Page 5 - The Illinois Sig - Fall 2007

1952 REUNION

Glad We Stayed In Touch! Five 1952 Sigs Take a Cruise Together and
Recount Great Memories
Jim McKinzie Receives Significant Sig Award

On April 27, Joe Cole '52, Dr. Jim "Mac" and then moved to San Diego. Helmut is a reunion of Kappa Kappa in 1981, attended
McKinzie '52, Herb Neathery '52 and retired banker and attorney in the San Diego the Grand Chapter event. Bill is the son of
Howie Robinson '52, 4 of the 5 surviving area where he was the President of a major Mac's brother, the late John McKinzie' 49.
members of the original 1952 class (Ken financial institution. Helmut also served Helmut received the Significant Sig Award at
Mihill '52 is the other) and their wives (Fay, as Governor Ronald Reagan's appointee Kappa Kappa's 100 reunion. Helmut is listed as
th
Marilyn, Lynn and Carolyn) took a seven to three positions in the California State an Alpha Iota, Illinois Wesleyan Sig recipient of
day cruise together from San Francisco to Government. On the cruise, Helmut asked the Award since he was initiated there.
Vancouver aboard a Celebrity cruise ship. The ! his four 1952 fraternity brothers if they Mac was a member of the Illini golf
four were joined by Jim "Helmut" Schmidt knew why Ronald Reagan pledged TEKE team and has continued his golfing career as
and his wife, Jerrie. Helmut is anAlpha Iota instead of Sigma Chi? The answer is that a Country Club or Seniors champion eight
Sig from Illinois Wesleyan who affiliated with Eureka College, which Reagan attended, did times in the Ventura area. In 1994, Mac and
Kappa Kappa and lived in the Chapter House. not have a Sigma Chi Chapter! his partner won the U.S. Seniors Pacific Coast
Lynn, Carolyn and Jerrie were also Illinois Joe was employed by two major steel golf championship. Mac and Marilyn have a
graduates. (Fay graduated from Duke and distributors during his 45 year career in 2 nd home in Palm Desert, CA, where about
Marilyn from Northwestern.) specialty metals. He rose up through the ranks 15 Kappa Kappa Sigs and their wives gathered
These five 1952 Sigs were very close in and became sales manager and vice president in for parties in January 1984. This was before
college and had remained in touch. Herb, a charge of sales. In Joe's retirement, he and Fay the group went to the 1984 Rose Bowl in
Hoopeston native, now lives in Arlington, continue to live in Prospect Heights, IL. They Pasadena to see the Illini play UCLA.
Texas; Joe is in Prospect Heights, Illinois; travel to Florida during the fall and winter.
There was considerable talk during the
and Howie lives in Hoopeston and owns the
cruise about the fabulous January 1952
Robinson Pork Farm. "There was considerable talk Rose Bowl game with five Sigs on the team.
In ad~tti.cln}Q~ge\tiItg ,tog~th~r and .sh~ring 4uringthecruise about tbe-: . Chuck .Studley ...'52 was an offensive guard
old times and history plus getting up to date fabulous January 1952 RoseBowl and team captain. Herb and Stan Wallace
on each other, the cruise had some terrific '54 were the starting defensive backs with
ports to see. The night before the cruise game with five Sigs on the team." Joe and Paul "Swede" Luhrsen '54 as key
began, Bob Stone, a 1951 Kappa Kappa reserve linebacker and center. With the Illini
Sig, and his wife, Carolyn, joined the group Herb was a jet pilot in the Air Force. He trailing 7 to 6 late in the third quarter, Stan
for a get-together in San Francisco. Bob is and Lynn are now Texans, living in Arlington. intercepted a pass and returned it about 60
a Significant Sig who continues to be very Herb is now retired. Herb served 30 years yards, setting up an Illini touchdown. Illinois
active in helping the national efforts of Sigma in the Air Force, primarily as a jet pilot. He then scored five consecutive touchdowns and
Chi in many areas. was a Colonel who fought in the Vietnam routed Stanford 41 to 7! Stan later played for
The cruise stopped in the following ports: War. Herb flew 16 jet planes, primarily single the Chicago Bears.
Monterey, CA; Astoria, OR; Seattle, WA; engine jet fighters. He often traveled around The· group also recalled the great
Victoria, B.C.; and ending in Vancouver, B.C. the world. Herb and Lynn lived in London, . intramural year for 1952. TheSigs finished in
Dave Andrews '55 and his wife, Helen (U. Germany, Turkey and Lebanon. 1" place in total points of the 56 fraternities
of Illinois '57) joined the group at a Seattle With Mac also retired, Howie is the only in intramurals and the Chapter received a
event. Dave is a retired Boeing attorney who one not yet retired. He enjoys raising hogs huge trophy. One of the major successes was
continues to work part time. and plans to keep his Hoopeston hog farm in intramural basketball, the Sigs won the
Mac, a native of Bloomington, has lived even after he and Carolyn complete their championship. Herb and Helmut were starters
in the Ventura area of California since the planned move to Dixon, where Reagan grew on that great team.
early 1960s. He and Helmut see each other up. Helmut's home town, Kewanee, was The five 1952 Sigs say they will never
frequently, as Helmut and Jerrie reside in designated by the Illinois legislature as "the forget this great cruise and the opportunity
the San Diego area. In the spring of 1958, Hog Capital of the World." to get together with long time close friends.
while living in Chicago, Mac and Helmut Dr. Mac received the Significant Sig They hope to take another cruise together in
went vacationing in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Award this year at the June 30th Grand the future.
met Marilyn, who was a graduating senior Chapter event in San Jose, CA. Mac's
on spring break from Northwestern. Mac, award was based upon his many, many Note: Five of the 1952 Sigsparticipated
who was finishing up medical school at the achievements in medicine. He specialized in preparing this paper. Jim Schmidt
University of Illinois in Chicago, then started in Ophthalmology. Mac's nephew, Bill coordinated the input.
dating Marilyn. They were married in 1960. McKinzie, who was Counsel of Kappa
Helmut and Jerrie were married in 1958 Kappa in 1981 and was chairman of the ioo-

The Illinois Sig www.illinoissigs.org 5