Page 2 - The Illinois Sig - Fall 2010

Alumni news

Merrill E. Prichard ’48 Retired. Still working on a History of the
Sigma Chi Foundation (1939 - 1987). May become a lifetime’s work!
In touch with Peter Steger ’79 and Don Johnson ’49 with some
regularity. The last of my six grandchildren will be a sophomore at
Northwestern this fall. A grandson is in his first year at Indiana and
another in law school.

David A. Brierley ’49 It hardly seems like 60 years ago that Dean
Schroeder ’49 and I left “410” for Oklahoma in the quest for oil as
young budding geologists, but here we are still active. Horizontal
Drilling and 3-D Seismic now adds a new dimension that keeps the
quest exciting. In hoc, Dave Brierley

Dickinson G. Wiltz ’51 In April 2010, we moved to Atlantic Beach,
FL. to a Continuing Care Retirement Center (CCRC). We have a
cottage, a golf cart and a lot of new friends.
Association. We still find life in the Boston area to be lively and
fulfilling.
James C. Schmidt ’52 The Spring 2010 publication’s Chapter Eternal
section told us that we have lost “Gimp” Prichard a 1953 Sig. I Jack W. Ullemeyer ’59 Still looking “down” at the grass---and not
remember Gimp very well as he and I were ping-pong doubles partners “up” at its roots!
competing in the inter-fraternity tournament where we went all the way
to the semi-finals before losing. He was a great guy. I was an under- John F. Rooney ’61 My son, Dan, Significant Sig KU ’95, and I
graduate transfer from Illinois Wesleyan (Alpha Iota) and started law opened the Patriot Golf Club in May. Located in Tulsa, OK, designed
school in 1950 and was honored to become a Kappa Kappa affiliated by Robert Trent Jones II, it is also the home of the Fold of Honor
member, eat at the Chapter House, and soon invited to live in the Foundation. See Patriotgolfclub.com for details. Still Summering in
House. The 1952 gang were the ones I tied in with. Besides ping- Grand Haven, MI, where we own the Grand Haven Golf Club. Come
pong, I also played on our 1952 fraternity basketball championship visit and play some good golf!
team and became a long time best friends with many Chapter members,
particularly 1952 gang members Joe Cole, Jim “Mac” McKinzie and Robert P. Cornelisen ’61 Just returned from two months in New
Herb Neathery. The 4 of us, Howie Robinson ’52 and our wives, Zealand visiting son and family. Fly fishing brothers come on up to
went on a cruise together in 2007. Unfortunately, we have now lost Pentwater for some serious fishing.
both Joe and Herb. We miss Gimp, Joe and Herb. During my career
I had the honor to serve as Governor Ronald Reagan’s appointee to David E. Ogdon ’80 GO BLACKHAWKS! OK 80’s. I just received
3 positions in California State Government. My wife, Jerrie, Kappa the annual letter from Kappa Kappa (Eric Rahn ’75) asking for your
Alpha Theta ’55 U of I, and I enjoy coming back to Champaign about 2010 ‘gift’. I’m the only ’80 who gave last year. Pick, Gawner and
every 3 years to attend Sig events during the football season. We look Dan Moehle ’80 are the only three I’ve ever seen on the list. Send
forward to coming back again soon. PS. I was honored to receive the 50 or 100 bucks. It would be cool to see a bunch of 80’s up there.
Significant Sig Award in 1981 at an event in Champaign. The classes of 1957 and 1949 have the most with 9 and 8 respectively.
Pretty good considering most of the ’49 class is probably in the chapter
Thomas N. Harvey ’55 Marion and I are still happy to be the directors eternal. The most of our era are the ’81’s with 4. (Dave Blanke ’81
of the Independent Living program at the Chestnut Hill Benevolent gives over $400 every years....and then swims the English Channel!).
See: www.southtexasmastersswimming.com/longdist/dblankeprofile.
html

Scott D. Altman ’81 Left Astronaut office after 15 years and moved
to industry. Now working in DC area for ARTS, an engineering firm.
Youngest son now in college at University of San Diego so we are on
our own. Moved to a house in Georgetown.

Derek J. Ferguson ’02 Enrolled at the Kellogg School of
Management at Northwestern University. Pursuing MBA with majors
in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Management & Strategy and
Finance. Graduation expected June 2011.

John H. Canning ’04 Graduated UIC College of Dentistry in 2010.
Currently practicing as a general dentist in Orland Park, IL.

Richard M. Hackmann ’08 Just took over as chair for 2010 - 2011 of
the Palo Alto Young Professionals.
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