|
Kappa Sigma Parents' Weekend at the University of Texas at Austin
Tau Chapter Parents' Weekend and Tau Trustee Reunion were held November 3 and 4, continuing the annual tradition of celebrating one of the finest fraternities on the UT campus.
| |
|
Parents' Night, with a Mexican theme, was fun, festive, and beautiful. Chapter awards were presented and the 2023 Pledge Class was introduced. Live music was provided by River Bend band and the silent auction offered unique gifts and services to bid on.
On Saturday, we honored Tau Man of the Year Pat Molak and enjoyed a post-game buffet at the Lodge.
| |
Joe Fulp ’21, Texas Cowboy New Man; John Kincade ’78, Texas Cowboy ’80; Billy Thackston ’21, Texas Cowboy New Man; Rex Robins ’21, Texas Cowboy New Man; and Jett the Dog | |
Reggie Tuck ’69, Jay Lesok ’67, Tommy Rioux ’67, and Bill Zwiener ‘73 | |
Matthew Ziemnicki ‘08 with wife, Catherine, and sons Pearce James, (three years old) and Charlie (four months old) | |
John Martin ’79, Stephen Stout ’95, and John Biegel ‘95 | |
Jon Moyer ’81 and Monk White ‘61 | |
|
Pat Molak '66 Awarded Tau Chapter's
Highest Honor
| |
|
The Tau Chapter honored Pat Molak as Kappa Sigma Tau Man of the Year on November 4. Pat owns the legendary Gruene Hall and several other notable properties in the area and is credited with the economic revitalization of the town of Gruene, located just north of New Braunfels.
"As a contemporary of Pat at the University of Texas, I can say, without reservation, that he is the living definition of a Kappa Sig; passionately entrepreneurial, loyal, generous, high energy, and dedicated to a life lived to the fullest!" said Wade Kilpatrick '67. "His accomplishments in business are "Legend" and his lifetime dedication to friends and family are without equal."
Pat currently has health issues that prevented him from attending the November 4 presentation. His nephews, Matt and Marc Molak, both Kappa Sigs, accepted the award on his behalf. Tim Herman, who served as Pat's pledge trainer in the Fall of 1965, presented the award. He spoke of the Kappa Sig bonds and close friendship he and Pat have shared since their UT days. "He's been a brother in heart throughout life," Tim said.
Pat and his wife, Susie, have been married 35 years and live in San Antonio. They have a daughter, Katie, a son, Jake, and four grandchildren.
| |
Tim Herman '63 (center) presents the Tau Man of the Year Award to Pat's nephews, Marc Molak (left) and Matt Molak (right). | |
|
Kudos to the Parents' Association for a Wonderful Celebration!
The Tau Trustees and Tau Chapter send a huge "Thank You" to Parents' Association president Kelli Blanton and her team of volunteers for planning and hosting Parents' Weekend and Tau Trustee Reunion 2023. Thank you also to House Director Ernie and his hard-working crew!
| |
Ernie Taliaferro, house director, and Kelli Blanton, Parents' Association President | |
|
Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series Features
John Martin '79
| |
|
John Martin, ranked among the top financial advisors in the country, was a featured alumni speaker at the Kappa Sig Lodge on October 16. John shared insights about financial management and his Kappa Sig brotherhood's impact on his life, stating that the bonds he created with his Tau brothers during his college years still remain strong.
"We were a close group who knew we could count on each other. That has certainly played out in my career." His first client came to him by introduction from a Kappa Sig brother. That client is still with him today.
In 2020, the Financial Times named John to its elite group of Top 400 Financial Advisors chosen from the largest brokerage firms in the nation. John attributes his success to his close attention to detail tracking the stock market and his ability to see "the big picture" for long-term performance. His objective is to keep clients focused on their long-term plans rather than reacting to market volatility.
After studying economics at The University of Texas, John launched his career as a financial advisor in 1984. He began with Dean Witter, moved to Rauscher Pierce, then to A.G. Edwards, which later became Wells Fargo Advisors, and now serves as managing director of investments for Raymond James.
John currently serves as a Tau Trustee. He served as both a Trustee and alumnus advisor during the late 80s and early 90s, a time he recalls the Chapter was "recovering from a pretty low spot and beginning to flourish." In 1992, the Chapter presented him with the Frank C. Erwin Award for exceptional support and leadership. He was chosen the same year as Outstanding Alumnus Advisor, a national award given by the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
"To this day, the national award from Kappa Sigma is my most gratifying accomplishment," John said. "Like being named a top advisor by the FT, it was an acknowledgment of a team effort with a group of very loyal people."
John also values philanthropy. "There's no greater feeling than giving back," he said. His chosen charities include the Alzheimer's Association, Partnership for Children (Austin), The Victoria Bach Festival, The American Book Review, David's Legacy Foundation (a resource to fight cyberbullying), The University of Houston-Victoria, The Austin Parks Foundation, and several other worthy causes. He has also given substantial donations to the Tau Chapter capital campaigns to build the Lodge and Warren Residence Hall.
| |
Eric Smith, District Grand Master; Aidan Frazier, Grand Procurator; Bill Zwiener, Tau Trustee Committee Chair; Griffen Croix ’20, Grand Master; John Martin ’79, featured speaker; Billy Thackston ’21, Grand Scribe; Ryan Jinnette ’21, Head of Rush; and Preston Jong, Grand Treasurer. | |
Distinguished Alumni Speaker Series Features Tito Beveridge ‘81 | |
|
Tito Beveridge, creator and master distiller of Tito’s Handmade Vodka — the largest liquor brand in the country — is, by anyone’s definition, a huge success. But it didn't come easy. He had to reinvent himself several times before finding the winning formula. As the Tau Chapter’s featured alumni speaker on October 1, he spoke candidly about the importance of persevering through setbacks and disappointment.
“People need to learn how to deal with failure,” Tito said. “Learning to be resilient is the best lesson you could ever learn. You are not a failure until you quit.”
Tito’s college years included pre-med studies at Vanderbilt, roughnecking on oil rigs in the summers, and earning geology and geophysics degrees from UT. He started an oil company and ran 300-man seismic crews in Venezuela and Colombia before returning to Texas to start a drilling company in Houston. Tired of “chasing the buck,” he moved to Austin, first working for the Environmental Protection Agency and then as a residential mortgage broker.
Working in the mortgage business, he made flavored vodka to give as Christmas presents to his friends. Enthusiastic responses from friends and strangers who tasted his customized drink prompted him to take the leap from amateur to pro as a vodka maker.
Potential investors, however, expressed doubt that he could get permits or a distributor, leaving him to go it alone. Their negativity didn’t stop him. He used his savings and 19 credit cards to put himself in business.
He crafted a 16-gallon production still and went to work as a one-person production, sales, and marketing force. Then a pivotal moment came with an invitation to the World Spirits Competition. Too busy to attend, he sent a couple of bottles as entries. Tito’s vodka won first place and the double gold medal -- the unanimous choice among the judges -- beating out 72 other vodkas in the international competition.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka is now sold in 156 countries around the world. "Keep reinventing yourself until you get it right," he told his audience.
| |
|
Tito offered some personal advice as well. “The most important decision you’ll ever make is choosing the person you’ll spend your life with,” he said. “Find someone with a great attitude who believes in you. What are the qualities you would like to see in your kids? Find those qualities in a woman. The person you marry will make you or break you.”
Tito was chosen Kappa Sigma International Man of the Year in 2017, honored not only for building a world-class vodka brand, but also for his generous philanthropic giving and community support, including Tito’s Handmade Vodka for Dog People initiative to support animal welfare causes.
Tito recalled that his mom often encouraged him to “Leave the world a better place than you found it.” He has taken that to heart with a lifelong commitment to giving. “The more you give, the more you get,” he said.
| |
Chapter award winners will be featured next month in Tau eNEWS. | | | | |
