The first to receive an award was none other than Geary Mason, he of the convention committee as well as the longstanding coordinator of the SAE World Series, a 24-year tradition in the New Orleans area. Second up was John Kelley (Central Florida ’77), a 35-year Fraternity volunteer who, for the last 10 years, has been a member of the F&H board and was elected to the Foundation board at this 2009 conclave. The last man to receive his DSA during the business session was Ken Jernigan (West Florida ’73) who, in addition to countless hours spent with the Fraternity in the Pensacola area, is best known as the director and the driving force behind the SAE National Amateur Golf Tournament, which entered its 31st year in 2009.

But it was the final DSA recipient who was the most important to the outgoing ESA. Bobby Banks, longtime chapter adviser to the Southern Mississippi chapter, was a role model to Buchanan as the eventual ESA was learning about the Fraternity during his undergraduate days. Emotions were high as the national president, a man who for the previous two years helped guide the organization with his “Be the One” theme, helped shower accolades on a brother who guided so many generations of men through the Mississippi Sigma chapter. And as Buchanan passed on the gavel and the big badge to the incoming ESA, Marty Wiglesworth, the assembled banquet hall was bearing witness to living history, to events that will have repercussions for at least a decade to come.

In the end, just like Fraternity life, the convention was a team effort. “Several undergraduates really stepped up and assisted on the host committee,” Irwin said. “Without undergraduates like Spencer Dorsey from Tulane, Evan Walker from Christian Brothers and Austin Green from Nicholls State, convention would have been a lot harder. We hope all our Fraternity brothers felt welcome.”

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