By: Gordon Gough ’97, The Ohio Delta Company President
We are excited about the new school year at OSU. This year marks the first full year Phi Kappa Psi is back on campus. In this editi on of the Buckeye Phi Psi, you will hear from Colony President Jack Southard. Jack, and the Phi Kappa Psi National Fraternity Expansion Team are working with the six other undergraduate colony members this school year recruiting for the new Phi Psi Ohio State Colony. As you may recall, the ExpansionTeam has been on the ground at OSU since the start of the 2023 spring semester. The new colony members are doing a great job establishing the new colony with an eye on re-establishing the Chapter.
Since recolonization began, the Ohio Delta Company has been working to support the recruitment for the new colony while maintaining our current chapter facilities. The chapter houses are currently rented out until July 2024, which will allow the new colony to grow and mature without the financial burden of filling the chapter house immediately.
Additionally, the House Corporation realizes that there is a need to deliver quality chapter updates to Ohio Delta alumni on a consistent basis. To accomplish this, we have partnered with the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation team to actively manage our communication and fundraising efforts going forward. This new partnership will allow us to effectively communicate with you in a timely manner and support the new Ohio State Colony.
On July 17, our Phi Psi community lost a giant. Jerry Nelson UCLA ’48, a Phi Psi from California Epsilon died at the age of 94. In addition to the countless positive changes he made on behalf of Phi Kappa Psi and the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation, he touched the lives of many Ohio Delta brothers. Jerry helped in our acquisition of the Honors Lodge and many other untold stories. Brothers from the 1990s onward, are familiar with Jerry and may have had the opportunity to spend time with him at his home in Cabo San Lucas on Spring Break. I was one of the fortunate few. During Spring Break 1999, a group of us (Ohio Delta undergraduates) attended the weeklong leadership event. We spent the week with Phi Psis from across the United States and Ohio Delta was just one of several chapters in Cabo that week. Jerry held leadership “weeks” for well over a month covering the different colleges spring breaks.
Jerry’s purpose? He wanted young Phi Psi leaders to be in Cabo, learning from the brightest minds that our Fraternity had to offer. I recall a session while sitting at his outdoor dinner table and gazing at the Pacific Ocean. Jerry was telling us how we live in the greatest country in the world, and no matter our backgrounds or circumstances we can find success. His goal? To propel Phi Psi in cultivating and training tomorrow’s leaders. Jerry was a giver, a friend, and a builder of people.
Why do I tell this story? It reminds me of why we all cherish our Fraternity. Yes, the social
events were fun, but the Fraternity afforded us rich opportunities. We have been fortunate to make lifelong friends, and some of us even met our wives through Phi Psi. The four walls at 124 provided us lessons in life, leadership, and compassion. Lifting brothers up, no matter the situation.
We have a unique opportunity right now to help young men who attend Ohio State. Let’s again, give our time, talents, and treasures to Ohio Delta—as Woody Hayes would say, “Pay it Forward”. We owe it to the next generation.
Let’s do this together.
All the best,
Gordon M. Gough ’97
President, The Ohio Delta Company