Florida Alpha Remembers 60 Years of Service a Tribute to Dave Hendon ’50
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For alUmni and Friends oF The Florida alpha chapTer SigEp no. 13 • spring 2009 Gator UniversiTY oF Florida , s igma phi epsilon Heart inFormaTion www .Flalpha .org Florida alpha remembers 60 Years oF service a Tribute to dave hendon ’50 t is with great sadness that we inform you collect cigarette wrappers at the stadium after Iof the passing of Dave Hendon ’50 , former football games,” he remembered. Philip Florida Alpha AVC treasurer Morris ended up sending the Dave’s Charges to and president, at the age of Chapter a huge radio console that 84, on Wednesday, April 29. was a big hit. Florida Alpha The following article detail - 1. Send articles to The Journal every year. ing Dave’s devotion to the Always interested in fostering fraternity was printed in the Brother development, Brother 2. Print an alumni directory every 2004 fall edition of the SigEp Hendon would bring in profes - two years. Gator Heart: sionals to speak about their indus - 3. Throw an anniversary party tries and careers. “I also made every five years. “If you speak to any Brother pledges learn about SigEp his - 4. Invite the leaders of Gainesville about which University of tory,” he continued. “I would to the house. Florida alumnus most show them a blanket with a sports 5. Collect and maintain a history embodies brotherly love, you letter on it to see if they knew the of the Chapter. are sure to hear the name Brother it belonged to.” Dave Hendon ’50 . No other man has given 6. Do something for the house as much of his heart and his time to Florida Dave met his first wife, Sarah Chester, in each year. Alpha. A very sentimental man, he will often Jacksonville at the Florida-Georgia game. “I 7. Pay down the mortgage . shed a tear when recalling his memories of thought she was pretty, and she thought I 8. Send letters or postcards to Dave. SigEp. Through his dedicated service as an was cute, telling all kind of jokes.” A day undergraduate and alumnus, Dave has been after Dave graduated from UF in February the lifeblood that gave continuity to the his - 1950, SigEp Founder Tom McCa ul Over the next six decades, there was one con - tory and well-being of our local Chapter. (University of Richmond ’03 ) wed the two. stant on the AVC: Dave Hendon. He brought “Terry Lyle ’48 was my best man, Terry’s a business-like approach to managing our Dave came to Gainesville in 1942 and brother sang at my wedding, and all the financial affairs and was personally involved joined SigEp in his first semester, along groomsmen were SigEps.” Cancer took her with every mortgage we have ever had, with about 15 other men. “We had a bunch life in 1996, and four of the six pallbearers including paying off two of them. of guys from Plant City, and we debated at her funeral were FL Alphas ( Terry Lyle during Chapter about whether we should ’48 , Mark Delegal ’89 , Leo Winfree ’35 , Dave also spent a lot of time on the road. He subscribe to the Tampa Tribune or to The and Dave’s son, Mark ’80 ). would open the FL Alpha alumni directory Jacksonville Journal ,” he said with a and travel to a city to meet with Brothers – chuckle. It was then that Dave started docu - As an undergraduate, Brother Hendon most of whom he never met before – to intro - menting the history of Florida Alpha by motioned and voted to pay off the mortgage, duce himself and get them excited about dear submitting articles to The Journal . which was about $16,000. It only made sense old Fraternity. Sarah often wondered where that a few years later he became treasurer, his she was on the list, and she insisted she was In 1944, World War II took Brother Hendon first and longtime position on the Alumni behind SigEp and Dave’s mom, in that order. to England and France, and he returned to the Board. He took the post after Huber Hurst States over two years later. He was not able to ’28 , another Florida Alpha Order of the SigEp presented Dave with the Fraternity’s return to UF immediately due to an automo - Golden Heart recipient, stepped down. highest honor, the Order of the Golden Heart, bile accident, but after almost two years of “Huber was a dapper fellow with double- at the ’71 Atlanta Conclave. “Tom McCaul rehabilitation, he returned to Gainesville. For breasted suits and wavy hair. He once confis - carried a walking stick from World War I in the next two years, Dave was the pledge mas - cated a guy’s clothes, suitcase, and typewriter France, and he put a red napkin on the stick ter for Florida Alpha. “I made the pledges for not paying his dues.” and waved it around.” (Continued on page 2) Page 2 SigEp Gator Heart a Tribute to dave hendon ’50 (Continued from page 1) Brother Hendon retired from the board last Dave is survived by his children, Mark and March (2003) to spend more time with his Sandra; his grandchildren: Nicole, Christopher, new wife, Jane McKinney. They married Jason, Kelly, and Kali; and his great-grandchil - January 4, 2004, and enjoy playing dominoes dren: Sarah, Savannah, Madelyn, and Hayden. and bridge, spending time with friends, and watching the wildlife around the water from Donations can be made in Dave’s memory to their NW Gainesville home. the Florida Alpha Added Dimensions Fund (to be used for scholarships or other educational The brothers of Florida Alpha gathered Alumni gathered at the house during the needs) by check at P.O. Box 12182, around and sang Dear Old Fraternity Founder’s Day event to celebrate Dave’s Gainesville, FL 32604-0182. in tribute to Brother Hendon. many years of diligence. National Director Bert Harris ’74 read a glorious proclamation from Grand President James F. Robeson Although Dave is no longer with us, the impact he has made upon Sigma Phi Epsilon (University of Cincinnati ’59 ). Then every - will always remain. Fellow Brothers remember the legacy of Dave: one shared stories about Florida Alpha and expressed their appreciation to Dave. Even “Dave was a SigEp icon and the bedrock of “Dave dedicated his life to SigEp. I worked though the overall spirit was festive, every - Florida Alpha. His service was selfless, pas - with him in 1963-1965 as the chapter con - one had a tear in his eye, knowing he was sionate, and focused. I and many others owe troller. He taught me a great deal about leaving the board. our SigEp experience to Dave and his 60- accounting, bookkeeping, and dealing with plus years of service to our Fraternity.” people. “These skills helped me throughout Brother Hendon spent the majority of his life A.J. Siccardi ’98 my career. As is true for so many brothers, making Florida Alpha a better experience for Dave became a lifelong friend and men - everyone, and his love of the Fraternity cen - “Florida Alpha was shaped into the brother - tor. He was a role model of integrity, hard ters on brotherhood. “The best things about hood it was in the 1960s and continues work, and love for our Fraternity. Dave was SigEp are the people and the friends. My best today due to Dave Hendon’s guiding hand always available and willing to help solve friends are SigEps, and I have more friends and influence. Every Brother owes a sin - any problem.” around the United States than I do in cere debt of gratitude to Dave. We all need Steve Shewbrooks ’66 Gainesville.’ There will never be another to ensure that his legacy lives on.” Dave Hendon, and we are forever grateful for Robert Cogswell ’66 his devotion.” Thank You From the Heart March 26, 2004 Dear Brother Hendon, bers for the last 60 years. I know of no one else We have found that every long-term quality in our great Fraternity who can make such a chapter depends upon a long-term alumni com - I understand Florida Alpha is gathering on claim as to touch so many lives. mitment. Through your life’s service, you have Saturday, March 27, 2004, to celebrate your set the standard for our Fraternity. Your com - many decades of service to Sigma Phi Epsilon. Your Chapter has remained consistently strong, mitment is displayed in the long-term success I write to add to their praise and appreciation with six Buchanan Cups, nine Phi Beta Kappa of Florida Alpha. of your efforts and contributions. Wheelhouse recognitions for superior grades, balanced athletes and significant campus lead - For years, we have feared the day you retire Among those who are familiar with our ers. Your efforts have truly enriched the lives of from service. While I cannot help but lament Fraternity’s history, we know of no other Brother thousands of young men in their quest to become our loss, on behalf of Sigma Phi Epsilon, I who has committed so many years to a Chapter’s Balanced Leaders for the World’s Communities. extend our very sincere thank you for your life - service. Your service exceeds 60 years. time of service. It has truly been a job well Generally, we recognize a lifetime of service Housing is an important element of the SigEp done. Your Brothers—both at Florida and the with half of that with the Order of the Golden experience. Your efforts have produced a nation over—thank you from the heart for the Heart. Unlike anyone in our history, you qualify Chapter House worth over two million dol - dedicated service to shape the future of so for two.