Sigma Chi - University of Mississippi

2 David L. Guyton, M.D. '65 Receives 2015 Significant Sig Award Alumnus Rewarded by Ophthalmology Career Significant Sig Marshall Bennett '65, Grand Praetor and member of Order of Constantine Tony Thompson, Gamma Upsilon '91, and Grand Trustee Scott Ross, Gamma Upsilon '82, present David Guyton '65 with his Significant Sig award. Lee Singletary, Dan Singletary '71, Jan Singletary Guyton, and David Guyton '65. E ver since he was elected as a freshman ASB senator, Austin Powell '17 has felt invested in other students and watching them succeed. "If I could do anything, it would be to make one student feel welcome," Austin says. "It's about making sure students feel at home and welcome on campus." While serving as the president's chief of staff for the 2015-16 school year, he was approached by a student senator to run for president. On April 5, he became the new ASB president with 94.5 percent of the vote. His Sigma Chi brothers have been by his side throughout the entire process, and for that, he could not be more thankful. "They've always been so supportive of me," Austin says. "It's absolutely incredible that I can also demonstrate what Sigma Chi is all about. They mean the world to me." Eta Chapter has a long history of campus leadership. We are a blessed group of men and we believe it is our responsibility to lead when the opportunity presents itself. Over the past four elections, we've now won the bookends: Austin Powell was recently elected ASB president of Ole Miss, and Greg Alston '14 served as ASB president during the 2013-14 school year (and was then elected for 2016-17 as president of the law school's ruling body). Austin Powell '17 Elected Associated Student Body President Undergraduate Excited to Represent Ole Miss, Sigma Chi In Memory of William Kirk Hannon '86 W illiam Kirk Hannon '86, 51, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, entered the Chapter Eternal on March 22. Kirk was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on September 24, 1964, to John and Lolita Hannon. He attended high school at Jackson Prep. Kirk was a member of the Eta Chapter pledge class of 1983 and served as co-chairman for Derby Days in 1985. He was very involved in the Bridgewater Development and, along with his father and brothers, was proud to be part of the family ownership of a number of KFC restaurants throughout the central Mississippi area. In addition to enjoying time on the beach, home landscaping, and hunting, Kirk enthusiastically supported his Ole Miss Rebels in all sporting events. The main joys of his life were his children and his family. He is survived by his wife, Stacey Womack Hannon; two daughters, Elizabeth and Caroline; two stepsons, Grant and Trey Means; and two brothers, Mitch (wife Becky) and Mike. Many of Kirk's Eta Chapter brothers gathered to remember him at his memorial service on March 25. All honor to his name! Austin Powell '17 (left). D avid L. Guyton, M.D. '65 is known as a "problem solver, a clinical innovator, an inventor, a teacher, and a communicator." As the Zanvyl Krieger Professor of Pediatric Ophthalmology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the longtime director of the Krieger Children's Eye Center at The Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, he feels fortunate to be in his position. "I've enjoyed curing children of their misaligned eyes and adults of their double vision— numbering about 13,000 eye muscle surgeries at this point after about 38 years in practice, and I'm still going," David says. In addition, he is the primary teacher of ophthalmic optics and clinical refraction in the U.S.; has 300+ publications; numerous awards earned in his field; and 14 U.S. patents, mostly ophthalmic instruments. He has had two successful instruments marketed in the past: an automated refracting instrument and a device for measuring the vision behind cataracts to determine whether the cataract surgery will be beneficial, called a Potential Acuity Meter. "There are several more instruments in the pipeline just now," David says. Due to his vast contributions in the medical field, David was awarded the 2015 Significant Sig award. More than 1,500 brothers have been recognized since its inception at the 1935 Grand Chapter. Alumni in any profession, occupation, or service work are eligible for consideration. He joins 19 other Eta Chapter Sigs recognized in previous years, including his cousin, Robert P. Guyton '58, who was recognized in 1988. Sigma Chi runs in David's family—in fact, six of the eight Guyton brothers are members of the fraternity. Thanks to his family ties and the enthusiasm of the recruitment chairmen, he felt Eta Chapter was a great fit for him. "The fraternity has an excellent reputation and high standards," David says. He and his wife, Jan, have three children and eight grandchildren. To contact David, you can e-mail him at dguyton@jhmi.edu.

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