The Beta Phi chapter at the University of Arizona was reinstalled in a daylong ceremony Jan. 31 that also saw 48 new Brothers initiated in the Fraternity.
More than 250 people attended a banquet at the Marriott Hotel during which Grand Consul Bob Jones III returned the chapter to the UA campus after a six year absence. Alumni, undergraduates, parents, UA administrators and guests attended the banquet.
UA President Robert Shelton welcomed the chapter back to the campus, noting the importance of the greek system to campus life.
Joe Markling ’80, president of the Beta Phi Consuls Association, presented current chapter Consul Andrew Cole with the Beta Phi Consul’s pin. Host and Chapter Adviser Robin Winters introduced Jones who spoke on the current state of Sigma Chi and awarded numerous awards and recognitions.
As the banquet ended, Sydney Fong, the 2009 Sweetheart of Sigma Chi was serenaded with “The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi” along with all our sweetheart guests including Stella Johnson, wife of Marvin “Swede” Johnson ’50.
Earlier in the day the new Brothers were initiated on campus at a ceremony attended by more than 200 Brothers including Sigs from Northern Arizona, Arizona State, Arizona, New Mexico State, New Mexico and Eastern New Mexico universities. The installing chapter was Emory Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott.
Beta Phi brothers from the 1940s through 2005 were in attendance, including Jack McDuff, the 50th Grand Consul of Sigma Chi.
The ceremonies started the night before with a Sig gathering at Sam Hughes Place near the campus attended by more than 50 Beta Phi brothers and Sigma Chi national officers.
Jones handed out numerous Semi-Century Sig Awards and Sigma Chi Veterans pins. In attendance were Grand Pro-Consul Wayne Tucker, Grand Questor Dennis Santoli, Chairman of the Grand Trustees Bruce Casner, Executive Director of Sigma Chi Mike Dunn and Dean of the Praetorial College Dan Matthewson.
Thank you to the many Sigma Chi Brothers who participated in such a wonderful celebration of the return of the Beta Phi Chapter to the University of Arizona. A new history of Beta Phi is waiting to be written in the years and decades to come.
Jim Johnson ’61- Beta Phi Alumni Director of Communications
View the full set of photos from the banquet.
