Page 1 - Marching Along - Summer 2014

MARCHING ALONG A Publication of Beta Theta Pi at the University of Florida | Summer 2014 | Gamma Xi Chapter Alumni Relations Offce | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | 770-903-3987 | www.ufbeta.org From the Alumni Association Alumni Spotlight: Steve Becker ’69 President Oxford Man ven though the E house is empty By Fred Wallrapp ’79 and there is still a month to go before hen Steve totally covered with food and condiments. When classes begin, there WBecker ’69 they came back from the cleaners the following is still plenty going frst came to the week they were clean – but a foot shorter than on at 2315 Fraternity UF campus, he when they were sent in. Drive (still sounds considered himself Steve was born in Toronto, Canada and lived in weird, doesn’t it?). a music man. many places while growing up. These included In addition to our annual summer Yes, he planned Chicago, Nassau, and eventually Miami, where house touch up (cleaning, painting, to be music major and pursue a career in music he went to high school. He met Trudy, his wife maintenance, etc.), we currently have education. It was a good thing for Gamma Xi, of 45 years, there in the 8th grade. BΘΠ a much bigger project underway. After though, that his plans changed slightly along After College, Steve went back to Toronto to start years of foods and leaks we are forced the way. However, it was his love of music that his career. He held positions in banking and fund to tackle the water issue that has plagued attracted to him to Beta. raising, where his stint as the Beta treasurer as an our chapter house for decades. Known as the singing fraternity, in the 1960s undergrad proved to be great training. In 1992 he The House Corporation (with Brothers the UF Betas were very good at it. Can you went to work at the Beta Theta Pi Administrative Brian Brasington ’92 and Paul Valletta imagine Gemma Nostra sung in four part offce in Oxford, OH, to head up fund raising to ’77 taking point) consulted with several harmony? Well that is just one example of what build a new general fraternity headquarters. Two different frms and ultimately hired a was in their repertoire at the time. Steve had other campaigns had been started prior to this effort, local frm to tackle the project for us. visited other houses where there was singing – but both had stalled. Two and a half years later, after Upon further inspection, it appears that well not really singing, more having raised $3.1 million, the there is a large clay layer on a similar like organized shouting. doors to the beautiful new plain with the basement footer. But none of them compared building were opened. When water from across the campus to Beta. Steve dove right After returning home to seeps into the ground, it collects on this in, becoming the chapter Toronto for a few years, clay layer, and then travels in a mostly chorister while still a pledge. Steve was called back to south to southwest direction towards He has many great Oxford to serve as the Lake Alice. Lo and behold, the Beta memories of his time at Administrative Secretary – House just so happens to be in the way. UF and especially the Beta essentially the COO – of Beta To solve the fooding, we are currently house. During our recent Theta Pi General Fraternity. installing a large French drain that will conversation he recalled one He served in that role in the run from east to west in the front yard very memorable dinner at late 1990s, a time when the of the house. The drain should collect the house. It was a Thursday, Men of Principle initiative the water as it travels on top of said clay which at the time was known was just getting underway. layer and will then be piped into a storm as “grub” night. That meant This effort brought Beta back drain. you didn’t have to wear a to its roots and to the objects This project is no small undertaking coat and tie to dinner! His as set forth by the fraternity’s and is going to cost the chapter frst hint that this was to founders in 1839. Steve approximately $130k to complete. As be an unusual evening was was very instrumental in part of this process, a decent size section when the house mom came the success of this program, of the front sidewalk is going to have to be to dinner dressed as a clown. Steve Becker and his wife, Trudy, in 1967. which has transformed Beta replaced so we thought it was time to start Halfway through the meal she pulled out two cans Theta Pi into the leading Greek organization on up the Brick Campaign that we have of shaving cream and starting dousing everyone college campuses today. been discussing for a few years to help in sight with foam. As you might imagine, things It’s funny how it works that when you are pay for it. Brother Tom Lisiewski ’75 is got a bit out of hand after that – you might say it really good at something, everyone wants you to currently working on the project but we was the “mother” of all food fghts at a time before do it for them. So, when Gamma Xi needed to are now ready to start taking pre-orders the movie “Animal House” popularized the sport. President (Continued on Page 2) Even the draperies, which were brand new, were Becker (Continued on Page 2)