Theta Chi - University of Florida

PAGE 2 TAU TOPICS T I E D T O T A U Strengthening Relationships Realty Board President Stresses the Importance of Connections R eflecting on his undergraduate years, Brad Jones '96 appreciates the lifelong friendships he created and how living in the Chapter House for three years provided him with endless memories and adventures around every corner. "It was amazing being 18 to 22 years old and living with some of the smartest, brightest, and most driven college students in the country. We all supported each other and encouraged one another to reach our goals," he said. As the newly elected Realty Board president, Brad's initial plan is to raise alumni involvement directly, whether that be attendance at football games or other various social events. He also plans on improving communication with alumni as a whole. "We have a long, successful history and I want to continue that," he said. "We recently celebrated our Centennial, and I'm looking forward to the seeing what the next 100 years will bring." Since graduation, Brad has stayed involved with Theta Chi through various positions. He served as a national consultant for two years, has been on the Realty Board for three years, and works on special projects for Tau Chapter. He is frequently involved with the active Chapter, and is impressed with the overall quality of both the Chapter House and the undergraduates. "My sense of pride in Theta Chi comes from the accomplishments of my brothers, both alumni and undergraduates. We have a long history of successful people coming from Tau Chapter and I'm looking forward to seeing how far we can go." Building relationships is a common theme throughout Brad's life, both professionally and fraternally. Professionally, Brad is the director of surgical development for HCA Hospitals and works to strengthen the relationships between the surgeons and hospitals. He advises undergraduates to use their college years as a time to form lifelong friendships, and for alumni to realize how many brothers have an open door. "Life is all about relationships. We're all looking for connections, and it's amazing to see what can happen by a simple phone call or e-mail," he said. Brad lives in Sarasota, Fla., and can be reached at bradjonesuf@yahoo.com. Whit Blanton '82 Stays Involved With Theta Chi W hen Whit Blanton '82 went through fraternity recruitment, he had an initial connection with his friend Richard Freeberg '82 and older brother Tom Freeberg '78. The men he met were welcoming and easy to connect with, giving Whit reassurance that he would fit in at Theta Chi. "There was a great sense of belonging in Tau Chapter. The University of Florida is a big school and you can get lost. Theta Chi kept me connected through our Chapter meetings, activities, events, and excellent friendships," he said. "I knew my brothers were upright guys I could count on, and that was very important for me at the time." Since graduation, Whit has stayed connected with the Chapter through many ways. From being interviewed for his job by the mother of Brian Seel '04 to being next door neighbors with Brian Duchene '83 for nine years, Whit has been tied to Theta Chi since he first walked through the doors of Tau Chapter. The diverse backgrounds and locations of his brothers helped prepare Whit for his position as executive director of Forward Pinellas. "Tau Chapter gave me a sense of responsibility, an opportunity for leadership, and a sense of belonging that has inspired me to challenge myself and become better connected in my profession and community," he said. During his undergraduate years, Whit's favorite times were doubles racquetball intramurals, sitting in the Theta Chi block for home football games, and the game day parties. He also built the legendary "Blue Room" with his roommate, Richard, while living in the Chapter House. Whit has had a chance to visit the active Chapter regularly and says the biggest change on UF's evolving campus is the new Tau Chapter House. He advises current undergraduates to get to know their professors and their research and publishing interests, because coursework provides a good basic education, but more success is found when going beyond the basics and exploring deeper into a field of study. Whit and Cathy have been married for 26 years. They have two daughters: Melanie, a UF alumna, and Amelia, a Florida State University sophomore. Whit recently moved to Clearwater, Fla., and enjoys running, bicycling, gardening, homebrewing, and watching Gator sports and baseball in his free time. He can be reached at wblanton@forwardpinellas.org. "My sense of pride in Theta Chi comes from the accomplishments of my brothers, both alumni and undergraduates. We have a long history of successful people coming from Tau Chapter and I'm looking forward to seeing how far we can go."

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