On April 26, 2025 the Fresno Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter broke records for both registrations and fundraising. 99 brothers and guests registered for the event. Rain was forecasted that day, so the day before the committee met to develop Plan B. We moved the entrance and silent auction into garages, and made other arrangements to keep people dry. At 2:30 PM the rain stopped, the event opened at 3:00 PM and the weather was beautiful until hours after the closing at 6:00 PM. We cheated the Grim Reaper.

This year accompanying six undergraduate brothers was sweetheart Katelyn Malavé. Halfway through the tasting we sang the Sweetheart Song to Katelyn and past sweethearts Brooke Bell (1999-2000) and Michelle Heckel (1982-1983).

Silent Auction Donors: The following brothers supported the fundraising side of the event by providing silent auction items: Larry Calvino, Sergio Ilic, Jim Norquist, Warren Williams, Greg Baxter, Sergio Ilic, Brad Fischer, Dusty Lacefield, Bill Smittcamp, T.A. Heckel, Mike Patton, Rich Barsanti, Steve Coleman, Tom Licouris, George Matoian, Mike Gallo, Kenny Jelacich, Rob Bell, Mark Pasculli and John Ballinger.

Some items donated were from brothers who provided their own products: Mark Pasculli his Idaho wines, Mike Gallo and Kenny Jelacich gold-medal-winning aged cheddar cheese and gold-medal-winning olive oil, a gift basket that included George Matoian’s raisins and nuts and Brooke Bell’s Bouquet Of Sigma Chi Cookies by Sugarbell Cookies. These were all very special items that sold like hotcakes.

Silent Auction Buyers: The following brothers purchased the silent auction items which represented the major portion of the funds raised: Tom Beggs, John Garcia, Sergio Ilic, John Ballinger, Mike Patton, Matt Stevens, Jim Norquist, Mike Elliot, Tom Downing, Steve Pavich, Bill Matesso, Ted Tukloff, Dan Mueller, Dennis Schmal, Warren Williams, Larry Calvino, Rob Bell, Rich Barsanti, Elwood Enns, Kevin Wren, Rod Gavroian, Richard Egan, Steve Coleman, T.A. Heckel, Brad Fischer and Tom Licouris.

Last year the items sold for 70% of their retail value. This year they sold for 80% setting a record and indicating that our brothers were in the mood to support our endowment and our scholarship program.

$47,895 was raised for the Fresno Sigma Chi Endowment with two auction items to be sold at the August 21 Alumni Dinner Meeting. The money will increase our scholarships for our undergraduates by $2,000 per year, forever. The Wine Tasting Committee thanks everyone who supported this effort by attending, supplying auction items and purchasing the items. All overhead costs for the wine tasting are paid for by the committee members allowing 100% of the revenue to go directly to the Endowment.

Sergio Ilic, and Becky, and Michelle and T.A. Heckel created the Lobster Fest that netted $10,000 at the silent auction. A special thanks to House Corporation President, John Ballinger, and wife Susan for hosting the event for four years in a row.

It’s great to be a Sig!

Despite unusually cool and windy weather and the threat of rain, the 8th Annual Wine Tasting went off without a hitch. With 99 registrations, brother T.A. Heckel (82-F) wasagain pouring his personal wines quickly and efficiently in order to keep up with thecrowd.

Many brothers and guest took advantage of the photographer to have photos taken with some of their bothers and guests.

Colonel Joel Armstrong (87-F) and wife, Katie, attend the 8th Annual Sigma Chi Wine Tasting on April 26, 2025. Brother Armstrong was awarded Epsilon Eta’s Alumni President’s Citation by Alumni President Brad Fischer (78-S) in recognition of outstanding service to the Fresno Sigma Chi Endowment and Epsilon Eta Chapter through service to our country in the Middle East. In addition, Joel was presented with the Sigma Chi Military Service Recognition Pin.

Brother Armstrong has been Commander of Camp Roberts since May 2021 in SLO. He is also Director of Grizzly Youth Challenge Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo. He and his spouse, Katie, live in Los Osos. Their daughter lives here in Fresno.

Since October 7, 2023 his Area of Operations saw significant threat activities. He was originally deployed to Jordan as Officer in Charge for the DIV and then in Kuwait working weekly his usual 100-hours.He serves the Army National Guard and the US Army. He returned from deployment in the Middle East in April 2024 where he served the 40th Infantry Division as Chief of Staff.

The 40ID had control and authority over 4,600 services members from across all three compositions of the army spread across the Middle East. Unfortunately, an attack occurred in Jordan which caused the death of three services members from the 411th Engineers (Army Reserve) located in Georgia. Despite those events, they continued their current mission to set and prepare for other on-coming attacks. At the same time, they prepared for re-deployment home and integration of their replacements.

Thank you, brother Joel, for protecting our freedom and defending democracy across the globe.

While we were enjoying tasting of premium wines selected by T.A. Heckel (82-F), Brian Stout (63-S) and Marv Broderson (63-S) were enjoying a reunion in Mechanicsville. Marv and his wife, Jonnie flew from Prescott, AZ to visit Brian and wife Harriet.

Sigma Chi Derby Days began at Fresno State in 1966 when Gary Renner (62-S) proposed starting it at an Inter-Fraternity Council meeting, and it has been a tradition ever since. Joe Pressutti (64-F) was the first Derby Daddy.

Contributed by Gary Renner – Yes, Joe was the first Derby Daddy. Once I got Derby Day approved, I worked on details of Derby Day but asked Joe if he would be the Derby Daddy and he agreed. Joe and I planned out what we wanted to do and where. Then I did the behind the scenes organizing, as well as working with the university administration to make sure we had approvals for all we wanted to do. And Joe worked with the sororities – he got the tough duty, ha!