Our first cardinal principle, virtue, calls upon brothers to uphold the highest moral standards — to act with integrity, honesty and honor in all they do.

Our Fraternity often speaks of leadership, balanced men and academic excellence. Each of these ideals reflects our second cardinal principle: diligence. Diligence challenges every SigEp to pursue excellence in all endeavors and to develop the skills and character necessary to lead meaningful lives.

Yet it was Jackie Don “Jack” Wheeler, North Texas ’61 — dean of students, chapter counselor, alumni board president, district governor, Fraternity National Board of Directors member and SigEp Educational Foundation trustee, Past Grand President, and recipient of the Order of the Golden Heart — who continually reminded us of our third, and perhaps most important, cardinal principle: brotherly love.

When we speak of brotherhood, we refer to the bond that unites us as brothers. It is the sense of loyalty, shared purpose, mutual responsibility and lifelong commitment that strengthens our Fraternity and connects us to one another.

Brotherly love goes beyond brotherhood. It is the outward expression of our values toward others, whether they are members of our Fraternity or not. It is kindness, compassion, respect and genuine concern for the welfare of all people.

From the 1960s until his passing in 2011, Brother Wheeler tirelessly championed this principle. He taught us that our obligation extends beyond ourselves and beyond our chapters. In 1989, Jack and his wife, Kate, established the Honor of Philias to recognize chapters and individual brothers who exemplified brotherly love through service, compassion and a commitment to improving the lives of others. The award celebrates those who embody SigEp’s highest calling: treating and serving their fellow humans.

As we celebrate our beloved Fraternity’s 125th year, now is an excellent time for each of us to reflect on how we are living our values. Are we bringing Brother Wheeler’s message to life? How are we serving others — not only within our chapters, but also in our communities, workplaces, during our daily lives? How are we making a difference for those around us?

He often shared a story during his visits to chapters across the country:

A man walking along a beach noticed another man ahead of him stopping every few feet, bending down, picking up starfish stranded in the sand and tossing them back into the ocean. When the two met, the first man asked, “Why are you throwing those starfish back into the water?”

The man replied, “If I don’t, they’ll die here in the sun.”

The first man looked down the beach and said, “There are hundreds of starfish out here. What difference could it possibly make?”

Without saying a word, the other man bent down, picked up another starfish and gently tossed it into the surf.

Then he smiled and said, “It made a difference for that one.”

As SigEps, we are called to live that lesson every day. Brother Wheeler’s challenge was simple: Make an impact on someone’s life. Whether it is for a brother, a family member, a friend, a colleague or a complete stranger, brotherly love calls us to act. It reminds us that our greatest impact is often found not in grand gestures, but in small acts of kindness, compassion and service.

As we celebrate 125 years of Sigma Phi Epsilon, may we honor Jack Wheeler’s legacy by asking not how much difference we can make, but rather whose life we can make a difference in today.