Sigma Chi - University of Memphis

3 SIGMA CHI A Sigma Chi Through and Through rowing up in southeast Arkansas, in a town with a strong alumni chapter, Lloyd Rowland '72 knew from an early age that he wanted to be a Sigma Chi. "When it got time to enroll in college, at the then Memphis State University, I already knew based on the character of those alumni in McGehee, I wanted to be a Sigma Chi." During the recruitment process at Memphis in the fall of 1968, Lloyd met, Stan Thibodoux '71, whose grandparents had grown up in Lloyd's hometown, and from that point on, his time as a Sigma Chi was solidified. G As an undergraduate, Lloyd experienced many highs and lows, but through it all he always embraced the love for the brotherhood that is Sigma Chi. Nine months after his initiation, Lloyd was there when the house burned down on Thanksgiving night in 1969. Lloyd says the strongest memories he has as a Sigma Chi are as a result of the fire. "After the fire, a core group of Sigma Chis stuck around, and while we did go through some hard times, none of it seemed to matter when it came to events such as initiation, when all worries were put away and the only thing that took precedent was the love for our Sigma Chi ritual." Lloyd served in the roles of magister and consul for the Epsilon Kappa Chapter. One of Lloyd's fondest memories while being in the chapter is of serving as magister and his pledges kidnapping him and dropping him off at Ole Miss in Oxford. Upon reflection, Lloyd recalls the Spirit of Sigma Chi saying, "different temperaments, talents, and convictions," and wishes that he really would have known what that meant. His time as consul taught him not only how to trust the right people, but also how to be more objective and tolerant of others. Lloyd also credits Bill Parrish, Beta Sigma, for being there for adult leadership when the Chapter needed it the most. Two months after his graduation with a bachelor's degree in communications in May 1972, Lloyd was commissioned to the Air Force, where he earned the rank of second lieutenant as a rescue helicopter pilot for five years before flying fixed wing aircrafts. Lloyd's duties had him flying surveillance flights between East and West Germany, Cuba, Desert Storm, and more. Although this job moved him across the world 17 times in 20 years, Lloyd never lost sight of his Sigma Chi teachings. He carried a copy of the Jordan Standard in his pocket for over 40 years and stated, "The standards that we were taught helped me through some tough decisions in my career." After retiring from the Air Force in 1996, Lloyd worked for the Department of Defense for 16 years and retired in the summer of 2012. He worked with six Sigma Chi brothers at the agency headquarters and said that because of that ritual bond, "you can instantly trust the person you are looking at." On his last trip to Memphis, Lloyd and Nancy ate at Blue Plate Café and in less than thirty seconds the owner, Brother Mike Richmond '68, recognized them and joined them at their table. "We had not seen each other in 40 years, yet instantly we recognized each other and sat and talked for over two hours. That is what it is all about." Lloyd met his wife of 42 years, Nancy, on a blind date that was set up by a Sigma Chi brother. They have two sons, one of whom was president of his Theta Chi chapter at the University of Virginia, and twin granddaughters. Lloyd says that although he may be retired, life has not slowed down, and he is having fun with it all. In his free time, Lloyd enjoys fishing, hiking, reading, and vacationing at his home in West Virginia. BRICK CAMPAIGN huge success for us and the Chapter. We are starting to contact e: www.sigmachi.wildapricot.org. We would like to thank those $350 contribution and a brick with name and initiation year Ethan Norwood Zac McRae '96 Robert O'Bryan '87 Thomas N. Pappas III '65 Doug Payne '01 Stan Peppenhorst '65 Ryan Peters Charles Pierce '04 Justin Prescott '09 Chase Presson '09 Michael Price Jr. '92 Thomas Ratliff '08 Richard Reyle '84 Tyler Ricossa '08 Mike Richmond '65 Lloyd Rowland '69 Tyler Rudd '01 Andrew Ruhland '94 David Ruhland '89 Jamie Russell '98 Jimmy Sanford '94 Matthew Schwartz '11 Michael Shaul '09 Brian Sherman '90 Bryan Smith '87 Ken Snyder '90 Jim Steiger '71 David Stroupe '66 Clay Thompson '99 Jon Trantham '90 Jimmy VanEpps '92 Michael VanEpps '93 Kurt Voldeng '86 Joshua Walker '94 Richie Weaver Michael Wiegert '85 Bob Wilhelm '93 Patrick Wills '12 Don Wilson '66 Jacob Wingfield '08 Middleton Wingfield '65 Robert Wingfield '09 Jason Wood '92 Jack Yates '93

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