Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Oregon

OREGON BETA HEARTBEAT p. 2 A large part of Oregon Beta's identity throughout our history is tied to the beloved 1936 Fageol firetruck. Many memories can be traced back to that rig, from cruising Willamette Boulevard to rounding up sorority sisters for gatherings—and of course trips to Autzen Stadium for pre-game tailgates. Dating back to the early 1960s, the truck was often used much like you would use a pickup truck nowadays. Seldom did a week go by that the truck wasn't used for a task, such as hauling garbage to the dump or picking up building supplies for projects. It was often used for serenades as well, as singing was a big deal in the earlier days. Occasionally, it was used to transport members to local establishments, such as Tino's to enjoy 40-cent pitchers. One time-tested use of old red was to use it for ladder rides. Used in pinning parties, when a member gave away their pin, they were often rousted from bed in the dead of night, stripped down to their skivvies, and tied to a ladder. They were then taken to the kitchen to be smeared with shortening and then floured. The lucky member was then loaded onto the fire truck and transported to his girlfriend's residence, where he would be stood up in the front of the door while his brothers serenaded. The singing always ended up with the SigEp Sweetheart song. Over the years, several brothers took it upon themselves to maintain the faithful rig. In the summer of 1963, Pete Mordigan '70 drove a flatbed truck from Selmar, California, to Eugene, Oregon, in early summer and picked up the firetruck, took it back to Selmar, and spent the summer upgrading systems on the truck. In early September, he and a friend drove the truck back to Eugene. Driving only in the cool of the night so it wouldn't overheat, the trip took nearly three days. Along with the upgrades, Pete found a beautiful brass spotlight that he attached to the truck. Regretfully, sometime during that school year, the spotlight was stolen. Later, in the late '90s, Teunis Wyers '68 picked up the truck and took it to his ranch in the Hood River area and rebuilt the engine and brake system. Through each cycle, there was always Look What We Found! A Brief History of the Oregon Beta Firetruck The old SigEp firetruck now belongs to the nonprofit Function 4 Junction in Junction City, Oregon. SigEp brothers with the firetruck in the '80s.

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