Alpha Tau Omega - University of Missouri

A Longstanding Legacy... Welsh Family Members Talk Gamma Rho Bonds L egacies unite Alpha Tau Omega members beyond their bloodline, and few Gamma Rho legacies run deeper than the Welsh family. Rick Welsh '84 and Donnie Welsh '90 sat down to discuss their fraternity experiences and how the family maintains strong ATΩ connections today. Finding the Fraternity "I was the third member of my family—Danny Welsh '72 was first, my brother John Welsh '78 was second," Rick said about joining the Welsh ATΩ legacy. It was an easy decision, and Rick quickly began making memories with brothers during each year's cornjigger. Donnie also joined due to family ties, and he fondly remembers playing intramural sports with Gamma Rho brothers. The Welshes did their part to benefit Chapter operations through executive leadership roles throughout the years; Danny served as worthy master, John and Rick as worthy chaplains, Donnie as worthy master, Rick's son John '21 as VP, and Donnie's son Jake '23 as current worthy chaplain. Danny and Donnie have also served multiple terms on the Chapter Board of Trustees. Development Beyond College Rick and Donnie credit ATΩ for their paths after graduation, and Rick remembers looking up to former President Tim Gleason '83 as a role model in the House. Donnie's connection to one Gamma Rho alumnus helped him find a job and kickstart his career after college. "I landed every job I ever interviewed with because of those leadership roles and experiences," Rick added. "[Fraternity years] are a point in your life, growing up and maturing, that you go through together and can't be replicated." Extending the Legacy Both alumni agree that today's Gamma Rho membership maintains the same familiar bonds of ATΩ brotherhood. Donnie currently has three sons in the active Chapter, and he enjoys seeing them build similar friendships with members that he and Rick enjoyed with their classes. "We're one family with many different legacies, and we're fortunate to have 18 members of the family as brothers of Gamma Rho and counting!" Donnie mentioned. "We're one of many with multiple generations going through the House." Rick's son continues to prioritize Gamma Rho connections after recently graduating from Mizzou. Rick and Donnie's sons just finished college, and Donnie believes their shared ATΩ bond brought them closer than ever. Though some parts of the Gamma Rho experience were lost when ATΩ was off campus for a few years, Rick and Donnie have tried to get involved and restore the value of traditions like cornjigger rituals and pledge dad/pledge son bonds. They encourage fellow alumni from their generation to reach out to the Chapter and find opportunities to share stories and revive old traditions. You can connect with Rick at rick@welshandassoc.com and Donnie at dwelsh1113@gmail.com. 3 GAMMA RHO REPORT Help Us Grow the Brotherhood Submit a Recruitment Referral D o you know a young man attending the University of Missouri who would be a great fit for ATΩ? Let us know! Send recruitment referrals to... St. Louis Recruitment Chairman Parker Goessling '22 (314) 348-4472 | pjgoose54@icloud.com OR Kansas City Recruitment Chairman Cooper Benz '22 (913) 710-1070 | cooperbenz04@gmail.com OR President Bill Powers '22 (573) 476-4012 | billwillpowers@gmail.com You can also submit a referral by filling out the recruitment form at: mizzouato.org/join-ato. WELCOME, N E W MEMBERS Caden Bish | Lake St. Louis, Mo. Jeffery Fetterhoff | Lake St. Louis, Mo. Damian Grabowski | Deerfield, Ill. Matthew Kulp | St. Louis, Mo. Christian McGowan | O'Fallon, Ill. Matt McKauge | St. Louis, Mo. Cole Taddei | O'Fallon, Ill. Nino Trubacik | St. Louis, Mo. Evan Wirth | Carmel, Ind. Donnie Welsh '90 and fellow ATΩs enjoy spring formal in 1990. From left: Rick Welsh '84, Jim Cosgrove '84, Skip Miller '84, Kevin Neidling '84, and friends at the 1983 cornjigger. "To watch my sons thrive and succeed in the same fraternity I was a part of is so special. There's a feeling of pride that comes along with three boys being an instrumental part of ATΩ today." –Donnie Welsh '90

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