Sigma Phi Epsilon - Drake University

Fall • 2021 drake.sigep.org An Unlikely Brother Carries SigEp Pride 66 Years after Graduation Iowa Delta Legend Ray King '56 Recalls How SigEp Set the Trajectory of His Career and Life Ray King '56 was in the Marines and had a job, so he almost didn't go to college. He certainly had no intention of joining a fraternity. But he decided to attend Drake University and, by chance, ran into an acquaintance from his hometown of Rockford, Illinois, who invited him to dinner at the Iowa Delta Chapter House. Ray would end up serving as SigEp Chapter President, would go on to work for the Fraternity full time after graduation, and would work in higher education for 54 years until his retirement in 1993—all thanks in part to his SigEp experiences. He was even inducted into the Iowa Delta Hall of Fame around 2016. "I majored in Fraternity as an undergraduate," Ray said with a chuckle. He remembers his good friend Bill Grother '56, who was in the Navy and was the same age as him as well as his roommate in 1954-55, Fred Turner '55, who was hired to open the first McDonalds in Chicago and would go on to become CEO of McDonalds and a major donor of the university. His favorite memory is the spring term when he was elected President of the Chapter. In the proceeding fall, he worked with Pledge Chairman Rodney Rhoads '57. "We had about 50 men in the pledge class, which doubled the active membership of the Chapter. It was a pleasure being the President at that time of transition." Ray's experiences motivated him to work for the Fraternity after college—and ultimately influenced his career and life. He participated on the Interfraternity Council and went to the National Interfraternity Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, where he met the Executive Director of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, William Hindman, Colorado State University '57, who took part in bringing Ray Many have marveled at the traditional "SigEp hide" that has been in the Chapter House for decades, but not many of us know the story behind it—until now. If you haven't seen, brother and Longtime AVC Board Member John Mertz '52 DOES know the story, and he highlights it in one of our videos on the Drake SigEp Alumni Facebook page. We invite you to check out the page for the REAL backstory on the famous piece—and reconnect with us on our newly updated Facebook page. Please "like" the page and check back frequently for alumni and brother updates at facebook.com/DrakeSigEpAlumni. on board as a Field Secretary after Ray graduated in 1956. "All my experience carried over to my work in the field," Ray recalled. He visited university campuses all over the country and soon became Regional Director. "In 1958, we got a call. I happened to answer the phone by luck, and it was eodore 'T.W.' Biddle at the University of Pittsburg, looking to hire an Assistant Dean of Men and Advisor to the Interfraternity Council." Ray was soon hired by the university, and after a couple years, he recognized he needed a master's degree to continue climbing the ladder in higher education." As he started his master's degree program in the College Student Personnel Administration Department at Teachers College of Columbia University, he was offered a position as head of men's residents halls. He accepted the position, which was responsible for 3,000 Columbia College students living in five residence halls. He successfully completed his master's degree, and in August 1963, he was offered the position of Director of Student Organizations at the University of South Florida, where he went through the ranks and retired as Associate Vice President after 30 years." From the "BETCHA DIDN'T KNOW THIS" File November 6, 2021, marks the 20th anniversary of the loss of one of our refounding brothers, Eric Grunzinger '05. Eric, or "Grunz" as he was commonly known, was diagnosed with leukemia in August of 2000 before returning to campus for his sophomore year. e Iowa Delta Chapter began honoring his memory with the Queen of Hearts softball tournament that spring. Eric was the Chapter's original Vice President of Recruitment, a fierce competitor on the softball diamond, and (as shown in this picture) incredibly popular with the women of Kappa Alpha eta. We encourage you to think about Eric's dedication to SigEp, his pharmacy brothers and sisters at Phi Delta Chi, and his dedication to our cardinal principles of virtue, diligence, and brotherly love. Remembering Eric Grunzinger '05

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