Phi Gamma Delta - University of Texas

John Newton '00 Mark Winter '79 John C. Shepherd '85 Patrick McNamara '08 Rogan Giles '00 Will Fawcett '00 The Longhorn Fiji – The University of Texas at Austin Established 1883 TEXAS FIJI H Spring 2025 B ack in November, standing shoulder to shoulder with my pledge class at our 25- year reunion, something clicked. It wasn't new information—my head had always known it— but in that moment, my heart finally caught up: brotherhood doesn't end at graduation. In many ways, that's when it truly begins. As I listened to my pledge brothers laugh, reminisce, and reflect, I was struck by how this bond has deepened over the years. Over the past quarter-century, these men have built businesses together, carried one another through seasons of loss, and remained a consistent source of strength and joy. The connection we formed at Buen Retiro has continued to shape who we are—and outside of family or faith, these may be the most enduring relationships of our lives. But what moved me most wasn't just the friendships within our own class. It was the stories of brothers reaching across generations— mentoring younger Fijis they never overlapped with at UT, offering career advice, internships, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom you only get from someone who's walked the road ahead. Just this week, I got a text from a brother who was a pledge when I was a senior. Today, we're in a bourbon-and-books group—a multi-generational fellowship that's still growing, still sharpening each other decades later. The older I get, the clearer it becomes: nearly every lesson I've learned about leadership, character, and community had its roots in my Fiji years. My pledge semester taught me persistence, accountability, service—and the quiet but powerful act of simply showing up for your brothers. And maybe the most important leadership lesson of all: Give back. Pay it forward. So, I invite you to take a moment. Reflect on what the Tau Deuteron Chapter and Buen Retiro have meant to you. Then ask yourself—how can you invest in its future? Whether through financial support, mentoring, or opening a door for a younger brother, your contribution matters. This place helped shape who we are. And if we stay connected, it will keep shaping those who come after us—teaching them, as we were taught, to become men of courage, responsibility, scholarship, and character. GTBO, The Rev. John Newton '00 Head of the BCA jwnewt@gmail.com The pledge class of 2000 celebrates their 25-year reunion. Alumni with Longhorn football legend Vince Young (center left). From left: Jason Downie '88, Brian McCabe '88, Mike Grigsby '88, Joe Knauth '88, and Curtis Hutcheson '88. R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M A 2 5 - Y E A R R E U N I O N Brotherhood Beyond Buen Retiro Brotherhood Beyond Buen Retiro BCA MEMBERS BCA MEMBERS

• Cover