencer.Sockwell@ gmail.com and Steven via e-mail at Steven. Sockwell@gmail.com. Several members of the "Superman" 1982 pledge class in a photo taken their senior year at the Pike house in 1985. Front row (left to right) Bill Lakenmacher '82, Chris Bull '82, Jeff Kocurek '82 and Spencer Sockwell '82. Second row (left to right) J. Bruce McDonald '82, Johnny Arnolds '82, Bill Sharman '82, Alex Glasscock '82 and Adam Guttmann '82.

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