The Atlanta Area Alumni Association presented the The Highest Effort, or T.H.E., Award to Wes Vawter (Memphis ’66) at the Founders Day luncheon this year. According to the award’s nominators, he is the dean of residential realtors in Atlanta and has enjoyed a career of extraordinary success that has catapulted him to the pinnacle of his profession. Vawter is a founding member of the Luxury Marketing Council of Atlanta and has been ranked consistently as one of the highest-performing producers in the city. From 1984 to 2009, he sold $1.28 billion in high-end homes. At the same time, Vawter gives back to his community and serves as a civic leader. He’s the Past President of the High Museum of Art Members Guild, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Uptown Council and the Kingswood Neighborhood Association; former Trustee of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation; and former board member for the Atlanta Preservation Center and the High Museum of Art.

Boston

Nicholas Lopane (’89) has been appointed to the Circuit Court Bench by Governor Crist after serving as a General Magistrate since 1999. He’s currently serving as a circuit-court judge in the Juvenile Delinquency Division for the 17th Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County, Florida. As a result of his work, Lopane has received numerous honors and awards, especially for cases that help protect children and families. He has also taught numerous classes and seminars for lawyers trying to improve their trial-advocacy skills. Lopane began his career in the mailroom of a Manhattan law firm and eventually worked his way up to paralegal prior to attending law school.

Cal State-Fresno

The business of Ken Johnson (’83), alumnus and past Director of Leadership School, and his brother, Ron, made national headlines this year. Their company, WAGIC, Inc. (What A Great Idea Company), was featured on CNNMoney.com in a joint production with Cadillac. The series salutes business visionaries who use their passion, ingenuity and drive to set new standards of success. WAGIC is a brand- and product-innovation company that designs, markets and delivers consumer products to the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and home-improvement marketplace. The company features product lines that ship more than 10,000 units per day to major U.S. and Canadian retailers.

Indiana State-Terre Haute

Michael Fouts (’95), a former Regional Director for the Fraternity Service Center, has been hired as the Director of Alumni Services for Triangle Fraternity. His position will help close the gap between the services provided by alumni members and local house corporations. Fouts will be responsible for coordinating, planning and implementing alumni-focused programming at the local, regional and national levels for Triangle. In addition to his role as Regional Director, Fouts also served as the Coordinator of Housing Development and Support for the SAE Financial & Housing Corporation and as the Director of Academic Peer Advocates Programming for Indiana State University. Most recently, Fouts served as the Program Director for the Engineering Peer Mentors program at Western Michigan University.

Alabama

Well-known energy executive T. Boone Pickens (Oklahoma State ’51) (pictured, center receiving award) was recognized with the Order of Minerva in October at the Alabama Mu house. Billy Bailey (’08) (front row holding award on left) and John McElrath (’03) (front row, first person) presented the honor while Pickens was in Tuscaloosa for a town-hall meeting to discuss his Pickens Plan, which aims to reduce America’s dependency on OPEC oil. More than 1,500 people attended his speech. Pickens’ philanthropic support approaches $2 billion to various organizations and causes, including nearly $250,000 for various Sigma Alpha Epsilon endeavors. He has also been named as Time’s “World’s 100 Most Influential People,” as the American Wind Energy Association’s Person of the Year and as one of the 100 Most Influential People of the Petroleum Century.

Cal State-Fullerton

Alumni from California State University at Fullerton gathered this fall for their annual golf tournament, held at the Coyotes Hills Golf Course in town. The event is planned to coincide with the chapter’s founding on September 27, 1969. Although the chapter has been closed since 2003, alumni remain committed to their bonds and say they look forward to the tournament. To learn more about the tournament for 2011, contact Rick Goodwin (’75) at rickgoodwin@yahooo.com for details. The group encourages all alumni to attend, not just those who enjoy golf.

Carnegie Mellon

George F. Brown Jr. (’69) co-authored CoDestiny: Overcome Your Growth Challenges by Helping Your Customers Overcome Theirs, published by Greenleaf Book Group Press. According to Brown, his book explains how firms can create alignment with their customers, suppliers and channel partners, resulting in shared success for all. He is the founder of Blue Canyon Partners, Inc., a growth-strategy consulting firm based in Evanston, Illinois.

Cincinnati

In August, the DeVotie Hall Association, the housing corporation for Ohio Epsilon, hosted a dinner and reception to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Past and present members of the association were recognized at the event for their generous voluntary service. The DeVotie Hall Association manages and maintains the chapter’s house, The James Gamble Nippert Memorial Lodge, at the University of Cincinnati. It also serves as an advisory board to the chapter. The group completed a major expansion and renovation of the house, which increased capacity 50 percent, in October.

Harvard

Hal Pope (’25) may be the oldest living alumnus in the Fraternity. Now 107 years old, he still maintains his positive spirit and outlook on life, living at the Preston Center in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The local alumni association created an award for him to celebrate his 87-year membership certificate and presented it to him this past fall in person. Pope was active in the Massachusetts Gamma alumni group many years ago following his graduation.

Kentucky

Richard Grana (’69) was reappointed to the Kentucky District Export Council by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and elected vice-chairman. The Council is a non-profit association of experienced international-trade professionals to foster and support Kentucky exports. Its members, chosen for their personal knowledge and involvement in exporting, are among the state’s foremost leaders in international business. Grana was also elected co-vice-chairman on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business. Members provide the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative with information and recommendations regarding trade barriers and negotiations and implementation of existing trade agreements.

2nd Lt. Michael Conley (’07), who is on active duty in Afghanistan with the Marine Corps, recently found that brotherhood is the same no matter the location. During a normal conversation with other troops, he discovered that all three of them were Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers — the other two from Washington City Rho at George Washington University. The other two didn’t know of their Fraternity affiliations, so the event was even more surprising, and the men spent time talking about pledging and membership before reciting “The True Gentleman.” The three brothers are pictured at Kandahar Airfield. As Conley said, “It’s great to know that we all remember while defending the Constitution what it means to be a true gentleman.”

Clemson

Recent graduate Jason Fowler (’09) transformed his childhood love of fishing into a clothing line, Homewaters Clothing. After his first solo fishing trip at the age of 13, Fowler knew he wanted to help spread the feeling he got from a day out on the water. Homewaters was created to celebrate the traditions of fishing as well as to preserve game areas for the future, because, with every purchase, the company makes a donation to fish conservation. Each item is connected to one type of fish, so the donations become personal. For more information or to purchase clothing items, visit www.homewatersclothing.com.

Connecticut

Mickey Sherman (’68), one of the country’s top criminal-defense attorneys, has recently written a book about his experiences. How Can You Defend Those People? describes Sherman’s experiences with using off-beat trial techniques from the post-traumatic stress-disorder defense to seek a veteran’s acquittal of murder to hiring a member of a deadlocked jury as a consultant on the retrial for rape. Sherman drew inspiration for his book after he determined he was getting asked the same questions repeatedly. As a frequent contributor to Court TV, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and CBS, Sherman provides insight on the work that criminal-defense attorneys must confront.

C.W. Post

Brothers from California, Florida, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and all of New York gathered with spouses and friends for a reunion at the historic Milleridge Inn on Long Island in October. Local organization Sigma Beta Epsilon at C.W. Post College became New York Beta on November 29, 1969, but turned inactive in 1977. The dinner commemorated a previous gathering 40 years ago that the honorary housemother, Marjorie Merriweather Post, celebrated with the alumni and called them “her boys.” Most brothers had not been together in four decades.

Eastern New Mexico

After 65 years, Herman H. Wallace was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in World War II. Wallace, who fought in Germany and France after the D-Day invasion, lost a leg to a combat wound but recovered enough to have a 37-year career with the Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative in New Mexico. In the last few years, he realized that another war veteran in his same division was awarded the Bronze Star and, based on his service record, he would be eligible for the medal as well. A few months later, he presented his discharge papers to the office of Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl. Just 13 days later, his Bronze Star was approved.

Warwick Sabin (’98), publisher of The Oxford American, has been named to the 2009 FOLIO: 40 list as one of the 40 most influential figures in the publishing industry. The Oxford American, a Southern literary magazine that has featured two other prominent Sigma Alpha Epsilon members — William Faulkner (Mississippi ’19) and Walker Percy (North Carolina- Chapel Hill ’37) — along with many other writers and thinkers, has been in publication since 1992. Sabin has been running the magazine for only one year.

Auburn

The American Veterinary Dental College has recently certified Robert S. “Bert” Gaddis Jr. (’81) as a specialist in veterinary dentistry. With the announcement, he became the only board-certified veterinary dentist practicing in Alabama and one of only 111 worldwide. Gaddis owns and operates the Indian Springs Animal Clinic in Indian Springs Village, Alabama.

Cornell

In January 2008, John Follansbee (’57) returned to active service in the Army. He was assigned to a mental-health clinic in Germany and, shortly after arriving, he was appointed chief of behavioral health for soldiers being redeployed from Iraq. Later, he was redeployed to Iraq, where he joined the 212th combat stress control detachment of the 101st Airborne. While his achievement is noteworthy on its own, it’s made even more interesting by the fact that Follansbee is 74 years old.

Duke

Brett T. Williams (’81) was recently promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the Air Force. Williams, who was commissioned in 1981 in the ROTC program at Duke, previously held positions as a plans officer at U.S. Central Command and as chief of the checkmate division of the Air Staff at the Pentagon. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, he commanded the 363rd Expeditionary Operations Group. Williams has flown more than 100 air-combat missions.

Georgia

Andrew Nielson (’02), along with Matthew Lee (Vanderbilt ’97) and three other members, have been touring the country with their band, The Lost Trailers. The group, who marked their second top-20 hit in May with “How ‘Bout You Don’t,” has been featured on the Great American Country channel for the American Country Music awards. The band’s other hit, “Holler Back,” is often requested by text message — a large way the group stays in contact with its fans. For more information, visit www.thelosttrailers.com.

Iowa State

Tom Goodale (’62), who served Sigma Alpha Epsilon as Eminent Supreme Recorder from 2001 through 2008, has been named executive director of the Omicron Delta Kappa society. The organization, a national leadership honor society, was founded in 1914 and has more than 300,000 initiated members. Goodale, who also served as vice president for student services at Virginia Tech as well as other positions at universities around the country, was a mainstay at recent Leadership Schools with his talk on personal responsibility, “Your Brother’s Keeper.”

Louisville

The men of Kentucky Sigma celebrated their 10th anniversary as a chapter on March 28, 2009. More than 300 guests attended the gala event at the Brown Williamson Club at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Timothy Strobl, former director of alumni membership and volunteer services at the Fraternity Service Center, hosted the night as the chapter unveiled its official capital campaign for a chapter house — which, by the end of the evening, had already netted $10,000 through donations and a silent auction. Eminent Supreme Recorder Steve Priepke, Associate Executive Director Blaine Ayers, Province Xi Archon Col. Don Bartholomew, Kentucky Epsilon Alumni Association president and Louisville Metro Councilman Ken Fleming all attended. Several awards rounded out the evening, with former Province Archon and current Kentucky Sigma chapter adviser Chris Stephens receiving the Merit Key and Michael McCauley receiving the Order of Minerva. Special thanks were due to the event’s co-chairs, Stephen Kalayil, Michael McCauley and Dipesh Parmar.

Miami (Ohio)

Tim Myers (’62) was honored on March 1, 2009, for his many years of service to the university and to the greater Oxford, Ohio, community. A longtime volunteer to the Miami football program, Myers received an autographed football helmet from the university’s athletic director, Brad Bates, during the Miami-Kent State basketball game. Myers, who grew up in the community, was named Oxford Citizen of the Year in 2001 and received the Miami University Bishop Medal for Outstanding Alumni in 2002.

MIT

Alex Dreyfoos (’54), an avid boater, recently launched a new yacht he designed in conjunction with the firm Abeking & Rasmussen. The craft, named the Silver Cloud, has a unique stabilizing system that has not previous been used on any commercial craft that will counteract the usual boat motion that causes seasickness. A feature article on the Silver Cloud appeared in the April 2009 issue of Boat International that praised the innovative design, one that was originally developed for military use.

On a weekend in mid-October, more than 30 alumni from the early 1960s revisited the chapter house for an informal reunion. This same group, which has been meeting approximately every five years during the school’s homecoming weekend, was able to enjoy the newly renovated house and to reconnect with the active members.

Charleston Alumni Association

The Charleston Alumni Association held a holiday social in early December at the home of its president, Athan Fokas (Charleston ’89), in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The event included members of the Phoenix colony at the College of Charleston. During the event, Fokas announced that a Founding Father Fund has been established to help the colony members toward their journey of becoming a full chapter. To assist, the association is asking each of its members to donate $100. Donors’ names will be placed on a plaque to be displayed in the chapter house. The goal of 60 members is within reach, as 30 have already pledged. To make a contribution, send donations to: SAE Founding Father, P.O. Box 13482, Charleston, SC 29422. For more information, contact Fokas at fokasa@bellsouth.net.

Furman

Richard Riley (’54), who served as the U.S. Secretary of Education from 1993 until 2001 under President Bill Clinton, has been named by Time magazine as one of the ten greatest Cabinet members in American history. According to the article, Riley “spearheaded initiatives to improve academic standards, made education more accessible for lower-income families and expanded college grants and loan programs.” He currently serves on Furman’s board of trustees and also served two terms as governor of South Carolina from 1978 to 1986. Furman’s Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership is named in his honor.

Idaho

On the first weekend in November, more than 350 alumni and friends celebrated the completion of Idaho Alpha’s $2.5-million project to rebuild its 76-year-old chapter house along with its 89th anniversary. Pledge classes from 1940 to 2008, past Violet Queens and Little Sisters of Minerva attended. The celebration began with a full-page announcement in the University of Idaho student paper thanking the general contractor and his subcontractors for the successful project and inviting the university community to visit the new chapter house any time.

Friday included chapter-house tours, campus tours and video interviews. A group of 20 alumni brothers commissioned at Idaho during the Korean and Vietnam Wars visited the Naval ROTC building for a tour led by the current commanding officer. Saturday included breakfast, a second open house and a formal banquet. Mike Hunter, emcee for the dinner program, current Eminent Archon Sam Larrando and the president of the university began the dinner by welcoming returning chapter alumni. Guests included four of the nine college deans, the Vice Provost of Students, the athletic director and Eminent Supreme Chronicler Steve Churchill. Frances Ellsworth, representing the 40-plus Violet Queens and Little Sisters of Minerva attending the dinner, spoke about her special memories as Violet Queen in the 1960s. Rick Carr then led brothers in singing “Violets” to honor all of Idaho Alpha’s Violet Queens and Little Sisters. Rich Allen (’72) was awarded the Merit Key for his dedication to the chapter and presented with a portrait that is displayed in the new chapter house. The dinner ended with singing “Friends.”

Iowa State

Christoper H. Moffitt (’87), the president of Moffitt’s Ford Lincoln Mercury, a car dealership in Boone, Iowa, was named Time magazine’s Dealer of the Year on January 24, 2009. The award, one of the nation’s most prestigious for new-car dealers, was given to Moffitt out of the more than 19,500 dealers nationwide. After his nomination, Moffitt was chosen as the winner from a group of 49 by a panel at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. His dealership is one of the oldest in the country, with more than 81 years of operation. Moffitt also acts as chairman of the board for the Boone County Family YMCA, which he has served since 2005.

Chris Risi (’08), with his business partners Adam Carr (’08) and Justin Shane, recently launched ugreekrow.com, a free social- and employment-networking website for the Greek world. The site, which launched in October at Arizona State, already had more than 2,000 Greeks from the University of Arizona as members. Risi is embarking on a national launch for the site with the ultimate goal of making ugreekrow.com available to universities across the nation. The social aspects of the site help facilitate the daily operations of fraternities and sororities by including tools for recruitment, event planning, attendance tracking and dues payments. The professional side aims to bridge the gap between undergraduates and alumni for job opportunities. For more information on the site, visit ugreekrow.com.

Baylor

Jay Burress (’86) has been named the chief executive at the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau after spending 20 years with the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau, where he served as the vice president of sales and marketing. With his extensive industry experience, Burress will be part of Arlington’s plan to extend its convention and meeting facilities.

Charlotte Area Alumni Association

Alumni in North Carolina are making preliminary plans for an SAE Basketball Tournament on Saturday, April 3, 2009, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Chapters in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic will be invited to participate in a 3-on- 3 or 5-on-5 hoops tourney. A social event is set to follow at the North Carolina Theta house at Davison College. Entry fees will likely range from $200-$250 and cover participants’ fees. For more information, contact John Stringfellow at jstringfellow@carolina.rr.com.

Davidson

Gen. William F. Grimsley (’80) is serving as Deputy Commanding General of the Maneuver, 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division, in Baghdad. He recently had a chance to meet with fellow chapter brother Lt. David Waikart (’05), at his office in Baghdad. Waikart presented Grimsley with a polo shirt commemorating the 125th anniversary of North Carolina Theta, where the lieutenant served as Eminent Archon and Eminent Recorder. To contact the men as they’re serving our country, e-mail william-grimsely@us.army.mil or david.waikart@gmail.com.

Kansas

Kansas Alpha’s first pledge-class reunion brought more than 300 active and alumni brothers, wives/ girlfriends, former little sisters and friends back to the chapter house for the biggest gathering in decades. Brothers came to Kansas from Hawaii, Georgia, New York, Wisconsin, Texas, California and Canada to participate in the festivities. In fact, the group has decided to start planning the second event during the University of Kansas’ 2009 homecoming weekend.

Kansas City Alumni Association

The Kansas City Alumni Association held its Founders Day dinner at the National World War I Museum at the Liberty Memorial in May. Approximately 120 people enjoyed a dinner and speech by Gen. Richard B. Myers (Kansas State ’64), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During the event, Myers was awarded the SAE Honor Man Medallion. Charles Waldron Jr. (Kansas ’68), a recording artist, wrote and performed a song for the Liberty Memorial in honor of his father, Charles Waldron Sr. (Missouri-Columbia ’30). The elder Waldron had been a driving force in the creation of the museum and the memorial in addition to serving as a president of the Kansas City Alumni Association.