Fall 1953 Omegaphone
The President's Report
As the new year starts Omega finds itself with 33 brothers and 14 pledges to carry the traditions of Theta Chi at Pena State. It was our hope to have an annex this year so that a pledge class of 20 or more men could be formed. However? a number of our rushees failed to appear for orientation week and the idea of an annex was given up. It is still our hope to start an annex next semester. The future looks bright and spirit is high Omega should go far this year.
After a slow down in our house improvement program we are again moving in high gear. After a very profitable summer housing program, we intended to have the parking lot in back of the house surfaced. Much to our regret it turned out to be more than we could handle. However, the alley behind the house wil be surfaced this fall in joint cooperation with the Borough of State College and Omega. Please let me remind you. that October 24 is Alumni, weekend. So why not plan now to come back to State. The actives can always use a few words of wisdom from the older brothers. be looking for you.
Dick Fronko
The Fall Pledge Class
This fall your chapter has brought to a pledge class of fourteen potential. Theta Chis. The following list will give you a brief introduction to the boys.
Jim Lucas, New Kinsington, Pa. Fifth semester Commerce student. Jim likes to ice skate and plays basketball. He is also a candidate for the Collegian staff.
Ron Hanson, Conneaut Lake, Pa. Fourth semester Business Administration. Ron, a Korean veteran, is interested in campus politics.
Bob Watson, Pittsburgh. Third semester Industrial Arts Education major. Bob participates in track and cross country and is interested in campus politics.
Jack Melder, New Castle, Pa. A second semester Journalism student, Jack is a candidate for the Daily Collegian editorial staff.
George Keller, Port Trevorton, Pa. Fifth semester Business Administration. George's hobbies include outboard boat racing, hunting, and fishing.
Bill Klausner, Runnemede, N.J. Fourth semester Aeronautical Engineer. Bill who enjoys flying is also on the Thespian stage crew.
Roger Volgelsinger, Scranton. Fourth semester Business Administration student. Roger a candidate for the Daily Collegian's business staff, likes to swim and play baseball in his spare time.
Tony Richards, New Castle, Pa. Third semester Industrial Engineering major. Tony's outside interests include all sports, especially bowling and softball.
Ken Sommers, Muncy, Pa. A third semester Chemical Engineering student, Ken's main interest is music, with the emphasis on the popular brand.
Joe Zimmerman, Sunbury, Pa. Third semester Mechanical Engineer. Joe is an avid stamp collector and often takes time off to do a little fishing.
Bud Segl, Wilmington, Del. Third semester Mechanical Engineering. Bud's chief hobbies are sail boat racing and ice skating.
Bill Landis, Shanksville, Pa. Aeronautical Engineering, third semester. Bill, a Navy veteran, likes to play basketball.
Jim Wolfe, Natsontown, Pa. Fifth semester Business Admdnistration. Jim's main hobbies are hunting and fishing.
John Beachley, Berlin, Pa. A third semester Agronomy major, likes hunting, dancing, and swimming.
Theta Chi of Penn State, Inc.
The annual meeting of the Omega Alumni Corporation will be held at the Chapter House Saturday, October 26, 1953. This is also Penn State's Alumni Homecoming weekend, and we look forward to renewing acquaintances again.
You will be interested in a brief report on Alumni Corporation activities, and this is the first of what we hope to be an Annual Report. A condensed income and expense statement for last year is attached.
Our major physical asset is of course the Chapter House at State College. The outstanding mortgage has been reduced to $18,000 from the origional $50,000. Our only source of income is the rental paid by the Active Chapter, which is applied to mortgage reduction, taxes, insurance, interest, and repairs.
The Chapter House has been maintained in very good condition, and much of the credit for this must go to the Active Members in recent years. For example, some of the repair work, and all of the labor for internal painting, is furnished by the Actives; so that the average of $800 per year for repairs and painting is mostly the cost of materials.
Our other major asset is You. Your thoughts and ideas and "helping hand' are needed for the continual improvement of the Active Chapter and of the Alumni Corporation.
The Alumni Corporation has been unfair in the past in that the Active members have paid for Alumni mailings and postage. For this reason it was voted that a nominal amount be charged as yearly dues to defray these expenses. Voting membership, therefore, will be limited to those remitting dues of $1.00 per year. Kindly forward remittance with your ballot (which is enclosed) to the Chapter House, or if not voting, please forward your dollar to the Alumni Treasurer, Do it now--before you finish.
Our program Chairman for Alumni day is Bob Clarke. The complete program will be printed in the Omegaphone. Room reservations can be made by writing direct to the active chapter, attention of Mr. Richard Fronko, President.
The schedule for Saturday, October 24, follows:
10-12 noon Registration at Chapter House
12 noon Luncheon
1:30 P.M. Football game-Texas Christian
5:30 P.M. Board of Directors Meeting
6:00 P.M. Dinner - Awards
7:00 P.M. Alumni Corporation meeting - elections
8:00 P.M. Fellowship - Visitation
Fraternally yours,
Al Frey
Scholarship Report
Again the scholarship report is a pleasure to give. We did slip one notch in the fraternity standings, however. That was a three way tie for twelfth place. Our house average went up on the other hand eight points, from a 1.42 two semesters ago to 1.50 this past semester. This is above both the all-men's average and the all-college average. The card room boasts of two new scholarship awards. One from regional and one from national. The same enforcement procedures are enacted as in the past. Omega can be proud of its academic standing, but we are always striving to move upward in the scholastic standings.
Bill Reid
Alumnotes
Our newest alumni have had a chance to establish themselves in the cold and cruel old world since last July. The majority of them are now working or contemplating working with Uncle Sam.
Lt. Bill Shomberg is working for Clasters in Bellefonte while waiting for his assignment in the Air Force. Pvt. Gene Whitehouse is in basic training at Fort Meade. George Eyerich was also recently inducted into the Army. Lt. John Budesky is in the Army Engineers in Virginia. In the Air Force is Dick Johnson who recently completed his pre-flight training and is now in flight training at Spencer Air Base in Moultrie Georgia. Lt. Hal Wells is at present in the Westinghouse training program but expects to get his assignment soon. We understand he is going to work on guided missies. Pvt. Chuck Meassick is in a heavy mortar company of the 31st Infantry Division at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
Of the remaining the most traveled. is Jim Nelson who is working for Firestone Rubber Company in Liberia, Africa. Chuck Douds got married to "Marty" over the summer and has returned to do graduate work in physics. Cris Snyder when last heard from was just fishing. Bill Wendel was also married this summer and now is in the training program of the Penna. Power and Light Co. in Allentown. Jack Richards is working for the American Bridge Company in Ambridge. Working for U.S. Steel in Braddock, Pa. is Tom Morton who was married last spring. John Leister is teaching music in the State College schools. And Joe Parker is working for Household Finance in Philadelphia.
Of those who graduated in January, all but Pete Fairchuck are in the service. Pete is in Pittsburgh working for U.S. Steel and has a new baby girl. Training recruits for the Infantry in Ft. Jackson South Carolina is Lt. Jim Peters. Also in the Army, from this group is Pvt. Jackson Horner who is at present stationed in Virginia but expects to be sent to the Asia theater soon. Ens. Bill Elmore is on the destroyer USS C.K. Bronson last heard in Far East waters. Last but not least are the Marines, Lt. Frank Illest and Lt. Lou Wilson. Frank is in Quantico at present and is soon going to Pensacola for flight training. Lou was participating in manuevers also at Quantico when what should have been a dummy granade exploded and seriously injured his right leg. He recently had the cast removed and is back on part time duty.
Another injury among the alumni was Lt. Larry Van Gorder '52 who was hit in the chest by shrapnel only three days before the armistice in Korea. Larry's address is the Philadelphia Navy Hospital, Ward 12, Philadelphia 45, Penna.
A few other alumni have cone to our attention. Pete Stetson '50 is taking graduate work here in Ceramics. Owen McIntyre is working for Blue Sunoco in Ithica, Ohio. Paul Brocht '52 is in the boys department of Kauffmans in Pittsburgh. Lt. Jim Phillips '52 is still in Korea with the Marine artillary. We heard that "Easy" Ed Noyes '51 got married recently, as did George Hope '52 who married "Joannie". Ens. Lloyd Dietrich is on, a repair ship in Norfolk Va. Also in the Navy is Ens. Sven Schiff. Sven graduated from Pensacola flight training school and is going to multiple engines school at Hutchinson, Kansas. He is "expecting" in December. Still at Pensacola and "expecting" in January is Al Martin '52. Ralph Stuck '52 is at present in Los Angeles working as a field engineer for Hagen Corp. Married recently is Freddy Fieni. He is in Philadelphia growing mushrooms. Tom Lewis '52 is in the USAF Band. Craig Rupp '52 is a forest ranger in Idaho. Another member of the class of '52 is Joe Weirs who is making airplane parts in Philadelphia and is finishing his Industrial Engineering degree in night school.
A couple of actives are back with us this year after a turn with Uncle Sam. They are Dave Miller and Frank Cressman.
Kay Huston, Alumni Sec.
Omega Athletics
Theta Chi has come through with another championship softball team. Led by the pitching of Bob Gohn and the hitting of Joe Parker and Dick Lewis, Theta Chi won 12 games while losing none. Gohn had 3 no-hitters to his credit, also. A beautiful trophy now stands in the card room to show for the team's splendid efforts.
With the opening of fall semester, touch football has the limelight. Though our first game is with the defending champions, Theta Chi expects to field a winning team. We're looking forward to a full Intramural schedule. Last season Theta Chi ending the semester in 28th spot, but hopes are high that this will he vastly improved come next May.
Tom Maxwell, Athletics Chairman
House Report
I am pleased to report that, in general, the condition of the house is in good both outside and inside. During the summer months when the house was open for room and board for those attending summer school, things were kept in good condition and not run down as might be expected. When we the actives and the new pledges, returned for Orientation Week a few hours of concentrated labor put things in running order again.
There are a few things concerning the outside of the house that should be called to your attention. The lawn came up in fine shape this summer after much effort on the part of the former house-manager to have it dug up, planted, and cared for. Also the bank on the southwest corner of the lawn, which been grown-up and ugly with bushes and weeds, was also cleaned off, graded, and planted last spring. The alley behind the house is to be paved by the Borough this fall and at the same time doing the parking lot. However, after some research, it would cost too much to have it done at this time. We are new in the process of having the window sashes and doors painted on all the floors, and hope to have it done by the time cold weather set in.
Concerning the inside of the house, several improvements have been made. A mirror, 5' by 4', which was donated last spring by one of the actives father, was hung in the foyer directly opposite the front door. This, I think, not only adds to the beauty of the first floor but without a doubt, very convenient as far as the co-eds are concerned. The rooms on the second and third floor are in fairly good shape. Many have been painted and new rug and furniture supplied by their occupants. However, there is some need of plastering in a few rooms, and also will be in a year or so on the first floor ceiling, where there are several cracks seem to be widing fast. Progress has been made toward the purchase of new rugs for the second and third floors hallways, which are badly needed. This will be financially possible by the profits from this summer.
House Manager Roderick J. Wiseman
Obituaries
John A. Irwin was one of the six subscribers to the chapter of Theta Chi of Penn State. He was the corporation's first president, serving from 1925 to 1930. He served as secretary from 1930 to 1947, and as a director from 1951 till his death. He was the recipient of Ruby Eye Award #2, one of seven men so honored by Omega's Alumni, and the following is quoted from the award.
John Andrew Irwin, Omega 1916 - He has maintained a deep interest in the affairs of his fraternity since the founding of the Northeast Club. He served with distinction as President, Secretary, and Director of the Alumni Corporation. His able planning and careful supervision made the new chapter house possible. His wise counsel and sincere service have been a constant demonstration of the true Theta Chi Spirit.
New Omegamen
Eleven new brothers were initiated into Omega on the seventeenth of September. They are..
Charles E. Leech - Meadville, Pa. - Geography
Joseph T. Crude - Oil City, Pa. Bus. Ad.
Robert S. Wendel - Selinsgrove, Pao Dairy Hus.
Lamont B. Smith - Lehighton, Pa. Phy. Ed.
Dominic Alisio - Bethlehem, Pa. Bus. Ad.
William C. Youkers - Smethport, Pa. Bus. Ad.
John H. Pershing - Ligonier, Pa. E.E.
Donald J. Griffith - Curwensville, Pa. M.E.
Donald N. Kalin - Wexford, Pa. Dairy Hus.
Dino O. Fieni - Kennet Sq., Pa. E.E.
Robert C. Urban - Philadelphia, Pa. Bus. Ad.
Thank you to all those brothers that shared their news.
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