Theta Chi - University of Florida

Tau Chapter of Theta Chi University of Florida P.O. Box 442100 Lawrence, KS 66044-2100 Address Service Requested TAU TOPICS David Epperson '60 spent 25 years in state and local Florida government and was in charge of major building projects from design through construction. Prior to that, he was in private architectural practice for six years. David is a registered architect in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (past president of the Gulf Coast Chapter), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and the Florida Council of Educational Facilities Planners (past president). David was also a member of Rotary. After retiring and moving to Signal Mountain, Tenn., he was elected five terms as alderman and mayor of Walden, Tenn. David's second career was as a professor of engineering and design at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He retired in 2015. David and his wife, Mary Jane, have two sons, David and Casey, and three grandchildren, Ryan, Ella, and Jake. Joey Gazdak '65 is the treasurer of a charity called Friends of Shanklin, which supports an elementary school of mostly underprivileged kids. He lives in Beaufort, S.C. Email: joeytheg@aol.com Ron Bates '69 is semi-retired after 42-plus years of working at WCJB TV20 in Gainesville (October 1975 to January 2018). He still serves as a freelance cameraman for Gator athletic events (baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, etc.). Ron is also filming legal videos for attorneys. He lives in Gainesville, Fla. Email: ronbatesgator@gmail.com Lt. Col. Gary Houp '69 finally retired after 22 years with the United States Air Force and 23 years as a middle/high school teacher in the Florida panhandle. He taught AP physics at South Walton High School. His son, Army Reserve Major Jayson Houp, replaced him. Jayson has a degree in physics from the U.S. Military Academy. Gary lives in Niceville, Fla. Email: 2nicehoups@gmail.com Roger Messersmith '69 is looking forward to retiring in early 2021 after 26-plus years in the Navy. He retired as a captain in 2000, and has served as a contractor for the past 20 years. Roger has led systems engineering and financial management initiatives in the intelligence community. In preparing for him retirement, Roger became a docent at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum at Dulles International Airport (also known as the Udvar- Hazy Center), where he will volunteer a couple of days a week. You can stop by the docent desk when visiting to catch up with him. Roger lives in Fairfax Station, Va. Email: rjmessers@ gmail.com Charlie Lechner '72 has been married to his wife and Theta Chi Little Sister, Kathy, for 44 years. He retired seven years ago, but sometimes substitute teaches for Duval County Schools. Charlie enjoys watching his 8-year-old granddaughter grow up. He lives in Jacksonville, Fla. Email: epictt@aol.com Albert Hon '78 retired in 2015. He works security part time at TIAA Bank Field for Jacksonville Jaguars and worked Super Bowls 51 through 54. Albert lives in Fleming Island, Fla. Email: luisalberthon@gmail.com William Bozic Jr. '82 works for the National Park Service as a park guide at the John Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Lafayette and Eunice, La. He lives in Houston, Texas. Email: texmexfla@yahoo.com ALUMNI NEWS FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK Alumni Page: Search "Theta Chi Tau Chapter Alumni" President Sean Andros '17 Jupiter, Fla. Treasurer Dante Garzia '18 Palm City, Fla. Executive Vice President Remi Martin '18 New Albany, Ohio Administrative Vice President Max Pachter '18 Boca Raton, Fla. Marshal Matthew Keyser '18 Boca Raton, Fla. Secretary Ethan Coakley '18 Brick, N.J. Vice President of Health and Safety Beckham Sturgill '17 St. Cloud, Fla. Vice President of Recruitment Christian Grossenbacher '17 Miami, Fla. Eli Rosen '18, Michael Jaworowoski '20, Sean Andros '17, and Jack Abbruzzese '16. C H A P T E R O F F I C E R S

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