Category: Alumni

The 50th Annual Alumni Weekend Set for April 1st

The Active Chapter will host alumni brothers, friends, and family this Spring over the weekend of April 1st at the House.

Brother Erik Harpst reminds us that this tradition began in 1973 — time flies!

Active Brothers and Co-Alumni Chairs Josh Tenorio and Aiden Gomez promise via their email newsletter that, “activities have been planned throughout the weekend that will allow Greek alumni from several decades to engage with our current chapter members. Don’t miss out on all of the fun, including our annual softball game!”

A post on this website from a decade ago provides some word associations which might trigger nostalgia in you (as it does for me).

Softball. Grilled meats. Family. Tim. Friends. Brothers. Southwestern. Old stories. Power tools. Russell. Pledges. Musical instruments. Marshal. Green grass. Norwood. Composites. New memories. Pat. The San Gabriel river. Fire. Sausage links. Erik…

Add the names of your PBs and Big Bros, your favorite SU and G-town places, and the experiences you treasure to that word string… and maybe, we’ll see you in April to share stories and make new ones.

Planning to attend? Feel free add a comment below and let us know.

AEKDB

Active Chapter 2022 and 2023 informal

Greek letters added during recent house improvements

Greek letters added during recent house improvements

Kappa

Sigma

Robert Bradford Francis

Our dear brother Brad Francis passed away on May 27, 2022.

Brad was a pledge in Fall of 1992 and was initiated along with brothers Jeff Jones, Mike Ooi, Bret Starr, and Joel Stone.

As an active, if my memory serves, Brad was among the greatest House Managers the chapter has ever known.

I encourage you to read Brad’s obituary here, it nicely captures the range of talents and interests Brad was famous for and notes the equally wide range of people that have known and loved Brad and who are mourning his loss.

All are invited to Brad’s family for a celebration of his extraordinary life on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 10:30 am at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery at 330 Berry Lane, Georgetown,Texas 78626, in the Forest Garden area.

A Celebration of Life with lunch and refreshments will immediately follow nearby at the Kappa Sigma House at Southwestern University, 1003 McKenzie Drive, Georgetown 78626.

Brad Francis and sons

CORRECTION (2/26/23): This post previously misrepresented Brad’s pledge class. Thanks Brother Joel Stone for the correction.

Chapter Celestial, Active Chapter Grows

Greeting, Friends & Brothers:

UPDATE March 6, 2021: We regret the omission of Henry Furler from the list of those joining the Chapter Celestial.

The post provides a digest of news from the past few months.


Chapter Celestial

Since our last post about Brother Richard Kalmbach — who passed away in late September — we received news of two more brothers joining the Chapter Celestial.

Anton (Tony) Fraps IV passed away on October 24, 2020

Bob Rork, alumnus and former trustee passed away on December 29, 2020.

Henry Furler, a young brother from the Iota Class of Spring 2017.

Our condolences go out to family, friends, and brothers during this time of sorrow.

Active Chapter News

The actives welcomed ten young men into the chapter as part of the Spring ’21 Pledge Class.

Iota Chapter Spring Class of 2021

To kick-off the new year, the active chapter launched a campaign to fund house improvement projects — a nice compliment to deferred maintenance and upkeep supported by the House Corporation. Visit the GoFundMe page below to support the campaign.

Alumni Notes

Are you missing live music? Yeah, me too. Check out recent installments of Kevin McKinney’s Friday Freak-in on Facebook for the next best thing to being there.

That’s it for now. Stay warm and safe y’all.

AEKDB,

JG

OBITUARY: Richard Wayne Kalmbach

Richard Wayne Kalmbach

Richard Wayne Kalmbach

The alumni association received word of the passing of Brother Richard Wayne Kalmbach, who passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

Find Richard’s full obituary here for details on visitation and funeral services. Friends and brothers can also share memories, as did Brother Bob Lain:

I knew Richard from Robert E Lee High School (he was one year ahead of me) and later I attended Southwestern University where Richard was an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, which I joined in 1974. I worked closely with Richard and have many fond memories. God bless along with my prayers for Richard and his family.

We extend our condolences to Richard’s family, friends, and fraternity brothers.

Iota Alumni Weekend 2019 Dedicated to Brother Gerald Sylvester

The Iota Alumni Association received word of the passing last week of Brother and retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Gerald W. Sylvester, recently of Montgomery, Texas.

Brother Sylvester was initiated in 1957. He was the big brother of Jeff Allen. His son, Jim, also became a Kappa Sigma at Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State), initiated in the Spring of 1983.

Brother Sylvester was among a distinguished group of alumni who received Fifty Year pins during the Iota 125th Anniversary celebration in 2011.

In recognition of his lifeline dedication and support of the Iota Chapter, the Alumni Association will dedicate our gathering this year to Brother Gerald Sylvester.

Alumni Weekend 2019 is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 5th and 6th.

We received word from Gerald’s family that services will take place on April 6th. As we get further details, we’ll add them to this post.

SU Awards Iota Endowed Scholarships

The Iota Alumni Association is proud to announce that current active grand master, Dillon Betros, has been awarded both the Kappa Sigma Iota Endowed Scholarship and the Lori and Erik Harpst Endowed Scholarship.

Dillon is a Senior from Cameron Texas and majors in French.

The two endowed scholarships have enjoyed generous support from alumni and friends of the chapter. The Association sends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to these funds since their inception.

The Kappa Sigma Iota Endowed Scholarship goes to deserving students with a financial need and helps cover tuition.

The Lori and Erik Harpst Endowed Scholarship goes to deserving students with a financial need and covers the cost of student housing — such as the rent paid to live in the fraternity house.

We invite you to make an end of year contribution to either or both of these funds through the Southwestern online portal.

To make a donation by mail, remit with specific instruction for either one to: Southwestern University, P.O. Box 770, Georgetown TX 78627-0770.

It’s not ALL work…

There’s quite a group gathering (and a fun one too) for the upcoming workday at the House.

Come join for all or part of the day. Here’s the schedule for Saturday, August 5th:

– 7:00a.m. Breakfast at Monument Cafe
– 8:00a.m. Workday start
– 10:30a.m. Dedicate and bury time capsule from the 125th / group photo
– 1:00p.m. Lunch at House (sandwiches)
– 5:30p.m. Dinner at House (hamburgers)
– 6:00p.m. Wiffle ball game in the yard
– 7:00pm. Jam session

Note: a list of goals for the day and helpful tools to bring will follow this post soon.

AEKDB

Summer work weekends announced

We encourage all brothers and friends of the chapter to assist in summer house maintenance.

In advance of the work weekends, the House Corporation have engaged quality professionals to install a new roof, as well as new gutter screening east side gutter replacements. Having just replaced the 2nd floor HVAC system, the first floor HVAC system will also be done this summer.

How can you help?
Join one or both weekends: July 16 or August 6 from 8am to 5pm. Feel free to come down the Friday evening before and join in the prep work.

What work can you help with?
Landscape maintenance, trimming of trees and bushes, minor repair work to House, deep cleaning to floor restoration and painting/sheetrock work.

When again?
July 16 and August 6th, 8am to 5pm.

If contributions of time and energy are not possible, consider a monetary donation of any amount via Iotachapter.org. Just click on the Paypal link.

On Facebook? Let us know you’re coming here https://www.facebook.com/groups/2357739947/

John Roark, Distinguished Alumus, Passed Away

Brother Scott Hanson shared this news on the Iota Facebook group this morning:

John O. Roark, a distinguished alumnus of Iota Chapter, passed away yesterday. Services will likely be held in Temple, where he lived and practiced law for the past 42 years.

UPDATE 1/25 — Memorial Service:
A memorial service for Brother Roark will be held Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Temple. A reception and visitation will follow the service in the Family Life Center of at First United Methodist Church.

Floors In Focus For Summer Work Weekends, May 31, June 28

Preserving and protecting the parquet floor will be the focus for the first work weekend, beginning this Friday afternoon May 30 and concluding Sunday.

Brother Sparks has led this effort and will manage the work. Regarding the floors he writes, “This will be, and should be for all of us given proper future maintenance, the last major effort regarding this particular issue.”

It’s a big job. Come lend a hand in the set-up and prep or in the treating and varnishing as you can. All are welcome.

UPDATE: Alumni Weekend 2014 To Take Place April 5th

UPDATE: Planning your Alumni Weekend 2014

  • Saturday, April 5th
    • 8:30am: coffee and donuts
    • 10:30am:  active/alumni meeting
    • 11:30am: meet the Spring class
    • Noon-2pm: catered BBQ lunch
    • 2pm: softball (location: Round Rock Memorial Field)
    • 7pm: reservations for up to 45 at Walburg Restaurant
    • 10:30pm: back at the House
    • After that, it’s up to you…
  • Sunday, April 6th
    • 9am: coffee and donuts

Continue reading →

What you need to know about Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2013

UPDATE 10/19/13: The Homecoming weekend football game is against Austin College, not Trinity as previously posted. Thanks for the correction, Brother Tim Stapleton!

Watch for the full schedule of chapter-related events in the coming days. Here’s what you can plan for right now:

  • UPDATE: Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is November 1-3.
  • The Iota Alumni Association will host a tailgate tent ahead of the 1pm kick-off of Austin College vs. Southwestern football game. Game tickets are $8 and you can buy them as part of Homecoming registration.
  • New this year for Homecoming is a $5 registration fee. It goes up to $10 soon, so get registered.

Visit the Homecoming and Reunion Weekend website to register and answer any questions; and if you still have questions, please contact the Office of University Relations – Alumni and Parents by calling 800-960-6363.

Pictures and News from Spring 2013 Alumni Weekend

Weekend highlights:

  • A great turnout this year. It was a big surprise.
  • Jeff Allen told the story of the first alumni weekend 40 years ago – way cool and worth retelling.

Chapter news:

  • Iota Chapter scholarship report ranks them number one among all fraternities and above the all men’s average. Great work actives!

House:

  • The maintenance fund will provide for a new hot water heater as well as minor up-keep and repairs.

The softball game:

  • Alumni 25 – Actives 5
  • Thanks the Spring Class of 2013 for their impartial call of the game.
  • Cort Greer played first base. And the alums still won 🙂

 

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Ben Aderholt Recognized as Outstanding Adjunct from the University of Houston-Downtown

This news item, like so many, comes from Brother David Wilson, who came across an article about Brother Ben Aderholt in the Texas Bar Journal:

Ben L. Aderholt, a member in Looper, Reed & McGraw, P.C., received the 2012 Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award from the University of Houston-Downtown.  Aderholt has taught a commercial law course at the university for more than a decade.

Congratulations Brother Aderholt!

Thomas Randall (“Randy”) Lankford dies at 69

We are saddened to report the passing of Brother Randy Lankford this past Saturday, February 18th, in Galveston, Texas.

As reported in the Galveston Daily News, a Memorial Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm Saturday, February 25, 2012 at his residence in Galveston.

You can find Randy’s full obituary, a very colorful read, here: http://galvestondailynews.com/story/295126/