Sigma Phi Epsilon - Missouri University of Science & Technology

mo gamma INSIDE THIS ISSUE St. Pat's Memories AVC President Report Undergrad Report A History Lesson SPRING 2023 As written in the book Forged in Gold, MS&T historian Larry Gragg tells the story of the MSM students who forged the way for St. Pat's celebrations, when in 1908, "The committee called upon fellow students not only to decorate the entrance to Norwood Hall, but also to put up posters around town declaring March 17 a school holiday and calling upon all students to meet at the Frisco depot. About 300 people gathered at the depot where they got green sashes and shillelaghs." Each year hence, the events gained traction, Gragg writes. "Most years, the annual St. Pat's celebration attracted positive attention in the state- wide media. For example, in 1916, one St. Louis reporter claimed that the event surrounding the St. Pat's activities made Rolla 'a town you ought to see before you go to Paris and die.'" Thanks to the dedication of the St. Pat's board, who still manage St. Pat's celebrations, the traditions have been carried on throughout the years. Like painting Pine Street green, which happens early the morning of the parade. Here are just some of the great St. Pat's memories from our fellow SigEp St. Pat's board members. We hope you enjoy! GOING GREEN GOING GREEN St. Pat's Memories "Some of my favorites are best left undocumented, but I think it was in '67 that our float ran into a police car at the end of the parade, then backed up to escape and managed to hit it once again. The cops issued a ticket for 'reckless float driving.' That one is right up there with the citation issued by the City Dog Catcher for one of Lightning's adventures. It read: 'Did willfully let dog run loose.' Well, so much for due process." –Tom Cadwell '67 "I remember our infamous Snoopy float - man that float was awesome! It was driven by my good friend Wojo, who I am sure has a story to tell. But my most vivid memory of being a St. Pat's rep came in 1968 at the knighting ceremony when my dear fraternity brothers started chanting for the guards to throw me in. When they hung me over 'Alice,' they turned to the crowd in the stands asking for a thumbs up or thumbs down. The entire stands showed thumbs down and the guards looked down at me and said, 'Sorry!' and my fate was sealed." –Tom Gibilterra '68 "I remember the time 'Mom' packed up the U-Haul and took us to Jeff City, where the legislature issued a proclamation for St. Pat's declaring that all Missourians were honorary Irish and encouraged to visit Rolla. We were able to sneak a few drinks into the chambers … and got caught. I was threatened to be held in contempt, and the sergeant-at-arms confiscated my drink. Within a few weeks, I happened to be working as a page in the Illinois Capital and telling one of the house reps about St. Pat's. He said, 'I could really go for a cold beer,' so I fulfilled his request. Another contempt was coming my way, until the chair said, 'It's okay, he's one of those Rolla board rep guys.' I'm told it is still part of the official legislative record." –Kevin Hubbart '86 "As a board rep, I had the unfortunate experience of celebrating my 21st birthday on the Thursday before St. Pat's weekend…then I remember waking up sometime in the middle of May with poor grades and a severe sunburn." –Dennis Grelle '73

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