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Chapter Eternal

Harry Wiggins, Past National President John Harry Wiggins died July 31, 2004, one day short of his 72nd birthday. One of ADG's most beloved and well-known alumni, Harry was a member of Zeta Chapter at Rockhurst College in Kansas City. A native and life-long resident of Kansas City, Harry dedicated his life to public service, including stints as a U.S. Attorney, a county judge and in other positions before being elected to the Missouri State Senate in 1974. He served seven terms in the Senate before retiring in 2002, amassing an unparalleled record of legislative achievement and championing the rights of the less fortunate. During his 28 years on the Senate floor, Harry never missed a roll-call vote, logging a total of more than 18,000 consecutive roll-calls in what is believed to the a U.S. record for a legislator at any level of government.

Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes said, "Senator Wiggins made enormous con-tributions to this city, going back for decades. He will be truly missed." Added former Missouri Governor (now U.S. Senator) Kit Bond: "Harry was the lead legislator when I was there… If something was going to happen for Kansas City, Harry was usually the one who came forward with it."

But as much as Harry enjoyed public life and using his skills and power to help others, he always held special places in his heart both for Rockhurst and for ADG. Joining the fraternity in 1950, he went on to serve three one-year terms as National President, from 1953 through 1955 and again from 1960-61. He later served in a variety of positions during the 1960s, including NIC Director and Representative, Expansion Director and Chief Justice. Harry received the National President's Award as Alumnus of the Year in 1964, and in 1970 won the fraternity's prestigious Man of the Year Award for his service to the community, state and nation.

More recently, as he neared retirement, Harry began reconnecting with the fra-ternity, attending the national conventions in Chicago in 1999 and last year in New Orleans, the 50th anniversary of his first election as President. He was planning to attend this year's meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, but passed away three days before it began.

In a farewell note Harry wrote that was read in public at his funeral mass, he said, "I never really tried to be anything other than the 'Harry' you always knew. I never wanted to be anything else… Please do not grieve for me. Smile and laugh about all the good and fun times. I didn't accomplish everything I wanted to do for society. I guess nobody really does. We'd be pretty vain if we claimed that. I only hope I did my best."

Harry asked that donations be made to his favorite charities, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, 8745 James A. Reed Road, Kansas City, MO 64138; the Helen Wiggins Scholarship Fund at Rockhurst College, 1100 Rockhurst Road, Kansas City, MO 64110; or to the Walter J. Ong Scholarship Fund (which is given to deserving Zeta brothers), also at Rockhurst, attn. Jim Millard.



  



( Harry Wiggins, Past National President )


Mark Newell, An alumnus of Lambda Chapter, Mark Newell died Oct. 12, 2004 at the age of 50 from a rare genetic disease that had earlier claimed both his father and brother. After graduating from LMU in 1977 he attended the master's program in engineering at Stanford University, from which he graduated in less than a year. Mark then moved to Alaska, where he worked with indigenous tribes to create alternate energy sources, including a wind-generated power system that stretched from Juneau to the Bering Sea. He also created "Net Day" in Alaska, with thousands of volunteers helping remote schools connect to the Internet.

Following the onset of his illness in 1987, Mark closed his business and went to work at IBM as a systems analyst. He was eventually confined to a wheelchair and retired, although he continued to do volunteer work up until his death.

Mark received the Loyola Marymount Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003 for his humanitarian efforts, and was also named the State of Alaska's Volunteer of the Year in 1998. He is survived by his wife Lizzie, two children from a previous marriage, a brother, and his mother and stepfather.

Condolences also to the families of Sal DeSalvo, an alumnus of Epsilon Chapter who pledged in 1956 and died earlier this year; and to former Epsilon Chapter President Peppi Bruneau (pledged 1960), on the recent death of his wife Brenda.

 

 

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