Quick Interviews
We asked some of our brothers some questions to get a portait of "where are they now?" At the end, we asked who they would like to hear from next? We'll post the follow-ups here and include others in future editions of MetageNews.
- Amy Carter Storm and Dan Storm (Spring 2004)
- Kim Clark (Summer 2004)
- Gary Zickafoose (Summer 2003)
- David DeVerter (Summer 2003)
Amy Carter Storm and Dan Storm
Written by Amy Storm
Graduated:
Dan pledged with Dave Tubach (I think) and graduated in 1984 with a Agricultural Engineering degree and a masters of the same in 1986. Then he went on to the University of Kentucky for a PhD, also in Agricultural Engineering. I pledged in the spring of 1982 and graduated in 1983 in Animal Science.
Why did you join Alpha Rho Chi?
Dan joined APX for the friends and fun. His best friend, Dave Tubach, was in APX too. Dan also felt it was a great place to meet chicks (okay, so the wife's writing this) and lived at the house- even as a newly wedded couple (husband and wife lived in the attic and eventually moved into Dan Terrel's old room). I joined APX because I liked the people and enjoyed their company, one somebody in particular. Anne Barker had been my roommate and got me involved in Alpha Rho Chi.
What are you doing now?
We live in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and I have owned my own vet clinic, Veterinary Housecall Services, since 1990 and is a full time job. The clinic is located right next to our house. From the end of 1990 to the present, Dan has been a professor at Oklahoma State University, in — you guessed it — Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. His specialty is soil and water and does a lot of modeling (computer, not speedo!).
We have three kids: Heather is 13, Lisa (named after Lisa Fetterolf) is 12 and Pete is 11. We stay busy with their activities. I even became a Scoutmaster for cub scouts (and it's great having Danny say "Yes, Master!"). Dan went backpacking with Pete on a 5- 10 mile hiking trip over spring break in the western part of Arkansas.
We moved out into the country in 2001 and live on 40 acres just outside of town. No livestock; we tried chickens but the varmints ate them all! Just think of us as Green Acres Oklahoma-style. Anyone and everyone is welcome to stop by.
Bio requested by Gary Zickafoose
Kim Clark
Pledge Class:
Sigma class, initiated on May 5, 1997 with pledge brothers Allison Lewis and Jim Lytle.
Why did you join Alpha Rho Chi?
In the spring of 1977, I was a freshman Engineering major but I had applied to transfer to Architecture and was serving time on the waiting list. My roommate was an Urban Affairs major and he received a letter to come to an APX rush event. He left early, but I stayed about 6 years.
The short version of why I pledged APX is that it just seemed right. I was instantly accepted, and within a few weeks, I had made the most treasured friendships of my life. The professional component was a bonus, but it was the brotherhood that sold me. Metagenes was a 'family' in every sense of the word, and I wanted to be a part of it. What are you doing now?
I'm still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up and am working on a Master of Public Administration degree, as well as looking for other challenges. Bonnie and I continue to make our home in Roanoke, along with our six year old daughter, Sarah. The Clark Bed & Bagel doesn't get much use these days, but we are still thrilled to host visits from brothers. We are VT season ticket holders, and on fall Saturdays, we have tailgate parties at the Thomas Conner house on Draper Road.
Who would you like to hear from next?
Although I try to keep in touch with my brothers, there are dozens I've lost contact with. Some that I haven't heard from in at least 15 years include Bruce Leonard, Allison Lewis, David Borzelleca, Wendy Kuhn-Matherly, Chris Lessard, Ed Bass and Peter John Billups.
Bio requested by David DeVerter
Gary Zickafoose
Graduated:
1984 (on time, I might add, unlike some of my brothers) following what I consider a long arduous journey through Cowgill Hall. Why did you join Alpha Rho Chi?
Why did you join Alpha Rho Chi?
One evening in the fall of 1983, my soon to be pledge brother Sharlee and I were leaving Cowgill and we noticed an APX party flyer on the wall of the lobby, for a theme party called "Putting on the Ritz". Maybe Sharlee and I were just bored, but we decided to check it out. Not to downplay our social skills, but we were later referred to as the "wallflowers." Of course, we really liked everyone we met at the party, and I (secretly) thought Amy Carter (now Amy Storm), who became my big brother, was especially nice. When Sharlee and I received our invitations to pledge, I must admit I was a little skeptical of joining a fraternity, but Sharlee said, "I will if you will," and so we did. Of course, we came to appreciate the true value of Alpha Rho Chi.
What are you doing now?
I now have a wonderful wife, Jura, and two beautiful daughters, Shona and Rhiannon. Shona is going on five and Rhiannon was just born on March 24. We live on the end of a very peaceful dead-end street in Franconia, Virginia (that's south Alexandria). After many years slaving in architectural firms and as a staff architect for local home builders, I am now self-employed, working from home. I manage to enjoy lunch and dinner with my family most days of the week. Six years ago in June, I began my first construction project (not counting the numerous tree forts of years gone by) in my back yard. Last August, I was finally able to move into my new office over my garage. Now, we are preparing to begin our next construction project, a kitchen and sunroom addition (and I will probably try to throw several smaller projects into the fray), which should be underway this summer. Some days I wonder if living in a Condo might be the way to go.
Right now I am designing several custom homes, ranging from about 2,400 s.f. to 12,000 s.f. I am also involved in the construction administration of two larger custom homes. Additionally, I have a few renovation/addition projects under way. This is probably the busiest I have been since I left my "real" job. If anyone needs some work, please contact me!
Who would you like to hear from next?
Well, I would certainly like to hear from my big brother, Amy Storm (and Dan, of course).
David DeVerter
Beta Gamma • deverter@earthlink.net
Why did you join Alpha Rho Chi?
Several friends, including my then girlfriend (and now wife) were members. I thought it would be a good way to learn more about the professional side of the world through contacts, etc.
What are you doing now?
Mary and I (with the help of several friends) have been working on a bonus room in our house. It is mostly complete, but a few more things have to be done; a window seat/ toychest, etc. I still ride my bike (sometimes to work) and snowboard. My of my "free" time is filled with playing with my son and being with my wife.
I am an industrial designer working with a small engineering group. About half the business deals with automated equipment (making machines that make widgets), but in the past few years, more and more clients have started to ask us to design products for them. We make prototypes and eventually help with tooling and manufacturing.
I have worked on the Add-a-Trunk and Safe-Trunk for Jeep and several other projects for Chrysler. Some inhalers, stadium seating, a PDA hub for doctors to upload patient charts, several air filters. Right now on my desk there are various stages of completion: a soldering station, a tape measure "boot", a time clock, a fabric scanner, and an air cleaner. I also assist with the automation side of the business and am specifically helping design and build a machine that puts blood plasma testing devices together at a rate of 30 every minute.
Who would you like to hear from next?
Hmmm... how about Kim Clark?
© 2003 • Metagenes Alumni Association of the Alpha Rho Chi Fraternity
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