Page 1 - Cal Delta Spotlight - Spring 2016

Cal Delta Spotlight

USC House Corporation of Phi Delta Theta | Spring 2016 | University of Southern California
Alumni Office | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | www.phideltatheta-caldelta.com

USC House Corporation Alumni Spotlight: Lt. John J. Gobbell ’60

A Word From Our President
umility is a virtue,
but let me brag
Habout Cal Delta
alumni for a moment. The
winter edition of The Scroll
honored members of the
Cornerstone Club, which
consists of Phi Delt alums
who have contributed $25,000 or more John with his soon to be wife, Janine, a USC
toward a local chapter campaign supporting Theta. “Janine and I go all the way back to
the “bricks and mortar” of a chapter house. John and his wife Janine at a USC fund raising event at the Caruso Catholic Center. 1960 to when we were married three weeks
There are 22 Cal Delta brothers on this list “The guy behind us is Tommy Trojan aboard the famous USC horse Traveler.” after our graduation from USC.”
of generous givers, more than any other of
Phi Delta Theta’s 182 chapters in the U.S. Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter we’re shining the Spotlight on Brother John
and Canada. Combine the social skills of Gobbell ’60. From the hometown of Encino, CA, John graduated from USC with his BA in English.
the Phi Delt House with a USC education, After graduation, John served in the Navy for two years in active duty and then six years in
and the result is quite a pairing of success reserve where he achieved the rank of lieutenant. His degree and Naval experience would become
and generosity. significant factors years later – John’s 7th novel, Edge of Valor, was recently published, and he is
In March I ran into another Cal Delta working on his 8th novel, Dead Man Launch. Today he is a full-time Author, Publisher, and Owner
alumnus by the name of Bill Putney ’51 who of StarboardSide Productions. John and his wife Janine have been married for 55 years. They
have two kids: daughters Jennifer and JJ – both USC graduates; a Cat named Luther; and nine
deserves our gratitude. Currently the highest grandchildren – two from Jennifer, and seven from JJ! For fun, John enjoys sailing, walking around
bond number in the chapter is 1794. Brother Balboa Island, having dinner with friends, spending time with family, and catching USC sports.
Putney’s bond number is 6. That’s not a typo. John is also a past competitive sailor and has competed for the Congressional Cup three times.
He was initiated in 1948. And he’s in great
shape with a major trip to Europe coming up. What led you to join Cal Delta? grunts of the Marines. So he took the Marine option
Warren Buffett has said that we get to enjoy in his junior year and came out a Jarhead.
the shade of a tree because someone planted it Bill Gobbell ’55, my older brother, pledged Phi I had the great wisdom to stay with the Navy and
long ago. To the founders of our chapter like Delt five years before me along with a number of I’m sure glad I remained the family Squid.
Bill Putney and everyone who has supported other sons of close family friends. There were many It was a crazy time as I graduated and went on to
it since: thank you. You are a big reason why of us and I didn’t have a chance looking at another active duty. I married Janine, (the love of my life)
Stephen Youts, our Province President, now house. Phi Delt was the top house on Fraternity Row fifty-six years ago and then was immersed in the
refers to Cal Delta as the premier Phi Delt (Twenty-Eighth Street) and that was all I wanted. process of becoming a leader. What challenges!
Little did I know of the rushing process when I
chapter on the West Coast. first showed up. Fortunately, my brother Bill and Upon graduation, the Navy ordered me to a “Tin
Bruce Buettell ’82 my Dad told me to keep my mouth shut during rush. Can,” the USS Tingey (DD 539) a revered Fletcher
And that must have worked because I got the bid. class destroyer of World War II. Something I didn’t
anticipate was that becoming an officer in the Navy
President – USC Phi Delt House Corporation After growing up in a military and medical involved the enormous responsibility of leading
family, why did you join the NROTC in school? men. Right away, they gave me a division of twenty-
At the risk of sounding corny, I liked the idea five sailors in the deck division. I mean these guys
of putting on a uniform, becoming an officer, were the roughest of the rough. Fortunately, I had
and serving our country. More than that, we were a Chief who took care of me and them. Chiefs are
the backbone of the Navy – wonderful people.
surrounded with Navy. My Dad served in the 1930s
peacetime Navy and then later in the South Pacific Other challenges were the crushing workload,
in World War II as a Navy doc. They actually sent sleeplessness, the constant confrontation with
him ashore at Tarawa (Gilbert Islands) in the third adversity. That and following orders.
On the other hand, I discovered “Tin Cans” had
wave. He was still cleaning his underwear for
decades after that. And then my brother Bill caught 60,000 horsepower to play with. Conning them was
the bug and joined the NROTC at USC. And I a real blast. Deck officers had bugs in their teeth,
followed after that. From a practical standpoint, stood tall, and enjoyed their moments on the bridge.
Also, I became the fire control and anti-submarine
neither one of us wanted to be drafted – we were warfare (ASW) officer having fun shooting the five
An honored guest at the Orange County Founders both 1A with student deferments. Along with many inch guns and chasing submarines. Later in the
Day Dinner was Cal Delta alumnus Bill Putney others, we didn’t want be forced into the Army after
(center), Bond #6, initiated in 1948. With Bruce Buettell leaving college. We preferred clean sheets and hot reserves, they made me a “Gun Boss” (Weapons
(pictured left), and Bruce Birkeland (pictured right), chow and a quiet life at sea, except … brother Bill Officer) on a reserve destroyer.
who received his Golden Legion pin at the dinner. fell for all the brass and glitter and screams and Gobbell (Continued on Page 4)