Ohio Wesleyan

Stan Needles (’65) passed to Chapter Eternal in late March. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University, he attended Ohio Northern University to obtain a law degree and ended up practicing law for 42 years. During that time, Needles served as Hancock County Prosecutor from 1973-1984 and was honored as Prosecutor of the Year in Ohio. In 1984, he was elected President of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association. He was an active member of the Findlay Bar Association, Findlay Elks and BNI, and he helped to organize the Lion Rampant Pipes, Drums and Dancers. Memorial contributions can be made to the First Lutheran Church in Sylvania, Ohio; the Ohio Scottish Arts School; or Ohio Wesleyan University’s SAE chapter via Mark Shipps, Special Assistant to the President; 61 South Sandusky Street, Delaware, OH 43015. You can also make donations in his memory to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation, 1856 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60201-3837. In addition, condolences can be sent to his family via www. coldrencrates.com.

Rhodes & Vanderbilt

Three alumni have joined forces to create an Interactive Media and Marketing Agency: Eastmont Group. Originally founded in early 2009 by Mark Kaufman (Vanderbilt ’08) and Michael Gottfried (Vanderbilt ’08), their ownership group is joined by Justin Palmer (Rhodes ’08). They became good friends during their collegiate years attending interfraternal activities. The company specializes in website design and development, social-media optimization and marketing consultation for both web and print. For more information, visit www.eastmontgroup.com.

San Diego Alumni Association

The past presidents of the San Diego State University Alumni Association gathered in April to thank University President Dr. Steve Weber at a luncheon meeting. Weber has retired after 15 years of outstanding leadership and service to the university and community. In fact, more Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers have served as president of the university alumni association than any other Greek-letter organization. Pictured are Bob Battenfield (’61), Dan Bamberg (’67), Dick Troncone (’67), Weber, Rick West (’71), John McMullen (’70), and Don Harrington (’56). The late Tom Carter (’62) also served as president of the association.

Texas-Austin

Graham Hill (’71) achieved a double honor in the legal world recently. As a partner with Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell in its Houston office, he was inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a group limited to 500 U.S. attorneys. Last month, he became the second Texan ever elected president of the International Society of Barristers, another elite group of lawyers. Hill earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and his master’s degree in public administration and bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas-Austin.

UC-Berkeley

Former Eminent Archon Galen Hall (’08) won the $2.3-million first-place prize in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure poker tourney held at The Atlantis in the Bahamas. He began his journey to the top of the poker world in high school when he played with friends in home games. After graduation, he started to compete in 16-18 online tournaments simultaneously, managing to play more than one million hands. Hall entered the tourney at the resort earlier this year that attracted a record field of players, including professionals. For the final hand, he took on the table’s long-time chip leader to win the prize. After paying taxes and his financial backers, Hall took home about $500,000. He plans to use his winnings to pay off his business-school tuition and invest in his own start-up company.

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