Beta Chapter of Beta Sigma Psi at Purdue University
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Page 2 A lan grew up in the Lutheran church and didn't consider any other fraternities. Jeff, who had also grown up in the church, got to know Beta Sigma Psi through his father's Fraternity brother, John Hingst '46. Bill was also a legacy but never felt pressured to join; however, he found that Beta Chapter was the right fit and had the right connectivity for him. In Beta Chapter, the brothers learned how to live and get along with others, enjoyed leadership opportunities, and forged lasting friendships. Bill and Alan also found their future wives in the Beta Sig Little Sister Class of 1974. A strong friendship quickly formed between the three brothers. "I moved into the house my first year early to march with the Purdue Band and found it nearly deserted, just one guy sitting on the front porch," Jeff shared. "That is how I met Alan. I met Bill a semester later when he returned from a co-op program." Jeff and Alan roomed together for two years, the second of which they lived on the third floor, which had only two rooms. Bill lived in the other room. When Alan graduated, Bill and Jeff roomed together. "The friendship grew out of regular late-night visits to Riehle's bar or Sambo's restaurant to discuss the pressing issues of the day," Bill recalled. "Spring break 1975 saw the group sailing in the Gulf of Mexico aboard Jeff's sailboat and a fortunate encounter with the U.S. Coast Guard." The bonds of Beta Sig are the only ones that have lasted more than 50 years, and even with brothers scattered across the world, they remained in touch with visits, Christmas cards, and the like. In 2016, the three met in person for the first time in a long time. Then in 2018, Alan purchased a charter yacht in the Caribbean and invited Bill, Jeff, and their wives to join him and his wife on board for a week. "That reestablished the relationship and companionship we had in college," he shared. "We had so many common bonds it was as though we had never been apart." Although the brothers couldn't get together for a few years due to COVID-19, they reunited in 2022 when Alan and his wife made a trip to Indianapolis to visit family. They called Bill (who resided in Indy) to stop by and see him, and he invited them to stay for a couple of nights. "Jeff drove down from South Haven, Michigan, and we had a great time going to a ball game and visiting Bill and Nancy in Carmel," Alan shared. The brothers decided to keep reunions consistent and have been getting together twice a year since. They usually rotate spending two to three days at each other's homes and enjoy spending time together, laughing and sharing memories. "There is a lot of time spent reconnecting and chatting over some beverages," Bill shared." We usually take in a museum, ball game, or some event, and take in a restaurant but always leave room for a rousing game of Mexican Train [dominoes]." "I think we all cherish and realize how wonderful and special the bonds are that we formed 50 years ago," Jeff said. "Life at this point has given us the time, health, and near enough proximity to each other that we can't squander that opportunity." You can connect with Bill at william.bussing@gmail.com, Alan at coe@aol.com, and Jeff at jhollis1954@gmail.com. Brothers for Life From left: Jeff, Alan, and Bill showcase their Purdue spirit. Throwback! T H R E E B E TA S I G S R E U N I T E A N N UA L LY The bonds of Beta Sig are for a lifetime. Meet Bill Bussing '72, Alan Coe '72, and Jeff Hollis '73, who became great friends in the Fraternity, remained connected over the years, and have been getting together since 2018. "I think the three of us all just found compatible kindred spirits in each other. From the beginning, I think we each saw similar drives, work ethics, values, faiths, and commitments." –Jeff