TX Bradley S19 1st Client MANIFESTO THE NEWSLETTER FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF GAMMA UPSILON CHAPTER OF THETA CHI FRATERNITY AT BRADLEY UNIVERSITY - SPRING 2019 Looking Forward to the 70th by Looking Back at the 50th By: Ken Lombard ’99 It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years already. Back then I was a to quiet down, and peace was restored once again. Brothers of various “seasoned” undergraduate; president of the fraternity. The year was 1999, generations were all seamlessly socializing as if we had all gone to school and before we could get into the swing of worrying about the impending together. All in all, it was a fantastic event and I’m sure many of you reading doom of Y2K (Fake News!), we had a pretty big shindig to host—the 50th this have your own great memories of that weekend. anniversary of the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity! There were banners made (and eventually stolen…then eventually recovered). So, why bring up an event from 20 years ago? Well, because I now find The other actives and I manned the Bradley University phone banks to run myself as one of the alumni organizing the 70th anniversary. Twenty years through the entire roster of living alumni and encouraged them to make later and the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Theta Chi is still very much alive the trip down. We had the chapter house sparkling clean* and ready for and kicking with a great group of guys at the helm. I am now that alumnus alumni and their families. in his 40s who will be regaling the current undergrads with all of the stories of my time as an undergraduate, as well as all the other stories that were Our alumni came out in full force—’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s—all decades passed down to me by other alumni. Another reason to bring up that event were represented. As an active, it was truly an amazing experience. Talking is to ask: when was the last time you visited the chapter house? Was it that to so many generations of Theta Chis and hearing their stories. It revealed weekend in April of 1999? Before even then? Ten years ago? Five years ago? to me that the house personality may have changed many times in those 50 years, but the common string of Theta Chi brotherhood was strong no However long it has been for you, the 70th anniversary is as good a reason matter the decade. Talking to a brother from the ’50s was as easy as talking as any to make the answer to that question “this year.” There is an entire to a recent alumnus. agenda of events planned for you. It starts on Friday night with drinks and appetizers at W.E. Sullivans and pool/darts/bags at Landmark. Saturday The main event of the weekend was a well-attended banquet that featured will feature breakfast, the alumni corporation meeting, the annual Golden dignitaries from both Bradley University and Theta Chi International. Many Guard luncheon, house and campus tours, and a reception at the Hayden- awards were given out to some very deserving brothers, all capped off with Clark Alumni Center. The night will be capped off with our Silver Legion brothers Willis Hunziker ’53 and Tom McClintick ’52 receiving their dinner followed by a whiskey tasting and cigar event at the chapter house. “Theta Chi For Life” awards. Willis and Tom have always been, and were Sunday we’ll get together for some breakfast before everyone hits the road. certainly at that time, two bedrocks for the Gamma Upsilon Chapter. It was More information, including how to RSVP online, is available in this issue of an honor to be present as they received those honors. the Manifesto, as well as on Facebook. One of the more humorous points of the evening (aside from the magical I hope that all those who are able will join us April 26-28 for our 70th appearance and then disappearance of Robert “Cool Breeze” Taylor ’90), anniversary celebration weekend. If you haven’t already, please RSVP online happened during an off-campus party after the formal dinner. The house at www.bradley.edu/alumni/thetachi70 or by phone at 1 (800) 952-8258 and was packed wall-to-wall with Theta Chi alumni and those actives of legal take advantage of the pay-ahead option. If you have any questions or requests, drinking age.* Apparently, we were a bit too raucous in our brotherhood, please feel free to contact the board. I look forward to seeing you all. and the Peoria Police arrived at the doorstep. The officer stepped in and one of his questions was if everyone there was of legal drinking age. I Theta Chi For Life couldn’t help but smile and sort of laugh (on the inside, of course) as I scanned the crowd and saw people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and probably one *By undergraduate standards. or two in their 50s. The officer quickly realized the same thing. We agreed CHAPTER: thetachibu.com | ALUMNI: gammaupsilon.org MANIFESTO Spring 2019 To Theta Chi Gamma Upsilon Brothers Who Attended Undergraduate Bradley University Between 1949 and 1958 Officers By: Ron McGauvran ’55 President Nick Topping ’20 Upsilon Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity and I am one I HAVE MADE MY RESERVATION— Dubuque, Iowa HAVE YOU? of many that would like to see you there. A block of rooms are being held for us at the Pere Biology I am Ron McGauvran ’55, who pledged in the fall of Marquette hotel. 1951 following graduation from Clinton (Iowa) High Vice President School. I joined with my high school classmate Bill Many of our brothers and their wives are no longer Chris Campbell ’21 McKinley ’55. (If you were an active then and plan with us, but we (who have practiced modified drinking, Lake in the Hills, Ill. to attend the 70th celebration, you can help solve the exercise, and eating primarily wholesome foods) are Marketing puzzle of whether Gamma Upsilon pledged Bill to get still here and are getting a final (probably) chance to Ron or just the reverse. It is a 68-year-old question and renew acquaintances. The years have scattered us to Vice President of we are still {humorously} looking for an answer.) the corners of the United States and beyond, but this Health and Safety provides one more chance to see Bradley University Patrick Haeffelel ’20 I attended an entertainment show the other night where and see all the beautiful changes that have occurred Naperville, Ill. since we left. the crowd was asked who was married the longest. Advertising The winners were a couple married for 69 years. When asked, “What is the single item that contributed the Bradley has changed and so have all of us. However, Secretary most to your long marriage?” The immediate reply was, the common thread is the time we spent as members Himal Patel ’22 “Don’t die.” The same applies to those of us who have of the newly formed fraternity on the college campus. lived long enough to be able to look back on 70 years We all contributed to the foundation that provides Elk Grove Village, Ill. and hopefully welcome another chance to see a former the basis for our 70 years of continuity. It seems like a Computer Science brother and reminisce over the years at Bradley and as good reason to make the extra effort and attend. a Theta Chi. If you are reading this and are a mature So make plans now, put the date on the calendar, Treasurer senior, you realize that memories of friends (some of inform Gamma Upsilon that you will attend, and Nate Logan ’21 spouses, a Gamma Upsilon Dream Girl as is my case) make your hotel reservations. Cary, Ill. and the past become more precious every day. Management Information I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN PEORIA ON THE LAST Systems There is a celebration (April 26-28) in Peoria at WEEKEND IN APRIL! Bradley to mark the 70th anniversary of the Gamma Marshal Ben Sullivan ’21 Lockport, Ill. Brother Neikirk Delivers Keynote Address at Theta Chi University Management Information By: Philip Thornton ΓΘ ’05, Chief Development Officer, Theta Chi Fraternity Systems Each spring a series of leadership training events take place across the United States to enhance the skillset of Theta Chi brothers. Theta Chi University serves as a rallying Chaplain point for our brothers as they begin their terms of office with a new calendar year. Ben Line-Neumann ’21 In February 2018, Dru Neikirk ’88 served as the keynote speaker for the Theta Chi Grand Rapids, Mich. University leadership event held at Texas A&M University. Joining for the event were Sports Communications over 100 officers from Theta Chi chapters across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Dru shared his experience as a Theta Chi, and how his work ethic and personal values Recruitment Chairman propelled him to partner of a consulting firm with over 300 employees and over $50 Dylan Pashke ’20 million in annual revenue. Brother Neikirk shared his belief that energy, passion, and Brookfield, Wis. drive make things happen and produce positive results. Dru closed out his session by challenging our brothers Graphic Design to “take the initiative and tackle the hard things in life which are meaningful.” The Gamma Upsilon Alumni Corporation would like to thank The International Headquarters of Theta Chi Fraternity for the photo of Brother Neikirk. CHAPTER: thetachibu.com | ALUMNI: gammaupsilon.org Spring 2019 MANIFESTO Gamma Upsilon Hosts Its 5th Annual Night at the Chicago Wolves On February 2, brothers watched the Chicago Wolves take on the Manitoba Moose, beating them 5 to 2! This year, we reserved two adjacent suites, selling all 30 tickets to local alumni and their families.