Sigma Phi Epsilon - Missouri University of Science & Technology

page 2 Beartracks Dr. LeRoy Thompson '56 Inducted into Order of the Golden Heart I t is very difficult to communicate how much fun and extremely rewarding it was to witness Brother Thompson's induction into the Order of the Golden Heart. National requires that the inductee not be aware of his selection until the reading of his biography at the alumni awards dinner at Conclave. We wanted LeRoy's family to have the opportunity to attend the event, while still keeping the award a secret. LeRoy's son, Michael, and two of LeRoy's grandsons made the trip from Foley, Alabama, to Dallas and sat beside LeRoy at the table for the dinner without LeRoy suspecting anything. LeRoy has been and continues to make extraordinary contributions to Sigma Phi Epsilon. The following is his biography that was read at the alumni awards dinner. You came to Sigma Phi Epsilon halfway through your time as an undergraduate. These two years must have made quite an impact, as you returned to the Chapter as a volunteer within five years of your graduation. You found a Chapter in desperate need of support and were quick to address academic and membership concerns. way to its first Buchanan Cup. Today, the Chapter room in the Missouri Gamma Chapter House is named in your honor. When life brought you to Florida to help found the Department of Engineering at Florida International University, you looked to continue your support of Sigma Phi Epsilon. It took almost 10 years before you connected with a local fraternity that would become SigEp, the first national fraternity on campus. You oversaw the growth of that new chapter from 28 men to 92 in its first two years, and eventually you saw them win multiple Buchanan Cups under your guidance as chapter counselor. Once you stabilized the Chapter, you turned your attention to housing. Those who were there tell the story that they left school for the summer with an old house and returned in the fall to a new annex that added 16 beds. They give credit to you for LeRoy Thompson honored at Conclave. designing, contracting, financing and building the Anyone who has worked with you notes your addition. Little did they know then that you would return twice more to significantly improve housing for your Chapter— incredible commitment and impact over a lifetime of service. Your first in 1969 to build a new home and again in 2010 to renovate that brothers say, "He made us believe we could accomplish anything with same facility. That last time, it was your handwritten letters and personal hard work," and "You were always working behind the scenes to ensure touch that were the driving force behind the Chapter's successful $1.2 our success." You have ensured Sigma Phi Epsilon's continued success at your home Chapter and are responsible for bringing your second million campaign. home chapter at Florida International into our Fraternity. For 15 years, you played a critical role in the growth and development of the Chapter as both Chapter counselor and faculty advisor. By the For your lifetime of service and dedication, we bestow on you, Brother time you left in the 1970s, the Chapter was over 100 men and well on its LeRoy Thompson, the Order of the Golden Heart. Memorable Experiences from Conclave Join Us in Nashville in 2015 I attended my first Conclave in 1957 in St. Louis. The brothers and I had so much fun that we convinced 26 other brothers to go to the next one in Washington, D.C., in 1959. We won the attendance and man-mile trophies, becoming the first Chapter to win both at the same time. Conclave is a great experience now as it was then. A Missouri Gamma member doesn't realize that he has joined the world's best fraternity until he attends a Conclave. On the first day of this year's Conclave, Chapter President Brandon Baber '14 remarked, "This is really something!" Seeing the pride in the eyes of the parents of Casey Zimmerman '14 and the realization that Dr. LeRoy Thompson '56 would be honored are what makes Conclave so special. We hope to win the attendance and man-mile trophies again in August 2015 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville. I will look forward to seeing you there! Fraternally, Mike Kearney '61 Top photo: Betty Thompson, Casey Zimmerman '14, Jo Kearney, Mike Kearney '61, Barbara Hurst, Michael Hurst '74, Brandon Baber '14, and LeRoy Thompson '56 have dinner at Conclave. Bottom photo: Tammy and Chuck Zimmerman, Fort Hays State '78, attend Conclave with their son, Casey Zimmerman '14.

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