Jack Klues ’77, Chairman of our Board of Trustees shared this picture and the following comments from this weekend – ATO members learning how to build a better House at Plaid Workshop#3. Proud of their engagement.
Author Archive: Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter
Congrats Tim Lavery ’99! – inducted in Naperville Central Sports Hall of Fame – and ATO Illini multi sport stars…
Mike Stine ’84 and Tim Lavery ’99 (photo by Colleen Abrahamovich)
Tom Hicks ’75 happened to be at the Naperville Central Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony this past weekend (with his wife who coaches XCountry and teaches at Central) and was excited to learn that another Gamma Zeta, Tim Lavery ’99 was one of the honorees. Tim starred in both football and baseball for the Redhawks.
He gave both sports a shot as an Illini as well starting several games his freshman year at QB for the Illini football team before ultimately settling on baseball. He went on to play five years in the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates minor league organizations.
Coincidentally, Mike Stine ’84, who is Naperville Central’s current head football coach presented the award to Tim. Here’s an article about the 2015 Naperville Central Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Congrats Tim!!
As an aside… Tim wasn’t Gamma Zeta’s only multi sport Illini star.
Harold Pogue ’16
The Illini’s legendary football coach Bob Zupke recruited Harold Pogue ’16 off the Illini track team to ultimately star for the football team and be named All American. Pogue was considered by many to be the Illini’s greatest football player prior to Red Grange. He also served a term as Worthy Master of Gamma Zeta. How’s that for the definition of a busy college student?!?
Burdette Thurlby 50
Burdette “Pirate” Thurlby ’50 played baseball and basketball for the Illini before coaching and playing in the Cubs minor league system.
Walt Kersulis 50
His classmate Walt “Slip” Kersulis ’50 starred on the football and basketball teams.
Rich Callaghan 65
Rich Callaghan ’65 collected an absolutely incredible nine varsity letters for the Illini in football, wrestling and baseball.
John Wright 69
John Wright ’69 was an Academic All American in football and Big Ten high hurdle champion in track. His son John Wright Jr. ’92 was also an Academic All American for the Illini football team. They are the first father-son first team Academic All Americans in NCAA football history.
Jeff Finke 90
Jeff Finke ’90 played both basketball and football for the Illini. Jeff’s son, Michael is a freshman on the Illini basketball team.
Tom Hicks 75
Tom Hicks ’75, who got this whole thing rolling with his mention of Tim’s HOF selection specialized in football as an Illini before going on to a successful pro career with the Bears. However, he most certainly could have played multiple sports in college as he was an All-State selection in football, basketball and baseball while attending Willowbrook High School. He did lead the Taus to four straight intramural basketball championships so I think he deserves a mention!!
… pretty impressive list!!
Chancellor Wise… “these are the men of Alpha Tau Omega!”
Jack Klues ’77 with Jimmy Kowalczyk ’16 and Chancellor Wise
On Wednesday evening, January 21 at the invitation of Gamma Zeta Board of Trustees Chairman Jack Klues ’77, Chancellor Phyllis Wise visited the Thomas Arkle Clark Memorial Chapter House for dinner. The visit went great! The house looked it’s best in the last three years and our guys put on a great showing.
Norm Bilsbury ’92 was there early in the day working with the undergrads making sure everything was picked up inside and out.
Greg Scott ’76, House Corporation President, Joe Grazioso ’16, House Manager and Jimmy Kowalczyk ’16, Worthy Master did a fantastic job making sure that the inside of the house was detailed, all of the mess from last weekend’s move in was removed and getting some last minute small repairs made.
Restored Heldman Trophy
Thanks to Dave Krug ’95, the very impressive Heldman Trophy has been restored and returned to it’s rightful place at the base of the stairs in our front hallway. It looks fantastic.
Jeff McGill ’73 with Jim Dobrovolny ’70 and his wife Katie
Jeff McGill ’73 stepped up big time and had everything organized in the dining room… extra tables including comfortable seating for 100, table cloths and flowers on the tables. He also arranged for Illinois Doctoral piano student and Krannert Award winning Sam Gingher to be playing when Chancellor Wise arrived.
The undergrads were all on time, dressed in suits and ties and were very respectful. Jimmy, Joe and others were working on last minute details pretty much all day.
Jack gave Chancellor Wise a quick tour of the common areas before dinner. We told her a little history of our 113 year old newly restored Bechstein Grand piano and she was clearly impressed to find such a beautiful antique inside a fraternity and such a nice house.
http://youtu.be/WvgI4OOKQOs
All of the undergrads went into the dining room while Jack led the tour. When they entered the dining room, Jack announced… “Chancellor Wise… these are the Men of Alpha Tau Omega”. Everyone, all dressed in their suits and ties stood and clapped for the Chancellor. It was very impressive.
http://youtu.be/LvpyVFn-2kk
The food and setting was excellent. Jeff McGill had arranged for the U of I Triathalon Club to act as servers and they did a great job. So we actually had a good old fashioned sit down meal. Chef Colin and his team from Upper Crust out did themselves with a beautiful setting and excellent dinner.
http://youtu.be/cGVbQql7Chs
Greg Scott had even prepared menus/programs which were laid out at each place setting… very classy.
After dinner, everyone retired to our beautiful East Living room under the watch of the portraits of Thomas Arkle Clark and Robert Simonds. Dane Luhrsen ’77, Director of Alumni relations reviewed a brief slide show history of Gamma Zeta and Jimmy provided an update on the current undergraduate chapter. Here’s a link to the slide show that Dane and Jimmy presented – ATO Gamma Zeta Legends 1 20 15 (1)
Chancellor Phyllis Wise addresses Gamma Zetas
Then Chancellor Wise spoke for a few minutes about her vision for the university. She told our undergrads what a great opportunity that they had with caring and supporting alumni and urged them to take full advantage. She was very gracious, clearly enjoyed herself and was impressed with her visit. Jack presented her with a gift of appreciation, a glass box with ATO engraved on it that was provided by Wynn Smiley, ATO National CEO (THANKS Wynn!!) Then Jack and Chancellor Wise went on to the State Farm Center to cheer the Illini on to a big win over the Boilermakers.
Jack presents Chancellor Wise with gift from ATO National
Overall, the evening was a great success. We should all be proud of our fraternity on a great showing. The house looked great! Special thanks to Jack for orchestrating the visit which we believe may be Chancellor Wise’s first visit to a fraternity and to the entire team for pitching in to make it a memorable evening.
Here’s a link to some additional pictures.
Opportunity at Illinois Ventures via Tom Siegel ’84
Tom Siegel, ’84 who is a Managing Director at Illinois Ventures – “a premier seed and early-stage technology investment firm focused on research-derived companies in information technologies, physical sciences, life sciences and clean technology.” – forwarded this very cool opportunity with Illinois Ventures in Chicago.
Feel free to contact Tom directly if you have questions about the role – tsiegel@illinoisventures.com
Tom A. Clark ’42 receives Diamond Circle Certificate from ATO via Gary Legwold ’72
On Saturday, January 17, 2015 Gary Legwold ’72 visited Tom A. Clark ’42 and presented him with his Diamond Circle Certificate signifying his 75 years of membership in the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Tom is the grand nephew of our initiate #1, Thomas Arkle Clark. Tom recently celebrated his 96th birthday and Gary reports that he’s still going strong. Congrats to Tom and thanks to Gary for driving up to St. Cloud, MN to visit with Tom and present him with his Diamond Certificate!!
Opportunity for VP Sales
See job opportunity sent to me a couple of days ago from Tyson Brill ’02. Contact Tyson if you are interested in learning more. His contact info is listed below.
———————————————-
Hi Dane,
Attached is a VP of Sales opportunity for a startup genomic analysis/data analytics company in Silicon Valley. The specs are attached. –Bina Technologies Vice President, Sales (1)
Will you please forward to the network and direct any inquiries/interested parties to me? My brother-in-law is leading this search and I am happy to make a connection.
Thanks!
L&R,
Tyson
TYSONBRILL@GMAIL.COM
Docs Seth Berl and Tom “TSully” Sullivan ’78s leading medical mission trip to Honduras – need help!!
Docs Seth and TSully ’78s in Honduras
Hello Guys,
Please take a look at the note below from Dr. Seth Berl ’78 regarding his upcoming medical mission trip to Honduras along with dentist, Dr. Tom “TSully” Sullivan. Seth is leading two groups who will stay one week each with the first group leaving February 28. I realize that this is very late notice to participate but it never hurts to ask. Maybe some of you have been thinking about doing something like this and just need someone to reach out and say “let’s go”. And… how cool would it be if a group of Gamma Zeta ATOs would come together … “to have no narrower limits within which to work together for the elevation of man than the outlines of the world“.
If you’d be interested in joining Seth and TSully, please contact Seth at sberl@moultriega.net or 229-850-0019. They also welcome donations. Please send checks payable to Heritage Church and mail to:
Att: Dr. Seth Berl
1825 Franklin Street
Moultrie, GA 31768
Moultrie, GA 31768
