Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Alabama

The Red Door AVC Leadership Encourages Alumni to Reconnect G reetings, brothers. We are at mid-academic year and there are many activities taking place at the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide is having a great year and is one of the first college teams bowl eligible. The undergraduate colony on campus is working diligently, preparing records in preparation for requesting Chapter designation, with their recruitment numbers continuing to meet expectations. With this success, we plan to be one of the strongest fraternities on campus through academics and development of young leaders. Plans are being implemented to get our men back into a house on University Boulevard. If you did not receive this e-mail, you can visit the undergraduate website at www.alabamasigep.com and follow the link that has information on housing plans. The website is a tool that we plan to use in communicating key events. Let me take this opportunity to recommend using the biographical update to relay all of your contact information, with the goal being to develop a strong alumni database. It is important for us to keep you involved. Brothers, it will be your efforts and support that will allow us to maintain a strong relationship with the University of Alabama. Please visit the website and stay in touch. Fraternally, Mark "Fish" Salmon '87 AVC President fish87@me.com Kermitt Southern '57 Credits Alabama Beta Tenure for Career Success M any of us end up following career paths that were different from what we originally intended. Kermitt Southern '57 may have experienced the most dramatic change of any, from aspiring to become a high school band director to becoming a career Army aviator. When Kermitt was attending the University of Alabama after transferring from Florence State Teacher's College (now the University of North Alabama), he was a music education major and member of the famed Million Dollar Marching Band. His plan was to graduate with his degree, fulfill his military obligation (he was a member of Army ROTC), and get a job as a high school band director in Alabama. However, as Coach Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast, my friend!" Upon entering active duty and completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Kermitt was assigned to a unit in Korea. There, he made friends with the unit's aviation officer and began accompanying him on routine flights, where his love for flying began. After reassignment to Ft. Benning, Kermitt gained certification as a rotary-wing (helicopter) pilot on the "Huey" (UH-1), spending more than two years at Benning assigned to a test unit of the 1st CAV Division, which was testing the new concept of moving infantry units to the battlefield via helicopters, now known as air-mobile infantry or air-cav. He retired from the Army in 1982 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Kermitt has many fond memories of his years at the University and in Alabama Beta. There were 12 men in his 1954 pledge class and the Chapter had around 50 members. After initiation, he was chosen as recruitment chairman, a job which he enjoyed immensely. Kermit also was elected vice president and president during his undergraduate days. Over the past year, Kermitt joined with other alumni in meeting and discussing plans to support the Chapter and work to get Sigma Phi Epsilon rechartered and back in on-campus housing. "Seeing that the Chapter has done so well, I want to have a connection to help the young men sustain the success they've had," he said. "I look forward to reconnecting with other alumni at future Alabama Beta events." Kermitt and his wife, Pat, an Alabama alumna, reside in Birmingham. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and a dedicated military wife, following Kermitt when she could and holding down the fort at home when he was away. Kermitt and Pat have one son, two daughters, and five grandchildren, one of whom is an airborne ranger on active duty in the Army. You can contact Kermitt at k.southern@att.net. Judd Stinson '71 Grateful for Fraternal Leadership Experience J udd Stinson joined Alabama Beta in the fall of 1968, eager to embark on the next phase of his life. He served as Chapter president during the 1970– 71 school year, creating a passion for the Chapter that still resonates with him today. After graduating in 1971, Judd went to work in management for J.C. Penney in Miami. During his time there, Judd enjoyed a successful career, but realized that he wanted to do something else with his life. He enrolled in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta to further his education. After his first two years at Emory, Judd took a year away from school to work at the United Methodist Church in Niceville, Florida. Upon his return to Emory, he completed his degree and was ordained as a United Methodist minister in 1980, meeting his future wife, Libba, at their ordination. The couple married in 1982. Judd and Libba were there first clergy couple in the Southeast to serve as co-pastors at the same United Methodist church. Their first church was in Foley, Alabama, but they went on to serve at churches in Monroeville, Alabama; Mariana, Florida; and Eufaula, Alabama, co-pastoring for 20 years. After Eufaula, Judd became the minister of FUMC in Andalusia and Libba went on to serve as director of connectional ministries. Judd remembers his SigEp undergraduate days very fondly, specifically the brotherhood and lasting friendships. He credits his Chapter presidency for preparing him for the ministry, helping him learn to deal with a variety of people and personalities. Judd is looking forward to reconnecting with his fraternity brothers and the SigEp undergraduates.

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