IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
PAGE 3
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
President
Charles Scales '14
Park Ridge, Ill.
atogammaupsilonpresident@gmail.com
Vice President
Michael Wilson '15
St. Louis, Mo.
atogammaupsilonvp@gmail.com
Treasurer
John Rickert '15
Davenport, Iowa
atogammaupsilontreasurer@gmail.com
Chaplain
Peter Gallos '13
Gurnee, Ill.
atogammaupsilonchaplain@gmail.com
Membership Educator
Mac Copeland '15
Libertyville, Ill.
atogammaupsilonme@gmail.com
Secretary
Joe Grasso '16
West Des Moines, Iowa
atogammaupsilonsecretary@gmail.com
Risk Management Chairman
Kyle Whitaker '16
Cary, Ill.
atogammaupsilonriskman@gmail.com
Philanthropy Chairman
Ian Seal '16
Franklin, Tenn.
atogammaupsilonphilanthropy@gmail.com
Scholarship Chairman
Chris Diaguila '16
Lake Villa, Ill.
atogammaupsilonscholarship@gmail.com
Social Chairman/Public Relations Officer
Bryce Pahl '16
Algonquin, Ill.
atogammaupsilonrecruitment@gmail.com
Alumni Relations Officer/Historian
Spencer Suckow '15
Elgin, Minn.
atogammaupsilonaro@gmail.com
Recruitment Chairmen
Kyle Clancy '16
Johnston, Iowa
Braden Classon '16
Stillwater, Minn.
atogammaupsilonrecruitment@gmail.com
D
ennis Kushlak '61 met Norm Hammer '61 and Lee Ashmore '61 during Gamma
Upsilon's recruitment. They were in a unique position because they fell between the
traditional fall and spring recruitment seasons, but that ultimately brought them closer
together. They moved into the house at the same time, and off campus when they were
seniors. "We spent three years of the best part of our lives together," said Dennis. "We
enjoyed house dates, going out on the town, and hunting and fishing together. We were
a closer bunch than most."
Dennis, Norm, and Lee remain close friends to this day. They started getting together
on an annual basis a few years ago, spending a few hours together catching up and
reminiscing. All three have earned their Golden certificates from National for 50 years
of membership, which gave them an opportunity to spend a full day together in Ames.
ATW provided Dennis not just with lifelong friends, but also skills that have benefitted
him in his career and life since graduating. He hopes the chapter remains a strong
influence for future generations as well. "I would like ATW to continue to offer the same
experience that we had when we were undergraduates. We had a work hard, play hard
atmosphere, which bound us together. That's how our chapter succeeded. We were small
in numbers, but we could compete with anybody. One time we won a contest and became
the only house on campus with a color TV."
After earning his degree in mathematics, Dennis went on to teach math for 37 years. He
also coached football and basketball in Ohio for 42 years. As an undergraduate, he was
a member of Iowa State's football team (where he ultimately was recruited for ATW by
Jim Stebbens '58), so coaching was a dream of his. Dennis was a high school geometry
teacher, a subject many math teachers don't enjoy teaching. But geometry is a passion
of his, so much so that he shared it with his students through songs and projects, which
many still remember.
Dennis and his wife, Mary, live in Berea, Ohio, and have six children and 15
grandchildren. He is very active in his church and local organizations, is an officer in
the Basketball Coaches Association, and president of his high school alumni association.
Now that he is retired, he enjoys being more involved with these groups. He is also an
avid reader. You can contact Dennis at dkushlak@aol.com.
Dennis Kushlak '61
Maintains Close Ties with
His Gamma Upsilon Brothers
Norm Hammer '61, Lee Ashmore '61, and Dennis Kushlak '61.
