We Do It For Lou

This year, I'll be attempting to become an Iron Phi - a distinction given to a small percentage of members within my Fraternity. The mission of Iron Phi is to strengthen the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity and the impact it has on the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease through the fundraising and athletic efforts of its members. Lou Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta, and our organization has taken an active role in finding a cure.

The net proceeds will support ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) research, education, screening and treatment. It will also help strengthen an organization (Phi Delta Theta) that has had a lasting impact on my life.

 ROBERT MORRISON 5K HISTORY WALK
Support ALS and Phi Delta Theta Iron Phi
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Beginning at 10:00 AM

I have been reluctant to try for a Phi Delta Theta Iron Man qualification because of my bad knee and my old age and the lack of physical ability.

I have found a suitable cure for that dilemma.

I am going to conduct a Robert Morrison 5K History Walk for which I will be the guide and will be pointing out various Phi Delt related locations in Fulton:

• Robert Morrison’s House
• Old Phi Delt Houses
• House associated with Phi Delts
• At present there are over 30 sites to see.

We will start at the Morrison Grave site and work our way back to the Phi Delt House.

Sorry for the late notice. Also Sunday may not be convenient, but there is so much happening on Friday and Saturday and the students have class on Friday.

If someone wants another 5k to make it a 10k they can start from Robert Morrison’s old farm and meet us at the start point at Robert Morrison’s Grave.
Let me know and we can make those arrangements.

As mentioned in the beginning, I hope to make this my Iron Phi event.
For an ALS Phi Delta Theta Iron Phi qualification you need to have an athletic related event and raise $1,000.00.

To do that, I need some support. I normally do not ask for anything for myself with respect to the chapter. Many of you have already been very generous to the house renovation, to the Scholarship Foundation, and to the Westminster unrestricted financial campaign.

I am requesting your support for my ALS Iron Phi challenge. If by some miracle we get more than $1,000.00 we will channel that money to actives who are also trying to get Iron Phi qualified. We usually get at least one each year.

You can send checks to: Reply To:

Missouri Beta of Phi Delta Theta wdwlew@socket.net
Attn: Iron Phi
801 Mokane Road 579-645-0052
Fulton, Missouri 65251

I also invite you to come to the event. If you come to Alumni Weekend, hang around on Sunday.

The walk normally should take about an hour but I would allow two hours because there is a lot to see.

If this is a success, we hope to make it an ALS Phi Delta Theta Iron Phi fund raising event every year and invite other chapter to learn more about Robert Morrison and about Missouri Beta.

Thank you in advance for any support you can give to me and to ALS and Phi Delta Theta Iron Phi.

Bill Whitlow ’69 (MB 1142)

Robert Morrison – Fulton Missouri Tour
1. Robert Morrison’s Farm (Woodlawn) – St. Eunice Road – Harbison Walker Brick Factory
• Robert Morrison died here in 1902

2. Robert Morrison’s Gravesite – Hillcrest Cemetery.
• One of Six Founders of the national fraternity Phi Delta Theta (PDT) in 1848.
• He is considered the actual founder and wrote the Bond of the fraternity.
• He lived in the Fulton area for about 23 years.
• He is credited with saving Westminster College from having to close in 1881.
o From 1879 to 1881 he raised $14,000 at the end of a depression to wipe out the Westminster debt.
o He did this by going door to door throughout Missouri in a horse and buggy to raise money from Presbyterians.
o The largest donation was $100.00 most were $10.00 and under.
• In 1880 he helped Missouri Beta become recognized as a chapter of Phi Delta Theta.
• He died in 1902 on a farm North of Fulton called Woodlawn.
• PDT national paid off the farm’s $2,000.00 mortgage for his widow.
• PDT national erected the present Monument in 1904.

• S. W Yantis - first President of Missouri Beta – Bond # 2/3 (John Wolfe Lindley)
• William Brewer Whitlow ‘ 15 (MB 202) and William C. Whitlow ’40 (MB 560)
(Chapter Advisers and Presidents of the Chapter Home Association)
• Bruce T. Harris ’76 (MB 1290) Chapter Adviser for 1989 and 1990 Kansas City Trophy
Also Chapter Advisor for 1996 review which removed the chapter drug problem.
• Elmer C. (Slick) Henderson ’93 (MB 58) 17th President of PDTGC (1917 – 1920)
• “Dog” Lamkin ’99 (MB 78) 14th President PDTGC (1010 – 1912) buried in Keytesville, MO.

3. 209 East Ninth – Robert Morrison’s Home before he moved to Woodlawn.

4. 9 East 10th (Stephen’s Residence) – First house owned by MB (1909). (Tuthill ‘18)

5. 1 East 10th - Tucker Residence – Owned and occupied by Phi Delt’s (Jim Tucker ’32 - MB416 and John Bell ’73 – MB 1255) – John is the last of the Ovid Bell Press Bells.

6. 917 Court - Tucker Residence – Owned and occupied by Phi Delt’s (Dan Tucker ‘ 30 MB 378 and Bryan Haneke ’2009 – MB 1818) – Owns the 1851 Underground (Tap Room)

7. 915 Court – (MB attempted to rent but Beta’s drove overnight to Auxvasse to beat them to the the owners house.

8. 901 Court – Watson Ranch – First house rented by MB (1906)

9. 881 Court - Ovid Bell Residence

10. 830 Court – Boulware (Bo) Jameson ’11 (MB 200) Home - Chapter Adviser between W. B. Whitlow and W. C. Whitlow. Local Ford Dealer. Distant relative through my grandmothers family and Capt. Callaway.

11. 828 Court – John Jameson ‘42 (MB 664) Home. Used to have a tennis court in the back yard where Russ Jones. Dr. Fickes, and Brook Sloss played regularly. It was the site of the traditional Saturday afternoon social of Phi Delta Theta on Alumni Weekend.

12. 817 Court – Site of 1917 KA house. Recently burned beyond repair.

13. 815 Court – Site of 1917 Beta House.

14. 801 Nichols – Owned by Missouri Beta 1913 – 1926 (New in 1909 - $6,200)
• KA had before MB. Had tennis court in the rear. (1909)
• Chapter Adviser William C. (Bill) Whitlow ’40 (MB 560) was born in this house in 1918.
• His parents William B. (Brewer) ‘15 (MB 202)and Laura Whitlow were remodeling their house on West 7th street and lived in the house during construction in the summer of 1918.

15. 705 Jefferson – PDT Annex at one time in the 1980’s.
• Present Delt Annex next door.

16. 606 Nichols - Hackman House – Second house owned by MB. (1911)(One Year)

17. Palace Hotel –
• A state PDT convention was held here in March 15, 1902. (Founders Day)
• Robert Morrison was 80 years old and the local PDT’s gave him 80 one dollar gold coins.
• The proceedings were conducted by Charles F.”Dog” Lamkin ‘ 99 (MB 78) and Elmer C. “Slick” Henderson ’93 (MB 58)
• Both later became Presidents of the PDT General Council (Lamkin 14th - 1910 – 1812) (Henderson 17th - 1917 – 1920)
• This was the first time the President of the General Council had come West of the Mississippi. (Had three members of the General Council)
• A plaque was also dedicated to Robert Morrison which was hung in the old Westminster Hall.
• The Westminster Hall fire destroyed the plaque. It was replaced by another plaque that hung in old Swope Chapel until it was demolished. The plaque now hangs in the hallway between the Churchill Memorial and Champ Auditorium.
• Past president of the General Council Charles “Dog’ Lamkin ’93 (MB 58) lived here in the 1960’s
• When he was able in the late 50’s and early 60’s he took meals at the fraternity house.
• A MB pledge had to take him a pint of bourbon and a package of cigars each day.
• He would visit the chapter and sit in the living room smoking a cigar. The members would place bets on how long it would take for the ash to finally drop from the cigar.
• Bar in Basement – 1851 Underground (Old Tap Room) owed by Bryan Haneke ’09 (MB 1255)

18. 101 Bluff – Brown Hotel (Now a bank building)
• Meeting place for the chapter before they got a house and after the Westminster fire in 1890.
• 1943 – 1944 Chapter lived here while Navy used Westminster’s fraternity houses.

19. 5 East 5th - Callaway Bank – Past Presidents Betas or Phi Delts - Tom Van Sant ’09 (MB 184) Bruce Harris ’76 (MB1290)

20. 2 West 5th –W. Ed Jamison Building / Harvey S. Clapp Building
• W/ Ed Jamison’s son and grandson were Phi’s – Boulware (Bo) Jamison ’11 (MB 200), John Jamison ‘42 (MB 664)
• Bo and John owned the local Ford Dealership
• Harvey S. Clapp III ’47 (MB 793) had three sons and three grandsons who are Phis.
• Harvey S Clapp IV ’72 (MB 1219 – is the current occupant of the building.)

21. 204 West 5th – Temporary house in 1927 while construction was completed on the new house.

22. 6th Street – Former location of annex in the 1960’s through 1980’s.
• Made national news in 1965 when the cornerstone was laid for the Churchill Memorial.
• They had sheet outside with “Holy Cornerstone Batman” on it. Batman TV series was popular at the time.

23. Churchill Memorial - Dave Stinson ’51 (MB 833) was Assistant to the President of the College when the Churchill Memorial was moved to Fulton. His primary job was coordinating the project which involved travel to England and appearances on many TV programs.

24. Buildings on campus named for the ancestors of or actual Phi Delts.
• Weigel – Dorm
• Sweezy – Dorm
• Sloss – Dorm
• Rice – Dorm
• Scott – Dorm
• Marguess – Dorm
• Reeves Library
• Hunter Activity Center
• Swope Chapel (Demolished)

(Note: S. W. Wilson Construction (Scott Wilson ’74 MB 1256) has done much of the construction on campus.)

25. Champ Auditorium – Morrison Plaque underneath.

26. Westminster Columns from original Westminster Hall.
• The chapter met in Philalethian Hall on the top floor. (Typical meeting place for literary societies.)
• Cane and Broom Story

27. Missouri Beta of Phi Delta Theta.
• First fraternity house - built in 1926.
• Decicated November 6, 1926 – Lamkin and John Finley Green spoke.
• Occupied January 1927
• Cost $37,560.00
• 15 bedrooms and house mothers room.
• Monthly house bill - $10.00 for all rooms except $8.00 for Birdcages
• Monthly house bill 1960’s - $ 100.00.
• Monthly house bill today - over $ 800.00.
• The only buildings older than PDT are:
a. Churchhill Memorial – 1677 (1969)
b. Science Hall – 1901
c. Washington West House (President’s Office/ Formerly Residence) - 1906
d. Present Westminster Hall - 1911
• Added on in 1934 kitchen and the back yard.
• Omega by Dr. Brook Sloss’s ’38 (MB 518) pledge class in 1935.
• In the 1950’s opened the Scoop in the basement. Got rid of coal boiler.
• Next opened the Scoop Nex – Close in 2000’s due to fire code.
• 1970’s added on Housemother’s bedroom.
• Remodeled and expanded bathrooms in 2009.
• Major renovation in 2013. Added front porch, sprinklers, central air, and remodeled entire basement.
• Added new roof in 2016.

[Insert information about your Iron Phi race/event]

According to The ALS Association's web site, approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. That's why I'm becoming an Iron Phi. To do something bold about Lou Gehrig's disease.

I've set my personal goal at [$amount]. So I need your help. Would you please consider making a donation of [$amount] (donations by US residents are tax-deducitble)? You can make a donation on this page by clicking on the "Make a Gift" link below the thermometer. You can also send a check made out to Iron Phi to me at (insert address) if you'd rather donate that way.

I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,

Williwm D. Whitlow