Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Texas

p. 2 TEXAS ALPHA ACCOLADE Alpha Achievement Award Recipient—Kiki DeAyala '83 I n September, Julian "Kiki" DeAyala '83 will be recognized by Texas Alpha with the Alpha Achievement Award at Founders' Day. His accomplishments in athletics as well as real estate development have been many over the years, leading to this special honor. Kiki came to the University of Texas in 1979 on a football scholarship and made his mark on the University's program. As a junior, he was selected second team all-Southwest Conference. His senior year brought the position of team captain and a selection as first team all- Southwest Conference, second team all-American. Thirty-three years later, many of Kiki's records at UT still stand and he is ranked 14th of The University of Texas All-Time 50 Greatest Players. After college, Kiki was drafted by both the United States Football League and the National Football League. He played two seasons in the USFL, earning first team all-USFL honors as a linebacker, and two more seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. His career soon turned to real estate investment with projects in Houston, San Antonio, Laredo, and Rockport, Texas. A 20-year career has included development of the Houston Aeros Aerodrome Facilities, the Laredo Entertainment Center, and currently the Islands of Rockport. When it comes to SigEp, Kiki's connections run deep with a line of DeAyala men joining the fraternity's brotherhood, including his brothers, Carlos '83, Michael '87, and Mano '89; sons, Michael '11 and Christian '18; nephews, Paul '16, Chris '17, Marcus '18, and Alex '16; as well as his father, Rafael, who became an honorary member in 1987 and passed away in 2008. "My years at the University of Texas are filled with some incredible memories," says Kiki. "Football and academics were a full-time job and left me little time to be an everyday participant of the fraternity. However, I am forever grateful that the time I did spend at the SigEp house with my brothers was a great outlet for having some sort of normal social life and quality down time. I take great pride in seeing my brothers, sons, and nephews experience SigEp, and I know my father is smiling from above at the men who were formed as SigEps." Kiki makes his home in Rockport, Corpus, and Houston, Texas, and in addition to his sons, has a daughter, Natalie, and a granddaughter, Margot. Texas Alpha Hall of Fame Inductee—Jerry Smith '79 D uring his involvement as a volunteer the last 13 years, Jerry Smith '79 has told incoming brothers two things. Number one, get a first- rate education. Second, make enough lifelong friendships and memories to sustain you for the rest of your life. "That was certainly my experience, and I think if you polled the alumni at large, that's what they got out of SigEp as well. The strength of SigEp's friendship bond was the greatest attribute I saw in the fraternity and still feel today. There's nothing I wouldn't do for a SigEp and I've had it paid back to me many times over." Serving as rush captain and chapter president while an undergraduate built Jerry's leadership skills and confidence. Professionally, he started his career in public accounting, a beneficial start, but not quite enough to feed his entrepreneurial drive. He soon entered real estate development and owned a chain of 13 retail food stores. In 2000, he transitioned into real estate investment, private lending, and banking. Jerry's leadership in business and in SigEp has impacted countless individuals, leading to his induction in the Texas Alpha Hall of Fame this September. He has served as a member of the AVC, as recruitment coordinator, and as president of the Housing Corporation. Each Friday, Jerry and other volunteers meet with the chapter's executive board, offering structure and guidance to these young men. He was also appointed to the board of SigEp National Housing in May. "It's a huge honor to be given this recognition. Joining that group in the Hall of Fame is a big deal and I'm very humbled. If you have the time and inclination to volunteer with SigEp, I can say that it is a very satisfying way to reconnect with your past while watching today's young men grow and mature." Jerry has also committed as a lifetime member of the Skull & Crossbones Society, the sustaining fund for the TXA Education Foundation. "The mission of our Foundation is very broad so alumni contributions are vital to its success and a necessary element of our 85-year-old chapter's continued prosperity. By breaking down the responsibility across our alumni base, we ensure this continuity at a minimal cost to each." Jerry and his wife, Mashell, live in Austin and have two children, Jerry III and Adrian. Join us in recognizing Jerry and Kiki at Founders' Day—September 25-26

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