Page 1 - The Illinois Sig - Fall 2014

Sigma Chi Fraternity | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Fall 2014 Alumni Relations Offce | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | www.illinoissigs.org From the Ryan T. Brown ’96 Housing Corporation Alumni Spotlight: Editor’s Note: For this edition of he cheer went the newsletter we’re shining the Tout, “We want Spotlight on Life Loyal Sig Ryan action... ACT... Brown ’96. Ryan is the founding ION!!” That is partner of the Chicago offce of exactly what we Gordon & Rees LLP, a national law are doing. As frm with more than 600 lawyers. the newly elected He lives in Quincy, IL with his wife, President of the Elizabeth, and their four children: House Corporation Jack, Ben, Katie, and Maggie. Board many thanks go out to the entire Ryan served Kappa Kappa as Board for their engagement in helping Pro-Consul, Rush Chair (twice), maintain and continue to live by the Derby Days Chair, Scholarship motto, “together we are better!” A Chair, Historian, and President shout out goes to all involved. From of the 96.50 Pledge Class, and he my heart, I want to say thank you! was active in the Student Alumni Ryan and his wife Elizabeth tailgating before We are moving on many fronts. The Association and Illinois Club the Ohio State football game in 2011. current Executive Committee of the Soccer. Read on to fnd out more! Chapter has responded as we knew they would with great enthusiasm and What led you to join Sigma Chi? How did you make your way through law commitment. Here is what has been Reputation – I liked that nearly everyone I spoke school fnancially? going on: with prior to and during the rush process commented Besides student loans, I bartended several • We have implemented a monthly that Sigma Chi was a “great house” without giving nights a week during my frst and second years Board conference call to keep the a specifc label such as “jocks,” “face guys,” etc. of law school. After my 2L year, I stayed in momentum strong Soft Sell – Unlike the rush chairs at competing Champaign over the summer, along with my • Farah Williams has done a great job houses, Jim Adler ’95 encouraged us to take our roommate Brian Neiswender ’98 (also from in helping us on the fnancial front. time during the process, both to enjoy the “rushee” Quincy), to help good friends Tom Gillespie (son He has really stepped up and our experience and to ensure that we fnd the place of Robert Gillespie ’45) and Pete Vrydoliak fnancial game has greatly improved. where we were most comfortable. restore and reopen Gully’s on Green Street. One of the many things he is doing Swagger – I was hooked when I saw the blue We ran the bar during the 98-99 school year, along is to implement a new tracking “Bring It!” tee shirts. employing many undergrad Sigma Chis. and accounting system. What did you enjoy most as an active? After graduation, how did you transition to • Jim Escobar ’95 is a new member Chicago? of the Board who is helping Farah I had many enjoyable experiences as an active, in the fnancial area. including serving as Rush Chair for the ’98 and ’99 In May 1999, I moved into a great apartment pledge classes. We had changed our pledgeship near Lincoln/Wrightwood/Sheffeld with Ryan Alumni (Continued on Page 6) program (to eliminate “social” pledgeship), the Stephan ’96.50 and Dario Jaramillo ’96.50. After physical house was passing the bar, I was lucky enough to land a good- under construction, and paying associate job with a growing, young frm. we were confronting Later in the year, I joined Mike Thompson ’96.50 some complex internal and Mike Babich ’98 as investors/owners in Lush, issues. However, a bar near Sheffeld & Armitage, and we hosted a d e s p i t e t h o s e grand opening party on New Year’s Eve (1999). diffculties, we were The bar was never a monetary/quantitative success, able to bring in large but the qualitative experiences were life altering. classes with many unique personalities How did you meet your wife Elizabeth? who came together Elizabeth and I were in the same preschool class and developed into in Quincy. Our paths continued to cross periodically leaders in the chapter, over the next 25 years (or at least I often noticed her The New Volleyball Court fraternity, and now because she is a smokin’ hot babe). We reconnected The PVC border is flled with water and 5 gallons of RV antifreeze. Additionally, the PVC has in their respective in Chicago in 2003, moved to Wilmette in 2005 an inlet for water and a drain plug to drain half way for the winter time. The court will also professions/fields/ (where Elizabeth was a teacher and administrator), be turned into an ice rink in the winter for 4 man hockey. The members of the house love it. industries. Brown (Continued on Page 6)