Alpha Gamma Rho - Penn State University

I was a forestry major when I pledged AGR in 1965, but the prospect of calculus physics led me to change my major to zoology. I became interested in anatomy when I took two human evolution courses and bought a spider monkey who lived with me in the house the summer after I graduated (1968). I meant to study the anatomy of prehensile tails like my monkey had in graduate school but took up the shoulder muscles of bats instead. Following my Ph.D. in anatomy in 1968, I taught human anatomy at Duke University Medical School for seven years and then all sorts of vertebrate anatomy courses at Grand Valley State University in Michigan until my retirement in 2020. While at Duke, I bought an old farm in southwest Virginia and planted an orchard of apples, about 200 varieties which I grafted myself, and I continue to harvest the apples and provide scionwood to those who wish to graft their own trees. I get down to the farm as often as I can. I really am a farmer at heart! I was the last house manager of AGR prior to the fire in 1966, and I learned quickly how to fix most things that went wrong in the house and to keep the coal furnace cleaned and stoked with the soft coal we burned back then. The house was heated with steam from the furnace, and I was often visited by brothers on the third floor complaining about the lack of heat up there and had to go throw more coal on the fires. In those days, the current and past treasurer and house manager lived in "the hole," a couple of rooms to the north of the kitchen. We had our own bathroom and even a bathtub! I often still think of the wonderful friendships I developed with brothers older and younger than I was, and the lessons I learned about life, even through the rigors of "hell week." I suppose some fraternities use that week to torture their pledges, but ours was definitely designed to promote brotherhood among the soon-to-be full brothers. We respected one another, and we all had a deep love for our house and our loving housemother, Armena Williams, who patiently taught me to play pinochle when I wasn't able to find a date to a party. I know there are a lot of anti-fraternity sentiments these days, but I have nothing but gratitude for the years I spent as an AGR. Even our year in the Nittany Quonset huts, now long gone, in 1966-67 while the house was being repaired after the fire was filled with good times, including Tiger McGuire driving his bug-eye Austin-Healy Sprite into the lounge of one of the huts for some repairs. We respected one another and our fraternity, and all of us were the better for it by the time we graduated. Fraternally, Tim "Beast" Strickler '66 (Γ894) Tim "Beast" Strickler '66 (Γ894) Shares His AGR Story Gamma Chapter Alumni Association P.O. Box 102 Mexico, PA 17056-0102 Address Service Requested ΑΓΡ gamma crescent In this fast-paced world, staying connected matters more than ever. Help us maintain the bond that makes Alpha Gamma Rho special by updating your digital contact information while it's top of mind. Your details ensure you receive the latest AGR news, event invites, and opportunities to reconnect with fellow alumni. Simply send your updated information to updatemyrecord@penningtonco.com with "AGR PSU Email Update" in the subject line. Thank you for helping us strengthen our AGR connection! Update Your Contact Information Now Keep Our Connection STRONG Grateful for the Brotherhood Do you know of an incoming freshman who is a quality man? Send his information and why you think he'll be a great addition to Alpha Gamma Rho to VNR Recruitment Franny Doerr '23 (Γ1934) at frannydoerr@icloud.com. Join us in finding the right men to bring Gamma Chapter to new heights! Send Us Your Recruitment Recommendations Calling All Alumni! Pictured: Tim's wife Judy and son Eric, Eric's girlfriend Jen, and Tim.

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