Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Washington State University

washington beta chapter Jeff Gordon '71 Recalls Energy of SAE Why did you decide to join SAE? When I went through recruitment there were a couple of fraternities that I liked, but I knew some of the guys at SAE who were very friendly and outgoing. Plus the house had just gone through a renovation and the location on the Hill was a good one. What did you enjoy about being a member? I loved my time at SAE. There was an energy in the house that made it a very important place to me. We were very active in intramurals and had a lot of fun. For me, coming from a very small town, having an anchor like a fraternity was a really positive thing. The thing about a college atmosphere, if you look at it, is that the competition in a very small area is very intense. Everyone is competing for the grade. But there's a lot of support in the fraternity to help you if you need it. It's a very important and unique support system. Did you hold any offices as an undergraduate? I worked through the gamut of just about everything and served as EA for a semester. One of the things that you can feel good about in being an officer in the chapter is the fact that your brothers have confidence in your abilities. You learn a lot about moving 60 guys in one direction, which can sometimes be like herding cats. Do you keep in touch with many of your brothers? I've been back to campus a number of times to see what's going on and sometimes run into people who I don't normally see from my era. We recently had a get-together at a wine bar with brothers from my era and younger. Those guys are lifelong friends. Even though we don't interact with each other on a daily basis, you know they're there. What degree did you earn and where did that take you? I earned a bachelor of science in agriculture. I was in the Air Force and then worked for corporate farms in southeast and central Washington. I started farming on my own and later, with my brother, began growing wine grapes to start a winery, Gordon Estates. A lot of the work that we do is not very glamorous, but I like that in the wine industry your name is on the bottle and you're responsible for everything that goes in there. Jeff and his wife, Vicki, have one daughter, Katie, and live in Pasco, Washington. You can reach Jeff at jeff_g@gordonwines.com. SAE Bonds Span Generations Spotlight on Tyler Gibb '87 T hough he's a little rusty on the rites of the ritual, Tyler Gibb '87 has still found the SAE bond to be strong as he watches his son Jayson '16 make his own way as a sophomore in the fraternity. "Every time I talk with Jayson about what's happening at school, it reminds me of a similar situation back when I was there. It's the small, day-to- day things rather than the large events that stand out in my mind. Those undergraduate years are so special—it's the first time you're away from home, you're trying to identify who you are and make decisions." When Tyler started at Washington State, his own family legacy—six older sisters who had attended WSU—didn't give him a direction as far as fraternities. It was a friend's older brother who provided a connection to SAE where Tyler found a group of guys that were friendly, active, and enthusiastic about a wide range of activities on campus. The strong fraternal bond opened up a vast number of experiences and the opportunity to create one's own fun, far removed from the distractions of a large city. Tyler made the most of the academic opportunities as well, and though he earned his degree in mechanical engineering, stayed an additional year to complete the prerequisites to take the MCAT. For his efforts, he was awarded the Walter B. Jones Award for academic achievement, a national SAE award given to one undergraduate in the nation. Tyler attended medical school at the University of Washington and completed a radiology residency and an interventional radiology fellowship at the University of Arizona. Learning from his experiences, Tyler says, "You have to keep your eyes open. Don't ever be afraid to adjust your career to what fits you best." Now Tyler practices interventional radiology in Longview, Washington, and also volunteers with Washington Beta as a member of the alumni advisory board. "It's been rewarding to revisit the house and feel so welcomed. It's invigorating and encouraging, in fact. Guiding the young men is challenging, especially as things are in the process of changing. They have to figure out how they can adapt to those changes and still apply the principles of SAE. They're doing a good job of things." Tyler and his wife, Sharon, an AOP while at Washington State, have three other children: Lauren, a graduate of Gonzaga; Grant, a junior in high school; and Reece, who is in seventh grade. Tyler enjoys watching the kids' sporting events, boating, fishing, and summertime activities at the lake. He can be reached at tylergibb@comcast.net. Tyler Gibb '87 (right) at Dad's Weekend with his son Jayson '16 and brother-in-law Ron Waddell '81.

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