Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter of Fresno

Mike Patton

50s Era EH Sigs Zoom into 2021


Significant Sig and Order of Constantine Tony Flores (56-S)

Significant Sig and Order of Constantine Tony Flores (56-S) brought together an even dozen Sigma Chi alumni from the 50s era.  Most brothers who attended do not live in the Fresno area, and brother Ed Boswell was comfortable in his home on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Much of the hour online was spent discussing some of the most fun and memorable events during their university and fraternity experiences with Tony teasing out some of the really funny things.  Several photos taken in the 1950s of brothers and sweethearts were inserted into the meeting which revived old memories.


Cheerleader and Significant Sig Leo Wilson (55-F) 2nd from Left

In addition to Tony Flores, in attendance were Past Consul Bob Buckenberger (56-S), Bill Ceresa (56-F) Penn Valley, Jimmy Johnson (58-S) Fair Oaks, Willy Kollmeyer (57-S) Nevada City, Joe Monachello (54-F) Atwater, Homer Potts (52-T) Fair Oaks, Past Consul Frank Small (53-S) Pismo Beach, Bob Smith (54-F), Norm Winslow (57-S), Ed Boswell (58-F) Kamuela, HI and Les Sherry (60-S) Vallejo.

Fresno State Interim President Saúl Jimenéz-Sandoval Attends February 2021 Zoom Meeting

President Sandoval was our first guest at a monthly Zoom. He brought us up to date with some of the changes at Fresno State, and reassured our alumni in attendance that the university appreciates the Greek system’s contribution to higher education. Six of the twenty-seven brothers who attended do not live in the Fresno area as can be seen below. They “travelled” all the way from Hawaii to the west and Kentucky to the east. Much of the meeting was devoted to “open mic” so that we could find out what is going on in our brothers lives during these unprecedented times.

Jiménez-Sandoval grew up on a Fowler farm after his family immigrated from Mexico to the Central Valley when he was a child. He is married to Dr. Mariana Anagnostopoulos, a professor in the Department of Philosophy, and they have two sons.

Also in attendance was Brother Scott Moore (14-S) who will be our guest speaker at our next Zoom meeting on March 18. President Brad said that the April meeting will be held at 4:00 PM Pacific Time to make attendance easier for brothers living in the eastern time zones.

In attendance were Rob Abney (93-F) Kahuku HI, Jordan Ayerza (17-F) Consul, John Ballinger (65-S) President House Corp, Greg Baxter (67-S) Past Consul, Don Beauregard (62-S), Norm Bishop (77-F) Past Consul, Marv Broderson (63-S) Danville, Tom Downing (62-F) Past Consul, Brad Fischer (78-S), Jim Green (58-S) Grants Pass OR, Dusty Lacefield (12-F) Chapter Advisor, Tom Licouris (70-F), Mike Lorenzen Louisville KY, Scott Moore (14-S), Rick Nelson (65-S), Dan O’Brien (61-F) Sun City West AZ, Mike Patton (63-S), Bruce Quan (72-F), Dave Reuland (69-F), Bill Robinson (70-F), Evan Selander (12-S), Bill Smittcamp (73-S), Larry Spikes (75-F) Hanford, Jack Tacchino (66-S), Tim Vaux (66-F), Warren Williams (61-S), Kevin Wren (74-F).

Fresno Sigma Chi House Corporation Upgrades HVAC System to Kill Covid

House Corporation president, John Ballinger (65-S), has announced that all five air handling systems serving the Chapter House are now equipped with Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) ionization systems. By utilizing Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization, GPS units generate a high voltage field that creates positive and negative ions. These ions travel through the airstream and actively target contaminants in the air field, strips them of hydrogen and reduces them to harmless base compounds. The units require no maintenance and use little energy and they kill organisms as small as bacteria and virus including Covid-19.

Although not approved by the FDA and their effectiveness not quantified, these devices are being installed in care facilities and other institutions across the country. Our Chapter House is probably the first Greek housing in North America to install this type of system.

Fresno Active Chapter Releases Recruitment Video for Spring 2021

On February 10, 2021 Sigma Chi released its recruitment video for the spring semester according to Consul, Jordan Ayerza (17-F). Because of Covid-19, recruitment will be held virtually from February 8 to February 22 and will be coordinated by Chairman Bryson Stephens (20-S).

Click on the link to view the video: Spring 2021 Recruitment Video

Fresno Sigma Chi has many arrows in its quiver for this semester’s recruitment:

  • A GPA exceeding the all men’s average
  • $38,000 in scholarships for the 2021/2022 school year
  • The 100th anniversary of Sigma Chi on the Fresno State campus, 1921-2021
  • The soon-to-be-accredited Sigma Chi Leadership Program and its many modules
  • The finest chapter house at Fresno State
  • The strongest alumni support

DR. ELMER “BUD” RICHTER ALL HONOR TO HIS NAME

“Dr. Elmer “Bud” Richter, a community giant who served a number of organizations in the Valley and established the Jan & Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at Fresno State, passed Thursday January 28th.” 

The Fresno Bee https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article248876944.html

Brother Richter, S’47, Alpha Omega, Stanford University was 94. He is survived by his wife Jan of 72 years; son Brad and granddaughter Renee Vandermeer and her husband Nick; and two great-grandchildren Matthew and Maci. 

Brother Richter was a longtime supporter of Fresno State athletics and was on the steering committee for the construction of Bulldog Stadium. He was the recipient of the community’s highest honor, The Leon S. Peters Award in 2006. He served on the Fresno State Foundation Board of Governors from 1979 to 2006, when he was awarded emeritus status.

He joined the family business, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, following graduation from Stanford in 1949 and rose to the position of Chief Executive Officer. The company was founded in Fresno in 1895 as the Richter Bottling Company and was sold in 1977.

Brother Richter was dedicated to the Sigma Chi Fraternity and both Alpha Omega and Epsilon Eta Chapters. He was a longtime loyal Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter of Fresno member and supporter of our scholarship program. The following are memories of local Alumni Chapter Brothers.

“Bud Richter was a true gentleman and helped our Chapter in its early development.  I was honored to work with Bud when I was Public Relations and Fund Development Director for Community Medical Centers and he was a Board Member.  Bud not only contributed to the Chapter in our various campaigns but also raised funds.  He was always there when we needed him, even though he was a Stanford Sig.  He also gave Summer jobs to our Brothers at Pepsi, which he managed and his family owned.” Order of Constantine, Chuck Sant’Agata, S’56    

“Outstanding brother!  And we all are proud and glad that we can call Bud our Brother.” Order of Constantine, Tom Downing, F’62

“In April 1965 when I was elected to the city council, Bud took me to lunch. “Remember this,” he told me, “there is no expiration date on honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness”. I called on him often during those hectic years and he was always available and helpful, mainly because he lived by those words. Significant Sig, Elvin C. Bell, F’57

“He was a Stellar Individual, God Fearing, God Preaching… Even taught my dad a few things…  he was a good friend! And he will be missed” Bill Smittcamp, S’73

“A true gentleman has joined our Chapter Eternal and we are better men because of Brother Bud Richter. God bless you Brother Richter and we send our condolences to Jan and family.” Brad S. Fischer, S’78

“Bud gave me job at Pepsi when he broke the Union yoke and gave many FSU students a job when he was the active CEO at Fresno Pepsi. He was a wonderful man and Brother for Sigma Chi. When I was honored as a FSU Top Dog, he was the first to congratulate me as I came down from the stage. We all shall miss him.  All Honor To His Name.” Significant Sig, Dante Simi, F’58

Services are pending for Brother Richter. Dr. Saúl Jimenéz-Sandoval, Interim President, California State University, Fresno has ordered flags to half-staff at Fresno State on the date of his service.

White Rose Scholarship Fund: https://fresnosigsalumni.org/product/donation/