Theta Chi - Drake University

PAGE 3 Endeavors A Testament to Our Past, A Legacy for Our Future Chapter eternal Brothers honored through gifts in their MeMory Matthew James Gaumer Alumni Room to be Dedicated at 2016 Relays I n each newsletter, we have spotlighted alumni who stepped up to make a significant commitment to the campaign. As we wind down our fundraising efforts, we want to take a moment and reflect on some of our brothers who have entered the Chapter Eternal, but not before they each had a significant impact on our brotherhood. This is by no means a complete list of lost brothers who have impacted our chapter, but these brothers passed much too early and inspired our brotherhood to step up and help us surpass our campaign goal. Brother Michael Linn Lytle '70, from Oskaloosa, Iowa, was our first and only brother lost in the Vietnam War. He left Drake during his sophomore year to join the Army with the hope of returning at a later date to finish his journalism degree. Brother Lytle was serving with the Long Range Patrol of the 101st Airborne Division when he lost his life while maneuvering through a river in avoidance of heavy enemy fire. The Michael Lytle Award has inspired many generations of Theta Chi brothers. Brother Michael Edward Long '83, from Mascoutah, Illinois, passed due to complications from AIDS in 1988. While an undergraduate, Mike was known as Mr. Drake. He demonstrated that one could really do it all if one put his mind to it. He inspired countless brothers to step up their game, dive in head first, and get the job done. Whether it was an academic class, a campus commitment, or a social event, Mike was usually at the helm. "I was proud to call Mike a brother and my first pledge son. I miss him terribly." ~Tom Rossley '82 Brother Robert Scott Branson '02 lost his life in 2001. Scott was walking between campus and the chapter house and came upon a road-rage situation where a man was being attacked by three others. Scott stopped to help him. Unfortunately, the man Scott was helping got in his car, drove it toward his attackers, and ran over Scott. The R. Scott Branson Memorial Rock adorns the front lawn of the new chapter house. "He was literally extending a helping hand and, tragically, it cost him his life. He had an incredible impact on the chapter and served in several leadership positions. Scott was a driving force in rallying guys after the 1998-99 reorganization. His impact was not limited to Theta Chi though; I think most Greek students from our class (2002) knew him in some way, shape or form. He was the life of the party everywhere he went. He always had time to listen or help if you had a problem. It's difficult to put into words how deeply his death affected the chapter and the University." ~Charles Jason Thiss '02 Brother Matthew James Gaumer '93 passed in a tragic automobile accident in 1999. Few brothers have had such a transformative effect on those who knew him more than Matt did. So much so that countless brothers have stepped up to name the new alumni room the Matthew James Gaumer Alumni Room. Please join us during Relays 2016 for the dedication of this special room. "He was the first to make a new friend and the very last to say goodbye to an old one. He was always a fountain, never a drain; living a life immune to cynicism, with limitless patience and empathy. All were welcome in Matt's fire, and he made each who accepted that offer feel important and heard. He was simply the common denominator in our house that transcended all cliques and cultures, and he encouraged others to proceed through the doors he opened." ~Andy Fales '93 I believe in Theta Chi… Matt arrived on campus in 1989 with eyes wide open and a grin from ear to ear. Dressed in overalls and Birkenstocks, Matt was ready to embrace all that Drake University and Theta Chi had to offer. After observing the men of Theta Chi who had pledged before him, Matt decided that this was the place that would nurture his ideals, teach him how to become a leader, a better friend, and a mentor for those that would follow. This is where Matt flourished—a teacher of truth, temperance and tolerance, studying and analyzing the virtue of friendship. Matt saw the friendship of virtue attainable through the brotherhood of Theta Chi and its traditions and ideals. I believe in the primacy of alma mater, in the usefulness of my fraternity, in its influences… Matt took what he learned from Drake University and Theta Chi and applied it to his short life after Drake. He went on to serve the fraternity immediately after graduation as a leadership and education consultant. From there he moved to Minnesota to work for Young Life to continue his goal of providing a positive influence for young adults. He then moved to Iowa City to earn his master's degree, where in his free time he volunteered at the Ray of Hope, a suicide support group. Matt was eventually hired as an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa in the area of cultural studies of sport and leisure. This is when Matt decided to travel to Mt. Everest with an Iowa City emergency room doctor to observe the social dynamics that develop in extreme conditions. Matt's influence continues to live on in the lives of the people who were fortunate to cross his path. For the past 16 years, Matt's brothers have gotten together annually to celebrate his life and the influence he had on all of us. It is our promise to Matt that time and space will not diminish the importance of relationships and friendship; that our friendships are based on virtue, and as brothers, we will stay connected and involved in the lives of our peers. We will join to celebrate life's accomplishments as well as its disappointments. We will be there for each other and remind each other that life is what we make it to be. We will reconnect annually to remember our friend Matt and reflect on what he held dear to his heart. We will celebrate by being present and living in the moment. Matt Gaumer Continues to Inspire Theta Chi Brothers By Mike Milliman '93

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