A Phi Delt, Three Phi Gams, and a Kappa Alpha Psi

Burt Reynolds, an initiate of the Florida State University chapter of Phi Delta Theta has passed away at age 82.

Notice the crest on the tie.

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Vice President Mike Pence, a Phi Gamma Delta alumnus from Hanover College, made an unannounced visit to Plymouth Notch, Vermont, while he was traveling through the state. He toured the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site and paid his respects at the grave of his Phi Gam brother Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge’s son, John, was also a Phi Gamma Delta. Father and son were initiated into Amherst College chapter. (Notice I did not mention Grace Coolidge’s membership in Pi Beta Phi.)

Photos courtesy of the Coolidge Foundation.

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This summer I learned about Albert R. Lee when Jessica Ballard, an archivist at the University of Illinois, presented a program at the Fraternity and Sorority Archivists Conference. Lee was hired in 1897 and he was the unofficial Dean of African-American Students at the University of Illinois for 52 years and worked for seven presidents. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi.

Last week a new headstone for Lee, his wife Maude Marie McCurdy Lee and his son, Albert M. Lee was dedicated. I could swear I saw a picture of local Kappa Alpha Psis in front of the stone, but I could not find it. 

An exhibit honoring his work opened at the University of Illinois Archives. 

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