The Gamma Zeta classes of ’67, ’68 and ’69 will be holding their 50th reunion this coming Homecoming (October 2018) led by Jim Frakes ’68 and a great committee.  They have an incredible weekend planned and their organization and thoughtfulness in putting together the activities has been second to none.  One of the things that they have already completed is an absolutely fantastic booklet containing profiles of as many of the members of these three classes as they could possibly find.  They are a wonderfully diverse, interesting and diverse group that clearly succeeded while on campus and throughout their careers and lives.  They valued their ATO experience and have stayed great friends over the past 50 years.

Here’s what Jim Frakes had to say about the reunion booklet…

“Producing this Reunion Booklet has been a challenge and a labor of love. After an exhaustive search for brothers from the Classes of ’67, ’68 and ’69, repeated requests for contact information, biographies and photographs, and a lot of cajoling and pleading, the effort is nearly as complete as it can be. Thanks to all of you who submitted your information, and thanks to Mort, Stace, Gulliver, Denny, Bo, P.K., The Hound, and Burlap for their assistance.

Having read and lightly edited every entry, I suggest that you will want to read this booklet cover-to-cover. The stories are inspiring, humbling, sometimes surprising, occasionally saddening, often humorous, and, most of all, incredibly interesting.

We have all shared a common bond for 50 years, give or take a year. The bond was forged in the crucible of our undergraduate fraternity years and continues to this day to varying degrees. These are the stories of our lives.

There are impressive stories of estimable careers in business, law, medicine, engineering, science, education, architecture, journalism, aviation and sports. There are descriptions of anguishing personal and family tragedies which were oftentimes mitigated by family, friends, faith and even Alcoholics Anonymous. The strong influence of the Viet Nam War, the military draft and the Nixon Lottery course through many of these narratives.

In addition to the conventional natures of many of the stories, there are interesting off-beat features to many. One of us once told Nick Saben, at that time an insurance salesman, that he would never make any money coaching football. Others included the senior pilot for United Airlines, a Loch Ness Monster investigator, a Top Gun pilot, the Mayor of East Lansing, MI, and an advertising specialist who urged us to “Be Like Mike.” Another went from shaving in the Old Head to the fighter cockpit and then later on to a PhD and a career in military and public service.

There is a mushroom hunter, a horse breeder, and, ironically, a “horse mortality” businessman, as well as a Bronze Tablet pickleball player, a PGA Golf Professional and several professional football players. There is a Country Western singer, a street-cart vendor , a physician riverboat-casino owner, a reclusive North Woodsman, a climate activist and even a dragon-boating enthusiast. Who knew? This booklet is fun reading because we all know the cast of characters. And “characters” they indeed were and still remain.”

I think that you’ll enjoy reading this booklet.  Here it is – ATΩ Reunion Booklet (1)