When the University of Illinois announced the football schedule for this fall that included a game in Chicago’s Soldier Field between the Illini and the Washington Huskies, John Aymond ’80 saw an opportunity. First, to get a bunch of Gamma Zeta’s together in Chicago which is always fun and second to help Bob Simonds ’47 raise money for ALS research. However, John didn’t stop there. Through his involvement with the Greek Council Board of Advisors (basically an alumni advisory group of the IFC) he turned this into a giant Greek Reunion at Soldier Field to watch the Illini play Washington in football.Continue reading
Author Archive: Alpha Tau Omega - Gamma Zeta Chapter
Gamma Zeta ‘57’s Gather in Williamsburg, Virginia
The 57’s and sometimes guys from classes around them are probably the most dedicated reunion goers of all of our alumni. They gather nearly every fall for a reunion at rotating sites around the country. This 2013 event was in Williamsburg, Virginia on September 13, 14 and 15. This year, the group was all honored with their ATO Gold Certificates signifying over 50 years of membership in Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
Gamma Zeta ‘54’s Hold Mini Reunion in Chicago
Four Gamma Zeta ‘54’s met in Chicago for a mini-reunion prompted by the Illini vs. Washington football game in Soldier Field on September 14. Ed Ptacek, (San Diego), Brig Young (Aspen, Colorado), Dick Young (Geneva, IL) and Waldo Peterson (Wisconsin Dells). They were joined by Bill McCarty at the football game on Saturday and had brunch with Dane Luhrsen ’77 and his dad Paul Luhrsen, Illini Sigma Chi ’54 on Sunday morning at the Drake in Chicago.
Join Gamma Zeta Alpha Tau Omega Illinois Linkedin Subgroups
We’ve created Linkedin “Subgroups” across a number of industries and career path as a way to identify Gamma Zetas who have expertise in each of these areas. You are encouraged to join those groups that are appropriate for you and to use these groups to identify support when needed. Here are the groups that have been created and links to join:
First, please join the main Gamma Zeta ATO Illinois Illinois Linkedin group – http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Alpha-Tau-Omega-University-Illinois-96736/aboutContinue reading
Introducing Alpha Management and Chris Gutting
Beginning this fall, the Thomas Arkle Clark Memorial Chapter House Corporation will be working with Alpha Management Group, a company that specializes in assisting fraternities with managing their facilities and finances, and in creating successful cultures and experiences within their chapters. Alpha Management Group is excited to begin this relationship with Gamma Zeta Chapter as it marks the fourth group we are working with on the University of Illinois campus. AMG currently also serves fraternities on twelve other campuses across the country and oversees fraternity housing for over 1600 men.
Do you know Frederick C. Philbrick ’11??
On September 29, 1975 William D. Krahling, Interim Executive Director of Alpha Tau Omega received a letter from Peggy Betts Richardson. This letter explained that Peggy’s uncle, Frederick C. Philbrick and aunt, Edna Betts Philbrick had left a significant bequest in memory of Frederick to the ATO Foundation. This resulted in the establishment of the Frederick C. Philbrick Scholarship to benefit Gamma Zeta ATOs which has awarded thousands of dollars to Gamma Zeta undergrads over the last thirty five years. The current value of the Philbrick endowment is over $75,000 and we’ll be awarding another $3,300 to a Gamma Zeta undergrad again this year. This was a wonderful gesture by the Philbricks and I’m certain that the recipients of these scholarships over the years have been extremely grateful.
Gamma Zeta has six other scholarships that we award each year, two in honor of Bob Simonds and at least one each in honor and memory of Matt Heldman, J.D. Sinnock, Rich Clausing and Dave Timson. The Gamma Zeta endowment totals nearly $500,000 and we award over $20,000 each year in scholarships. All of these other guys and their stories are well know to us but Fred C. Philbrick remains a mystery.
Here’s what we know. ATO records show that he initiated to Gamma Zeta in 1911. He appears listed as a Freshman in the 1912 Illio Yearbook in the house roster but not in the picture. There isn’t a single mention of him in the Illio or the Daily Illini archives after that. There is no mention of him in the Palm or the Gamma Zeta Newsletters that we could find. There were a couple of hits on his name on the internet but certainly no explanation for his large gift to ATO. All we really have is the brief letter from his niece that is included below.
Why would a guy who very likely only spent one year as an active member of Gamma Zeta donate that much money over 60 years later? We’d love to know more about this brother and what motivated him. If you have any information at all that you can share, please pass it on!
You’ll never look at the Chicago skyline the same again… Gamma Zeta’s impact on the Chicagoland real estate scene!!
Eric Handley ’97 prompted the idea for a compilation of “Gamma Zeta impact on the Chicago Real Estate Scene” when he posted a link to an article about a project that he and his firm, William A. Randolph, Inc. built in Hyde Park called Harper Court (they built the hotel and LA Fitness). Bill Barry ’77 provided a graphic illustrating the buildings in the loop that he has financed as EVP of Draper and Kramer. I had visions of filling in that graphic with a blue and gold “Tau” on each of the buildings in Chicago that Gamma Zeta’s had touched as a developer, owner, contractor, engineer, lawyer on the deal, manager or some other influence. However, there was just too much. You could easily just paint the whole city gold and blue. Here is just a sampling of Chicagoland real estate activities impacted by Gamma Zetas. I’m sure this is just the tip of the iceberg!!Continue reading
San Diego Gamma Zetas Get Together
On Saturday, August 31, several San Diego area Gamma Zeta’s got together for lunch at Randy Jones Sports Bar in San Diego. The get together was prompted by Dane Luhrsen, Gamma Zeta’s Director of Alumni Relations visit to the area to watch his son’s Eastern Illinois Panther Football team play San Diego State (EIU won 40-19). Ed Ptacek ’54, Dr. Bill Mohlenbrock ’60, The Honorable Dick Murphy ’65, Brian Rawers ’78 joined Dane ’77 for lunch. This is just the tip of the ice berg of Gamma Zeta’s who have settled in San Diego and have lived in the area for years. Only Bill Mohlenbrock and Dick Murphy had known each other except for very recent ATO connections.Continue reading
Congrats Rob ‘84 and Mike ‘83 Buchner How 2 Brothers Became CEOs Of Rival Ad Agencies Just A Block Apart”
Rob ‘84 and Mike ‘83 Buchner
How 2 Brothers Became CEOs Of Rival Ad Agencies Just A Block Apart
– http://www.businessinsider.com/rob-and-mike-buchner-brothers-ad-agency-ceos-2013-8#ixzz2cpfQ1mFU
Volunteers needed for Gamma Zeta Alumni Kitchen Committee
Early indications are that our decision to outsource facility management of Gamma Zeta to Alpha Management has been successful. We’re now taking a look at our kitchen and food service operation to see if there are better options than our current approach. We’re looking for a few interested alumni to form a committee to assess our current operation and take a look at some outsourcing options and make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees as to the optimum approach. We’re not looking for alumni to manage the kitchen long term… no grease traps to clean or dishes to wash… just some high level support for a decision around approach. This will probably result in a handful of conference calls and ideally at least one visit to the house. Please email Dane Luhrsen at dane.luhrsen@gartner.com if you’d be interested in helping out.