Beta Theta Pi - The Ohio State University

THETA DELTA DRAGON THETA DELTA DRAGON Page 2 T he class of 1964 has held a continuous Homecoming party since 1961, which is quite amazing! We haven't missed since, except for the COVID years, of course. HOW IT BEGAN The first '64 Homecoming party was held at the house belonging to the parents of Gerry Galbreath '64 at Scioto Country Club. After that, Jim Turner '64 hosted at his parents' home for several years. We moved to restaurants in downtown Columbus until members began hosting in their own homes. For the past two years, the party was hosted by Ralph Talmage '71, even though he isn't a 1964 brother—we have since expanded to include Theta Delta Betas from the '60s and '70s. Members returned from across the country, including California, Washington, Florida, North Carolina, New York, and Iowa… and Ohio, of course! All these Homecoming parties included food, beverage, singing Beta songs, and even a snakeline or two. But the real reason was to share old stories, catch up on each other's lives, and maybe add some new fantasy stories (Gus was always good at that!). GROWING THE GROUP The '64s have always been welcoming. We originally expanded to invite the next several classes because many of them were little brothers, then it took the reverse to big brothers and some even older! At the 50th Homecoming party, all "fraternal fifties" were honored at Scioto Country Club, where we had the biggest turnout ever. Beta Theta Pi General Fraternity President Tom Purinton, Georgia '63 conducted the ceremony. We are a tight-knit group. We've grown up, and older, together. In 1969, six of us (couples) bought a cottage together at Pleasant Hill Lake in the Mohican Watershed Conservancy District near Mansfield, Ohio. We bought a boat, and everyone learned to water ski, including our kids as they came along! One night, we collectively brainstormed naming what eventually became many of the development properties of Bob Taylor's businesses on Sanibel Island, Florida. We also partied on New Year's Eve for three years before our members began scattering around the country, so Karen and I bought the property and owned and enjoyed it for another 30 years. LASTING CONNECTIONS The point of all this is to tell a story of the class of 1964 and how we stayed together for more than 60 years. Adding to the Homecoming parties, Karen and I hosted tailgate parties before Buckeye home football games for the past 40+ years, which were attended by many '64s. Our present-day undergraduates don't have that same attachment, but they could! Mike Brown, Dartmouth '57, owner of the Cincinnati Bengals, recently accepted Beta's highest honor for professional achievement, the Oxford Cup, in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 24. Including an appearance by fellow team owner and Oxford Cup recipient Shad Khan, Illinois '70, some 40 Beta brothers, family, and friends came to support the momentous occasion. Seven area Chapter presidents also joined in the celebration, representing Centre, Cincinnati, Denison, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, and Ohio State. "I know something about lifelong friendships," Brown remarked, speaking directly to the collegiate men. "[Fraternities] are seedbeds of lifetime friendships. And you're so fortunate to benefit from that. I have, you will, and it's a wonderful thing to have." Brown offered nothing but kind words and witty humor for his two closest friends in the room, Jack Schiff '65 and Tom Kinder, Miami '76. The Fraternity awards the Oxford Cup in recognition of achievement of the highest order. Recipients must be loyal members of Beta Theta Pi who have brought honor to the Fraternity through distinguished service and accomplishments in their chosen professional fields. It was developed in 1984 by then- President Peter E. Van de Water, St. Lawrence '58 and General Secretary B. Hume Morris, Centre '68. Morris also wrote the award ceremony and designed the Cup, a smaller version of the Pater Knox Golden Wedding Anniversary Loving Cup. Yours in -kai-, Joe Chinnici '64 Chapter Goals Achieve IFC Chapter of the Year at the 2024 SFL awards. This is something that has not been done since Theta Delta was rechartered in 2015, but we believe it is possible with the work we have been putting in and the incredible things we have been doing. Have better involvement within the Greek councils on campus. More specifically, have at least three brothers holding positions and, most importantly, a brother representing as IFC president next year. Improve our GPA standing within the IFC. We hope to achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and ultimately have the best GPA of any Fraternity on campus. Undergraduates participate in Clean Up Columbus Day. 60 Years of Homecoming Parties A LIFELONG BOND OF BROTHERHOOD A blast from the past for the Pledge Class of 1960 and Graduating Class of 1964.

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