NEWSLETTERS Troy TEKE Vol 95/1 A Publication of the Beta Sigma Alumni Association Fall 1995 Back Where We Belong! TKE Wins Ironman, USC Pre-Season National Champ For the first time in the history of Beta-Sigma the 1994-1995 chapter was the winner of the Ironman Trophy. The trophy goes to the fraternity that masses the most amount of points based on a year long athletic season which includes four major sports and just about every smaller sport imaginable. Even the powerhouse teams of the 1950's, which included Olympic discus thrower Sim Innes, and the gung-ho 1970's athletic squads led by Jerry Naegeli, have not been able to capture the coveted trophy. "The house combined years of well scouted talent, superb organization and the sheer will of its members to put together a dominating performance," remarked long time athletic supporter and track god-father Erik Brannon. The Fall semester saw Teke jump out to a strong start with solid performances in Football and Volleyball. As the year drew to a close TKE was barely holding on to first place fending back arch-nemesis Lambda Chi, who was taking advantage of their mastery of badminton, Ping-Pong and fooseball. The Spring semester saw Beta-Sig dominate in almost every sport including their 6th Track and Field victory and exciting wins in Softball and Golf. There is no doubt the turning point was the exciting come from behind Basketball championship game against Lambda Chi Alpha in which Teke came back from an eleven point half-time deficit to trounce the opposition. MVP awards went to Matt Beshear and sophomore phenom. Eric Olson. In other exciting news; years of quality recruiting and rebuilding have placed USC atop several of the major pre-season polls. In a highly anticipated move it is expected the Trojans will appear on the front cover of the Sports Illustrated College Football Issue. Recently elected Alumni President JP LoMonaco stated, "There has never been a better time to take advantage of joining the Beta-Sigma Alumni Association. You just can't afford to miss the incredible pre-game events and jam packed social schedule we have planned this year!" For a more detailed analysis please read Jeff Ruggels column of in depth football analysis. Both the Association and the Active Chapter hope to see as many of you as possible before this years exciting home season. Fight On! The Blow-Out before the Blow-Out September 9th Alumni Kick-Off in Exposition Park is a First Come join the Alumni Association and the Active Chapter before the USC blow-out of San Jose State on September 9th at 12 Noon for a pre-game kick-off extravaganza. Due to a Rush schedule conflict we will hold the event in Exposition Park just north of the Coliseum and just south of the Rose Garden along the main path from campus. The Association is renting a Party Truck complete with tables, tents and a trailer stocked with a full bar, beer and catered food. You know you can't miss any of the action as USC roars toward its 8th Football National Championship. Look for the TKE Alumni banner and the rowdiest group of Tekes this side of the Mississippi. It is rumored big time booster and early morning aficionado Jim Cox, and his lovely wife Erin, will be the first ones there claiming a spot around 5:30 am. We're counting on your attendance. For more details call (310) 450-1136. Spotlight on Jerry Naegeli Outspoken Alum Jerry Naegeli on Controversial Issues during a Controversial Time Jerry Naegeli researched all of the houses at USC when he transferred from Moorpark JC in the Fall of 1976. He lived in the Theta Chi house while doing his research and then pledged the best fraternity at USC - Tau Kappa Epsilon. When he joined, Beta-Sigma was steeped in tradition with composites from the 1950's 60's and 70's all over the walls, he recalls the skins representing Rose Bowl wins and the leather bound Golden Book signed by Ronald Reagan as just some of the traditional decor. He served as Pledge Class President, Pylortes, Histor, Hegemon, Hypophetes, Sports Chair and Prytanis during his stay. He was IFC Vice President of Athletics, Order of Omega, Blue Key and was recognized as one of the top 26 Seniors by the University. Jerry now serves on the Board of Trustees as a dedicated alumni. We decided to ask him about his experience during some of the best times and worst times in Beta-Sig history. His answers were blunt, insightful and they just may change your opinion about the 1970's. Beta Sigma Teke: What happened during the reorganization of the early 1980's? Naegeli: First of all, many people don't realize there were two reorganizations that took place . The first one was carried out by a lunatic from National called Bob Coman. He and a side kick threw away scrapbooks, composites, the Golden Book and anything else that represented the old chapter. I personally spent time dragging these items out of the dumpsters. By the time they were put back in the chapter Coman either threw them out again or the alumni took them home. BST: So did an alumni steal the original scroll? Naegeli: Most of us thought the chapter would go under in a matter of months. Alumni came in to save some of the historical memorabilia, not to steal it. BST: What about the second reorganization? Naegeli: The Board decided to advertise for an alumni from somewhere else in the country to come in to rebuild Beta-Sig. That's how we got Rex Rolf. The house was struggling big time by this time, but it was due to the psycho National guys from the first reorganization. I like to say the house was a guy who had the flu. We called the doctor and instead of giving us a shot he amputated our balls and brains. BST: So you're saying the house wasn't as bad as we have heard during the late 1970's? Naegeli: Absolutely not. That is the number one misinterpretation. We were not incredibly bad, evil or a bunch of drug dealers. Sure we were not angels, but neither were any of the other houses on the row. We had guys in ROTC, Varsity Athletics, IFC, Trojan Knights and Squires and usually had about two Phi Beta Kappa's per year. If you look at the alumni from that era they are now incredibly successful individuals. BST: What would you like the active chapter to know? Naegeli: I want them to look at the old guys from our era as grandfathers and fathers of the same fraternity. They went through a lot of hell and worked hard for TKE. Ask them to imagine what it would be like if everything they had now was thrown in a dumpster - maybe they could come to respect the alumni of my era. We went through a lot more than anyone knows. BST: And what do you want the alumni from your era to know? Naegeli: We have nothing to be ashamed of. We didn't do anything wrong. Our experience is for a lifetime and it will probably never be repeated again - and that is really special. Even though the house is totally different from when we were active and the old stuff may never come back, we shouldn't be bitter. Instead, we need to realize that like anything our experience was uniquely ours and it will never be repeated again. If you have the scroll or any other stuff, it's time to bring it back. The house is going to be around forever. They won Ironman and Songfest, and are very successful in their own right. I am proud of my experience then and now. Alumni Association Board - 1995-96 President - JP LoMonaco Vice-President - Ken Froelich Membership Recruitment - Matt Beashear Newsletter - David Bohline Newsletter - Ken Sweeney Events - Erik Brannon Membership Development - Pete Gutzwiller House Liaison - Jeff Ruggels 50th Anniversary Chair - Dr. William Teaford Membership Drive 1995-1996 A Salute to the Beta Sigma Boosters David Bohline Scott Dooley John Plumb Thomas Rule Thanks to All Who Support The Beta Sigma Alumni Association Association Members 1994-1995 David Bohline Roger Carmody Gerald Carr John Chavers Chas Cobb Scott Dooley David Esposito Jeff Fiedorowicz Larry Finkel Jack Flamson Lloyd Grinslade Peter Gutzwiller John Hamilton Gilbert Hershberger Frank Hoffman Robert Kettell Dr. George Loomis Robert Meyer Everett Miller Thomas Miller Justin-Bradley Nast John Nelson John Plumb Dr. William Ridgeway Andrew Robertson Thomas Rule Mike Salas Drew Schlussel William Simpson Edmond Sutro Thomas Thorkelson George Woolery Join Today The Alumni Association Needs Your Support The Alumni Association has played a critical role in Beta-Sig's rise to being one of the best fraternities at USC and in the country. The Association has purchased a barbecue for the house and has put on a fund-raiser volleyball game for TKE Ironman football jerseys. Our biggest and most appreciated gift has been the large screen television located in the TKE West library. We need your support to continue to do the things that will enable TKE at USC to build a dynasty of excellence. THE BETA SIGMA BOOSTERS - $100 GENERAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION - $50 OUT OF STATE ALUMNI - $25 Enclosed in this newsletter you will find a "Membership Insert" along with a pre-addressed return envelope. Please check the appropriate membership description box and enclose your check made out to The Beta Sigma Alumni Association. Please also use the provided space to update your address information or tell us something about what is news in your life. Your support is vital! The Alumni Speak The news has been pouring in from all over the country as Beta-Sig's responded to our last edition of The Beta Sigma TEKE. Mark Watters (603) has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for his music for Disney's "The Little Mermaid" and MGM's "The Pink Panther". Mark was the Teke Songfest director for two years in 1975 and 1976. He enjoyed our last issue but pointed out that we made a sizable error. TKE won Songfest in 1973 with AGD sorority. Thanks for the correction - Mark! Scott Johnson (633) is employed by Hughes Missile Systems in Canoga Park and will be relocating to Tucson AZ. He has made the generous offer of finding a job for any interested TKE Alumni if they are willing to live in Wildcat Country. Scott is very impressed with TKE's accomplishments and sends his Congrats. Thanks Scott Brian Cox (512) is currently the Rector of Christ The King Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara. He is also the Executive Director of the European Reconciliation Fellowship. Since 1990 he has made 12 trips to Eastern Europe working with political leaders. Good job Brian! Bob Barr (479) was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the Republican Sweep of 1994. He represents the people of Georgia and his district is located adjacent to House Speaker Newt Gingrich. We are very proud to see a Beta-Sig Teke make it to the U.S. Congress. We are sure Bob and his staff will be more than willing to show you around the Capitol if you happen to be in town. In a very sad note frater Ian Don Hoak (521) passed on to the chapter eternal on March 21, 1994. He was the General Manager of the Anchorage Opera and was a pivotal strategist and fund-raiser for the institution. His death was a shock to family, friends and fraters because of his young age and good health. He was able to visit Los Angeles shortly before his death, and is pictured with a former TKE house-keeper who he visited. We will miss frater Hoak. Upcoming Alumni Events Special Cut Out Section September 9, 1995 USC v. San Jose State Alumni Blow Out Kick Off Extravaganza Exposition Park (north of Coliseum, south of Rose Garden) 12 Noon September 16, 1995 USC v. Houston Pre-Game BBQ and Rally The TKE House 3 PM September 30, 1995 USC v. Arizona State Pre-Game BBQ and Rally The TKE House 1 PM October 14, 1995 USC v. Washington State Pre-Game Breakfast and Cocktail Party The TKE House 9 AM November 4, 1995 USC v. Stanford Homecoming The TKE Tent on Campus - Near VKC Time - TBA November 18, 1995 USC v. ucla showdown Huge Rally, Cocktail Party and Gourmet Spread The TKE House Time - TBA All events occur three hours before game time. Game times are all subject to change Back