Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Missouri

MissouriAlpha • 2 • 10 0 Y ears o f Missouri Al p ha Some Things Stay the Same By Bob Grose '54 N ostalgia. That's what I felt when I approached the red door at 405 Kentucky on April 11 for the first time in 60 years. Once inside, a quick tour showed that, physically, nearly everything had changed, but nothing had changed. The renovation that the Cornerstone campaign funds made possible was well executed. I hope the undergraduates appreciate the effort that made it all possible. At the open house on Friday, the camaraderie of the alumni was evident. Graduation year was no impediment to conversation, although I was a bit embarrassed to find I was the only attendee from the 1950s. Saturday's events were nicely paced and provided more opportunities to mingle with attendees who came from coast to coast, border to border. The Ritual was a nice refresher course in what SigEp is all about. Lunch at the Club Level suite at the football stadium was a treat. Needless to say, the stadium has grown a bit since Don Faurot was the coach in my day! Touring the campus in the afternoon, one couldn't help but notice the multitude of new buildings. But some things never change: students taking advantage of the beautiful weather to frolic around the columns. The day culminated with the centennial celebration banquet. The leadership shown by the undergraduates at the dinner demonstrated that the chapter is in good hands. All in all it was an incredibly fulfilling day. In a chat with Dave LaRusso '76, he assured me that the finances of the chapter are sound and paying down the mortgage is on track. One of my goals in life is to live long enough to see my oldest granddaughter, now 10, walk down the aisle at her wedding. After this centennial celebration, I've added a second goal: to live long enough to attend a burn-the- mortgage celebration. It can't come soon enough, and I hope that more of the able-bodied brothers from the 1950s will choose to attend. You'll be glad you did. In closing, I think it only appropriate to thank John Hartman '61 for masterminding the celebration and my wife of 55 years, Polly, for sharing the weekend with me. Bob Grose '54 and his wife, Polly, at the centennial banquet. Alumni gathered on the patio for Friday night's open house at the chapter house. Things stayed lively during Friday night's festivitites. Graduates from the 1960s and '70s display their SigEp flag.

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