“Knowledge is Power”: my sixth grade teacher wrote those words in my autograph book in the spring of 1960, and they stuck with me throughout my entire life. For 42 years in the classroom, over 30 years as a deck designer and builder, and over 48 years as a husband, father and grandfather.
From the time I was 15, I knew I wanted to be an elementary teacher. My father was a teacher, coach and principal and I grew up around educators and two wonderful parents who valued education. So, when I was accepted into Ashland College for the fall 1966 freshman class, I already knew where my life would lead me… I just didn’t know how!
Being an only child to two older parents (my father was 40 when I was born), the idea of making new friends beyond high school was exciting, to say the least! As fate would have it, my RA was a junior named Stan Zurowski, who was a member of a group of guys who had started up a chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity. I pledged Alpha Sigma Nu, along with 32 other future brothers, and, in the Spring of 1967, became an active member of Eta Psi chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity, pin number 59.
I was somewhat of an enigma to my more cosmopolitan brothers, especially the ones from the east coast. I didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, wasn’t much of an athlete and was an elementary education major. But, it didn’t take long for most to realize that I didn’t need alcohol to have a good time. Eventually, I was elected the chapter Chaplin, since I was an unapologetic Christian and a great listener. I also became the first designated driver, long before there was such a thing as a designated driver, and would like to believe that I was part of the reason that Sigma Nu was the only fraternity not to lose a brother to alcohol and driving during the four years I attended Ashland.
Defining moments in my experiences at AC? I could fill a book. The time the Hells Angels stopped by the house to follow up on a rumor that we were using their “colors?” The Monday night meetings where the latest Sweetheart was voted upon to receive the “PW” trophy? Perhaps when Buzzy Ford decided to ride the dryer at the laundromat after an evening at the “Bobs?” The games of “BuckBuck” outside the house with Admonious? Maybe the challenge of one upmanship between the actives and pledges pranking each other? (The Anniversary sheet cake for the actives that was laced with 96 X-Lax tablets?) The annual Greek Week games, which we always seemed to win handily. The Greek Sing, when no one knew the words of “Michelle” and, as it got quieter and quieter until only the piano was playing, our Choir leader, John Gilbert, closed his song book and directed us off stage left to the howls of the other Greeks!
It was also the compassion of my brothers when my mother died on Mother’s Day 1968. They stepped in for me and two of my mother’s favorite basketball brothers were pallbearers at her funeral the next week. It was this that allowed me to be the only brother to be able to really understand what Tom Warner went through when his father died of heart disease at 49 the following fall.
One of the most meaningful things that I learned from my experience at Ashland was that, within the fraternity of brothers who seldom had much in common, we were able to build a bond. To believe in the life of Love, to walk in the way of Honor, to serve in the light of Truth is the creed of Sigma Nu and, for me, it’s been one I’ve endeavored to follow my entire life.
Now that we’re all older and other things pull us this way and that, I still treasure my times at Homecoming meeting up with the half dozen “faithfull” who come back, if just for an afternoon: John, Paul and Lanni, Brooks, Ed and Jay, Mo, Lloyd and Ed McGuinnis (who was the Dean of Men, but we adopted him anyway). It’s great to reconnect that bond, to put my arms around them once again and let them know that, after all these years, they are still remembered and still loved.
