Page 2 - Tri Delta Times - Spring 2017

T Sharla Echols joined Tri Delta in 1955. While at Tech, she was Assistant Rush Chairman, Rush Chairman,
head cheerleader, homecoming queen, and she and her husband Donnell were crowned “Miss and Mr.
Texas Tech”. Sharla graduated in 1959 with a degree in elementary education. After marriage, they moved
to the country where they farmed and ranched. Sharla was a stay-at-home mother, raising her 3
daughters, all of whom were Tri Deltas at Tech.

e n Growing up in Lamesa, TX, Pepper Echols graduated from Klondike High School in 1978. She pledged Phi
Eta in 1978 as a second generation Tri Delta. While at Tech, she was the Tri Delta intramurals chair, served
as a Raider Recruiter, was a Presidents’ Hostess, and a member of the Texas Tech Rodeo Club. Pepper
received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Texas Tech in 1981 and received her MS in Accounting
from Texas A&M University in 1985. She earned her CPA certi?cate in 1987 and has practiced public
accounting since then. From 2008 – 2011, she served as the Alumnae Advisor, and from 2011 – present,
she serves as the Lifetime Membership Advisor. Pepper is also currently serving on the Building Committee
for the new lodge. She has two children – a daughter, Kirby Benson Bibb, and a son, Kade Benson.

Kirby Benson Bibb grew up in Lamesa, TX, but later moved to Lubbock and graduated from
Lubbock-Cooper High School. During college she served as Academics Chair and Vice President of
Administration for Tri Delta. Kirby earned her degree in Animal Science ('09), and continued her education
at Texas Tech and received her M.B.A. in 2011. After graduating she was employed at Lubbock National
Bank, where she now works as a Bank O?cer in commercial lending. She and her husband, Trevor, have
been married for almost four years. They like to travel when they can and attend college football games.

What led you to join Tri Delta at Texas Tech? granddaughter in Delta Delta Delta. I'm a Life Loyal during my college years. It's where you really get to
Sharla - I pledged Delta Delta Delta in the Fall of 1955 as alumna member, a member of the Lubbock Alumna know your sisters, especially during work week and
a freshman at Texas Tech. After going through rush, I Chapter, and have received the Golden Circle degree recruitment.
felt that the girls in the Tri Delta chapter seemed like the (which means I've been a member for 50 years).
kind I wanted to be associated with during my college Pepper - Tri Delta is very special to all of us because we How do you stay in contact with the sisters you
days. I didn't realize at the time that I would make have all been impacted in such a positive way through were in school with?
lifelong friends. our membership. I’ve loved getting to know so many Sharla - I do stay in touch with many in my chapter. In
Pepper - I was very nervous about going through of my mom’s college friends because of Tri Delta. I’ve fact, there are 12 of us that have been getting together
recruitment, because I didn’t know anyone. I knew of also had the privilege to know my daughter’s college each year for 18 years. We've traveled to homes in
a girl named Betsy Brown Bellah, because our families friends when I served as Alumnae Advisor. It’s fun to Minden, NV, Santa Fe, NM, Ruidoso, NM, Sedona, AZ,
have been lifelong friends, but had never met her. I’m see and know the special women that have made Tubac, AZ, a bed and breakfast in Ft. Worth and
from a small town and graduated with a class of 18. I such an impact on my mom’s and my daughter’s lives Fredericksburg, TX, as well as many other places.
thought being in a sorority was for “big city” girls. But during their college years. There is also a group of three classes that meet every
everyone made me feel at home, especially Betsy Kirby - We all love Tri Delt and get to share that with three years, and that is coming up this May in
Brown Bellah, Melinda Terry, Ann Moody Zeeck, and one another, which is a very rare thing for three Fredericksburg. Many in these groups have daughters
Rajan Martin Trafton. These were some of the generations to get to do. I am very proud that I get to and granddaughters that are Tri Deltas. I feel so
sweetest girls I had ever met, and I wanted to be a share such a special thing with Mom and Gan. fortunate to be a member of Delta Delta Delta. It was
part of this group. a big part of my college days and remains a big part in
Kirby - Tri Delta stuck out to me because they were a What does the lodge mean to you? How did it my life today.
very well-rounded, down-to-earth group of girls. impact you during your time at Texas Tech? Pepper - Honestly, I wasn’t very good at staying in
They were all very welcoming during recruitment, and Sharla - When I was in school, all of the sororities and touch with a lot of my sisters right after college. I
I felt like that's where I belonged. fraternities began working toward buying land where graduated in December of 1981, and this was before
the future lodges would be built. Our chapter rented a cell phones, Facebook, and all the social media that
Did you always intend on joining the same large home a block from the campus and that served makes staying in touch so much easier now. In the
chapter/organization as your mom? as our "lodge". This is where our chapter meetings last few years, I’ve reconnected with several of my
Pepper - I didn’t know much about sororities, and wasn’t were held. We worked painting, scrubbing, cleaning sisters because of working with the collegiate chapter,
sure what I would do. I really wasn’t even sure I wanted and working in the yard all one summer getting this joining the alumnae chapter, and also because of
to join a sorority. My mom encouraged me to go ready. We also hosted fundraisers there. It's hard to Facebook. It’s been so much fun catching up after all
through recruitment, because she had loved it so much believe that the lodge we began planning so many these years. I have Tri Delta friends who have
when she was at Tech. I also knew how special Tri Delta years ago has now been outgrown and a new one is daughters in the chapter now. We always have so
had been to my mom ever since her college days, so I being built. much fun during recruitment and work week when
decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did, and knew after Pepper - The lodge that is now being replaced was they come help serve meals and snacks to the
the ?rst period parties were over that I wanted to be a built in 1974, so it was only four years old when I chapter.
part of this group. pledged in 1978. If this house could talk, it would tell Kirby - I talk and text regularly with my close friends.
Kirby - No. I went through rush with an open mind, quite the story. I’m a bit sad to see the old house go Unfortunately, we are all spread out. Football season is
wanting to ?nd where I felt like I "?t in". I also knew because of all the wonderful memories. One of my always fun, because I know I will be getting together
that my mom and grandmother wanted me to do favorite songs is “The House That Built Me” sung by with some of them for the games! I
what was best for me. They didn't put much emphasis Miranda Lambert. This house has “built” a lot of
on me being a legacy, but I'm glad I ended up making scared, homesick, shy college freshmen into
the right choice! con?dent, successful young women. The lodge was
my home away from home during my college years,
How has being in the same chapter enhanced the where I met some of the best people I’ve ever known,
bond between all of you? including my sweet alumnae advisor Kay Kring Key.
Sharla - I feel fortunate to have a daughter and Kirby - The lodge was basically a second home to me

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