Page 4 - Gamma Tauk - Spring 2014

How it Began Raines (Continued From Page 1) the couseR GolF classic When you are by Steve Schafer ’92 presenting, and giving a speech, how do you connect with the audience? It is important to know the audience, and if you can Paul speaking at our prepare ahead of 2014 Pig Dinner. time, you can learn about their backgrounds and interests. Why do you feel it is important to give back, and stay involved with the community? We are all a product of a community, a family. Whether that community is your 1991 Couser Golf Classic. From left to right: 1- Marc Gilbert ’95, 2-Ty Kicklighter ’94, 3-Will Avery ’92, 4- Alan Wade ’94, hometown, or the Gamma Tau chapter of 5- Mike Reynolds ’93, 6- Steve Schafer ’94, 7- Ellis Kirby ’91, 8- Jason Hill ’94. Phi Gamma Delta, we all received great support and advice from members of that community growing up. I think it is t was late winter 1989 and several of us were distinguished brother from Augusta, and the James important to give back to communities in Idiscussing how to put some more excitement Couser Rowe III Memorial Golf Tournament was payment for what you have received - that’s into the annual Pig Dinner to boost attendance born. Jim was a little miffed as he said “but I’m the foundation of servant leadership. and interest. The group decided to shake it up and not dead yet, Schafer,” but it stuck. What do you do for fun outside of work? have the Pig Dinner at the house with a tent in Spring 1989, we played the frst Couser at the backyard and a BBQ along with the traditional Sugar Creek Golf Course. We had 40-50 guys – I love to play golf, although my friends presentation of the pig. We also wanted to give undergrads and graduates – and everyone had a will tell you I don’t seem to be getting any better…I also like to run and do a fair the graduates, especially those from out of state, great time. I believe for the undergrads we did amount of traveling with my family. a reason to come to Tech beside just an evening a random draw which created some interesting dinner. A golf tournament was the answer. foursomes! Like the ceremonial Thursday I took point since I was a passionate golfer and morning at the Masters, Jim Rowe hit the honorary was pretty good at organizing. Fall of 1986, my frst tee shot, aka Arnold Palmer, as we all stood Kubica (Continued From Page 2) freshman year as a pledge, I had been paired with around and cheered. We had a good Pig Dinner James Couser Rowe III ’87 as a two man team and Couser tournament that year, and the event and won the Tech intramural golf tournament. A became a tradition. What do you hope to achieve during your good day for FIJI! For a middle class boy from It was not until spring 1990 that we introduced time with the Army? Northern Illinois you would have thought I had “the jacket.” I went up the Salvation Army In the short term, I plan to get my aviator wings met Bobby Jones himself. Jim was a Management Store on Marietta Street by PJ’s and went jacket at fight school and my Platoon after that. major from Augusta, GA. He was a classic young shopping. I found a really sharp white and bright I am also interested in the 160th Special Southern gentleman – well polished and liked red checked sport jacket for a whopping $5. There Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) by everyone. He went home to Augusta a fair are so many Couser stories, like the miraculous and have already contacted their recruiter amount on weekends to play golf at his club, round by Jeff Elam ’90 in 1990. It’s been 22 for information. Experimental Test Pilot Goshen Plantation, and used to work The Masters years since I have graduated and I have only had is also a job that is on my mind, partly scoreboard in high school. the good fortune to play in one Couser since my because it requires an engineering degree. About this time Jack Nicklaus had started his time at Tech. I look forward to joining the fellas Despite the number of years that I end up Memorial Tournament up in Dublin, OH and since again this year just like the old days. serving, I hope to have the chance to make Jack was an OSU Phi Gam we thought he was Editors Note: Steve Schafer ’92 is now COO at a positive impact on the soldiers that I have the world’s greatest golfer. In honor of our own L&W Engineering Company, an automotive parts the privilege of leading and become the best special tournament, I decided to name it after our manufacturer headquartered in the Detroit area. pilot that I can be. th the 25 couser Golf classic by Wes Horsford ’02 he 25th Couser Classic was played on a wet and cool March 29 at Summergrove Golf Club in Newnan, GA. We were joined Tthis year by the founder of The Couser, Steve Schafer ’92. George Youmans ’49 was the oldest graduate player. There were 35 grads and 27 undergrads playing in the tournament this year. Graduate winners undergrad winners closet to the Pin longest Drive 1st Place - Will England ’13, Nick Keith ’13, 1st Place Undergrad Graduate Jackson Chandler ’14, Blake Gleaves ’12 Brooks Doyle ’16, Matt Mills ’13 Blake Gleaves ’12 C. W. Pearce ’05 - 2nd Place - Dan Souther ’07, Graham Neff ’06, Jai Sharma ’17, Zack Bailey ’17, Graduate Undergrad ready with boots, beer, Kirk Poucher ’07, Brett Vogt ’06 Mark Perla ’92 (fll-in) Eric Crawshaw ’09 Jackson Chandler ’14 and clubs. Alumni communication services provided by Te Laurus Group | www.thelaurusgroup.net | 770-903-3987 | @thelaurusgroup