1/3/2003
Q. Why did you join the fraternity?
A. Kappa Sigma was nonpretentious and the brothers were easy-going, down to earth. There were good people in the house and an eclectic crew – Joe Coleman ’88, Duey Rumancik ’90, Ike, Mack, Jon Taylor, and of course Yabo.
Q. What is your favorite memory of the fraternity?
A. The whole time was a favorite memory. They all morphed. Frozen chin ice shots at the Luau, Friday night happy hour wings, Wednesday night parties, the bolt to WVU, but most of all, making friends for life. If I had to pin it down, I’d say the 1st and 2nd deck Rolling Rock case race would be right up there.
Q. What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?
A. It’s given us a place to coalesce when coming back to PSU. Unfortunately, the recent tough times for Alpha Detla, along with the rest of the Greek community, has caused a lot of uncertainty. We’ve been there for over a century, and we need to be sure that we are there a century hence.
Q. With whom are you still in contact? Who would you like to find?
A. Stay in contact with Yabo and Duey. Every once in a while I talk to Doug Byler ’90 and Snake. Would like to find Gilchrist ’88 and Steve Rice ’89, two good pledge class bros.
Q. Tell us about your family. Are you married? Do you have children?
A. I married Jenny Elenbaas on Sept. 2, 2001. We met in law school and have a home in the D.C. area. We do not yet have children, but hope to start a family after I return from overseas.
Q. What other activities or organzations did you enjoy in school?
A. Activities? I plead the Fifth. Organizations? See activities.
Q. What is your nickname and how did you get it?
A. See above. I will say my liberal leanings caused Ike to place a vulgar nickname on me – one which I did not encourage. My country-boy childhood caused Gilchrist to utter the nickname “Gomer” at me one time, but luckily, it did not stick for more than a semester.
Q. Did you live in the house? Who were your roommates?
A. Yes. Jon Taylor and Ike and I were roommates. Later, Snake and I shared the end of the hallway on the first deck. Ike used to start the lawnmower on the 2nd deck to annoy, well, everyone. JT may recall some hi-jinks when I went downstairs to fetch a bagel (memories are coded to protect the innocent). Snake and I succesfully avoided arrest during a visit to South Halls.
Q. What do you do for a living?
A. I’m an officer and attorney for the U.S. Army Jag Corps currently serving with the U.S. 3rd Army Coalition Land Forces Component Command, U.S. Centcom, in Kuwait.
Q. What organizations are you affiliated with in your community?
A. I’m a member of the WVA bar and a eucharistic minister in the Catholic Church.
Q. What hobbies do you enjoy?
A. Playing a lot of guitar and recording music. I recently received as a gift a Martin D35 and have several other guitars (Stratocaster, Spanish hand-made classical, and a few others). Also do a lot of gardening and photography.
Q. What are your goals for the next few years?
A. Stabilize Jenny and I in the D.C. area, get a small piece of mountain property, see as many Penn State football games as possible, and get a studio-quality CD completed and distributed to small radio stations.