Alpha Tau Omega - University of Florida

A L P H A T A U O M E G A F R A T E R N I T Y A T T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F F L O R I D A (Continued on page 4) It's Great to Be an ATW TailGATOR Alpha Omega Alumni of All Generations Cherish Gator Football Tailgates Spring 2021 ALPHA OMEGAN THE A s the Alpha Omega collegians conclude a truly unorthodox academic year, there's already a great deal of hope for the fall semester as a sense of normalcy slowly but surely returns to the University of Florida campus. Our undergraduate Brothers are far from being alone in looking forward to fall. September 4 has been circled on the calendar of several Alpha Omega alumni, as it is expected to mark the return of ATW Gator football tailgates. "Not having those connections last season left a void," Howe Wallace '74 said. "I'm excited to know we have a chance to pull this together with tailgates this season." Alpha Omega tailgates have long been a testament of the close bonds we have in our brotherhood. The tailgates are a fall Saturday tradition that have connected generations of ATW Brothers and their families and included appearances from famous athletes, politicians, lawyers, doctors, business owners, and many other public figures. "For nearly 40 years, Taus spanning many generations have tailgated at the middle of the eastern edge of the Bull Gator parking garage with Ray Royce '55 and his wife, Catherine," John Marion '77 said. "Hopefully, the tradition of those great tailgates, times, and memories can continue in some form this coming season." George Etheridge Jr. '78 accurately described Alpha Tau tailgates as family reunions, and it goes well beyond just seeing his son, George Etheridge V '07, at every game. George Jr. has become very close to a few ATWs from his son's era because of the time they've spent together. Part of what made Alpha Omega tailgates from the 2019 season so special to George Jr. was that they offered him additional opportunities to spend time with the late Charlie Mirabella '78, who entered Chapter Eternal in 2020 after battling a brain tumor. "Charlie was just one of those guys that would light up the room. He told his wife and the doctors that there was nothing that he would rather be doing, so he was going," George Jr. said. "That tells you the value of our

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