Sigma Phi Epsilon - Auburn University

Generally SPEaking page 2 T he brothers of Alabama Alpha lost a cherished brother on January 23. The unexpected death of barrett "bear" mccoy townsend '13 sent a major shockwave throughout the entire campus of Auburn University. In truth Bear never met a stranger and was a friend to many individuals throughout the Auburn area. Bear was the youngest of three children, all brothers of Alabama Alpha. His older brothers, light '10 and Jake '12, and parents, Helen and Jack, were very close to the brotherhood of Alabama Alpha. The Sigma Phi Epsilon family and the Townsend family will always be linked in numerous ways. Even after his passing in January, Bear's impact continued. The brothers of Alabama Alpha came together to help the Townsend family and each other in the grieving process. A candlelight vigil filled Samford lawn with family and friends. Many brothers also attended his funeral in Florida. The support received has been immense and prove that our brotherhood is unmatched. Brothers came together and shared the stories that every brother had with Bear. We continue to learn from him today and celebrate the legacy of love that he left in our fraternity. max beebe '16 and ben morgan '16 made a plaque that hangs over the stairs leading down to the band room. It serves as a reminder to everyone who enters our house to genuinely care about others and to learn from the life of a person who we all loved that we truly are one. We will always remember Bear in the way he loved life in such an intensity. D aniel murray '97 received a summer bid to join SigEp but held off to go through recruitment. Yet, after receiving a bid from another fraternity and accepting it he knew something didn't feel right. "I felt something was missing, and the foundational quality of those friendships being offered at the other fraternity paled in comparison to those offered at SigEp that had begun in the summer." On the last night of recruitment, he returned to the SigEp house and accepted his bid. In hindsight Daniel sees how important it was to him to have access to a diverse group of men, as opposed to a group in which most of the members look the same, dress the same, have the same interests, and are from the same region. "College was a transformative time for me, and the diversity at SigEp allowed me to be exposed to different types of people and realize that it is okay to be your own person." Daniel credits SigEp for largely preparing him for life after college, specifically how to understand, manage, and interact with different types of people. These valuable assets allowed him to understand that depending on a close-knit group of people who are just like you can provide some level of resource in life and business, but knowing and being able to depend on a diverse group of people with a brotherhood bond prepares one for a large, open mindset. After graduation Daniel worked as an estimator and project manager for a large non-residential general contractor headquartered in Birmingham. He worked there for 10 years (including co-op time while at Auburn) before leaving in 2006 to start what would become Murray Building Company. He has enjoyed building and working with a team that maintained a formula for success through a tough economic time. In 2010, his company was awarded Small Business of the Year by the Birmingham Business Journal and in 2013 General Contractor of the Year by the Subcontractors Association of Alabama. "It is about making investments in our company to build a new headquarters, retain good people, and implement new software, technology, and processes while feeling the rewards of achieving a goal as a team that was planned and executed well, as well as grounded in a company culture and purpose that honors God and is greater than any individual." Daniel's advice to undergraduates is to go out of your way to keep up with those you consider close friends and help them any way you can. "This will be hard when life gets full, but it's a good feeling to have people you can support and who can support you." For career success he adds, "Always set good goals and boundaries and maintain a healthy work and life balance. In your life be honest and trust others, and do something which results in no personal gain except a good feeling afterwards." He also suggests that alumni reconnect with the Chapter to help provide this type of mentorship for members. "Alumni interaction is important to the chapter for many reasons; to support and stay connected through a central organization and cause that is common to all SigEps and to let us all continue to see the tapestry of diversity and fellowship that is woven by all of our involvement in the organization." Daniel keeps in touch with a few brothers through business relationships and a group of 10-12 through intentional contact. He also stays connected with many more through the annual Brian Little Memorial Golf Tournament, which honors Alabama Alpha brother brian little '95 who we lost in 2006. In Daniel's free time he enjoys spending time with his wife, Cary, and supporting the development of his sons, Grayton (9), Ben (9), and Parks (5). He also enjoys home improvement, reading, golf, running, and fly-fishing. E-mail: dmurray@murraybuildingcompany.com DivErsity BuilDs A strongEr ChAptEr Spotlight on Daniel Murray '97 Alabama Alpha Remembers Barrett "Bear" McCoy Townsend '13

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