Phi Delta Theta - Butler University

Page 4 T he 2015 Homecoming reception at Binkley's banquet room was our venue for this year's Chapter in Review and Scholarship Announcements. A large crowd (standing room only) of undergraduate, alumni, wives, family, and friends enjoyed each others company while partaking in refreshments and hors d'oeuvres. The undergraduate President Jacob Applegarth '17 summarized recent Chapter accomplishments and future plans (see his summary on page 1). He received kudos from the audience for leading the undergraduate Chapter toward another successful school year. Undergraduate Scholarship Chairman Collin Anderson '19 did a great job profiling this year's expanding list of Indiana Gamma Scholarships recipients. Harry Todd '81 and JP Davis '80 reviewed the Scott Teets '80 Memorial Scholarship, while humoring the crowd with undergraduate stories of our departed Brother in the Bond. We are grateful to John Cooke '62 coming through again and announcing the Cooke Family Scholarship recipient, and Stan Cuppy '78 introduced the Ted Lowrie '71 and Craig Fenneman '71 GHQ's Whole Man Scholarship recipients. Alumni across all eras continued to contribute to the scholarship of their choice, helping us increase the number of available scholarships across several channels for deserving Indiana Gamma undergraduate members. As a result, we will hand out over $25,000 in scholarships for the 2016 academic year to undergraduate members; a 25% increase over last year. Alumni at the event were impressed with the undergraduate reports and favored us with $3,000 in scholarship checks at the reception. Thank you to these loyal alumni for making a difference at Indiana Gamma! Appreciation for our alumni's financial support toward funding these scholarships to help reinforce a positive undergraduate experience can never be underestimated. Thank you, alumni! I am 85, going on 86, and when I joined Phi Delta Theta, I was the youngest in my class. The men of Phi Delt thought I was already in college, but I was only 16. They were surprised to find me a real beginner, but my family had a long history in the Fraternity. My dad; older brother, Hilton U. Brown III; grandfather, Hilton U. Brown 1880, the Grand Old Man of Phi Delta Theta; uncles; and cousins were all Phi Delta Thetas. In 1946, I too joined the brotherhood. Although I was officially an active member in the fall of 1946, I was just another pledge in the minds of some of the older members. Jack Fultz '49 was my Guide, helping me through the pledge process. I remember my Phi Delt days at Butler with great pleasure. I played football for Tony Hinkle, either third or fourth string center, depending on whether we had three or four centers. I got in two games for a couple of minutes, intercepted a pass, which I dropped, and became known as "Break Away Brown." I have memories of fires in the fireplace, snowball fights from the roof, evening meetings where Brothers pinned their girlfriends, 2015 Homecoming Reception chaPter in review anD scholarshiP announcements Front Row: Chapter Scholarship Chairman Collin Anderson '19, Whole Man Scholarship winners Jacob Reeves '18 and Jacob Applegarth '17, and Indiana Gamma Scholarship winner Evan Kraus '16. Back Row: Indiana Gamma Scholarship winners Kenny Amadio '17, CJ Stump '18, Zach Bellavia '18, and Bradon Brengle '18. Drew Brothers '18 was the recipient of the Cooke Family Scholarship and Kelly Ryan '16 received the Scott Teets Memorial Scholarship. Always Thinking of Phi Delta Theta Bob Feezle '50 painting the face of an active when we were painting the dining room, and my dad taking care of saplings to be planted around "The Castle." After leaving Butler University, I enrolled at the University of Washington to finish my college education, going to classes in the morning and working a Boeing Company until 1952. I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1952, serving 20 years in active duty in numerous places, including Vietnam in 1966-67, where they shot at me but missed, and retiring in 1972. After leaving the Marine Corps, I helped the Los Angeles Police Department start up their SWAT team and ran parades and ceremonies for presidents, premiers, and such at Camp Pendleton. There are probably a number of Phis from my class still around, but I have unfortunately lost contact with most Brothers. Though I may not be as connected to my Indiana Gamma Brothers, I have Brothers all around the world and it has been a great comfort to have a common bond no matter where I go. My first wife died after 55 years of marriage, and after her passing I could not bear living alone. I soon met and married my second wife, who was from Australia, making the decision to sell or give away almost all of my possessions and move to Australia to start a new life. It was a complete change for me, but I have never regretted it. In my retirement, I play golf at least twice a week, have at least one martini every evening, and I am enjoying life. Yours in the Bond, Thomas S. Brown '50 Bond #851 ts3@mindspring.com The 1946-47 Butler football team. Fourth row, starting with Football Coach Tony Hinkle, is Tom "Break Away" Brown fifth from the left. Hilton U. Brown 1880, president of the board of directors at Butler University in 1946.

• Cover