Beta Theta Pi - University of Kansas

5 A mother's only wish is for her children to be happy. Tammy Horn, a graduate from the University of Missouri, has watched her three sons follow a path filled with integrity, determination, evolvement and, of course, joy. Seeing how influential Beta Theta Pi has been in their lives, she shares nothing but gratitude for the fraternity. Tammy's husband, Bob, is also a Mizzou alumnus. "We followed and supported the Missouri Tigers even as we became parents," she shared. "Two of our sons followed our lead by rooting for the Tigers at every opportunity, but one stood his ground and cheered on the Jayhawks." As children, Fitz Horn '25 proudly stood between his two Mizzou-loving brothers, Tommy Horn, University of Missouri '23 and Charlie Horn '26, decked out in KU gear. "From the get-go, and for reasons that baffled and annoyed the rest of us, Fitz has always been a loyal Jayhawks fan," Tammy explained. "We would sit in the Mizzou section at Border War games, and Fitz, in a sea of Mizzou fans, would be chanting the Rock Chalk chant and waving the wheat." When Tammy's children grew older and decided to go to college, Fitz never looked at any schools other than KU. "Fitz's recruitment experience was similar to selecting a college," Tammy added. "He knew it would be a waste of time to explore options other than Beta when he knew he already found his people." Since Fitz has joined Beta, Tammy has been able to boast about how invaluable the experience has been so far, noting, "Bob and I have been extremely impressed with KU, with Lawrence, and especially with the Alpha Nu Chapter." Then, there is Charlie. "Charlie, who'd always been a Tigers fan, came home from KU Family Weekend in 2021 giving thoughtful consideration to going to KU with Fitz," Tammy said. During that weekend, Charlie had the opportunity to sleep overnight with Alpha Nu brothers in the Roost. "He loved every minute of it," she enthused. Every visit to Lawrence afterward nudged Charlie closer to his making his ultimate decision to join Alpha Nu. As the youngest of three, Charlie has always admired his older brothers and looked up to them: "The fact that both of his brothers chose Beta over any other fraternity at their respective colleges was not lost on Charlie; so, without question, he knew he wanted to be a Beta, choosing KU so that he could have the chance to live in the Alpha Nu house with Fitz for three years." "Thanks to my sons' Beta chapters, Bob and I have watched our sons grow into respectful, kind, and considerate gentlemen. Additionally, they have each developed deep friendships with other men of principle who strive for excellence, both individually and collectively. What more could a parent want for their son?" As Tammy looks at her children and sees the kindness in their eyes, the ambition for their futures, and the happiness in their hearts, she knows that she owes a huge part of that to Beta Theta Pi. DOUBLE BROTHERS MAKES FOR ONE PROUD MOTHER Tammy Horn Speaks Highly of Beta Theta Pi's Impact on Her Sons E xcited for this year's Turkey Pull? Tammy Horn is too! Seeing the transformed Hutt at last year's event made the biggest impact on her as a parent and made her realize just how seriously Beta brothers honor their traditions. I knew how hard Fitz and his pledge brothers had been working to prepare for Turkey Pull. I'd heard about all the greenery they were using to decorate the house and to build a giant wall. I'd seen pictures of mountains of greenery. I'd heard about the tornadic windstorm they feared would knock down the wall they'd built together for countless hours, days, and nights for weeks on end. I'd heard about the creative and heroic efforts and engineering feats they undertook—side by side— and again all through the night—to protect and preserve their precious massive wall. But none of this prepared me for what I witnessed when parents were invited to preview the house. It was, in a word, spectacular. The house had been transformed into a magical wonderland. The dining hall looked like it could have been in Hogwarts. The smell of the greenery alone was intoxicating. I saw in my pledge's face a level of pride and deep sense of accomplishment that I'd never seen before. I also saw exhaustion like I'd never seen in him before. His excitement and beaming pride are what I remember most. He was so excited to show us the perfect alignment of the table settings, the stunning handwritten scrolls on the plates, the napkins pressed and folded in the shape of turkeys. He explained with reverence and passion the traditional importance of using only Douglas Firs and regaled us with stories of their efforts to first locate and then transport the coveted Douglas Firs back to the house. Later in the evening, he sent us a picture of himself in his tux and the giant American flag in the locker room at his back. These are memories he'll cherish for a lifetime, and they are my memories of my proud, happy son that I'll forever cherish too. Every year, the pledges work tirelessly to create this magical event not because they are being forced or hazed, but because they care so deeply about the traditions of Turkey Pull. Those crazy three weeks of working together round the clock to create the traditional magic become part of their fabric, permanently woven into their character as men of principle. "Brothers support one another and cheer for each other as well as respect and celebrate one and all. They guide, motivate, mentor, and encourage in the best of ways." The Betas' Endless Effort Makes for a Magical Event Tammy Horn Shares a Parent's Perspective of Turkey Pull

• Cover