Sigma Chi - Kansas State University

2 I t was "pure good fortune" that Sigma Chi was the best fraternity for Larry Fox '76, and Delta Upsilon has been fortunate to have him as a dedicated member of the brotherhood. Serving as Delta Upsilon Chapter treasurer and later house corporation treasurer for more than 40 years, he's been instrumental in Sigma Chi's success and longevity at Kansas State. Despite the many challenges the chapter has faced over the years, Larry has remained a pillar of support that has allowed to Delta Upsilon Chapter to persevere. His hard work for Sigma Chi has paid off with his personal satisfaction and more recently with him being inducted into The Order of Constantine. Larry is only the third Kansas State Sigma Chi alumnus to receive this honor since its establishment in 1963. "It means more than I can adequately put into words. I haven't typically sought out honors from organizations over the years. That was never my motivation for volunteering in my community," Larry shared. "To get this honor after putting so many years of hard work into the fraternity is truly appreciated and an honor." He received word of the honor via a phone call from Tom Roberts '70, "an outstanding member of our chapter and a longtime officer of the National Fraternity," Larry stated. Tom let Larry know he had been nominated for the Order of Constantine by Dr. Doug Burton '89, house corporation president. They had also conspired with other former members of the house corporation and Larry's wife, who fed them a great deal of information about his Sigma Chi involvement over the years. "I was kind of surprised at how much information she was able to provide them," he mused. "Larry was an involved advisor/treasurer working on budgets, payroll, tax returns, keeping the books, and working with the undergraduates. He met regularly with the brothers during the chapter's highs and lows and assisted in many initiations," Brother Roberts explained in his recommendation. "His work was critical during the turbulent 1990s when the chapter had poor grades, low membership numbers, and financial challenges. Larry was willing to make tough and unpopular decisions but also earned the respect of the undergraduates and alumni." For Larry, Sigma Chi means brotherhood, integrity, and responsibility, as well as looking out for those you care about, being there for them, and being a productive member of society. He exemplifies these aspects of fraternal bonds through his service to Delta Upsilon Chapter. From the house fire in June 1981 to the drug and alcohol issues in the mid-'90s to early 2000s, Larry's seen the chapter through many ups and downs. "The most rewarding aspect of my service to the chapter is seeing it survive through the 1990s and early 2000s, seeing new young men take over the house corporation positions, and seeing the house completely remodeled in 2015, which led to full pledge classes and a full house for the first time in several years," Larry stated. It's hard for Larry to explain exactly why he remained so involved with Sigma Chi over the years, but in his early years after graduating, he wanted to stay involved with the fraternity because it had done so much for him during his college days. And as a new young professional in Manhattan, he wanted to get involved in the community in any way he could. The Delta Upsilon House Corporation route provided him great connections to several professionals in Manhattan. "As treasurer of the undergraduate chapter I worked with one of the most influential businessmen in the community at the time," Larry shared. "Witnessing how he stayed involved with the fraternity for so many years inspired me to stay involved." With the time and resources to help the fraternity out, he joined the house corporation as treasurer in 1978. As time went on, he became more comfortable with his position and enjoyed working on the house corporation and with the undergraduate chapter to keep the chapter strong and the house in good condition. Despite the challenges, he stuck with his position out of a feeling of responsibility to Sigma Chi. Finally, in 2015, Larry decided to step back as Delta Upsilon was in a better position financially; he remained on the house corporation until fully retiring in 2020. "Larry has given a lifetime of support to the Sigma Chi Fraternity through his work with the undergraduate and alumni members of our chapter and through his tireless effort as a member of our housing corporation for over 40 years," Brother Burton shared in his recommendation letter. "He has been a living embodiment of our seven virtues in his interactions with three generations of Sigma Chis." The lasting friendships Larry made at Sigma Chi are the best part of Larry's experience, and the connections he made with alumni of the chapter are another great benefit of being a Sigma Chi. "The support I received from them was immeasurable. The connections I made with alumni of the chapter during my collegiate days were singularly responsible for me getting my first job out of college," he stated. "That experience shaped my future business career. My connections to the fraternity and its alumni impact my life in a positive way to this day." In May 1976, Larry received his bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in accounting; he completed his MBA in December 1985. His first job was a loan officer for a Manhattan savings and loan firm. Today, he is director of real estate for the Kansas State University Foundation. Larry and his wife, Marilyn, who was the Sigma Chi Sweetheart in 1976, are high school sweethearts and have been married for 42 years. They have two grown children, Bethany and Weston, and four grandchildren, who are their pride and joy; he hopes their grandsons will be Sigma Chis someday. You can connect with Larry at LarryF@ksufoundation.org. A Dedicated Leader for Delta Upsilon Chapter The Order of Constantine Inductee Larry Fox '76 Shares Insight into His Sigma Chi Service Larry is a living embodiment of our seven virtues in his interactions with three generations of Sigma Chis. - Dr. Doug Burton '89

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