Blogs

Zeta Mu ATO brother John R. Thomas, founder and president of Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg (TX), was recently interviewed by San Antonio Magazine. He had an optimistic forecast for this year’s wildflower harvest.

A senator in Sam Houston State University’s Student Government Association is trying to change the library to a 24-hour system.
Shane Rankin, a senator for SGA, has asked that the Newton Grisham library go to a 24 hour system. VP & Provost of Academic Affairs Jamie Hebert said during the Jan. 24 meeting that they will temporarily open the library for 24- hours during finals week.
During this time, Hebert told Rankin, the library will study the traffic and make an assessment from there.

Hey everyone just wanted to give you the info on this years founders day. It will be on Saturday, February 18th at 11:00 a.m. The schedule is still being developed for the entire events activities. However, I can tell you that this event will also be the day when our new members will be getting initiated. We thought that the alumni of the ZM chapter would want the opportunity to be able see the chapters initiation once again and encourage all alumni to come and take part in this great tradition. I will be posting more blogs and information on the webstite as the day approaches. If you have any questions feel free to email or call me at anytime

See y’all founders day!

Shane Rankin - Alumni Relations

Embassy Skateboards of Houston has a tribute skateboard out to honor my time in combat and military service. The proceeds of this deck will be going to The Wounded Warrior Project, of which I am also an Alumni. I was injured in 2 separate IED blasts during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Please take a look, and I’ll be happy to personalize/autograph any deck.

V/R, Don “Lash” LaRue, SHSU ZM, 101st Airborne Division, Iraq

Order: Lash Larue Street Fighter Skateboard

Highlight video from the undefeated season of SHSU football 2011. Note the ATO letters around the 49s mark!

Congratulations to ATO brother Richard Hainkel on becoming a first-time grandfather to close out 2011! Richard’s daughter Aubrey gave birth to Isla Blue Anders (7.5 lbs) on Saturday, December 31, 2011! Aubrey and her husband Grant welcomed their daughter into this world at 5:19 p.m. Richard and his wife Lori can be reached at (512) 423-0026.

For those of you who don’t know what the thymus is (I didn’t!), it’s where T-cells “go to school” to learn how to fend off diseases in your pre-adolescent years. As you mature and reach puberty, the thymus breaks down and absorbs itself into your body. It disappears. Except in a very small handful of people. Some bodies don’t break down the thymus while others - for reasons not yet known - develop a thymus again! Yours truly is in the “grew one again” category. (“Damn Vulcan physiology!” - Dr. McCoy, “Star Trek”) Interestingly, there are only about 400 known cases of thymoma in the U.S.

Brothers: first, I want to again thank all of you who have been keeping me and my family in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the positive energy you keep sending our way. It’s helping us during these days of uncertainty. I said I would update everyone following the visit with the oncologist on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Here is what we now know: I have thymoma, a tumor in the thymus. Mine is about 8 cm x 5 cm and located near my aorta.

Brothers: your prayers and positive thoughts worked! The biopsy results came back and I do not have lymphoma! I have thymoma. From what I understand (so far) this is a tumor of the thalmus gland. I am meeting with an oncologist later today to discuss options for its removal. I’m not out of the woods yet but things are looking much more positive! God bless all of you for your prayers, positive thoughts and words of encouragement over the past few weeks! I will update again after I meet with the next doctor. L&R

4 Lost Brothers have been found so far this month! Go to the Lost Brothers page to see who’s still lost.

1. Chris Turner Clem - Class of 1995
2. Steven R Droddy - Class of 1995
3. David Sean Thompson - Class of 1998
4. Ben Forrest - Class of 2010