Even during the historic COVID-19 pandemic which required an innovative approach to pledge recruitment, our local chapter was able to excel.  With the leadership of Recruitment Chairman, Christian Cline (18-F) they successfully recruited the most pledges of any fraternity at Fresno State and initiated thirteen.  But more importantly as Chapter Advisor, Dusty Lacefield (12-F), noted at the end of the recruitment period, “The quality of the men in this pledge class is astounding!”

The pledge program followed all of the safety protocols outlined by Headquarters, the initiation was done using FaceTime and the ritual used was created especially to follow all safety protocols for the pandemic.  When we finally get back to normal, there will be another initiation that will follow our normal ritual.

The Fall 2020 new initiates are Trenton Benevedes, Christian Cruz, Trent Gardner, William Jacobs, Mason Jennings, Dylan Maley, Logan Mann, Andrew Martinez, Matthew Morillas, Ethan Munoz, Adam Peters, Nolan Sumter and Ronald Wood III.

Click the link below to view the new Attestation Form.

Signed Pledge Form Logan Mann

Attestation forms were used for the first time in Sigma Chi history, and DocuSign was used to prevent infection.  The attestation form above is that of Logan Mann, son of Sam Mann (06-F), Brother Sam is in charge of the Harry St John Dixon Memorial located in the Mountain View Cemetery in Fresno California.

On November 19 the alumni chapter met virtually informing those attending of the latest happenings with our local undergraduate chapter and fellow alumni. Alumni Chapter President, Brad Fischer, opened the meeting with self-introductions.

Brothers in attendance were Consul Jordan Ayerza (17-F), House Corporation President, John “Bullwinkle” Ballinger (65-S), Dave Barns (61-F), past Consul Greg Baxter (67-S), Colonel Don Beauregard (62-S), Marv “Brody” Broderson (63-S), past Consul Tom Downing (62-F), Alumni Chapter President Brad Fischer (78-S), Dan O’Brien (61-F), Mike “Kabong” Patton (63-S), Bruce Quan (72-F), Dave Reuland (69-F), Bill Robinson (70-F), Bill Smittcamp (73-S) and Tim Vaux (66-F).
Consul Ayerza reported that the in-house brothers have been diligent in avoiding exposure to the Covid virus (cross your fingers), and have an isolation protocol in place if someone does get it. He noted that thirteen brothers were recently initiated during an informal ceremony, and that they will be initiated at a later date using the formal ritual when the pandemic allows. He said that it looks like some of the fraternities on the Fresno State campus may not survive these trying times including ΣAE which has closed its chapter house for lack of occupancy.

John Ballinger gave his report noting that the Chapter House is at full capacity explaining that maximum occupancy was reduced to twenty brothers because of the pandemic, and that one room was reserved for isolation in case a brother were to get the virus. He asked brother Patton to show some slides of the south exterior that will undergo improvements in the next few months. Past Consul, George Matoian (79-S), made a donation to the House to improve the signage on the south elevation, and this started the discussion to make more extensive improvements. The south side at Bulldog Lane has not changed since the House was built in 1967, and it obviously does not give passersby a good first impression of the fraternity. The photo below is the before, and we look forward to showing the after in a few months.
Brad saved the most fun part of the meeting for last, and that was the open mic period. It was an entertaining free-for-all, and we were able to find out what is going on in our brothers’ lives.

The next Zoom alumni meeting will be Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 PM.

Growing from $13,000 to $38,000 in scholarship awards in the last four years, our endowment has officially reached critical mass. Next year we will have $38,000 to award, and now the challenge is to make sure our undergraduate brothers successfully apply by the deadline which will be approximately March 1, 2021.

Last February, Scholarship Chairman, Christian Reta (18-F), held a successful scholarship application workshop at the Chapter House where nineteen brothers successfully applied online on the Fresno State scholarship portal. The next workshop will be organized by newly-elected Scholarship Chairman, Nolan Long (20-S). Both brothers Reta and Long achieved 4.0 GPAs last semester.

Our undergraduate chapter achieved academic excellence last semester by besting the all-men’s average at Fresno State with their chapter average of 3.22. Out of 48 undergraduates in the chapter, 23 had a GPA of at least 3.50, one short of 50% while 14 brothers achieved a 4.00 GPA!

We Sigma Chi alumni appreciate the value in studying hard and getting good grades, and our scholarship program certainly encourages academics. Today most of our undergraduate brothers must work while attending the university, and several brothers have more than one job. Many have no financial support from their families. The monies we award in many cases allow brothers to work fewer hours so that they can spend that time studying, or possibly use that time to learn leadership skills serving as a Chapter officer.

Thanks to all of you brothers who have supported our endowments through our donor brick program, our annual wine tasting and simply making cash contributions.

Sigma Tau was founded at Fresno State on November 10, 1921 by five men, all of whom were active in the Sigma Tau Alumni Association when Sigma Tau became Epsilon Eta Chapter of Sigma Chi thirty years later. The five founders were Edmond A. Chevalier, John W. Greeley, William F. Peters, Dr. J. Mack Humphreys and Albert J. Wilson. All but brother Wilson attended the installation banquet, he had to be in Louisiana that night.

Sigma Tau, the second fraternity by a few short weeks according to Fresno State records, was the oldest continuously active fraternity on campus. Throughout its history it maintained the position as one of the top fraternities. It has a record of participation in campus activities that cannot be equaled by any other fraternity. Over their thirty years Sigma Taus held 40% of the student body presidents, 40% of IFC presidents and 35% of the associated men student presidents.

Wheeler Wright’s Sigma Tau Pin

The Sigma Tau Alumni Association was formed on April 17, 1935 to create the first active fraternity alumni group at Fresno State. They maintained contact with members by a monthly publication, and held regular monthly dinner meetings.

There were many notable Taus including the following: Robert G (Bud) Fisher, founder of what became the largest general contractor in Fresno and among the top-200 in the US, great track coach Flint Hanner, Jim Harkness uncle of Bill Colgate (65-S) and great-uncle of Mike Colgate (14-S), Ray Harris owner of Harris Construction (builder of our Chapter House) and father of brother Larry Harris (66-F), Clarence Harris owner of Harris Construction (builder of our Chapter House) and father of brother Walt Harris (63-S, U of Florida), Rodger Jensen who turned 100 years old this year and is a pioneer in US-grown pistachios, Oran McNeil was treasurer for our House Corporation, Alumni Chapter and Endowment for decades, and his wife, Carol, was Epsilon Eta’s first sweetheart, Walter Munday father of brother Doug Munday (65-F), Philip V. Sanchez who accepted the Sigma Chi Charter on behalf of Fresno Sigma Chi Active Chapter, was first Consul of Epsilon Eta and father of brother Mark Sanchez (70-F), Bob Sherrill owner of Sherrill’s Ice Cream across from Fresno High, Traves Summers father of the late brother Tim Summers (64-F), Sy Tacchino who accepted the Sigma Chi Charter on behalf of the Sigma Tau Alumni Chapter and father of Jack Tacchino, (66-S) and finally Wheeler Wright biological father of brother Greg Baxter (67-S).

Epsilon Eta Active Charter Members

Loren Stevens-52, Donald Ralph Heintz-52, Edward Harris Chidlaw-52, Richard Mason Rice-52, Rodney Darrel Guild-52, Stanley Delbert Alloway-54, Richard Lowell Beers-53, James Louis Browning, Jr.-54, Aaron Donald Davis, Jr.-54, Roy Lee Davis, Jr.-54, Arthur Duane Deeter-54, Herbert Francis Reusch-53, Ronald Sidney DeWing-54, Harold Elmer Samuel-53, Phillip Victor Sanchez-52, Samuel Frederick Reid-55, George Stelios Palios-53, Oran George McNeil-53, George Robert Campidonica-54, Robert Clark Curtis-54, James Richard Herron-52, Louis Randolph Ingraham-53, Kenneth Edward Carter-54, Edward Earl Harrison-55. William Homer Potts-53 and John Edward Mullins-53.

Fresno Sigma Chi House Corporation

Several Sigma Taus were the original members of the House Corporation and they worked hard for years to raise money for a chapter house.  They include Jim Mayer, Max Hayden, Ray Harris, Clarence Harris and Oran McNeil.

Epsilon Eta will celebrate its 100th anniversary on November 10, 2021.  Get out your silver goblets.