Phi Gamma Delta - University of Kansas

www.kufiji.org M ore than 180 Kansas FIJIs gathered on a brisk fall Friday night in Lawrence for Pi Deuteron's annual Norris Pig Dinner. It was a fitting number as we consider the 180-degree turn our Chapter is on track to complete next year. Throughout the dining room in the cavernous Oread Hotel, I saw signs of Pi Deuteron's steady progress. In keeping with tradition, we welcomed 27 new members who carried in the pig. Their presence reflected a robust recruiting program designed to attract bright, capable, and outgoing young men into our Fraternity. The registration list included 16 members from three recent graduating classes: 2021, 2022, and 2023. They accounted for 20 percent of the Graduate Brothers in attendance. Another two tables included a baker's dozen from the class of 1993. They reunited after losing two men earlier this year; we recognized those Brothers during the somber Ad Astra roll call. We also acknowledged 43 Undergraduate Brothers who received a total of $88,000 in scholarships from the Chapter's endowed funds: Horejsi, Morris, Ritchie, Norris, Moore, Phillips, Radcliffe, and Payne. We also cheered the seniors, the class of 2025, for their active involvement. The University of Kansas tracks student retention from year to year, and I would like to see our Chapter do likewise. Pi Deuteron's class of 2025 has retained more than 90 percent of its members! They not only stayed active through the tumultuous year of the university suspension, but they also have remained steadfast in their commitment to the Fraternity's New Model for Membership. In fact, when section leaders at a recent leadership academy asked for examples of Phi Gamma Delta Chapters that are making progress on implementing the model, a leader of the International Fraternity said: "No one better than Kansas." Work remains, there is no doubt. Improvement is a vital effort and requires Graduate Brothers to commit to advising the Undergraduate Brothers and the Chapter's new member class every fall. But let that sink in for a moment—"No one better than Kansas." Mighty Proud! Jim Bloom '80 President of the Board of Chapter Advisors Perge! Walter A. Strauch '58 shared, "With the passing of my lovely Jayhawk cheerleader bride, I recently moved to Dover, N.H., to be closer to our three daughters and their families." He and fellow FIJI Dick Murray '57 have kept in touch for the last 64 years. Their wives, also KU '58 graduates, were roommates at Sellards Hall. Gene W. Jackson '63 recalled that in fall 1959, his pledge class "walked out" to see a KU vs. CU football game in Boulder, Colo. "After fighting our way out of the house, we took a charted bus to Boulder and saw the game the next day. After the game, we went to a dinner/dance hall and took the bus back to Lawrence to resume classes on Monday. Gene was impressed by the Boulder area and moved there after leaving the Air Force in 1970. "The QB at that game was Bill Crank '60." Gene shared. "There were a bunch of Phi Gams on that team, including John Peppercorn '60, Con Keating '63, Gary Jouvenat '63, and Fred Exline '63." Gene lives in Longmont, Colo. Email: jagjaxon@msn.com Robert L.R. Boulware '66 retired from officiating professional and collegiate tennis in 2023. He is a former coordinator of tennis officials for Big 8 and Big 12 and a former referee for 25 NCAA Division II National Championships. He resides in The Villages, Fla. Email: rob.b2691@gmail.com Lennis "Punch" Young III '79 is almost retired and milling logs in Southwest Missouri. Email: lennis.young@yahoo.com G. William Quatman '80 retired as general counsel at Burns & McDonnell in March 2021. He has a small consulting practice, Quatman ADR LLC, in Kansas City. He and Denise have three grown children and eight grandchildren. Email: gwquat@gmail.com Stephen S. Schaefer '91 enjoys being on the BCA and supporting Head Editor Kyle Jones '26 with the FIJI Jayhawker. Stephen lives in Pewaukee, Wis. Email: sschaefer1068@gmail.com Attendees gather at the Oread to enjoy an unforgettable Pig Dinner. From left: Reece Kanaeda '27, Max Branish '27, Brandon Kennedy '27, Wes Dwyer '27, Aidan Covinsky '27, and Ethan Ciscar-Clipp '27 enjoy an amazing view of the Ozarks before dinner. AD ASTRA Charles T. Crawford '52 – August 17, 2024 Heywood H. Davis '52 – December 7, 2024 Arthur M. Miller '53 – November 19, 2023 Robert Stinson '56 – July 16, 2024 Forrest B. Cox, Jr. '57 – December 7, 2023 Larry J. Manion '57 – June 11, 2024 Larry L. Hill '60 – February 14, 2024 John M. Suder '60 – February 7, 2024 James W. Straight '62 – January 27, 2024 Richard A. Manka '67 – May 31, 2024 David D. Scott '93 – January 20, 2024 Lockhart M. Walker '93 – July 31, 2024 ALUMNI U P D A T E S NO ONE BETTER PIG DINNER RECAP

• Cover