Brothers,
Beta Phi alumni and undergraduates turned out in droves for the 2010 Homecoming Reunion Celebration during the Oct. 22-24 weekend.
Sigma Chi Alumni from California, Colorado, the Midwest and East Coast started checking into the Westward Look Resort on Thursday night for the three-day weekend that involved a host of reunion activities.
“It was a great weekend and the Tucson Alumni Chapter is to be congratulated for organizing a terrific program for Sigma Chi alums and undergraduates,” said Jon Underwood ‘ 64, an alum from Phoenix. Tad Jewell ’93 noted “it is always a pleasure to catch up with old friends that you have not seen for a long time and to also meet some of the impressive undergraduates that have distinguished themselves so well on campus”.
“It was a wonderful weekend,” said Lisle Payne ’64, one of the organizers, “and we look forward to doing it again next year. It is always a pleasure to catch up with old friends and meet some of the terrific undergraduates who have distinguished themselves to well on campus.”
Weekend highlights included the annual Hall of Honor ceremony in which four distinguished Sigs were inducted. They were John Felix ’87, Larry Hecker ’69, ’72, John Keeler ’71 and Mic Williams ’67. A crowd of about 110 attend the ceremony at the Westward Look Resort.
The Hall ceremonies were followed by a reception and banquet attended by about 150 Sigs and their spouses during which Jerry Tolle ’75 and Payne told the gathering about the Sports History Project, which is to identify all Beta Phi letterman at the University. They said 302 lettermen have been found so far.
The Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony was followed by a reception and dinner celebration attended by more than 150 people who enjoyed mariachi music and a terrific historic photo show that had been organized by Dick Bohnet ’65. Terry Valeski ’68 performed the master of ceremonies role and coordinated the evening activities with great skill and humor. Steve Schuyler ’79, president of the Sigma Chi Tucson Alumni Chapter and John Komandina. Beta Phi consul, provided an update on the undergraduate program. Jerry Tolle ’55 provided the audience with a description of the Beta Phi Sports History Project that will be incorporated into the construction plans of the new Sigma Chi house and Payne gave an update on the status of the Beta Phi Building Campaign and on the plans to complete the campaign in 2011.
The dinner ended with the Sigs serenading their spouses and significant others with Paige White, the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, and presenting them with a white rose.
The next day alumni visited the Sigma Chi tent set up on the campus mall and watched the Homecoming parade, during which Hall of Fame basketball coach Lute Olson was the grand marshal. Then alums toured the Beta Phi house, had an opportunity to hear a brief presentation by Jim Campbell, president of the Sigma Chi Building Corporation, and enjoyed a barbecue before watching the Homecoming football game, which the Wildcats won by punishing the Washington Huskies 44-14 before a sold-out crowd. This year’s Homecoming king was Beta Phi Sig Dane Denby, a public administration major from Springfield, Ill.
During the weekend Sigs also participated in golf, tennis, hiking, swimming and sightseeing out of the resort, which is tucked into the base of the Catalina Mountains just a few miles north of the campus. The Tucson Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter looks forward to performing the role of Homecoming Reunion Host in 2011.
