Beta Theta Pi - University of Oklahoma

Page 2 Once a Beta, Always a Beta F Will Obering '57 Grateful for Fraternity Experience or Will Obering '57, his Gamma Phi experience has played an instrumental role in his life. When he began college, the fraternity provided a social in, and Will went through the recruitment process. After meeting with several fraternities, as well as taking a recommendation from his OU sister ("who did not date at the Beta house but considered it the best fraternity on campus"), he decided that Beta Theta Pi was the path he wanted to take. "I made a decision that I have never regretted. The brotherhood in the Beta chapter was the best in the school," he said. " After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor of science in geology, Will went to work for a small oil company in southeast Asia during the height of the Cold War. "Being over there gave me a different perspective on things. I really enjoyed it," he said. After, Will went to work in South America for work which eventually paved the way for him to own a domestic oil company today. " I believe in the fraternity system as a way to educate our young men about how to conduct themselves in their daily lives. I believe in preserving that experience. Looking back on his Beta experience, Will sees the impact that the fraternity had on his life. He was able to meet several influential people, had positive role models in the chapter, and matured as a person. "It was an experience that I certainly wouldn't have wanted to miss." Will's favorite memories included social gatherings with various sororities on campus and football Saturdays. When asked about Gamma Phi, Will talks about his fraternity experience and how it has impacted him for more than 40 years in the oil business. "I believe in the fraternity system as a way to educate our young men about how to conduct themselves in their daily lives. I believe in preserving that experience." Will still keeps in touch with his pledge class today and the group has gotten together for reunions over the last 30 years, from California to New Mexico and even Wisconsin. "It is a lot of fun to get together and catch up on life with everyone. Sometimes I think I enjoy them more now than when we were undergraduates!" Will and his wife, Julie, live in Wilson, Wyoming, and have three children and one grandchild. In his spare time, Will enjoys fishing, skiing, hunting, and collecting American art. He is also involved with the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. You can contact Will at wobering@helmenergy.com. Brad Liebmann '85 Credits Gamma Phi for Leadership Experience and Lifelong Friends, Encourages Alumni to Reconnect B rad Liebmann '85 was recruited to Gamma Phi during the summer of 1981. "The class of '85 was almost entirely recruited during the summer process. I instantly clicked with many of my pledge brothers at my first Beta recruitment party, which was a canoe trip down the Illinois River," he said. "We all more or less decided to pledge Beta that day and we remain very close. Bill Banowsky '83, Jeff Dietert '83, and Richard Howell '83 put together a great group of young men." After graduating with a bachelor of science in finance, Brad worked in commercial real estate in Dallas and New York, and then investment banking in New York and London. He was senior vice president of technology mergers and acquisitions with Lehman Brothers when he decided to start his own company, Simply Business, in London. The organization had over 225,000 business customers and 200 employees when Brad sold the company in July 2013 and retired to St. Lucia. Blessed with a variety of career experience, Brad encourages undergraduates to surround themselves with smart people who are passionate about what they do. "At Lehman Brothers I always tried to work for the smartest bankers from whom I could learn the most. As an entrepreneur, I hired people who were smarter and better than me at something. Whether you work for them or they work for you, being part of a smart, passionate team is critical for success. I was able to learn that in Gamma Phi." When asked about his time in the chapter, Brad mentioned the lifelong relationships he formed but also cited the importance to prepare undergraduates for a successful future. "Gamma Phi made me well-rounded. The close bonds I formed, particularly with my pledge brothers, taught me that there is so much more to being successful than money. Some of us from the class of '85, including Link Barr '85, Brad Durham '85, and Stan Vlasimsky '85, have been fortunate enough to retire already and spend more time with our families and other pursuits," he said. "We were privileged to enjoy such an empowering experience, and we still benefit from those close bonds because of the generosity of the alumni who preceded us." Brad and his partner, Michael, live in St. Lucia, British West Indies, and they have two children. You can contact him at brad.liebmann@gmail.com.

• Cover