Sigma Chi - University of Mississippi

3 I t all started with a book. Stephen Johnston '93 was gifted Same Kind of Different as Me from his wife many years ago. Upon reading it, he was extremely moved by the story, which focused on friendship, relationships, and love. It touched him so much that be purchased two extra copies to share with others. One went to his father, and the other was for his mentor, though it never reached its destination, instead sitting on his desk at work for a while. During that time, an employee of Stephen's saw the book and struck up a conversation about it as he, too, was a fan. A few months later, that employee took a flight and wound up sitting next to Darren Moorman who, through small talk, disclosed he happened to be raising capital to make a movie about that same book. Stephen was introduced to Darren via e-mail to learn more about the project. During the process, Stephen began to realize that the film business was a rather difficult business to understand. At the time, he was working for SmartSynch Inc., a smart-grid technology company, so the film industry was all new to him. After several months of conversations, Stephen decided the project wasn't a good fit for him and moved on. Four months later, in April 2014, Stephen received a call from Darren with news that the book's author, Ron Hall, would be traveling through Jackson. That same night, he received word from a close friend of his (who he had previously met with to discuss co-investing in the movies) that he had randomly run into Ron at a hotel. From that point on, life seemed to move in fast forward. On May 1, 2014, Stephen met with Ron and Darren. He decided the story was important enough to support, and he had the means to do so. "I had no idea what I was committing to, or even what a producer did, but in three months' time, we had raised $15 million for the film. Filming began that October and wrapped in December. "It's been said that the first job you get is rarely the job you ultimately hold, and boy did that ring true for me. I never in my life dreamed I would be a film producer, yet here I am. It's important FROM PAGE TO SCREEN: STEPHEN JOHNSTON '93 MAKES MOVIE MAGIC L ast October, Rev. Dr. James C. Taylor, chief judge announced that Judge Ed Butler '58 was among the inductees of the Texas Genealogical College's Texas Hall of Fame Class of 2016. The ceremony took place at the El Tropicano River Walk Hotel in San Antonio on October 21, 2016. Judge Edward F. Butler, a retired federal administrative law judge, served as president general of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in 2009-2010. He was the founder and charter grand viscount general of the Order of the Founders of North America 1492-1692 in 2012-2014. For several years, he has been active in 32 lineage and heritage groups, including service as deputy governor general of the General Society of Colonial Wars, and vice president general of the General Society of the War of 1812. He also served as governor of the Texas Society Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, and state president of both the Texas Society of the Sons of the Revolution and First Families of Maryland, where he also serves nationally as chancellor general. He has written three family history books, one of which won the Dallas Genealogical Society Award in 1997. His first history book about the American Revolutionary War has already won five awards, and his latest book just came out. Judge Butler has served as a judge at the city, county, state, and federal levels. In his 30-year career as an SAR leader, he was the founder of the Laredo and Boerne, Texas, SAR chapters, and both the Mexico and Spain SAR societies. He was also the founder of the Texas Genealogical College. Edward also rekindled the defunct St. Matthew Priory of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (Knight Templars) as its prior, and then went on to become deputy grand prior of the international Order, in which he holds the rank of grand croix. Besides his interest in genealogy and lineage societies, he enjoys travel, evident by the 186 countries he has visited. Each of those selected for the Texas Genealogical College 2016 Class of the Hall of Fame were also presented a folder with two colorful certificates that compose the Hidalgo Award, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed by the Bexar County, Texas, government. Judge Butler was a distinguish faculty advisor for the Sigma Chi Balfour event at Kansas State University; is a Semi Century Sig; a Military Sig; and has been a recruiter for Life Loyal Sigs for over 10 years. Also, Mayor Ivy Taylor of San Antonio, Texas, issued a proclamation honoring the event and those selected for the 2016 Class of the Texas Genealogical Hall of Fame. Significant Sig Selected for High Honor Judge Ed Butler '58, Nancy Brennan, Lynn Young, DeEtte Nesbitt, and Larry Casey. Not pictured-Lloyd Bockstruck. Robin and Ed Butler '58 with the San Antonio SAR color guard. Ed was presented the Hidalgo Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Bexar County, Texas, government. (Continued on page 4)

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