Brother Lugar a true inspiration for ‘Men of Principle’
It was not a phone call that the future U.S. senator wanted to make, but it had to be done.
A young Richard Lugar had to call his father and tell him that he wouldn’t be pledging Beta Theta Pi at Denison after all. The freshman from Indianapolis had had a frank if polite conversation with a brother at the house earlier that day. He was informed that no bid would be forthcoming.
“To say the least, I was very disappointed,” recalls Lugar, whose father was a proud Beta alum from Purdue. “(My parents) shared my disappointment. My dad even began to suggest that it was a mistake for me to go to Denison in the first place.”
On that front, the elder Lugar was wrong: His son would excel at the academically elite school located among the hills of central Ohio. Dick Lugar would eventually become vice president of the student government, president of the Denison Christian Emphasis Program, and a columnist for the student newspaper.
Brother Adams learned much in the Alpha Eta house
We asked a bunch of brothers about what life was like in the house during their undergraduate days. We got a great response from Brother John Adams ’56; Adams said that the diversity of the house was a great learning experience onto itself. “Without question, living in the house with guys from various geographic and […]
Who were the leaders that inspired you?
It’s almost Presidents Day, the date when we honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two of the greatest men to have led our country.
Brother Barry Porter ’59 tells his story
Brother Barry Porter ’59 went from the Beta House to the mayor’s office of his hometown. Along the way, he served in the military and succeeded in two different careers. He recently answered a few of our questions about his life and the impact that Alpha Eta Chapter had on it.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
BP: I live in a community north of Cincinnati and have spent all but about 10 years of my life there. I graduated high school, went to Denison and then entered the U.S. Air Force for a five-year tour in northern Italy. I returned to Cincinnati, where I worked for my father. It was during that period that I earned my MBA in finance from the University of Cincinnati. When my father retired, I decided to change jobs. I went to work for Ohio Casualty Insurance Company as their treasurer and eventually became their CFO. I have served on the city council and am currently mayor of my hometown.
Brother Rick Kirk ’79 loves giving back to his brothers
Brother Rick Kirk ’79 loves being a Beta. He’s loved it from the moment he started pledging. Now running a successful real estate business, Brother Kirk agreed to talk to us about his life and his memories at Alpha Eta Chapter.
What are your favorite memories of Beta Theta Pi?
RK: We had lots of traditions as pledges. Learning the Beta history, singing songs, exercising as a group.
What makes you proud to be a Beta Theta Pi?
RK: Considering all the fun we had, our group at Alpha Eta has turned out productive men in our challenging world.
Share your New Year’s resolutions with your brothers
What are your New Year’s resolutions? Did you make a pact with yourself to spend more time with the family? To read more? Travel more? Maybe your resolution involves keeping in better contact with your fraternity brothers. Whatever it is, we want to know about it! Send us stories and pictures of your New Year’s […]
Why are You Grateful for Beta This Holiday Season?
What is life like for you today? Chances are, Beta Theta Pi played a role in getting you to where you are. Whether you landed your dream job, met your significant other, or gained lifelong friends, there are many reasons to be grateful for your Beta experience. Here are our top five.
Dan Greenleaf ’87: “I just can’t imagine my life without these friends”
We recently caught up with Dan Greenleaf ’87, who shared some wonderful stories about why Beta Theta Pi means so much to him. Now an extremely successful CEO, Dan still enjoys spending time with his brothers more than anything. Click below to read all about Dan’s Beta Theta Pi experience and his advice for young brothers.
Brothers Host Annual Kan Jam Tournament
On Saturday, November 5, the brothers of Beta Theta Pi hosted their annual Kan Jam tournament to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Teams were registered all last week and all members of the Denison community were encouraged to participate. Teams were made up of two members and the cost to register was $10 per person. Thanks to all who came out and joined us for music, food, good vibes, and prize gift cards. We look forward to reporting how much the event raised.
From the Archives
We found this photo in an old Beta scrapbook, and want to see if you know anything about it. Do you know these brothers? What are they dressed up for? Tell us all about it by clicking here to submit an update. While you’re at it, send us your own throwback photos so we can share them with your fellow brothers.