Beta Theta Pi - Michigan State University

2 THE DRAGON'S WAGON "I can see how Alex is growing into a great, independent man," Tony shared. "Beta has been a great influence on him." For Tony, one of his most defining Gamma Psi memories came when he decided to take a year off from college. "When I returned to the Beta house, I was welcomed with open arms by both brothers who knew me and those who had joined during my absence," he recalled. "I had felt a little embarrassed about the position I was in, but not one brother ever made a negative judgment on me." He was also thrilled to reconnect with Beta when his sons joined and, in particular, to get involved with Gamma Psi again. He especially enjoys getting to know the fathers of new members. "If they are not familiar with fraternities and Beta Theta Pi, I reassure them that their sons have taken a giant step toward becoming great men." Tony remains close with many Beta brothers, including two of his best friends, Jon Devine '84 and Bill Marsh '89. "We have something very special in Beta, and I hope we can keep it that way," he said. "I cherish being a brother even more because my father is as well," Alex added. "It means everything to me." He has enjoyed staying virtually connected to brothers during the pandemic. Connect with Tony at tonydeflorio@att.net and Alex at alexdeflorio1@gmail.com. BETA IS FAMILY (Continued from page 1) A s a Beta, Richard Becherer '67 was fixated on an MSU experience that would directly place him on a career track, and being a member of Beta Theta Pi made that experience significantly more meaningful. He learned to lead, plan, organize, and be resourceful—qualities that stuck with him in his business and academic ventures. Thanks to Beta brothers, he found his place at MSU and a career path, and his Beta Theta Pi foundation set him up for professional success. "I had no plans to get involved with any fraternity when I arrived at MSU as a freshman. My view was that fraternities had norms that required conforming to their stereotype and rigid expectations for behavior," Rich said. "When I visited the Beta house, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my stereotype was wrong. The Betas had a variety of different personalities, and it was an 'anything goes' type of group!" Fellow Betas Ed Riordan '67 and Jim Henerson '67 introduced Rich and his roommates, Mark Conklin '67 and Brian Smith '67, to the brotherhood. From there, Brian introduced him to the packaging major after a less-than-ideal experience in pre- veterinary. While the packaging major led directly to a career path, Rich decided to obtain his MBA from the University of Georgia and then went on to earn his doctorate from the University of Kentucky in 1974. In 1980, after consulting in the healthcare arena while in academics, he ended up starting a health maintenance organization (HMO), Independence Health Plan, with some of his colleagues and left Wayne State. "The HMO went well, and we took it public in 1985. After I sold my shares in 1989, I became a full-time entrepreneur in the real estate and marina industries," he shared. "As it turns out, I longed for the classroom, however, and I became an entrepreneurship professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1995." He loved being in the classroom and trying to bring the best out of his students; he also enjoyed mentoring them and acting as a resource as they began to shape their careers. He still maintains contact with many of his students and had always told them to let him know when they start a business. "Being a professor was one of the most rewarding professions I could ever imagine. I am most proud of the people whose lives I've touched along the way during my career," he said. "My students often contact me to tell me that I played a role in their business venture success. It does not get much better than that!" As an alumnus, Rich still appreciates the bonds formed at MSU, and he stays in touch with several Beta brothers through annual meet-up, texting, and Facebook. He also understands the importance of paying it forward to show his appreciation for his Beta Theta Pi experience. "It's important to give back—that is the way the chapter can do bigger and better things and be more of a benefit to members," he stated. "Sometimes, however, we forget to give, and it's often because we were not asked. The bricks at the old house were a great way to provide a reason to give back." Through his Beta activities, Rich matured and became worldlier. Looking back, he recognizes the things he learned through Beta about people and organizations have served him well in anything he's done since leaving college. As for his family, Rich is proud that both of his children have followed their interests and are happy and productive in their careers. He lives in Chattanooga and can be reached at rich.becherer@yahoo.com. A Meaningful MSU Experience Beta Set Richard Becherer '67 Up for Success, Inspired Support of Gamma Psi Newt Eade '69, Richard Becherer '67, Tom Montgomery '67, and Ed Riordan '67.

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