Don Heard, Houston ’93, diligently volunteered with his home chapter of Texas Delta for more than 20 years, 15 of which were spent mentoring young brothers at the University of Houston as chapter counselor. In this role, he was highly regarded for his commitment to helping undergraduates attend SigEp’s leadership programs and streamlining financial management. He received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2017.

Heard was deeply committed to helping brothers in the chapter succeed academically and in life. He actively fundraised for Texas Delta scholarships and even established a scholarship endowment in his name. He was also a member of the NUTS! McAuliffe Society.

Fellow Texas Delta volunteer Buck Caulfield, Mississippi ’76, recalled what made Heard special: “Don embraced the three cardinal principles and the motto of Sigma Phi Epsilon and lived it. As a brother and a friend, Don was interested in others’ well-being, and as an alumnus, he could see the ‘big picture’ of the national Fraternity. Foremost, the welfare, fraternal responsibility, growth, and living our Ritual were his foci as a member of the AVC and chapter counselor of Texas Delta. We will surely miss Brother Don Heard.” 

Heard held a master’s degree in occupational safety. Highly respected in his field, he worked on projects with several Houston-area manufacturing and engineering firms. He also shared his professional knowledge with SigEp, bringing a heightened awareness to the chapter and AVC about potential safety and liability issues and the need to be proactive regarding risk management.

Rich Boeker, Houston ’96, another longtime friend, said Heard’s contributions to the chapter, and to his life, will never be forgotten. “Don Heard embodied the lifetime responsibility of brotherhood, and his impact on Texas Delta is far-reaching. He was a mentor to me for more than three decades and a friend. He personified the Fraternity’s cardinal principles and taught me so much about leadership, humility, compassion and the need to give of our time and talents to build a better community. His lessons will continue and he will be greatly missed.”