Past Grand President Phil Cox told us often, “Behind every great chapter is a group of dedicated volunteers.” These men and women make a difference in our chapters and campus communities every day. But they don’t do it for the recognition. They do it because they love SigEp and believe in SigEp’s ability to bring out the best in young men.
Among that special group of dedicated volunteers, a select few stand out as truly exemplary. Meet the five 2017 recipients of the Exemplary Service Award, chosen from those who have served SigEp for at least 20 years. These brothers received their awards as the culmination of our Carlson Leadership Academies around the country in January and February.
Paul Litcher, Indiana Tech ’88
Paul began his dedicated SigEp involvement at our Indiana Tech Chapter in 1988, and currently serves SigEp chapters at New York University and the Stevens Institute of Technology. He has also served our chapters at Columbia University and Hofstra University. Paul is currently lieutenant district governor for District 3. He is former brigadier general and current treasurer of the NUTS! McAuliffe Society and was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1997.
View Litcher’s acceptance speech.
Earl Rainwater, Tennessee ’60
Earl, together with his late brother Burl Rainwater, Tennessee ’58, has served as the backbone of our Tennessee Alpha Chapter since 1964. In 1978, he helped found the Tennessee Alpha Scholarship Foundation, the same year he was honored by the National Fraternity with the inaugural Distinguished Alumnus award. Earl’s more than 50 years of dedication — which continues today — is legendary.
View Rainwater’s acceptance speech.
Steve Young, Kansas ’80
Steve has faithfully served the Fraternity since 1993. He is currently president of the Alumni and Volunteer Corporation (AVC) at our California-Berkeley Chapter, and has additionally lent his time and talent to chapters at San Francisco State, California-Sacramento and Stanford. Steve has gotten involved with these chapters in sometimes difficult situations, when they needed guidance from volunteers the most. He also serves as a member of the SigEp National Housing Board of Directors (SENH). He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2007.
View Young’s acceptance speech.
Dr. Gary Bunn, Central Arkansas ’88
Dr. Bunn has faithfully served SigEp’s Central Arkansas Chapter since 2003. His service is especially notable as a faculty member at the university. He is the current AVC treasurer and serves as a lieutenant district governor. He has impacted SigEp far beyond his chapter: he facilitates at the Carlson Leadership Academy and was an active member of the National Leadership Committee, which guided all our local and national leadership programming. This award comes after Dr. Bunn was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2008.
View Bunn’s acceptance speech.
Tom Barton, Loras ’89
Tom’s service at our Loras College Chapter began in 1989. Through his deep involvement, he has shaped the chapter over the years. He has also shared his time and talents with SigEp chapters at Wisconsin-Platteville, Northern Iowa and Iowa, and as a district governor. Tom has done much to advance the Fraternity financially as a former Educational Foundation trustee, current member of the National Advancement Council and a founder of the NUTS! McAuliffe Society.
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