Page 1 - The Delta Shield - Winter 2016-17
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Tennessee Delta Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi | Vanderbilt University | Winter 2016-2017
                                                 Alumni Relations Office | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | 770-903-3987

From the President                             Alumni Spotlight: Richard McCubbins ’67

            Brothers,                          For this edition of the newsletter we’re shining the Spotlight  Rich flew 154 combat missions in Weasels over
                                               on Richard McCubbins ’67 Delta #671. Arriving at Vandy          North Vietnam during his “first” tour. Photo with
       A fter more than 20                     from Annadale, VA, Rich pledged Tennessee Delta and
                           years as house      served the Chapter as Pledge Trainer. He graduated with                    A/C 321 prior to a mission.
                     corporation president,    a degree in electrical engineering and then joined the
                     I think it’s time for     Air Force. After serving his country and surviving many
                     me to retire. When I      dangerous missions, he returned home to the U.S. and met
                     became president, the     his California girl, Cookie. Rich and Cookie have been
                     chapter had a large debt  married for 38 years and share one stepson, Leonard, who is
to Vanderbilt and the House Corporation        a graduate of the USC Film school and lives in Sacramento
had no money and no plan for the future.       with his family. Though Rich is technically retired, he is
Fortunately, Ross Rainwater ’65, Byron         working as a Consultant/Senior Research Engineer with
Cain ’70, Larry Brown ’70, John Dredge         Denmar Technical Services. A past employee with Lockheed
’70, and Bob Sullivan ’71 joined me on         Martin, he remains involved with StarDusters, a volunteer
the board, and some are still serving today.   veteran’s service, and serves as director. He also works as a
Chuck Higgins ’67 volunteered to be            Rose Parade float decorating volunteer. For fun, he enjoys
chapter advisor. (Please forgive me if I       golfing, hiking in the local mountains of Yosemite, and going
neglected to mention someone.)                 to the Santa Anita racetrack to watch the thoroughbreds.
    The decision was made to raise money
and renovate the house, and shortly            What was the house like when you were an               to disrupt or destroy SAM sites in North Vietnam.
thereafter, the chapter was suspended.         active?                                                I flew 154 combat missions. Returned to Nellis
Despite all the obstacles and because of the                                                          AFB, Nevada, checked out in F-111s, and shortly
fundraising skills and expertise of many           The house was brand new in ’66. I remember the     thereafter went back to Takhli, Thailand, where I
brothers, notably Joe Estes ’78 and Chuck      “Macks,” who were interesting folks and worked         flew 84 bombing missions. Returned to Nevada
Higgins, the renovation was completed.         and managed our kitchen. Also, there seemed to be a    for a few months when I received orders to RAF
We had a successful re-chartering, and now     continuous bridge game going on—brothers would         Upper Heyford in England. I spent two years in
have approximately 60 active members.          float in and out of the game, but the game seemed to   England where our main purpose was in the defense
    Rob Ayerst ’78, who is presently           keep going continuously.                               of Europe. So, I spent about a third of my tour on
serving on the board, has agreed to accept                                                            “Nuclear Alert.”
the responsibility of being our next           After graduation, where did the Air Force
president. I hope that some of you will        take you?                                              With so many flight hours logged, did
volunteer to serve on the board and that all                                                          you ever consider flying commercial for a
of you will continue to donate each year           After taking the oath in Nashville, I went to OTS  living?
to help cover our operating expenses. Let’s    in San Antonio, Texas. Then off to Sacramento,
all help Rob continue Tennessee Delta’s        California, for navigator and electronic warfare           Not really. I left the Air Force in the fall of 1975
legacy and ensure our chapter’s future at      training. My first assignment was flying F-105
Vanderbilt for many more generations.          “Wild Weasels” out of Korat, Thailand. Our job was                                      (Continued on Page 4)

Fraternally,                                   Founders Day Weekend 2017

Doug Hirt ’68                                  Please join us in Nashville February 17th -19th!
President
Tennessee Delta House Corporation              We have another exciting weekend planned at the beautiful Holiday Inn Vanderbilt. Details and
                                               registration info for this event—including meal selections and Founders Day full schedule—can
   Thank you Doug!                             be found at www.mygreekgift.org/TN_Delta_Events.

                                               Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Phi Psi has a block of tickets reserved for $26
                                               per ticket. Deadline to reserve your seat is February 10th. Email Byron Cain at bchome@texastourstrade.com to
                                               reserve your seat. Go ‘Dores!

                                                                  We are proud to announce that our keynote speaker this year is Mike Flechas, owner and broker
                                                                  at Center City. Mike was initiated into the Mississippi Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi in the spring
                                                                  of 1999. As an officer on the Executive Council, Mike hopes encourage lifelong participation in Phi
                                                                  Kappa Psi by all brothers while working with undergraduates and alumni on projects to create a
                                                                  sustainable future for our fraternity. The cost of the luncheon this year is $35 per person.
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