Page 5 - The Illinois Sig - Spring 2010

Kappa Kappa Alums Celebrate 50th Reunion

by Dick Fletemeyer ‘59 and Dave Lierman ‘59
he hair might be a little thinner and milling. Sometime around eleven to midnight
Tgreyer, but the bonds of brotherhood for we all piled back on the bus and returned to
the Class of 1959 was still the same as it was the motel.
50 years ago. This truly eventful weekend was On Saturday, it was all about the Fighting
made special by the large turn out of Class Illini and Homecoming! We gathered at
of ‘59, as well as the memories the brothers Memorial Stadium to watch the Michigan
were able to share about their time at the 410 State vs. Illini Homecoming game. After the
E. John house. Alums and actives were able game, all the class of 59ers at the reunion
to come and enjoy the weekend with events, ventured back to the Sig House for a gathering
activities, and fun at the house. with the brothers for an update on the house
activities. Then we met with several of the Group socializes at Dave Lierman’s house.
active underclassmen in the great room to
show a video presentation of the activities, several Varsity I atheletes, four doctors--one
followed by a question and answer session for a Significant Sig Derald Brackmann ‘59--
the Alumni. as well as a wide cross section of professions
including several industrialist entrepreneurs.
We the class of 1959 have always The pledges then had the chance to mingle
had large numbers of our brothers with the alumni and converse on a one-on-one
return for each reunion. We have basis. After all this, all of the Kappa Kappas
‘‘
a truly UNIQUE bond that has went outside for pictures both as a class and
then with our spouses.
Class of 1959. continued for 50 years. When we Then it was back to the hotel to freshen
”
With 28 brothers and wives arriving in meet, it’s like taking up where we up and get ready for dinner at Kennedy's
Champaign on Friday, October 9th, the group began as pledges at 410 E. John. restaurant at Stone Creek in Urbana. More
blocked a section of the La Quinta Motel in cocktails, dinner and revelry ensued including
Champaign so the group would be able to -Mike Walters ‘59 the awarding of the much coveted Helmut
stay central. But we didn’t stay long, since Award. Unfortunately, there was a decision
the bus was there at 6:00 to whisk everyone After this event, all the pledges were made to retire the Helmut Award this year
off to Brother Dave Lierman ‘59 and wife called in to hear the history of the class of under the vigilance and custody of brother
Pam's residence for the traditional reuniting 1959. Sitting on the couches and chairs, Gene Carr ‘59 until we decide the future
get-together party. Hailed as the most popular in a semi circle around the room, one by of this magnificent event. At about 10:30
event of the two day reunion, the evening was one each of the Class of ‘59 stood up and everyone piled aboard the bus to return to the
spent socializing and catching up with each stated what Sigma Chi meant to us and motel.
other since the last reunion five years ago. The what accomplishments we recorded both
party consisted of an open bar and cocktail on campus and subsequently with our lives
buffet encouraging lots of munching and after graduation. The Class of ‘59 consists of

50th Reunion Impacts Actives

by Alex Brohammer ‘12
he class of 1959 reunited at the old house on 410 East John Street this year to
Tcelebrate their 50th reunion. The pledge class had a great turnout and presentations
by house leaders were interesting and enlightening for the alumni to hear. It was 50 years later and still going strong.
definitely a treat to be able to talk with the alumni and get to know how the house
functioned when they were in our shoes. It seems like some traditions and aspects of It was a weekend full of fun, friends, and
pledging have deviated from what they used to be, but we definitely got the sense that memories. A very special ‘Thank You’ goes to
the class of 1959 was eerily similar to our own pledge classes. all of the event organizers; Dick Fletemeyer
While there have been many changes, the spirit of Sigma Chi that brought all of us ‘59, Dave Lierman ‘59, and Mike Walters
together and has made all of us brothers has not changed a bit. The 2013 pledge class ‘59, the brothers of Class of 1959 that made
greatly benefited from seeing this spirit and brotherhood. As a freshman in college, it is the trip back to 401 E. John and to all those
easy to get caught up in the notion that one should join a fraternity for the parties and the that help share the spirit of Sigma Chi. Sadly
girls; the class of '59 really helped show the pledges, and remind all of the actives, why missed at this 50th Reunion were Brothers
we are here at Sigma Chi. The thought that our pledge brothers will be the groomsmen Tom Olsen ‘59, Stu Hall ‘59, Tom Jordan
in our weddings and carry our caskets at our funerals is enough to send chills down ‘59 and Dick Jenks ‘59 who have entered
one’s spine. The class of '59 truly showed that Kappa Kappa exemplifies that kind of the Chapter Eternal. This tradition of coming
brotherhood and it is remarkable to see how close they all still were after being apart back to Kappa Kappa has been going on for
for so long. A special thanks goes out to Dick Fletemeyer ‘59 and Homecoming Chair years…and hopefully will continue for years
Larry Newquist ‘59 for all their efforts in organizing the event. to come. 5