Delta Delta Delta - Kansas State University

Delta Delta Delta MAN 'SUPERMAN' ON FLOOR: PROFILING TRI DELTA'S LARRY SAMPSON arrying his trusty toolbox up the front staircase, K-State Tri Delta maintenance man Larry Sampson readied himself for yet another repair task. As he approached the long hall to the east, he yelled the traditional warning, "man on floor." The sound of laughter and conversation emanated from the first room in the hall. "Is there a man in the house?" one resident asked. Another replied, "No, it is just Larry." "Our family has laughed (often) about this incident which occurred several years ago," Larry said. Larry Sampson is a frequent visitor at 1834 Laramie for repairs and routine maintenance. Current officers describe him as one of most dependable individuals they have ever met. "He is willing to change his schedule to work with ours if need be." Other adjectives they used to describe Larry include "pleasant" and "optimistic." CONNECTIONS TO THETA IOTA AND THE EARLY YEARS Born in Abilene, Kan., Larry graduated from Abilene High School and then attended K-State, earning a bachelor of science in industrial education in 1962, followed by a master's degree at Pittsburg State University. During his youth he experienced the hospitality of K-State Tri Deltas. His sister, Jeannene Sampson Shivers '52, invited him to join other brothers and sisters of members for "Siblings' Weekend." Thus he spent the night at the house, which he recalled as appearing "really big then," without the new wing and with Ivy's Nook being an outside porch. While attending K-State, Larry served as a houseboy at Tri Delta on a substitute basis. "At that point in time houseboys were not paid, but did receive a free meal and all dishes were washed and dried by hand," Larry said. After graduation, Larry was employed as a teacher at Manhattan High School, teaching drafting, aviation, and after school driver's education. He explained that while at K-State he obtained his pilot's license, and he has over 800 hours of flight time. He also taught adult aviation evening classes and has worked as an examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration. POST-RETIREMENT CAREER After retiring from 31 years of teaching, Larry founded his own one-man construction company, focusing on remodeling. From there he began working for sororities. "A physical education teacher at MHS talked me into fixing a mailbox at the Kappa Delta house, and they kept calling me back to do other jobs. I enjoyed the work mainly because I could make my own schedule and did not have to make sure somebody was going to be home. Yes, the mailbox at Kappa Delta is still there!" As the business began to grow, Larry was joined by his family in the summers—his son, Kevin, his daughter, Lori, and his wife, Lois, all provided assistance. Kappa Kappa Gamma became a client. Then, Joan Hubbell Shull, University of Colorado '48, a neighbor and good friend who was an active Tri Delta alumnae, asked him to work for Theta Iota Chapter. Larry explained that when his daughter, Lori, was living in the Kappa Alpha Theta house, he worked for them without pay. Then, after her graduation, he charged them for his services. He considers his job title to be that of "maintenance man." Larry's family includes his wife, Lois, whom he states "Does his computer work," and "knows what tool I need for every job," son Kevin Sampson, a mechanical engineer, and his wife, Heather, and their sons, Caleb and Blake, and daughter Lori, a math teacher by profession, and her husband, Michael Dodge, and their daughter, Mia. Besides Larry's daughter, his daughter-in- law, Heather, is also a K-State Theta. His son and son-in-law are members of the K-State Theta Xi chapter. His sister, Jeannene, now lives in Celebration, Fla., but will soon be moving to a new house fairly close to Ocala, Fla., to be closer to family. HIS WORK AND THE FUTURE Larry said that the most common repair issues he deals with concern building plumbing, electrical, and cabinetry. He further stated that the most challenging task for Tri Delta was likely the renovation that took place about 10 years ago. Of all the sorority houses, the four-story, 30-foot addition to the back of the Kappa Kappa Gamma house was the most challenging, he added. When asked what he wishes the sorority members knew, he answered, "If they knew their directions-north, south, east, and west-it would make my job easier. When they say 'left or right?' I don't know which way they are facing. The other day I had a message that read, 'light out around the corner.' Do you know how many lights and corners there are in that house?" Larry said he should plan to retire, but settles for traveling with his wife in their fifth wheel camper. He appreciates the gratitude expressed by many of the sorority girls he has helped over the years, both during their collegiate years and later. "I've run into girls years later who will say, 'Do you remember the heater you fixed in my room?' Rachael Witaszak '15, Theta Iota house manager, summed it up by saying, "Larry knows everything about this house, more than anyone else, and that's what makes him so special to Tri Delta!" Larry and his wife, Lois, at their 50th wedding anniversary celebration. 3

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