Fall 1952 Omegaphone
The President Reports
First, a brief report on the National Convention held in Los Angeles, September 3-6. Omega was represented by Bill Shomberg, Dick Fronko, Tom Morton, and yours truly. We made the trip in Tom's Father's car and really enjoyed seeing the western half of the good old U.S.A. We left the convention with a better appreciation and understanding of our National organization. There was also a feeling of pride in our hearts for old Omega because we found that we compared very favorably with the many other chapters across the Nation. In all frankness, I must report that we didn't bring back much in the way of better ideas for improving Omega because in most points of discussion our methods were those deemed best.
L to R: William Shomberg, Tom Morton, Richard Johnson and Richard Fronko visiting the Grand Canyon on their way to the National Convention in Los Angeles - 1952 - photo courtesy Thomas Morton '53
At the new year starts we are faced with the usual array of new problems, but the outlook for the year is bright and the house improvement program is moving along in high gear. If you can get back to State for Alumni weekend October 18 - and I hope all of you try to escape the pressures of the outer world to revisit the scene of your college days - you will notice the near completion of the reupholstering of the first floor furniture. We are continuing the furniture program throughout the house, and have also bought a deep-freeze unit and an 82 cubic foot refrigerator to replace Giff's timeworn 17. The financial burden imposed by these improvements is a constant problem, but we are intent on continuing our progress. The list of items in the last issue of the Omegaphone still stands since we have not heard from many alumni on the items listed, but we are confident that you are cognizant of our needs.
Dick Johnson
Alumni News
Well, here's the latest news from Ome-ga. By way of general announcements first: Stan Witman is reported married. George Bobe is engaged to Miss Joan Civvian, college sweetheart. George Scheutte (51) was married Sept. 17 to Nancy McCermick, and Harry Cang is also married.
Omega's delegates to the National Convention at Los Angeles were entertained and conducted to the "better" spots in Hollywood by Tommy Burns (47). Tommy is working as a coast engineer for Curtiss Aviation.
Edward Keller will be discharged some-time in November. Jim Phillips and Larry Van Gorder are down at Quantico, Va,, going through basic school. Larry, who was up for the Purdue game, still maintains that Giff's stories are tops. Jim Phillips is playing a hot game of football for the battalion team according to a very reliable source. Ensign Lloyd Dietrich is stationed at Little Creek, Va., where he is going to school, Upon completion of the course there, he will serve aboard the U.S.S. Casa Grande, a floating landing ship dock. Paul Brecht is now at Kaufman's in Pittsburgh going through a retail training program. Rumors have it that within the year Paul will probably be the president of the store. If anyone has information about the Alumni, we would appreciate your contacting us, as all of us, I am sure, want to know what our Alumnis are doing.
Ken White, Alumni Secretary
Pledges
During the fall semester of 1952, the Omega chapter of Theta Chi extended bids to thirteen potential pledges. The following list compiles the names, home town, curricu-lum, and interests of the thirteen new pledges.
W. Winston Orbin; Short Hills N,J. Pre-law student. Likes hunting and fishing and Dixie jazz. Also a member of the Penn Valley Ski Club,
Robert W. Wendel; Selinsgrove. Dairy Husbandry. Likes travel, hunting, fishing, sports, and working with farm equipment.
David Lukins; Germantown. Poultry Husbandry. President of dormitory, Penn State Poultry Club, a member of The Young Friends, and Captain of dorm softball team.
Richard C. Codori; Gettysburg. In-dustrial Engineering. Intramural football and basketball, Newman Club, Likes good jazz and Phila. A's.
Thomas H. LaFerrara; Sunbury. Arts and Letters. Likes bowling, baseball, basketball, and "sharp" clothes.
Thomas C. Maxwell; Oil City. Commerce, Likes accounting, football, basketball, photography, and women,
Roderick J. Wiseman; Menessen, Mechanical Engineering. Plays cello, likes music, sports, and lady wrestlers.
Joseph T. Crudo; Oil City; Liberal Arts. Newman Club, German Club, likes sports and sleep.
Kay B. Hustin; Allentown. Civil Engineering. Member of ROTC rifle team, American Rifle Association,. Likes to hunt, fish, swim, and camp.
Charles E. Leech; Meadville. Civil Engineering. Member of Thespians, and the Newman Club, Likes professional baseball and basketball especially follows the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
William K, Ried Jr.; Beaver Falls. Arts and Letters, Draws for Frosh, Member of Canterbury Club, Likes art, sports, and professional baseball, especially the Cleveland Indians.
John S. Brown; Wilkes-Barre, Agri-culture. Likes modern and scientific farming, boxing, wrestling, football, and dates.
James S. Krug; Oil City, Hotel Ad-ministration. Interested in motels and restaurants, Pledge Captain, likes out-door sports and Molly.
Sportscope
Theta Chi wound up 25th in sports last year, the exact median for the 49 competing fraternities. "Dutch" Sykes was proud of us, though; we were among the best as far as forfeitiveness went, having had only two all year. We didn't do badly in spring sports and there is a good chance we will really excel in them next year. Both our soccer team and tennis doubles team reached the quarter finals in their respective sports. Tennis player Dick Johnson is back and will be playing singles this fall. Someone will have to replace Lloyd Dietrich, Dick's partner, who has graduated. Before losing to powerfull DU, the soccer team looked very good and may be heard from again next year. Golf was played in near hurricane weather and our team did not live up to its potential, losing its first match. The best runner in the house, Jack Horner, was out for track (he is the cross-country captain this year) and we were shut out in that sport, In beer league softball we hit a streak of bad luck and wound up as an also-ran. The league was good all around and we couldn't afford many slips, Rain forced us to play a crucial double-header on Carnival day in Spring Week, Bob Gohn pitched the equivalent of three full games (it took five hours) without allow-ing an earned run, but errors beat him both times.
But enough of last year's events; we should look ahead. Weather has slowed up our football team but we have made progress. It is hard to evaluate the new pledges until they've played under pressure. It doesn't look as if we are going to have any real standouts, but instead we will be relying upon a well rounded team and the use of tie two platoon system. In a practice game with Phi Sigma Kappa we looked good in a 0-0 tie, failing to make a score by itches on last down. As usual we have the bowling secretary, Chris Snyder, at our house this year. Last year we were edged out for the team trophy.
Gene Whitehouse
Social Glimmerings
The fall semester is starting again, along with a new football season, and we at Omega are looking forward to another great social year
Things started off rather successfully with the Penn State football team trouncing Temple 20-13 and a tri-house party being held at Phi Sigma Kappa that evening, Theta Chi and Phi Sigma Kappa were hosts to a new house on campus, Phi Mu Delta. Following the Purdue game on Sept, 27, (a 20-20 tie) we had a (moral) Victory Party at which the alumni were present in force, I hope it is an indication of the number we will expect to see at Homecoming on Oct. 18.
As for future events, here is a brief run down. Oct. 4th, will be Father's Day and we are expecting many of the fathers both for the game and the party following. Looking back for a moment at last year's Father's Day and remembering the success it was we look into the future to tell you this one ought to be as good if not better. Then, of course comes Oct, 18 and Alumni Day. A great game to be played in the afternoon and a great get-together afterwards forecasts a highly successful Homecoming Weekend.
There won't be a game at State on Oct. 25, but we plan to have a South Sea Island party followed the next weekend by the traditional Penn, Penn State game to be played in Philadelphia on Nov. 1st. I need not tell you Omega will be there in force, both for the game and the events to follow, Our next really big event happens on the weekend of Nov. 15. The Junior Prom, a game with Rutgers and a swell house party following should be enough ingredients to give all present a memorable house party weekend.
As it stands now our Pledge Dance will be held in conjunction with the Kappa Delta sorority. It will be held on Dec. 6, If the house interest in this event continues as it has, especially among our spirited pledges, it should be the best pledge dance Omega has had in quite a while.
As for pinnings, now It must be the Indian Summer, or a secret weapon the women have devised, Over the vaca-tion and just recently, a total of four brothers pinned and two have married. Craig Rupp married Jo Jarvis of Mt, Pleasant; Pete Fairchok married Joan Adams of Scranton, Joe Parker pinned Marie McDonald of Philadelphia, Pa., Tom Morton pinned Betty Heimberger of Saltsburg, Hal Wells pinned Barbara Foss of Sanford, Conn, and Bill Shomberg pinned Anne Toomey, Kappa Delta.
Lou Wilson Social Chairman
Gone But Not Forgotten
Alumni of Omega, do you remember that famous expression "So you want to go fraternity?"
Sure you do, and I'll bet you all have memories of bewildered neophytes, work sessions, weekend parties, house functions and blind dates that made your college days rich and purposeful.
Times haven't changed much since you were here. Perhaps you feel that the fellowship and the friendly atmosphere you once knew are different now and you might not feel as much at home here as you once did, If so, you are due for a real surprise. We will be looking for you on Alumni Weekend - Come back and give us a try.
Robert E. Will
Thank you to all those brothers that shared their news.
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