Page 1 - The Illinois Sig - Fall 2011

Sigma Chi Fraternity | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Fall 2011
Alumni Relations Office | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | www.illinoissigs.org

Alumni Spotlight Member: Doug McConnell
In This Issue: On Swimming the English Channel

Doug McConnell When it was time to swim the English Channel, we in themselves a huge problem, but the “confused”
Spotlight.... .................. 1 were out of Dover Harbor in what seemed like no part is. There is no rhythm to the waves, and I just
Significant Sig: A Tribute time, and then came the waves that my boat pilots couldn’t get a consistent stroke cadence going. The
to Ruck Steger ...............1 Lance and Chris had warned me about. I also feeling in one of just getting slapped around by the
learned what force 5 and force 6 mean; wind speeds waves, taking in lots of seawater, and trying to keep
From the Consul ............3 of 20 mph or more. We had the difficult situation of on course. The challenge of swimming in choppy
New Pledge Class..........3 the tide and the wind moving in opposite directions, waves is to get through it without fighting the water
Chapter House Update ..4 which makes for very confused seas. When the and getting yourself beaten up too badly; after all,
President’s Report .........4 wind is blowing force 5 – 6, it is very confused seas, there is a lot of swimming to be done even once the
with waves that top five feet. Five footers are not waves dissipate. - Excerpt from A Long Swim.
Alumni News ................5
Chapter Eternal .............6 swam the English Channel in waves and other ominous things.
Leave a Legacy..............6 I memory of my father David I thought it would be nuts for
who passed away from ALS (Lou someone to swim that, and his
Gehrig’s disease). comment was as crazy as someone
When I was 6 or 7 years old, flying to Mars. It never occurred
my folks took my sisters and me to me that I would be one of those
out of school for a month one nuts.
time (my dad was a veterinarian, Did he know that I always
so we couldn’t really do vacations wanted to conquer those
in the summer, as the animal treacherous 21-30 miles?
hospital was so busy) and we Actually, my father was not in 15 years, and all I can think
traveled around England, Ireland a big fan of distance swimming. of is to have a cigarette!” That
and Scotland. One of the stops Once when I was at Illinois, we summarizes his sense of humor,
we made was in Dover, England, had a dual meet at Wisconsin. and we laughed about it for years.
and looked at the white cliffs and When the day arrived, I swam Enrolling at the University
the Channel. the event and did pretty well. of Illinois was a family tradition.
I remember him telling me, Afterward, my dad pulled me At the time, my two sisters were
“You know, people swim across aside and said, “Jeez – don’t ever enrolled there; both of my parents
that. All the way to France. Can make me do that again. That had graduated from Illinois, as had
you imagine?” Well, it was a swim was the most boring thing I
cold day in October, with wind, have ever seen! I haven’t smoked McConnell, Continued on Page 2

A Tribute to Ruck Steger: The Legend Lives On

ussell “Ruck” W. Steger ’50 has been described many as he made his way into the workforce, toting
Rsince his passing as being “larger than life” and eight varsity letters in football and baseball along the
his friends have rallied to give support to the Steger way. A kind man, Ruck always had a joke or good
family by sharing some wonderful memories such as story to share – and his friends treasured his candor
his big smile and his huge bear hugs. It is clear that on everything from sports to politics.
this man was adored by many. Life insurance was his primary business –
Russell “Ruck” W. Steger was a well known a general agent, a team builder. Ruck started out
fullback for Illinois, most notably for having scored selling insurance while still a college student. “He
in the 1947 Rose Bowl (the longest interception built one of the greatest agencies in Chicago, Steger
return for a touchdown with a 68-yard return in the Enterprises”, says friend Curt Malin. Adding, “He
fourth quarter). He was also a self-taught golfer – a was a great leader, with a knack for spotting talent.
few of you may have had the pleasure of losing to
SIGNIFICANT SIG his 5 handicap. His humor and intelligence charmed Ruck, Continued on Page 6