| G. Cameron Brown ’37 Insurance and Underwriting Executive, WWII Veteran, Long time active member of the Omicron Alumni Association The Summer 2005 Arrow featured Brother Brown; what follows is the text of that article: Q: Why did you join Psi Upsilon? A: When I graduated from New Trier High School in 1932, in the middle of the Great Depression, my father had severe financial problems and could not afford to send me to college. I worked for a year as a clerk-typist in an insurance office. A high school friend, Bob Knauer ’36, had joined Psi U at Illinois and suggested I come down and have a look in the fall of 1933. The tuition was $35 a semester, which I could afford. Bob invited me to stay in the house and I never left. Psi U offered me a meal job and a promise of being house treasurer in my junior/senior years, all of which happened. This cut down the house bill by over half and almost to zero as treasurer. In addition, I had a dry cleaning service which added a few more dollars to a modest allowance from my father. Q: Did you live in the house? Who were your roommates? A: Yes, all four years! Like I said, I never left the house. In my freshman year I roomed with Bob Collett; the last three were with Selim Tideman Jr. ’37 whom I had known in high school. Q: What do you do for a living? A: I have been involved in insurance and underwriting for many years and have held many positions of leadership with various companies, including president for Cameron Brown Ltd., since 1976; vice president R.B. Jones & Sons, Inc., 1938-41; director George F. Brown & Sons, Inc., Chicago, 1947-79, vice president, 1947-50, executive vice president, 1950-53, president, 1953-64, chairman, chief executive officer, 1964-76; director Interstate National Corp., 1968-79, president, 1968- 74, chairman, 1970-76; director National Student Marketing Corp., 1970-76, president 1970-72, chairman 1970-75; director Interstate Fire & Casualty Co., 1952-79, executive vice president, 1953-56, president, 1956-74, chairman 1970-76; director Chicago Insurance Co., 1957-79, president, 1957-74, chairman, 1970-76; director Interstate Reins. Corp., 1957-79; Underwriting member Lloyd’s of London, 1971-95; and secretary, director Illinois Insurance Info. Svc., 1967-76. Q: Tell us about your family. Do you have children? A: I have three children, Reid, Deborah and Sophia. All are married with children. Q: What hobbies or activities do you enjoy? A: I am an avid golfer and wine connoisseur. I spend my winters in Santa Barbara, CA, and take advantage of the weather and region in pursuit of both activities. I play a lot of bridge which I originally learned in the Psi U card room, having cut quite a few classes in the process. Q: What other organizations are you involved with? A: I have been involved with many organizations over the years, including contributing author for the Property and Liability Handbook, 1965; president Chicago area Planned Parenthood Association, 1969-72; board of directors Planned Parenthood Federation America, 1976-79; active with John Evans Club, Northwestern University, University of Illinois President’s Club, University of Illinois Foundation, and University of Chicago President’s Club. In World War II, I served in the Army as a Lt. Col. General Staff Corps and received a Bronze Star medal with oak leaf cluster. Q: What are your goals for the next few years? A: At 90 years old, the main goals are to stay healthy and not fall down. Q: What are your favorite memories from your fraternity days? A: Big band music was very popular. Ray Noble was a great favorite and was on the radio on Thursday nights. The brothers would fill up the chairs, or lie on the rug, in the living room – no one saying a word – and listen to the broadcast. Q: With whom from the chapter do you stay in contact? A: Selim Tideman is the only one from my class that I am still in touch with. But I would very much welcome having news of any ’37 classmates who are still around. Q: What other activities or organizations were you involved with during your college days? A: When I was in college, I worked on the Daily Illini as a freshman, was president of my class as a sophomore, on the student senate as a sophomore and junior, and president of it in my senior year. Q: What are some of the things you’re working on now for Psi Upsilon? A: Before the war, I was active in Psi U alumni affairs, but much less so afterwards. It’s been at least 25 years since I last returned to the campus for Homecoming and to see a football game. | |
 | George Fearheiley ’54 Motorola Corporation – Employee Compensation, Enthusiastic and Generous Benefactor of the Chapter The Summer 2006 Arrow featured Brother Fearheiley; what follows is the text of that article: Q: Why did you join Psi Upsilon? A: I rushed informally my first semester. There were four Omicron alumni living in my hometown of Bloomington- Normal, IL. They were all successful and highly regarded individuals. When I visited the house, the chapter and its members impressed me. The house was a dichotomy: immature freshmen and sophomores, mature juniors and seniors, many on the G.I. Bill. I initially flunked out but re-pledged the next fall and was initiated in 1952. I attended three summers, graduating in August 1954 in LAS. Q: What positions did you hold while in the house? A: I was a co-rushing chairman and the editor of The Arrow. Q: What do you do for a living? A: I worked for four companies, retiring in 1995 after thirtyseven years at Motorola, Inc. I worked in employee compensation, concentrating in engineering and executive compensation. Q: Tell us about your family. A: I have been married to my wife, Nancy, for forty-three years! Our son and daughter are college graduates and professionals. We moved from Illinois to California in 2002 to be near our kids and grandkids. Q: What is your favorite memory from your fraternity days? A: I remember Kirk Kandle ’51 who educated me in the culture of the south-side of Chicago; Marshall Smith ’51 who played on the football team and tried to teach me to study by understanding; treasurer Dick Rowe ’54 who “cooked the books” (just kidding) and who kept a bottle of the worst rotgut whiskey in his desk drawer that ever entered the house; Jimmy Lee ’52 who kept fixing me up with coeds who invariably had steady boyfriends at home or at other colleges; president Jack Rooney ’53 who played chess or bridge while studying languages and conversing with several brothers; Roe Mallstrom ’51 who served fifteen cent martinis in the big “blue room” across from the dorm door before Sunday dinner; the huge elm tree out front of the house; the chapter house and red rooms; the airplane propeller in the card room; Mother’s & Father’s Days at the house; and Psi U songs, history, ritual and ceremony. Q: Any other memories you’d like to share? A: One of the brothers was quite a lover boy. He pinned one girl and then decided to also pin another! He told the second one that he lost his badge but would get her a sweetheart pin. In the meantime, he borrowed another Brother’s badge (guess whose?) to pin the second girl. When she discovered the ruse, she is reported to have thrown my badge halfway across the quad. Perhaps someday Brother Russ Scheibel ’51, an archeologists, will organize a dig to retrieve it. Q: Who were your roommates while living in the house? A: Besides Kirk Kandle ’51 and Marshall Smith ‘51, my other roommates were Bob Fairbanks ’53, Harry Maden ’51, Bob Rollins ’54 and Dick Underwood ’53. Q: What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation? A: Friends and family seem amazed by my concern and support for old Psi U. “Grow up, George. That was then, this is now,” they tell me. But then I cite our mission statement. End of conversation. If those ideals and goals were good enough for me then, they are even more applicable today. I know that many Brothers essentially leave the fraternity when they leave school, but Psi U will always be an important part of who I am. She took me back when I once failed and I cannot fail her now. The members ate together, slept in the same dorm, sang the same songs, and wore the same pin. But the guys were very diverse depending on their backgrounds, experiences and aspirations. I learned to tolerate, accept and compromise. I was only significant in relationship to a larger group with whom I had to function. Psi U helped to define me; helped to re-invent myself. The experience served me well after graduation. |
 | Charles Fish ’28 Insurance Executive, Scratch Golfer, Generous Benefactor of the Chapter Stewart Fish, son of the late Brother Fish, relates the following about his father: My father was very close to Psi U. Although he did not participate in elder functions, he always read THE DIAMOND with interest. He was captain of the Illinois Golf Team of 1928 which won the Big 10. When he was inducted into the Tribe of Illini, the university’s letterman association, he had to run the gauntlet and he was fast – the only two who got a paddle on him were Red Grange and Butch Novak. He was also a member of Kappa Beta Phi, which during Prohibition was an honorary drinking fraternity. He used to regale us with the initiation which consisted of a large glass of beer with pure grain alcohol floated on top. They had to chug-a-lug it. He said he was drunk for two days after that. He was President of the Freeport Insurance Company of Freeport, Illinois, and retired at the age of 55 and moved to Florida where he was an avid golfer. He began shooting his age at 64 and did it some 1500 time until at the age of 94 he had to give up the big course and play a par 3 course. He won the club championship at every club he belonged to: ROCKFORD (IL) CC; FREEPORT (IL) CC – this one he won for ten straight years – JOLIET (IL) CC; COUNTRY CLUB OF FLORIDA; DELRAY DUNES CC; AND THE LITTLE CLUB. Editor’s note: A loyal supporter of Psi Upsilon International and our chapter for many years, Brother Fish graciously provided for a $5,000 bequest in his will for the benefit of our Omicron chapter. The funds were used towards sorely needed remodeling of the Little Sister Room and adjoining bathroom of the chapter house, which we commemorated during 2005 homecoming weekend. We thank Brother Fish for his benevolence in helping shape the bright future of our chapter house in the years ahead. |
 | William P. King, Jr. ’73 Attorney at Law, Former President of the Omicron Alumni Association, and Active Participant at Many Psi U Conventions |
 | Robert D. Llewellyn ’44 Marketing and Advertising Executive, WWII Veteran, Flyer and Avid Photographer, Loyal Supporter of the Omicron The Summer 2006 edition of the Omicron Arrow featured Brother Llewellyn: Q: Why did you join Psi Upsilon? A: Jim Cook ’43, the rush chairman who was a year ahead of me at Evanston Township High School, and Chuck Huwen ’43, recruited me. They heard that I was attending Illinois in the fall and came over to my house. Not only did they impress me, but also my Dad. They handled it so well that I after they left I said to myself, ‘Boy that sounds like a real nice group of men that I want to join.’ I ended up pledging my freshman year. Q: Did you live in the house? Who were your roommates? A: I lived in the house all the time. It was $32 per month. Tuition was $35 for the semester. I lived mostly on the 3rd floor. I recall my first roommate was Charles “Wayne” Hotze ’41 who was the president of the house and lived in Northfield, IL. Wayne was the casino champ – a card game played in the house – and would wear a crown when he played. Wayne was my hero, a real nice man. Q: What do you do for a living? A: I was a liberal arts major and then got into advertising and journalism. Before retiring, my career was in marketing and advertising, ending up as a marketing manager with Chicagobased Tootie Roll, a 300 million dollar conglomerate of several candy brands. Q: What positions did you hold while in the house? A: On Jim Cook’s (’43) recommendation, I became rush chairman. Believe it or not, we had a small expense account. I used to drive around the State and talk to potential recruits about coming to Illinois and joining Psi U. We had a pledge class of 30 or 31. But due to our lax attitude towards grades, only about a dozen would initiate. In fact, only about 1/3 of all students on campus would graduate. Key to rush was prerushing… meeting with various recruits and writing letters to them encouraging them to check out Psi U. We would obtain a list of high school seniors from the University and would target solid, active guys. Q: What is your favorite memory from your fraternity days? A: I was there at the beginning of the Red Room. First off, it was never red. It was knotty pine. There was a secret door to access the back of the room that was reserved for the seniors. I recall once when Charles “Tony” D. Cram ’45, who was from Wilmette and attended New Trier High School and was on Illinois’ track team, did his best John Wayne impression and announced, “I’m calling for a clean sweep,” and pushed down all the bottles and glasses to the floor. Needless to say, I along with the other brothers were not pleased with Tony about that. Q: What did you after leaving school? A: After college, my first job as a copywriter for an ad agency brought me to New York City. I had a list of 150 different places I wanted to see. One time, I rented a plane and took a date on a tour of the city. We flew by the Empire State Building and Statute of Liberty. I also let her fly the plane! We also saw Lena Horne sing at the legendary Copa Cabaña. At their tables they had postcards, which they would mail for free for you saying, “We’re having a great time Copa Cabaña.” Q: Tell us about your family. A: My wife, Marilyn, passed away. We have three children – Robert, Jr., Kim, and John – and four grandkids. Kim is an artist and collaborated with author Shel Silverstein and his famous children’s books “Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “A Light in the Attic.” Q: Tell us about WWII and its affect on the house. A: I vividly remember when I heard about Pearl Harbor during my sophomore year. I was at the Kappa Kappa Gamma house when we heard the broadcast on the radio. Next day, the President of the University spoke to the students at Huff Gym and urged us to stay in school and study hard so that when we were called up, we could serve our country better. Most ignored the advice and immediately enlisted. I later signed up with the Navy and trained to be a fighter pilot, and later as a torpedo bomber. Afterwards, I joined the active reserve and stayed in 13 more years flying jets and antsubmarine planes. Like other fraternities on campus, we had a number of brothers who unfortunately did not make it back from the War, including Jim Latham ’44 from Alton, IL – a marine captain, a real hero; Pete Blackford ’43 from Oak Park, IL; and Johnny Austin ’43 also from Oak Park. Due to the war, the house lost membership and was rented out as a women’s boarding house from June 43 thru January 1946. Only with the help of our outstanding alumni were we able to organize to get our house back and reestablish Psi U on campus. Thanks to the GI bill, we had plenty of men on campus from which to recruit. But many of these men were veterans and were unwilling to go through the type of pledgeship we had previously gone through. One day, we almost had a mutiny with the new pledges. We all had a meeting and agreed to modify the rules for the pledges. We had two other fraternities living with us as the time, Deke’s & Xi Phi’s, who did not have their houses back as early as we did. The Dekes told their motley crew of undisciplined pledges that they had better shape up or they would be treated like the Psi U pledges! In all seriousness, I am happy that the house has become more serious getting high GPA’s and more conscientious about charity work. Q: Any other memories you’d like to share? A: We sang a lot when I was in the house. One of our favorites was the “Slap Back” song. Tom “Moon” McCracken, Iota- Omicron ’44 wrote “Sweetheart of Old Psi U” and “To Old Psi U.” I wonder if they are still sung? Q: With whom from the chapter do you stay in contact? A: I keep in touch with Art Wood ’43 who lives our in California; I visit Don Johnson ’45 every winter at his house in Laguna Woods, CA; and I see Henry “Henie” Diettrich ’44 who owns a horse farm in Kenosha, WI. Q: What hobbies do you enjoy? A: I become involved with photography from my days at Evanston High School when I joined their camera club. While in college, I would take many pictures of the guys and the house. I also love to travel and take pictures of the places I’ve been. Highlights include visiting Japan, Greece, Europe, Hong Kong, Hawaii and Rio. My favorite place was Greece. No doubt. I never saw such photographic opportunities in my life. Those windmills, the white marble houses with the Aegean Sea in the background…just gorgeous. Q: What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation? A: As I meet various fraternity men over the years since I left school, I realized that my Psi U experience meant more to me than their fraternities meant to them. My closest pals are Psi U’s even after all these years. “In the bonds” meant just that. |
 | Gene McCarthy ’49 Insurance Executive, Expert Sailor, Longtime member of the Omicron’s Board of Directors The Summer 2005 Arrow featured Brother McCarthy; what follows is the text of that article: Q: Why did you join Psi Upsilon? A: My brother, Jack, is a Psi U from the University of Chicago, Omega Chapter, and was attending medical school there when I graduated from South Shore High School in Chicago. Times were tight and my family had a tough time supporting my brother’s education. By working summers delivering milk and lifeguarding, along with working as a waiter in the chapter house, I was able to attend college and join Psi U. Q: What other activities or organizations were you involved with during your college days? A: I attended both the Champaign-Urbana and Navy Pier campuses and was active in sports. In Champaign I was on the swim team and played water polo in intramural competition with A. J. Del Vento ’51. At Navy Pier I started every basketball game for U of I for two seasons. Q: Tell us a little bit about your work history. A: After leaving the University 14 hours shy of achieving my degree in chemistry with a math minor, I felt confident to enter the work force because of the incredible life experiences I had gone through with Psi Upsilon. Many of the brothers had just returned home after WWII and were very mature. I started working as an ironworker helping to build Chicago’s skyscrapers for about one and a half years. One day, working with a coworker on the 28th floor of a new building, we were preparing to board the “cage”(elevator). The operator (on the ground) brought the cage to our floor and failed to set the brake when we attempted to board. The cage free fell to the ground. I was able to turn and grab the deck and hold on. My co-worker fell to his death. After that near death experience I decided I needed a new career. I went into training to be a marine insurance underwriter. As luck would have it, I was walking in the loop one day when I ran into Park Brown ’41, a fellow Omicron. Park arranged interviews with his father’s insurance agency, George F. Brown and Sons, and I began to work along side of Park, his brother Cameron ’37 and their father for the next 20 years. I was recruited by a firm and joined them rising to the presidency of Starkweather & Shepley, Inc. I was specialized and became recognized as an expert in the marine insurance field. I opened my own insurance brokerage and consulting firm where I originated a new form of insurance for yacht clubs called Regatta Liability. Over 1,000 clubs became members of this program. I sold my business in the middle ‘80s to Myers-Briggs, Inc. and have remained in semi-retirement as a vice president and consultant. My son, Glenn, continues this business. Q: What hobbies and activities do you enjoy? A: Growing up near Lake Michigan, which I consider Chicago’s greatest natural treasure, I’ve always had a profound affection for the water. I was a lifeguard for the City of Chicago and achieved Captain. When this newsletter is read I will have sailed my 52nd Chicago to Mackinac sailboat race and my 25th Port Huron to Mackinac race. Q: What are some of your favorite memories from your years as an active? A: Around l946 or l947, Linell Bock ’46 and I excavated the area underneath the dining room of the chapter house in what would become known as the “Red Room”. The walls were painted red with normal white lighting. Back then, the University prohibited girls from being in the chapter houses. A false wall concealed the room and the lighting was connected to a switch at the front entrance to the house. If and when University officials (campus cops) came to the door, our porter would hit the switch back and forth to flicker the lights to let us know to close the wall and be quiet until they left. You have to realize this was right after WWII and the campus was flooded with returning veterans. There were approximately 14,000 men and 3,500 girls….and we needed to do something like this to get a leg up on the competition. It worked! Later, an addition was added to the Red Room that we called the Zebra Room. I have great memories of Robert Llewellyn ’44 entertaining us and our guests in the Red Room with his great sense of humor. Morgan Jones ’54 composed and wrote “Psi U Lady” that the brothers and I sang to my wife to be, Barbara Hunding, at the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority on the thrilling night that I pinned her. Although I haven’t stayed in contact with him, I will always respect Warren Alcock, Jr. ’46 for what he did for me at initiation time into the fraternity. I also recall Herbert Jackson, Jr. ’48 and his sandwich business that he operated while at school. Herb would prepare the sandwiches at our kitchen and go to other fraternities to sell them. He would sell 200-300 on a given night and he made good money doing so. Q: What was your favorite room when you lived in the chapter house? A: The room located across from the dorm roof (next to the penthouse). When I lived at the house, everyone slept in the dorm as the rooms were for study and personal belongings. It was crazy in the mornings trying to sleep in when so many of the alarms went off at various times. Q: What brothers do you stay in contact with? A: I see many of the post WWII brothers at the alumni association board meetings a few times a year. I do see my fellow roomy Arthur Andrew ’55 in St. Thomas, VI when I vacation there. Q: Tell us about your family. A: I was married for 47 years to my wife, Barbara, whom I met at Navy Pier branch of U of I. The Good Lord called her in 1997. We have three children– Gail, Glenn and Vince. Gail and Glenn each have two children. In l998 I was fortunate to meet another wonderful lady, Mary Murphy, whom I have been with ever since. My son, Vince, was born developmentally challenged. After many years of hard work by Barbara and I, Vince has been able to become independent and now works for Best Buy. I take great satisfaction in Vince’s accomplishments and, of course, the successes of both Gail and Glenn. Q: What other organizations are you involved with? A: I am a past president of Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation, Lake Michigan Yachting Association and Yacht Racing Union of the Great Lakes. I served on the board and was Rear Commodore of Jackson Park Yacht Club. I served on the board of directors of United States Sailing Association; the national governing body of the sport of sail boat racing. I currently serve on three of their committees. |
 | Robert E. McIntire ’68 Faithful board member, Attorney at Law – Public Defender, Vermilion County Both the Omicron and the University have had few alumni as dedicated and loyal as Brother Bob McIntire. The Omicron’s unofficial singer, Brother McIntire is a repository of chapter history and wisdom which he has graciously shared with a generation of Psi U’s. Often seen carrying around his beloved guitar at Homecoming and wearing his badge with pride, Bob is married to Cheryl, and they have a son, Jeff, and a daughter, Mindy, who was a Pi Phi at Illinois and Panhel President. |
 | Dean Marinakis ’90 Attorney at Law and Former President of the Omicron Alumni Association When the name “Dean” is uttered at 313 E. Armory Avenue, everyone from the newest pledge to the venerable alumnus in knows you’re talking about the incomparable Dean C. Marinakis ’90. Brother Marinakis’s legacy can be seen in every aspect of chapter life: its finances, organization, communications, physical plant, programming, Homecoming, scholarships, and more. He brought together the myriad talents of Omicrons across the generations to improve the quality of life for our undergraduate brothers, placing the chapter on a solid foundation well into the 21st century. His tenure as Alumni President saw the completion of Phase One of the Chapter House Renovation Project and an unprecedented rise in donations with the “10/10” program. Thanks to his leadership, undergraduates have access to the “Active Active” grant awards, and we awarded the first Psi U Scholarship Grants to freshmen in the fall of 2007. He also revitalized The Omicron Arrow, which has set the standard in all of Psi U for alumni communications, and helped maintain our great Homecoming tradition. He also put together Phase Two of the Chapter House Renovation Project which debuted in 2008. Dean has done all this and more. Hailing originally from Lincolnwood, Brother Marinakis graduated from Niles West High School and became an in-house pledge after meeting Brother Shigeki Makino ’87 and others during formal rush. Brother Marinakis soon moved into the Beta Chi and took on various responsibilities in the chapter, from pledge educator to enthusiastic Atius cast member. Known for his tenacious defense, Dean was a talented foosball athlete, teaming with Chris Jones ’90 to win the campus championship as an undergrad. He lists his proudest achievement while in the house as rushing David P. Komie ‘92.5, our current alumni association secretary extraordinaire. Brother Marinakis took a BS in Business Administration with High Honors in 1990 and earned a JD at Loyola University of Chicago in 1993. He is a trial attorney in Chicago and enjoys running, reading (Mark Twain is a favorite) and is very concerned about global warming. |
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| Dean Marinakis ’90 with house sweethearts, Bryana Yergler and Ashley Mondul, at Homecoming 2007. | |
 | Roe Mallstrom ’51 Served our country and served Psi UThe Summer 2007 featured Brother Mallstrom – the following is the text of that article: Q: Why did you join Psi Upsilon? A: I rushed Psi Upsilon in spring of 1948. My first impression of the brothers and pledges was excellent. Not only were they fraternal brothers but there were also many blood brothers: Bill ‘50 and Jim Lee ‘52, Dick ’50 and Chuck Machamer ‘51, Bruce ’49 and Ken Macdonald ‘52, Grant ’46 and Don Nelson ’51, Tom ’49 and Marshall Smith ‘51, Tony ’46 and Ken Cram ‘50. My brother Roy pledged Psi U in 1949 (class of ’53). The portraits lining the second floor hall included athletes Chuck Carney ‘22, John Depler ‘21, Amos Alonzo Stagg (Beta ‘88), Bud Wilkinson (Mu ’34), and Jay Berwanger (Omega ’36); government leaders Bob Taft (Beta ’10) and Nelson Rockefeller (Zeta ’30); brothers from the world of music (Deems Taylor, Delta ‘06), acting (Robert Ryan, Zeta ‘31) and Broadway production (George Abbott, Upsilon ‘11). Today the tradition continues in the DIAMOND which recently recognized Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin (Nu ’61) and Dan Brown (Gamma ’86) author of the ‘Da Vinci Code.’ The gallery also displayed pictures of Psi U Chapter Houses across the US and Canada. The unique architecture of the Omicron matched its campus location. A combination of brotherhood and prestige drew me to Psi Upsilon like a magnet. Q: What positions did you hold while in the house? A: In 1950 I was elected Chapter President. Q: What do you do for a living? A: I retired in 1990. Prior to that I had two employers: The U. S. Navy and United Airlines. The Korean conflict was still in progress when I graduated. Brother Ken Reimer ’51 LT U.S. Army was killed there. I remember the chapter gathering in the living room to hear General MacArthur’s address to Congress on the radio. After graduation I enlisted in the Navy and after boot camp at Great Lakes I was sent to OCS in Newport, RI. After receiving my commission I was assigned to the Cruiser USS Des Moines as Radio Officer. One of our assignments was as Flagship for Commander Sixth Fleet. Our homeport for that assignment was Villefranche sur Mer, a suburb of Nice. That assignment took me back and forth from Gibraltar to Beirut. My next assignment was as Radio Officer on the Staff of Commander Battleship Cruiser Force Atlantic Fleet onboard the Battleship USS Iowa. I caught the travel bug and selected United Airlines as my next and final employer. I worked at both Midway and O’Hare first in Passenger Service, next Regional Customer Service and finally Stewardess Service which became Inflight Service and now Onboard Service. My early retirement gave more time for travel. We crossed the Atlantic twice in the Concorde. I went around the world on United in 1994. This was an echo of Brother Aub Cookeman’s ‘35 same circumnavigation on the British Comet. Q: What are you favorite memories of your fraternity days? A: Choir practice led by Dave Pyle ’50 on Sunday nights to prepare for Sachem Sing and sorority serenades after a brother pinned his sweetheart, Friday night beer exchanges, the Triad Formals with the Dekes and the Alpha Delts, band concerts on the quad, Chief Illiniwek, Spring Carnival, and Li Bock’s ’46 burgers. The new blood we received when Jack Draper ’51 transferred from the Rho, Joe Reinhardt ’51 and Lyman White ’51 from the Iota’ Tom Hull ’53 from the XI and Bob Cornell ‘52 from the Beta Beta. Q: What were your favorite classes? A: A Journalism class based on weekly reading of the NEW YORK TIMES conducted by ABC correspondent Quincy Howe, the first computer science class which was located in the Philosophy Department disguised as Symbolic Logic, English Literature class conducted by Professor Bob Rogers (Phi ’36) who later became Dean of LAS. In order to return to business, I received my MBA from the University of Chicago in 1969. The Omega welcomed my family and me to the Omega Chapter House before and after the commencement service. Q: Tell us about your family. A: Brother Don Nelson ‘51 introduced me to the love of my life, Lillian Zalga (NU 1954). We were married in 1960 and have been traveling together ever since. We recently visited Bob (’54) and Barbara Fairbanks when we were in San Francisco to establish a museum/memorial site for the USS Iowa. We also see Gene McCarthy ‘49 and his friend Mary Murphy in Acapulco each winter. We see Dick (’54) and Kay Carlson when they come to Chicago from Colorado for business or a Chicago Symphony concert. Q: What is next? A: The success of the recent pledge class is outstanding. The Active Chapter and the Alumni Association deserve our gratitude and admiration. Today’s Omicron brothers are recognizing many important benefits and values in fraternity life. Attaining leadership and teamwork should involve a full term of four years or as many as is available for skills to grow and mature. I have been fortunate to attend many Psi U Conventions starting with my first at the Pi 56 years ago. I look forward to the celebration of the Omicron Centennial at the 2010 Convention. |
 | Joe Miller ’57 Chapter Advisor (1965 to 2008), Retired Accountant and Associate Director of Housing for Business Affairs – University of Illinois Chapter advisor to the Omicron from 1965 to 2008, Brother Miller is our chapter’s only member to be awarded Psi Upsilon’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award. The Distinguished Alumni Service Award recognizes those alumni whose contributions to this fraternity are marked by great generosity and selflessness and whose service have brought honor to Psi U. These characteristics fit Brother Miller to a “T”. Born in Leland, Illinois, Brother Miller lived and farmed there until drafted into the Army in January 1952. He served in the Army for two years, then enrolled at the University of Illinois where he graduated with a BS in Accounting in 1957. His first job after college was as accountant at All-Steel Equipment Co, Aurora, for three years until he moved back to Champaign to work as accountant at the U of I’s Housing Division. Brother Miller retired in 1996 as Associate Director of Housing for Business Affairs after 36 years and has remained in Champaign since retirement. His affiliation with the Omicron started in spring 1954 when he pledged. Living in the house from fall ’54 to spring ’56, he served as house treasurer those two years before getting married and moving to an apartment his last year in school. While in the house he was a member of the Varsity Men’s Glee Club. Brother Miller was on the Skull & Crescent honor roll and received the pledge scholarship achievement award. About 1965 he was recruited by a member of the Psi U National office to be Chapter Advisor to the Omicron, a duty he has faithfully performed ever since. Brother Miller received the Omicron Alumnus of the Year award twice – most recently in 2005 and received the Psi Upsilon Distinguished Alumni Service Award at the Psi Upsilon 162d National Convention in June 2005. In April 2002 he received the Fred H. Turner Award for outstanding contributions to the sorority and fraternity community and the University at large. |
 | Timothy T. “Tim” Miller ’80 Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary of Crane Plastics Company, Columbus, Ohio Former President of the Omicron Alumni Association One of Psi U’s favorite sons is Tim Miller ’80. Brother Miller faithfully served the chapter as Alumni President during the late 80s and early 90s before handing over the reins to J.P. Fagan ’91 and taking his place on the Omicron’s Board. In addition to being a top executive at Crane Plastics, Brother Miller was an attorney for the law firm of Rosenthal and Schanfield from 1987-1992 and a senior accountant for the law firm of Jenner & Block from 1983-1992. Prior to this, he was a staff accountant for the public accounting firm of Touche Ross & Company (now Deloitte & Touche) from 1980-1983. The Summer 2005 Omicron Arrow featured Brother Miller, the text of which is reprinted below: Q: Why did you join Psi Upsilon? A: I went through rush, and I liked the guys. I was looking for a medium size house. I was probably a little intimidated by the larger houses. I really wanted to strike out on my own and several of the guys from my high school were doing the traditional Champaign thing, pledging Betas, SAE, etc. Q: What was your nickname, and how did you get it? A: “T. Taylor”. My name is Timothy Taylor Miller, and one day a pledge brother just started calling me that. Q: What do you do for a living? A: Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for Crane Plastics Company in Columbus, Ohio. Q: What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation? A: I went into accounting because one of the older brothers in the house convinced me it was a good profession. My first job was with Touche Ross in Chicago, and I probably got that job because the managing partner at the time was a Psi U from Wisconsin (Rho Chapter) who I met at a dinner. I was convinced to go into law school by a friend of mine who I indirectly met through the fraternity. The real irony now that I live in Columbus is that we have a lot of Amherst Gamma Chapter Psi U alums or people who went to school at Amherst and know of the Psi U house. My networking skills and recognition that not everyone is the same all came from my days spent living in the house. Q: Tell us about your family. Have you married? Do you have children? A: Married to my wife, Jamie, a Chi Omega from Indiana, with two children, a 12 year old son, Taylor, and a 9 year old daughter, Hailey. Q: What hobbies or activities do you enjoy? A: Reading, traveling, working out, golfing, spending time with the kids. Q: What are your goals for the next few years? A: Eventually, I might like to get into teaching law at one of the local universities, probably on an adjunct part-time basis. Q: What are your favorite memories from your fraternity days? A: As far as general memories, dinnertime and hallway talks (“RF” sessions) late at night were the best. I still maintain to this day I got my best nights of deep sleep in the cold air dorm. I remember waking up on cold mornings and seeing everyone’s breath coming out from under the EBs (electric blankets), and one morning I woke up to find a snow drift at the foot of my bed and Willie’s Thick & Cheesy Pizza was a standard, at least one to two nights a week – I still have my mug club card. As far as a specific event, during the fall of 1978 John Belushi’s movie Animal House was popular. That semester’s pledge dance had a Toga theme, and everyone came draped in sheets. Things were rocking, and at about 10 p.m. the doors to the fraternity burst open and a film crew from the CBS affiliate in Chicago came waltzing in with cameras a blazing. Apparently, they were on campus to film the Animal House phenomena that was sweeping the nation. Everyone got pretty excited about being on television and whooped it up, until the Chicago kids (who comprised a substantial portion of the house) realized that their parents would probably be seeing them on the evening news the next night. All of a sudden people started to disappear! Q: Why did you originally join the fraternity? A: Friendship, camaraderie mostly, wanted to live on campus. I lived in Champaign and did not want to live at home. It didn’t make any sense to live in the dorms. Growing up in Champaign, it always seemed like the fraternity guys were having the most fun on campus. So to tell you the truth, I never really thought about not joining a house. Q: Did you live in the house? Who were your roommates? A: I lived in the house for 3.5 years, moving out my final semester to study for the CPA exam. Roommates included Jeff ”Chico” Chicoine ’78, Robert DalSanto ’79 (who is coming up from Cincinnati to attend the OSU Illinois basketball game in March), Scott “Nips” Templeton ’80, Brian Deavers ’80, Robert Takamoto ’80, Steve “Hogi” Hougsted ’82, Eric Smith ’79, Jeff ”Wurtzie” Wurtz ’82, and Kevin Chandler ’83. When I graduated I moved to Chicago and lived for a time with Mark Moore and John Bloomfield ’79. Q: What influence has your undergraduate fraternity experience had on you since graduating? A: Rush taught me how to meet, greet and talk with new people. Serving as a chairman of committees and as an officer taught me how to deal with all of the different types of people. Q: With whom from the chapter do you stay in contact? A: Timothy Evans ’76, John Bloomfield ’79, Doug Glidewell ’81, Matthew Hower ’79, Martin Hower ’80, Robert Petersen ’68, Dan Wojnowski ’81, Joe Hudson ’88, Robert DalSanto ’79, and Kim Wells ’81. Evans, Bloomfield, Glidewell, Hower, Hower, Petersen and Wojnowski and I all go on a four-day Psi U golf outing in early November of each year. We’ve been doing this now for more than 10 years running. Q: Whom would you most like to see at Homecoming? A: My pledge brothers, such as Tom Burns ’80. Tom went to work for Intel straight out of school, headed overseas, and I haven’t seen nor heard from him since. Dennis Van Dyke (a.k.a. FDLMESQ) and Glen Livingston haven’t been back for a while, at least that I know of. They always kept things interesting. Q: What are you working on now for Psi Upsilon? A: Just waiting to see what happens with the architectural report (referring to the master plan restoration for the chapter house). Other than that I try to attend the Chicago board meetings. Southwest Airlines has dirt-cheap tickets to Chicago, and it’s fun to get back for the meetings. Q: What other organizations are you involved with? A: I work on issues involving the homeless/housing for low-income individuals and families. I also do some work on projects looking to improve the Columbus Public School System. Q: What else were you involved with during your college days? A: Just the usual honorary fraternities, e.g., Beta Alpha Psi (accounting honorary). I was pretty much a booker. |
 | The Morgan family: Horace Morgan ’06, Cliff Morgan ’32, and David Morgan ’59 The Omicron’s “First Family” Psi U has had several illustrious father-son combinations in the house, as well as brothers who have “worn the emblem of the chosen few.” However the Morgans are unique – they are the first “direct line” 3 generation family (grandfather – father – son) of the Omicron. Not only are they a three generation family of the chapter, Horace Healy Morgan ’06 was an original member of the Aztec Club that petitioned Psi Upsilon for membership in 1906. The photo at left (which was graciously provided by Brother David) shows from left to right: Cliff Morgan ’32, David Morgan ’59, and Horace Morgan ’06 in Groton, CT in 1941 at the graveyard where their 18th generation ancestor, James Morgan is buried. The Omicron Arrow of October 1937 notes:: Cliff Morgan ’32 sends us his questionnaire to annouce a new arrival in the Morgan household – a son, David, born early in May. Cliss if connected with the Eastern Michigan Trucking Trucking Co., 1234 St. Subin, Detroit and lives in nearby Royal Oak at 317 Potawatomi Blvd. Mrs. Morgan is the former Jeane McLean, Michigan Pi Phi. The same issue notes their unique lineage – though it mysteriously refers to other “third generation” families, no evidence as of yet supports this assertion. Brother Cliff Morgan ’32 passed away April 28, 2008 having lived in Winter Haven, FL for the final 40+ years of his life. His hobby was documenting college football win, loss, tie statistics and game scores, and he had a complete historical record of this information for 261 college teams from 1869 through to 2005. His father Horace was a mechanical engineer for the Palmer-Bee Company of Detroit, MI and later in his career was a sales representative for the Weller Manufacturing Company of Chicago, IL before his death in 1952. Brother Morgan was very helpful with much of the historical data which appears on this website, and for that, the Omicron is very grateful.David Morgan ’59 went to University of Florida and then Pratt Inst. in New York after Champaign and also served in U.S. Coast Guard as radioman. He married an actress; and their daughter, an actress, married an actor; two grandchildren, so far, just acting up. He does architectural design and illustration across the globe – Florida, Bahamas, Cuba, Philadelphia, New York City, and San Francisco and has done archaeological reconstruction illustrations of Maya sites in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. His drawings have appeared in National Geographic, Archeology, etc. during past 25 years. As of the 2005 Arrow , he was working on four sites in Guatemala and now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A hearty “Psi, Psi, Psi” goes out to the Morgan family – may all the brothers be inspired by their example. |
 | John R. Parker ’28 “Mr. Psi U” For many brothers, the name John Parker ’28 is synonymous with the Omicron chapter. John Stewart ‘69 recalls the following about this gentleman from Lincoln: John R. Parker was a good friend of Harry Martin, Jeff Martin ‘72’s dad and also my dad (who was an AGR, not a Psi U). I grew up in Lincoln, and John Parker was one of our closest family friends. He and my dad were also involved in a few business deals. When it came time for me to choose a fraternity at Illinois, John Parker and Joseph Checkley (another old Lincoln friend and Class of ’13) gave Psi U a great recommendation. This coupled with me liking the men in the house made Psi U my overwhelming choice, which obviously I’ve never regretted one bit. Brother Parker, as I now was calling him, let me know he was willing to be an active alum in his old house. We had an initiation practice back then (which you may not have kept) where our pledges had to appear before a dignified and stern alum, who grilled each man on what it meant to be a Psi U, while dropping less than subtle hints that the particular candidate might not have what it took to carry on this fine tradition. We had a regular Champaign alum for this job, but he was unavailable for the Fall 1966 initiation, so I called on Brother Parker. He was so masterful that the Champaign man lost his job permanently. From this point Brother Parker went on to become a member of the alumni board, where he did a great job of recruiting his friends to join the board and also make financial contributions. Most of these friends were also Class of ’28, and I can remember at least some of them. Perhaps foremost was Rexford Blazer, who was Chairman of the Board of Ashland Oil. Another was Fred Nichols, who held the same job at the Chicago Tribune. A slightly older alum was F. Olney “Ollie” Brown, who came from a prominent Chicago family and had been John Parker’s pledge father. The two had an ongoing banter about how the sophisticated Brown took on the daunting task of turning the small town “hayseed” Parker into a good Psi U. I believe Brother Parker also recruited Chicago businessman Aubrey Cookman, a longtime board member. Other persons he encouraged to became active alumni incuded Bob McCormick and Clark Brubaker of Bloomington, Lincoln mayor Ed Malerich and businessman Bill Gossett, Harry Martin of course, and a host of others I will eventually think of. Few who knew him when I did could believe that Brother Parker had ever been a hayseed. He was incredibly suave, with a great laugh and smile. He had inherited his family’s successful title company in Lincoln, Logan County Title Company, and built his own real estate and insurance business. This must have been easy, for Brother Parker was highly intelligent and a super salesman. He used that sales ability to successfully promote the Omicron Chapter, both locally and nationally. He would gather his “gang”of fellow classmen and head off to a Psi U national convention, where they could hold there own against anyone the Ivy League had to offer. One story has it that when a rich Easterner bragged that he owned the yacht on which they were cruising, Brother Parker replied, “That’s OK, I own the ocean.” I left Illinois for Colorado in 1980. I last saw Brother Parker at my dad’s funeral in 1989, and he only lived about one more month. His charming wife Dorothy died shortly after this. Their son Brewster, who had taken over the title company, died about ten years ago. His wife and sons still own Logan County Title. Brother Parker had human faults, of course. He made no secret of the fact he was an alcoholic, but helped others by being very active in AA. He had a large ego to match his accomplishments, and loved to be in charge, where he usually performed quite well. Nonetheless, on at least a few occasions I can remember both undergrads and alumni being somewhat rankled that Brother Parker was taking too much charge and claiming credit for their own accomplishments. All this aside, I think it comes down to the events in the Fall 1966, when he drove over from Lincoln to help us. At the time the house had low membership, low alumni involvement, low morale, and faced the danger of going out of existence. All that changed in a short period of time. My involvement has regretably been minimal since 1980, but it looks like all of you have continued to make the Omicron of Psi U a strong house and meaningful experience for young persons coming to the large U of I. Many Omicrons, both alum and undergrad, deserve credit for the turn-around in the late 1960s, which made all of this possible, but the name John R. Parker ’28 should appear at or near the top of the list. |
