Bob Brown ’70 says the best thing about his alumni experience is “going back to Penn State and being able to still go to the Skull House and meet those I have not seen in so long. I also enjoy keeping close friends that shared what you shared, it keeps you younger in your mind.”
Thanks to Bob Brown ’70 for participating in this Q&A…
Why did you join Phi Kap as an undergraduate?
I wanted to join a fraternity and be part of fraternity life. Penn State is pretty large and I wanted to be a member of a smaller and closer organization. Phi Kap was that fraternity where I felt comfortable. I joined with two of my close friends in high school
What is the funniest memory from your Phi Kap days?
There are so many – just everyday things that you share with guys that have a similar personality and like to kid each other. There were typical things, for example, I remember the sink pipes were leaking so we put buckets under them to avoid it going all over the floor. Then, about half a day later, the buckets overflowed and of course no one empted them, rendering the whole exercise useless. There was another time we had a brother with a little too much to drink standing over a urinal holding his shirt through his zipper and thinking it was something personal, yes he was wetting his pants.
What is the single fondest memory you have shared/will share with your children and grandchildren?
My son also joined a fraternity, so and just the brotherhood and the closeness. I’m still very close with some of my brothers still after 40 years.
How do you stay connected with your brothers as an alumnus?
I stay connected mostly by email, but also the Phi Kappa Sigma website.
What about your membership in Skulls makes you the most proud?
It was a fun fraternity that had a great social life, but also had restrictions to make sure you got your studying and graduated. It also was a class fraternity that was respected on campus.
What was your favorite fraternity event from your undergraduate days?
The toga party was fun – and so were the parties after a Penn State football game.
How would your life be different today if you had never joined Phi Kap?
I think I learned better social skills, how to better inter-relate with women and I have really close friends that would not be available when I need them.
If you could go back and relive one moment from your Phi Kap years, what would it be and why?
Just one? Probably the night I was brotherized, but there were so many I’d want to relive .
What is your advice for future generations of brothers?
Stay close after college, there’s just so much you did together that you relate instantly
If you could relay one message to the current undergraduates, what would it be?
Get your degree and don’t waste the time you spend with close friends
Where has life taken you since graduation? What’s new in your life today?
I’m currently Vice President of Sales for a $100 million company – but I am retiring in 3 months. I’m still single – but that may change soon.
Why do you financially support the chapter in your alumni years?
I feel I owe so much to the fraternity, it made my college years so much better. I owe it to keep the chapter going.
Who do you stay connected with in your alumni years? Are there any brothers you’ve lost touch with who you’d like to reconnect with?
My friends I have stayed the closet to are Jim Clark ’68, Bill Gaul ’69 and Rick Search ’69. I don’t live near State College but would get back more often if I did. I might come back more often now that I will be retired.
Why would you encourage other brothers to engage with Skulls in their alumni years?
It’s a camaraderie; similar to the Marines (I have some close friends with them as well). And when you reunite, you immediately re-live things that happened, which is really cool.
What is the best thing about your alumni experience?
Going back to Penn State and being able to still go to the Skull House and meet those I have not seen in so long. I also enjoy keeping close friends that shared what you shared, it keeps you younger in your mind.
Reconnect with Bob at [email protected] or 636-236-1858
