Chris Epley ’91: Abundant and lasting friendships

Chris Epley ’91, a double-major in English and Spanish at Denison, pursued the study of law after graduation, a path that ultimately led him to his current role as Judge in the Ohio Second District Court of Appeals. 

When he pledged Beta Theta Pi as an undergrad, he joined a house that he remembers being best known for “athletes, fun” and “late night at Beta.” Chris considers Beta’s pledge program as one tradition he hopes will always continue. 

Thinking back, he describes the many stories from those days as “too many to list or remember.” But he recalls often hanging out in the house’s hallway with the foosball table as well as fun road trips taken with his brothers. “Freshman year we rented a RV and drove to Florida for spring break. We also borrowed a U-Haul truck and drove to Michigan with the fraternity president.” 

What sticks with him most, however, are the relationships, which he describes as “abundant and lasting.” When asked which brothers made the most impact on him during his time at Denison, his answer is simple: All of them. 

Beta Theta Pi offered a network that continued paying dividends long after his time on campus. In particular, he remembers a time when a brother helped him out of a jam: “Dirk Butters ‘91 let me borrow his SUV when my family went to Colorado and arrived by train in Golden without lodging or a vehicle.” 

Chris lives in Dayton with his wife Eileen, son Jack (19), daughter Lily (17), and their dog Maggie.