When I was first initiated, a challenge was given to me by Damon Kimble, an alumni of the Iota Eta chapter at Western Connecticut State University. He was one of the few people to visit all seven of the Fraternity founders’ graves. This wouldn’t be a small challenge because the graves are located in San Francisco, Biloxi, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, Washington DC, and Cincinnati. I gladly accepted the challenge, but it turned out to be easier said than done.

My challenge started on June 6, 2005 with a visit to Benjamin Piatt Runkle’s grave in Arlington National Cemetary and ended March 20, 2011 at Issac M. Jordan’s grave. Over those 2,114 days (or 5 years, 9 months, and 15 days), my journey would take me over 9,500 miles, from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific.

In addition to the founders’ graves, I also saw Constantine’s Arch in Rome, Italy. Constantine’s vision played a huge part in the founding of Sigma Chi.

There aren’t any records online of people that have visited the seven graves (or how long it took), but I would be willing to bet that if you include Constantine’s Arch, I would be one of a VERY few who have done all eight.

Below are the pictures. If you hear of any other stories of people visiting the graves, feel free to share!

In Hoc Signo Vinces!

Benjamin Piatt Runkle Arlington National Cemetary, Washington DC June 6, 2005

Daniel William Cooper Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh December 21, 2005

James Parks Caldwell Biloxi Cemetery, Biloxi March 18, 2006

Thomas Cowan Bell The Presidio, San Francisco June 25, 2007

William Lewis Lockwood Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn July 2, 2007

Franklin Howard Scobey Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton (OH) March 19, 2011

Issac M. Jordan Spring Grove Cemetary, Cincinnati March 20, 2011

Constantine’s Arch Rome, Italy June 18, 2011

I was very surprised when they initially told me. It was something they didn’t need to do. They insisted, saying it was the least they could do. The class says that they all benefited from me being their teacher, but I don’t think they truly realize how much I benefited from them. I am proud to have seen them through and happy to call them my brothers.

So to Steve Scimia, Drew Fasolo, Antonio Fraccaroli, Harrison Staple, Justin Lockwood, Phanuel Mariano, David Yourman, and Ben Townsend… thank you guys for the iPod Touch. I really appreciate it. You really didn’t have to do that.

His name is Timothy Hutvagner- THut for short. When I say that he is a big scary animal, I’m not kidding. I once saw him kill a deer with his bear bare hands and then eat it raw. Coyotes do that stuff, not humans.

Every good super hero has his or her own ‘attribute’ that they are known for. Spider Man has his web, Batman has his Batmobile. THut has his point. It’s not a point like “Oh my gosh, I think that is where I puked after the bars last night”. It’s more a “YOU! STFU or I’ll kill you!” point. Examples below…
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Please, should you come in contact with this hairy beast, do not go near him. He will try to ‘woo’ you with his smile, but be warned, those are the same teeth that ate the deer. Much like the general zoo warning of “Please don’t feed the animals”, I am telling you “Please don’t give THut any alcohol”. It will only increase the already agitated state of THut. I have seen some of the rage I just described. THut was cornered in an open lot while drinking of his beloved Coors Light. An unfortunate soul knelt behind the monster while another mortal pushed him. I compared the movement to the Washington Monument falling and causing a 7.6 earthquake. Needless to say, neither of them are with us today. After he was done with them, he took his rage out on a bag of charcoal. I think he may have been confused (he buys bags and bags of dead squirrels in a bag that is quite similar to the charcoal bag).

To sum things up, THut is not a nice person. He will destroy your self-esteem, make you pee your pants in front of your friends, then eat your insides. If he is hungry, he’ll come back for more.

CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED