Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Purdue University

Page 4 K eith Johnson '63 knew very little about Greek life as a Purdue freshman, despite his father and brother being members of fraternities. He wasn't even sure what "rush" (now recruitment) was when his hallmate, Jed Heindel '64, pitched it to him. Even so, Keith gave it a shot, and while other fraternities felt like clones of each other, there was something different about Sigma Alpha Epsilon. "Purdue was a huge school, and ΣAE was a smaller group with a sense of belonging and brotherhood," Keith recalls. "The chapter had a really diverse group. Each brother had a different slice of the university experience, and they were all good people." Keith prospered as a member of the brotherhood, growing through the various officer roles he held, chapter meetings, procedures, and events. "Outside of family, the kind of man I became was influenced most by ΣAE and my Boy Scout experiences," he said. "The idea of the True Gentleman is a newer philosophy, but in essence I think those ideas were always there for us. The problematic elements found in some fraternities weren't a part of our culture." After college, Keith worked as an entrepreneur, starting a homebuilding firm with a partner, in which they enjoyed great career success and respect. He has also spent his years volunteering in various community activities, serving on multiple boards, and chairing many organizations. Being part of Indiana Beta's structure taught him how to lead groups in their decision-making processes. As A Tradition of Excellence: The Campaign for Indiana Beta was taking off, Keith was happy to lend his support while Wayne McIntyre '64 provided leadership for the campaign. Early on, Wayne invited Keith and other early donors to visit the chapter house, and it was clear the facility needed improvements. "I figured fixing up the house would help recruit brothers and get them excited for the same strong experience," he said. "The potential for lasting change is there and is a large appeal for the campaign." Overall, Keith is thrilled with the campaign's success so far and how dramatic the changes have already been. "We have a good direction for lasting change; it just needs more support. If you haven't contributed yet, I hope you'll get on board." Keith lives in Rancho Santa Fe, California, where he still enjoys community volunteering and working with charities. He is particularly proud to work with the Vital Ground Foundation, which works to protect our ecosystems by maintaining the habitats and populations of grizzly bears and other wildlife. Connect with Keith at keith@johnsongrp.net. Maintaining the Σae Purdue exPerience What the Campaign Means to Keith Johnson '63

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