Sigma Phi Epsilon - Missouri University of Science & Technology

PAGE 2 BEARTRACKS A brotherhood has a responsibility to instill values of growth and service. As a high school senior, Michael Hurst '74 toured Missouri S&T's campus with Chapter Counselor Dr. LeRoy Thompson '56, he admired the group of young SigEps he met and knew he had found an excellent opportunity for friendship and personal development. Mike served as Chapter historian his junior year. He married his wife of 52 years, Barb, during his first semester, and SigEp's apartments for married members gave them a great place to stay. "As a married member, my focus was on campus organizations," Mike said. "I participated in 11 campus organizations, holding president, treasurer, vice president, and secretary positions in five of them." Mike's extracurricular work was encouraged by SigEp, and these leadership roles prepared him for a long career with McCarthy Building Companies. He began as a project engineer, which moved him to different parts of the country, and was later promoted to assistant project manager on a major hospital project. Mike moved up through the office ranks, being promoted to president and COO by 1995. He is especially proud of his work in improving McCarthy's safety performance, lowering the company's lost time incident rate from 3.21 on 3.7 million manhours to .25 on 6.3 million manhours. By the time Mike retired in 2007, McCarthy's volume had grown from $800 million in 1996 to $2.9 billion. "I always had this pressure in the back of my mind that I wanted to pay back for what SigEp had done for me," Mike said, reflecting on his success. "I wanted to make certain other young men had the opportunity to experience an outstanding fraternity." To give back, Mike got involved in 2005 with the Alumni Corporation Board and was quickly immersed in the housing chairman position. Shortly thereafter, Mike took on the responsibility of leading the campaign to fund a complete Chapter House rebuild. He personally met with over 70 brothers, traveling to multiple states and forming new bonds with alumni. "Mike Smith '65 and Alpha Smith stand out as I reflect on this," Mike said. "Barb and I met Mike and Alpha in Corpus Christi, Texas, at a Mexican restaurant. None of us had previously met. After a four-hour lunch, Mike committed to a substantial contribution and agreed to assist with the campaign. Over the following years, we got together multiple times, including visiting at their home in Dallas." Mike took over as president of the Alumni Board after Mike Kearney '61 ended his term. He recognizes the need for dedicated volunteers in the fraternity, and it provides a great opportunity for alumni to reconnect with brothers while meeting new ones. Joining SigEp opens doors for a lifetime of opportunities, and Mike is glad to invest in Missouri Gamma's future. He strives to keep the Chapter House in a like-new condition for members to move in each fall, and he believes that a quality facility promotes quality brothers. "My focus is on the undergraduates having a meaningful and valuable experience that will be a positive factor in their entire lives," Mike said. "Having the leadership responsibility for a 110-man Chapter, taking care of the finances, being responsible for the care of the house, and all the Balanced Man educational programs are great opportunities that round out a member's formal education. These kinds of opportunities are only valuable if it is an excellent Chapter." Mike and Barb have two children, a son in Phoenix and a daughter in St. Louis. Their daughter is married with a 12-year-old daughter of her own. In their free time, Mike and Barb enjoy traveling and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and more. The two have frequently visited Europe, and they even rented a villa in Italy for a month where they hosted groups of friends and family. Aside from his volunteer work with Missouri Gamma, Mike has also found various opportunities to serve his community, work industry, and university. You can connect with Mike and learn more about his involvement at md_hurst@yahoo.com. It StartS wIth SIgEp HOW MICHAEL HURST '74 STAYS CONNECTED THROUGH SERVICE "SigEp instilled in me the importance of community service." • Board of Directors chairman, Edgewood Children's Center • Board of Trustees member, St. Louis Science Center • Board of Directors member, Regional Union Construction Center • Board of Directors member, St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce • Board of Directors member, AGC of America • Board of Directors member, AGC of St. Louis • President, AGC of Arizona • President, Arizona Builders' Alliance • Board member, Great Circle Endowment • Chairman, St. Louis Construction Training and Advancement Foundation • Order of Golden Shillelagh, MS&T • Academy of Civil Engineers, MS&T • Board of Trustees member, MS&T MIKE'S COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS Dave Braun '79 (left) receives an obelisk from AVC President Dave Denner '76 commemorating his achievements on the AVC. A VC member Dave Braun '79 was recognized by District 27 and the MO Gamma AVC for his significant contribution over the past four years. Dave has spearheaded Beartracks communication efforts and has recently accepted the AVC role of Housing Chairman. Thank you, Brother Braun! A Worthy Volunteer

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