At the Fraternity and Sorority Archives Conferences, Phi Kappa Psi’s Historian, Michael H. McCoy, “Mike” to us, was an elder statesman. Yet, he was up on the latest in social media and he shared his knowledge freely and with great glee. He, along with his protege, Timothy Tangen, attended all four of the biennial conferences held at the University of Illinois. Mike passed away on Wednesday, September 7.
Mike’s love of Phi Psi history came through in his tweets @PhiPsiArchives. At one of the conferences, I asked Timothy how he came to serve as archivist and he related the story of meeting Mike when he spoke at University of Minnesota-Duluth chapter’s initiation. Timothy was one of the initiates. Mike, Timothy said, was the force behind Phi Psi’s museum and archives. He was a staunch advocate for hiring Timothy to oversee the archives as a full-time employee.
At Phi Psi’s 2014 Grand Arch Council, Mike was awarded the fraternity’s Medal of Honor. the highest award given to a member. He was honored for his dedication and passion for Phi Psi history and his efforts in seeing it preserved.
Mike used social media to promote Phi Psi’s history and he was a pro at it. I learned so much about the fraternity’s history by reading the links on his twitter posts. My sincere condolences go out to Mike’s family and his Phi Psi brothers. I am certain Mike’s legacy will live on as he now becomes part of Phi Psi’s lore.
Phi Psi Archives Meeting of the History & Ritual Committee at the 2016 @phipsigac. You’re part of our History now committee members.
Mike is on the left in the front of the room.
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On Wednesday, September 7, the same day that Mike McCoy died, Elaine Danforth Harmon was finally laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery. She died in April 2015 at age 95. When the request to follow her wish and have her buried at Arlington was denied, her family went on a mission to have it fulfilled.
Harmon was initiated into the University of Maryland chapter of Kappa Delta. During her senior year, she received her pilot’s license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. The program had more than 25,000 applicants and Harmon was one of the 1,800 who were accepted into it. Of those, 1,074 graduated from the program.
The contributions of those 1,074 WASPs were largely neglected over the years. They were not provided post-service financial benefits and were not eligible for military burial honors. In 1977, after much lobbying by former WASPs, veteran’s benefits were afforded to them. A de facto Army ruling in 2002 gave the women the opportunity to be buried in Arlington. That ruling, and attending many interments at Arlington led to Harmon’s wish to be laid to rest there. However, in 2015, citing a lack of available space, the ruling was quietly overturned by John McHugh, who was then the Secretary of the Army.
Harmon’s family, led by her granddaughter, Erin Miller, an attorney, began a campaign, including a change.org petition. Due to their efforts, the right for the women to be interred at Arlington was restored. Less than 100 of the 1,074 WASPs are still living.
Elaine Danforth (Harmon)
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2016. All Rights Reserved. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates. Also follow me on twitter @GLOHistory and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/glohistory/
