Remembering the Reason
Once a KA Rose, always... Chattanooga Alumni Chapter serves KA widows by Matt Bonner
“These are very dear women who have been widowed for five, ten, even 15 years and yet they still come to Convivum...KA means a lot to them,” says Lewis who has been president of the chapter since 2007. “It’s much better to expend these chapter funds for something good like this, than to save it for a rainy day,” he adds. Ruth Wells, whose husband MG Thomas G. Wells, Jr. (U.S. Reserves) (BT-Mississippi ’36) has been gone for 15 years, has stayed connected to the chapter. “It means a lot...I really think they do too much for us,” she says. “It is mighty nice.” Wells, 92, enjoys attending Convivium each year.
Ruth Wells, widow of MG Thomas Graham Wells, Jr. (Ret US Reserves) (BT-Mississippi State ’36)
Since 2002, the brothers of the Chattanooga Alumni Chapter in Tennessee have been doing something unique to serve the widows of KA brothers. On Valentines Day each year, every widow of a brother from the alumni chapter receives a special gift from the chapter, normally in the form of flowers, cards, candy, or gift certificates.
“We have not heard of anyone else doing this,” says Wilson. “But we sure think it’s a good practice for other chapters to implement and we hope they will after reading this story.” The Chattanooga Alumni Chapter, consisting of around 40 brothers, has been active for years, meeting three times annually, including Convivium. “What makes this chapter unique is that they are
“The ladies are so appreciative and are elated over our gesture to them,” says Bill Wilson (AB-Alabama ’61), who is normally the one who makes the special delivery. Wilson has served the chapter for 20 years, first as president and currently as treasurer. Collaborating with brothers Brandon Lewis (ΔΦ-Jacksonville State ’99) and Argil Wheelock (ΔΔ-East Tennessee State ’66) who came up with the idea, the chapter treats each “KA Rose” every year once they become widowed. Six ladies were visited this past year. The ladies also attend the chapter’s annual Convivium celebration. Chattanooga Alumni Chapter
KA Journal
48
Winter 2010
one of the most active alumni chapters that doesn’t have a local active chapter,” says Former Knight Commander and current Foundation Development Director Ben Satcher (ΔΟ-Clemson ’79). That of course is changing with the provisional chapter now in the works at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. “This upcoming Convivium will be the first to have undergrads in nearly 60 years,” says Lewis. The alumni chapter was originally chartered in 1916 and later re-chartered in 1953 by Dr. Harry Stone (AY-Mississippi ‘39), who led the chapter for years. Stone was the brother of Doug Stone (AY-Mississippi ‘41), former Irwin Province Commander and longtime member of the Executive Council serving from 1963-1989. To contact the chapter, please call President Brandon Lewis, (423)-235-1382.