WHO'S KIDS ARE THESE?

Cell phone camera photo at Dodger Stadium.
James Gillis and his pal Damon Fecht
James is the son of our beloved Alpha Brother Jim Gillis, and Damon is my son.
Jerry Fecht

ODESSY LUNCH WITH FOUNDERS WEST AND TALBOT

Brother Bob Robar - Fall 1957 - A founder and President of Beta Chapter. Retired Captain Los Angeles Fire Department (click on image to enlarge)


Founder Grady Ellis Talbot - Retired Attorney - Board of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley


Founder Douglas West - Realtor - Carpenteria, California

BETA CHAPTER HOUSE, FIREPLACE, LIBRARY

(click on image to enlarge)


The most important place in a Phi Delta Psi Chapter was the Fireplace Room. In the center was the Ritual Candle, always lighted when a Brother was in the house, except when people were sleeping. The colors of the candles indicated special activities in process. Both Alpha and Beta Chapters had candle sticks from the original Topanga Canyon Stable House. Behind the candle was the Fraternity's Crest. To the sides of the candle were the names of Chapter Founders and Chapter Presidents. At the immediate left was a plaque with the names of those in the United States Armed Forces.
At the right of the fireplace were Pledge Paddles. Each class created a symbolic paddle with the class' motto and members' names. One such paddle remains and is in the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. The paddle represented the fact that Phi Delta Psi Fraternity did not paddle its pledges.



These are three of four black and white, 8 by 10 photographs found in the box in Bob Robar's attic. There are no dates, or indications of the photographer.

FIRST FRATERNITY BID

This was the first printed "bid" used by our Fraternity in 1957, It was expensive for the Brotherhood, since dues were 25¢ a week.

In the next few weeks you will receive an invitation from your Fraternity to participate in the Maple Leaf Endowment Fund. Your donation will be gratefully received.

Taggart and Fecht

Fiercely dedicated to his Fraternity and having fun, Founder Donald B. Taggart.


Navy Reserve photo taken of Jerry Fecht at Los Alamitos.

Early Photos of our Fraternity

ROY LOBIANCO speaks for his Fraternity 1957 (click on image to enlarge)

Roy LoBianco accepts antique telephone from Dal Sonnebend. Rare photograph of Richard Magidson seated.

NEW BROTHERS FALL 1957

Initiation Dinner of New Brothers Fall 1957 (click on image to enlarge)
nitiation Dinner of New Brothers Fall 1957 (click on image to enlarge)
Work Party at the First Fraternity House - Pledge Class of Fall 1957

PARTIES AT THE FIRST FRATERNITY HOUSE 1957

The first bar was built by Pledges and Brothers of Phi Delta Psi at the Topanga Canyon Fraternity House

SECOND PLEDGE CLASS OF PHI DELTA PSI - FALL 1957

SECOND PLEDGE CLASS Fall 1957 (click on image to enlarge)

ALPHA MOTHER CHAPTER - Fall 1957
Grady Talbot - President
Steve Falk - Vice President
___________- Treasurer
Craig Pinkard - Pledge Master
Bob Barbley - Secretary
Roy LoBianco - Song Leader
Bill Dease - Sergeant at Arms

Pledge Initiates of the Lady Plaque

Dale Alexander
Arthur D. Aston Jr.
Donald Barnhart
Edward Brickman (lost Brother)
Thomas Broyles (lost Brother)
Douglas Campbell (lost Brother)
Benjamin F. Copely III (lost Brother)
Dale Ewing (lost Brother)
Gerald R.. Fecht
John Floyd (lost Brother)
Alan Goldman (no email)
Brad Hight (deceased Brother)
George Larson (lost Brother)
Vance Meyer
Michael Padden (deceased Brother)
James Rasp
Robert Robar
(Bob was Pledge Captain)
Gary Smith
Edward Vigil (lost Brother)
Bill Westmyer (deceased Brother)

INITIATION NIGHT SPRING 1957 - FIRST PLEDGE CLASS

FIRST PLEDGE CLASS OF PHI DELTA PSI - (click on image to enlarge)

In the foreground with hat is Founder Kenny Morris.
left to right - Pledge Craig Pinkard, Pledge Bob Barbley, (unknown Pledge), Pledge Al Priven,
seated: Pledge Master Founder Grady Talbot
next to Grady is Pledge Ron Sandler, Pledge Richard Box, (unknown Pledge), (unknown Pledge with back turned with Phi Deelta Psi on back)
In the center of the circle is unknown Founder or Pledge. He may be Roy LoBianco Jr.

SPRING 1957 ALPHA MOTHER CHAPTER
Doug West - President
_________________ - Vice President
_________________ - Treasurer
Grady Talbot - Pledge Master

First Pledges to the Fraternity

Robert "Bob" Barbley BLKT1@msn.com
Louis Berger Esq. - (no e-mail)
Richard Box - eastsunset@aol.com
William "Bill" Dease - (no e-mail)
Cyril B. Kruse Jr. - (deceased Brother)
Rowland LoBianco Jr. - rowlandpa@aol.com
Craig Pinkard - PMPinkard@aol.com
Robert Reichman (lost Brother)
Ronald "Ron" Sandler crslv@netzero.com
Thomas Trissel (lost Brother)
Ken Vernon (lost Brother)
Michael Ward (lost Brother)

This photo was found in a box in Bob Robar's attic in 2008

THE PHI DELT SPIRIT - THERON ives

Letter from Theron Ives 26 February, 1963 -(click on image to enlarge)

This last Tuesday Founders Grady Talbot and Doug West invited Br. Bob Robar and me to join them for lunch at the Odessy Restaurant in Granada Hills. (I hadn't been there in at least 20 years and it was not an iota different.) As with every Phi Delt reunion dinner or lunch, the question of "what made Phi Delta Psi so different?" came up. It's always the same... loyalty. And, loyalty in the face of discomfort, inconvenience or even danger. :Is this the kind of guy who will come and rescue me in the middle of the night, without making excuses."
On the way home, I stopped at Bob Robar's to pick up a box of mixed stuff. Original minutes of Gamma and Beta Chapters. Minutes from the original Topanga Canyon stable and a bunch of pictures. I'll already stated posting them for your enjoyment.
There was one letter among the things - A letter from A3C Ives, Theron B. AF1975950581 - Mail Room 4, Box 4698
Chanute AFB Illinois
Dear Brother Jerry,
Please find enclosed $2.00 deposit for the Maple Leaf Ball. Do not know where I'll be stationed in October but hope to make it to the Ball near or in California.
Will graduate from school here in April, will then get my orders to my new base.
Hope to see all of my Brothers then. Brother Terry
Please credit $2 to my name.
Home address:
Terry B. Ives Beta Chapter
8386 Ponce Avenue, Canoga Park, California

Minutes of Alpha Chapter Dec. 1961

Minutes of Alpha Chapter Dec. 3, 1961
New Business
e. Hugh Terrell became active
g. Mr. and Mrs Herles voted as honorary members
j. Jerry McAlevey's dog will be allowed to stay at the house with him, while he is in residence.
m. The lock on the back door will be fixed.

TWO GREAT BETA CHAPTER PHOTOS

My favorite Beta Chapter Group Photograph - (click on image to enlarge) Brother LeRoy Hunt will identify all of these guys for us.

Presentation of the Torch-Bearer Pledge Paddle - Brother Louie Syre will identify these guys for us. (click on image to enlarge)

These photographs come from a box in Bob Robar's attic - more on the way. The images are stored in the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley, and in the electronic files of Br. LeRoy Hunt in Santa Barbara. We are, after all in Earthquake country.

Bob Robar and Bill Westmyer were on the way to Palm Springs, a long haul in the late 1950s. Bill got sleepy and asked Bob to drive. Bob agreed and went to sleep at the wheel. The car took off over the sand dunes and scarred the heck out of Bob who quickly turned to get back on the highway. "God, what happened?" gasped Bill. "Wow, there was this huge coyote...." replied Brother Robar. "Good thing you didn't hit the s.o.b." said Westmyer, "My dad would have been really pissed off!"
(edotpr's note: I wonder if Br. Fire Captain Robar ever told Bill the truth about the coyote? Humm?

PHI DELTA PSI 2nd PLEDGE CLASS FALL 1957

Part of the Fall Pledge Class of 1957 (click on image to enlarge)
Photo in the archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

Just after getting out of the U.S. Marine Corps, Founders Grady Talbot and Don Taggart rented rooms (or were given them) by a doctor who wanted to help out guys returning from the Korean War. The house was in Encino and had a local name of Sun Rise Turn (the way leaves turn toward the rising sun.)
Taggart and Talbot became friends and the rest is Phi Delta Psi history..
Talbot and Taggart rushed guys that fit their concept of self-starting, ambitious fellows that might have made good Marines.
Here (left to right) are: Pledges Bob Robar, Richard Radcliff, Eddie Brickman, Alan Goldman, John Valvo, Mike Padden and on his haunches Don Barnhart.
Robar, Radcliff, Valvo, Padden and Barnhart all became presidents of the Fraternity, as well as two others not shown. Bob Robar was a leader in the formation of Beta Chapter, Dick Radcliff founded Delta Chapter, The others were presidents of the mother Fraternity or later Alpha Chapter. There were 13 pledges in this class -- naturally!