2003
Alumni Archives
New Pike House Groundbreaking
September
20, 2003
Curtis Wiggam
(Site Manager), Lori Dozier (Mad Dog Construction), Charlie Crist
'76 (Florida Attorney General), Brad Innis (Principal Architect),
Brent Sembler '78, National Campaign Chairman, Ron Rietdorf (Campaign
Consultant), Engineer & Building Committee Co-Chair Barry Poole
'77, Finance & Housing Chairman Jeff Moore '81, Chapter Advisor
Ed Barnes '71, SMC Shawn Hutcherson '01, Harry Sargeant '78, Andy
Miller '70, Ken Marks '80, Charlie Barnes '65, 2003-04 Student Body
President Patrick Sullivan '01.
It was a bright,
clear and glorious day, perfect in every aspect and entirely appropriate
as a backdrop for Florida State's best fraternity to break ground
for the finest new fraternity house in the country. September 20,
2003 marked not the beginning of a new course, but the strengthening
and validation of a glorious heritage.
The Big Chill Weekend
Left to
right: Tim Marston '70, Joel Padgett '71, Larry Wright
'70, Jim Barth '71, Charlie Barnes '65, Randy Parker '70
(with the Bocce Ball trophy), Pete Burnett '67, Mett Morgan
'70, past President Mike Ripingill '65, Rob Macklin
'70, Mark McAleer '69, Chip Turknett '70 and Jack Bailey
'67.
[November
8, 2003] Pete Burnett '67 put out the notice for "Big
Chill V," the 2003 edition of the Big Chill Weekend,
an every-other-year exclusive gathering of this close circle
of Brothers from the late 1960s-early 1970s. They assemble at
a lake house ten miles from Clemson, South Carolina, and submit
themselves to a full weekend of socializing, storytelling, Bocce
Ball and college football. On game day, they fire up the cooker
and prepare all manner of sausages, meats and other grillable
goodies, then head for game.
Late
in the day they pile themselves, along with the food and cases
of adult beverages, into a 28-foot pontoon boat, cruise down
river to Clemson Stadium and, should the spirit move them, actually
attend the game. The 2003 invitation letter gently reminded
everyone, "I think we learned at Big Chill IV that it is
wise to forget about getting tickets from FSU and scalping them
at the game." The letter also expressed the hope that with
proper lighting, "Maybe we can stay off sandbars this year
on the way back to the house." All Brothers are actively
encouraged to "Bring your college photos, favorite CDs,
Pike jerseys and tickets to the game."
With
the Legends Campaign to build a new Pike house in full
sway, Seminole Booster officers (and Pike fundraisers) Andy
Miller '70, Joel Padgett '71 and Charlie Barnes
'65 were all invited to attend and bring news of success,
collecting everyone in one place where, as Pete Burnett noted,
"We can verbally abuse the non-givers."
Cindy
Turknett attended, as she often does. Sam Baptista '70
and past President Cliff Napolitano '68 were unable to
attend this year.
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