Thomas Swain Barclay was born in 1892 in St. Louis. Dr. Barclay lived an extremely remarkable life, beginning with his years at the University of Missouri-Columbia and membership in the Zeta Phi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science in 1915 and his Master's Degree just one year later.

In 1924, Barclay earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University. He taught political science at M.U. from 1920 to 1927 and at Stanford University from 1928 to 1957. Besides being a member of the Zeta Phi of Beta Theta Pi Wall of Fame and contributing many things to the fraternity, Barclay was involved in numerous other organizations as well. Dr. Barclay joined the International Law Division and the American Commission to Negotiate Peace in 1919. He also was a member of the American Red Cross during the first World War.

Most of Dr. Barclay's contributions can be found in several famous journals including American Political Science Review, National Municipal Review, California Law Review, and Missouri Historical Review. He is also the author of The Liberal Republican Movement in Missouri (1926) and The Movement for Municipal Home Rule in St. Louis (1943). His professional training and interests have been reflected both in his active membership in several professional societies and his service in local, state, and national governments. As the first member of the Wall of Fame, Thomas Barclay began a tradition at Zeta Phi that has spanned over seventy-five years, two World Wars, and fifteen American Presidents.

 

 

William Hubert Bates was born in Lexington, Missouri on April 14, 1926. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1949. After graduation from law school, he passed the Missouri Bar exam later that year. He then went to work for Lathrop & Gage L.C. in Kansas City. Mr. Bates still works for them today.

He received the Brotherhood award NCCJ in 1984. From 1985 to 1987, he was president of the Kansas City Bar Association. William Bates received the Distinguished Alumni award from the University of Missouri in 1989. He set up the Fellow Alumni Bar Fund in 1990 for excellence in law. In 1991, he won the Geyer award for public service. Mr. Bates was also vice president of the Missouri Bar Association from 1988 to 1991. William Bates presently lives in Kansas City and is also a rather dedicated Democrat.

 

In the fall of 1945, Harry Mack Cornell, Jr. moved to the University of Missouri-Columbia from the small town of Carthage. In 1950, he received his BSBA and immediately began to work for Leggett and Platt. He quickly worked his way up the corporate ladder and in ten short years became C.E.O.

A short time later, Cornell built a small furniture and bedding business into the largest producer-supplier of components for bedding and furniture in the world. Last year, the company's revenues topped $7 million and their annual sales hit the $3 billion mark. Mr. Cornell's honors include the Business and Public Administration's Alumni Citation of Merit in 1993. He was the chair of the Business and Public Administration's annual fund and also of the Herbert J. Davenport Society, both in 1994.

In 1995, he was presented with the University of Missouri's Faculty/Alumni Award. In 1998, Leggett and Platt ranked 28th among 476 of the largest companies in the United States as "American's Most Admired Corporation." Harry M. Cornell is truly one of the most successful businessmen ever to have walked through the halls of the Zeta Phi Chapter and to have graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

 

William E. Cornelius made a name for himself in the corporate world with the Boeing corporation. The Boeing corp. is one of the largest manufactures of comercial military and prototype aircraft in the world. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive of Union Electric Company, and currently with AmerenUEm, for more than four years until he retired in December of 1993. He also has served as Director of Boatman's Bankshares, Inc. and the American General Life Insurance Company.

Like so many other great Betas before and after him, Cornelius was an extremely dedicated person. He was the type of man who wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than the best. He would contribute his whole self to any give project at any given time. William E. Cornelius' spot on the Zeta Phi Wall of Fame is largely due to his strong will and refusal to forget his brotherhood.

 

A native from a small town in Cedar County Missouri, Donald S. Dawson aspired to become more than what was expected of him. He rose out of the mold of many of his cronies, and journeyed tot he University of Missouri where he would join the premeire farternal organization, Beta Theta Pi.

Living at the Zeta Phi Chapter implanted respect and order in Dawson, which would excel him in his next task in life. After graduating from the University in 1932, Dawson naturallyheaded in the direction of the military. He turned down commissions in both the Army as Major and the Navy as a Lieutenant Senior-Grade to follow his path into the Air Force. He made his beginnings in the Air Force at the bottom as a lowly private. Private Dawson, who would later excel in the Air Force, once baked 250 peach pies in a single day. From there, Dawson was shipped off to Greenville, North Carolina for Basic Training. Shortly thereafter, he qualified for Air Force Officer Candidate School in Miami Beach. Upon graduation, Dawson was assigned to the Pentagon as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Corps. He was then made commanding officer of ATC, the new ground safety division of the Corps. In his first year, Dawson helped reduce the accident frequency by over sixty percent. Donald S. Dawson earned hs way through the ranks for exemplary service and ended up as a four star Major General, serving as the President of the Reserve Officers Association.

As highly decorated as he was in the Military, Dawson was also honored and recognized by Beta Theta Pi. For all of his service as a Zeta Phi, Donald S. Dawson received the highest honor of the fraternity, the Oxford Cup in 1989. He was the first Zeta Phi member to accomplish such a feat and clearly deserving of his place on the Wall of Fame.

 

 

James J. Ellis made his career in Dallas, Texas after graduating from the University of Missouri in 1956. He joined Mutual of New York in 1960, received his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation in 1972, and became a general manager with MONY in 1976.

The recipient of several industrial awards, Mr. Ellis served on the Managers Advisory Committee for the company's central region before his retirement in 1992. He is now a managing partner for Ellis-Rosier. He is currently serving on the board of directors at First National Bank Park Cities, Merit Medical, Jack Henry & Associates Inc., and Westwood Trust.

In 1988, he received the University of Missouri's Faculty/Alumni Award and Business and Public Administration's Alumni Citation of Merit in 1993. He has also served as president for the University of Missouri's Dallas Alumni Chapter.

 

 

"Action today, not tomorrow." This quote by Harold Hook empitomizes the powerful businessman. The current chairman for American General Insurance Corporation, and one time member of the Zeta Phi Chapeter, Hook earned the honor of being a Wall of Fame member because of his impressive accomplishments with the national fraternity and as a business executive.

Harold S. Hook made a name for himself in the field of management. After majoring in Business Management and Accounting at Mizzou, Hook didn't stop until he had reached the top. Soon after graduation, Hook entered the Navy and served his country for three years. This led him back to Missouri where he went to work as an assistant for the President of National Fidelity of Kansas City. In only five short years, Hook was named the President of the California-Western States Life Insurance Company. Shortly thereafter, American General bought California-Western States and named him President in 1975 and then chairman and CEO in 1978.

Away from the office, Harold Hook has continued to devote time to other areas of his life. Growing up as the son of a Kansas City dairy farmer, Hook became involved in Boy Scouts at a very early age and eventually reached the top honor of Eagle Scout. Then in 1988, Hook was named the National President of the Boy Scouts of America. As a dedicated member of his fraternity, Hook took on the task of Trustee of Beta Theta Pi. His efforts did not go unnoticed. Hook recieved the Oxford Cup, Beta Theta Pi's highest honor, in 1992.

 

 

Standing at a mere five feet and ten inches and weighing only one hundred and fifty-seven pounds, the legendary 'Slippery Ice' was able to accomplish feats on the football field unattainable by others, not only during his time but also more than fifty years into the future. The Missouri Hall of Fame halfback, Harry Ice, amazingly was not even recruited by the football program. Coach Faurot, for whom the current football stadium is named, first saw Ice's dazzling abilities on the intramural fields where he wore the letters of Beta Theta Pi. It was from here that Harry Ice made his humble football beginnings.

Well before Mr. Ice wore the black and gold of Missouri or the pink and blue of Beta Theta Pi, he fashioned the military green of the Westminster Military Academy. He graduated from this academy in 1939 and traveled to Columbia, Missouri to attend the University. Of course, Mr. Ice then joined the brotherhood of Beta Theta Pi. Each of these institutions contributed to the excellent character of Harry Ice. No matter what he was involved in, Mr. Ice remained the gentleman that he came to be known as. Harry Smith, a first time football coach at MU, once commented on the gentlemanly character of Harry Ice. He said that, "He was a perfect gentleman, hard working, and an excellent man." Mr. Smith went on to say that "{Harry Ice} was always coachable and always did things for the team." On one occasion, Harry Ice, after scoring a touchdown of his own on a previous drive, carried the ball to the three yard line and handed it off to a offensive lineman, who had never scored. This kind of action was actually a great part of Harry Ice's character. After the game, reporters asked the star running back why he would choose to take away from his possible statistics. To this, Mr. Ice simply replied, "We were a cinch to win, so why shouldn't I let someone else carry it across."

Harry Ice made his mark at the University of Missouri-Columbia as a football star. Those who remember his style of play understand why he remains such a legend, but for all those who were not fortunate enough to witness his play, the Missouri Football Hall of fame helps one relive the past. Not only is Harry Ice a member of the Tiger Hall of Fame, but he also was First Team All-Big Six and was MVP of the Sugar Bowl. He was the Columbia Quarterback Club's Most Outstanding Athlete in 1941 and played in the East, West game in 1942. Ice still holds a number of records at MU, despite having his record of most yards in one game broken in 1998.

Harry Ice, after his career at Mizzou moved on to the military, where he was a Major from 1942 to 1947. He then came back to Columbia and worked as the assistant coach of the football, basketball and baseball teams. Harry Ice even worked as the athletic director for a year. Sadly, Harry Ice died at the age of 79, after fighting a long illness. He will however, stay in the hearts of all Tiger fans for the many times he crossed the goal line or evaded a tackler, but mostly for his character that cannot be forgotten.

 

R. Crosby Kemper, Jr. was born into an influential banking and railroading family in Kansas City, Missouri. Both his father and grandfather were very successful in their professional endeavors. Mr. Kemper was born in Kansas City and lived there until about the age of sixteen. He attended Southwest High School in Kansas City until he transferred to Andover Prepatory High School in Massachusetts.

After graduating from prep school he served his country during World War II. He was first stationed in St. Louis before being sent over to the Finger Lakes in Japan. After returning home, Mr. Kemper enrolled in the University of Missouri-Columbia following in his father's footsteps, R. Crosby Kemper Sr., who played football at M.U. He was married while in college to Cynthia Warrick-Kemper, the daughter of a lawyer. In 1950, he went to work for the United Missouri Bank, which is now UMB Bank of Kansas City. He later became president in 1959.

Mr. Kemper wasn't satisfied with his successful banking career. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1962 on the Republican card and in the same year chaired the Kansas City Industrial Committee. He is still very active in the running of The Kemper Art Museum, which was named in his honor. Although he never obtained a degree from MU, he received an honorary degree from William Jewel College.

Brother in kai and another Zeta Phi Wall of Fame member, Samuel M. Walton, often referred to Mr. Kemper as his "personal banker."

Mr. R. Crosby Kemper III, the son of the great Zeta Phi, is now currently the president of UMB Banks of St. Louis. His father will turn seventy two at the end of February and is still at the office bight and early every morning with no thoughts of retiring any time soon. He remarried some years ago to Mrs. Bebe Stripp-Kemper. He has seven children between his two marriages. His son added that being named 'Mr. Kansas City' by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce was his father's finest accomplishment.

 

Kenneth L. Lay, Ph.D., the son of a Missouri preacher and farmer, is the archetypical example of a young man from small town America who made good. The former Chairman of Enron Corporation and Deputy Secretary of Energy, Dr. Lay has enjoyed a long and impressive career as an expert in the area of energy and as a captain of industry. The former Chapter President was an early proponent of deregulating U.S. utilities; Lay was at the forefront of many changes that have been implemented in the energy industry and in public policy at both the state and national level.

After Graduating from the University of Missouri in 1964, Dr. Lay received his doctorate in economics from the University of Houston, and has taught graduate courses at George Washington University. He became chairman and CEO of Enron when Houston Natural Gas merged with InterNorth inc. in 1985. Lay has served on the board of directors of Compaq Computer Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company and the Trust Company of the West. He has been a member of the President's council on Sustainable Development, The Business Council, National Petroleum Council, and The American Enterprise Institute and is a trustee for the John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment. Dr. Lay and his wife are also major philanthropists within the city of Houston. Dr. Kenneth L. Lay has left his mark on many aspects of society, including the Zeta Phi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi.

 

Typical of men raised in southern Missouri, Stephen N. Limbaugh was instilled with a strong sense of character and dedication. He grew up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri where he first became interested in the field of law. He made the decision to travel north to the University of Missouri and graduated in 1951. Shortly after, Limbaugh obtained his law degree. Limbaugh wasted no time out of his schooling to begin his career in law. He made a rather large name for himself and was appointed a seat as the United States District Justice. Stephen Limbaugh was actually appointed this position for the Eastern District of Missouri by the United States President, Ronald Reagan. While in office, Limbaugh represented nothing less that the ideal, of honor, truth and justice. Stephen N. Limbaugh maintained his strong character and dedication throughout his life. These characteristics were enhanced as he passed through the halls of the Zeta Phi Chapter.

Limbaugh, apparently is not the only one in his family who has achieved success through hard work and determination. His son, Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. also has accomplished many things in his own career. He currently sits on the Supreme Court for the State of Missouri. Another well-known relative of Stephen Limbaugh is Rush Limbaugh, the famous outspoken conservative.

 

 

Harold D. McKemy came from a humble background and rose through the ranks to ultimately become the CFO and Vice-President of VF Corporation, the world's largest apparel company. He was born the son of two schoolteachers in Edinburg, Missouri on April 18, 1929. Accustomed to success from his earliest days, McKemy had an impressive high school career, excelling both academically and athletically. His varied interests included football, debate, and the school choir. As an accomplished singer, he was a member of a barbershop quartet that won a national competition during his senior year.

Following high school, McKemy decided to follow his elder brother's footsteps to the University of Missouri and became a member of the same fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. McKemy relished his membership in the fraternity and following his earlier interests; many of his fondest memories of college came from participating in fraternity singing competitions. After a successful college career, McKemy graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in 1951.

After completing his education, McKemy became employed with the Price Waterhouse Company. After serving as an auditor on the Lee Company account, McKemy left Price Waterhouse to work for Lee Company, becoming Treasurer before the company's merger with VF Corporation in 1969. After a notable career with the company, he eventually worked his way up the ladder of VF Corporation and became the Vice-President of Treasury and Financial Services before his retirement in 1994.

McKemy's success in the business world has not gone unnoticed. He has received many awards, including the Alumni Citation of Merit from the School of Business in 1999. McKemy attributes much of his success to his time at the Zeta Phi chapter of Beta Theta Pi. He will never forget the time that he spent at 520 South College, and even today shows his gratefulness to the fraternity through scholarships and other support. Just as Mr. McKemy will never forget his time at Zeta Phi, neither will the men of Zeta Phi will never forget him.

 

 

Dr. Hugh E. Stephenson, M.D. is one of the most active alumni that has ever been initiated into the Zeta Phi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Dr. Stephenson has enjoyed personal and professional success all the while giving back enormously to the Zeta Phi Chapter at M.U. as well as the General Fraternity. Dr. Stephenson has set an example that will prove to be hard to emmulate by both current and future Betas.

Dr. Stephenson had his beginnings right here in Columbia, Missouri. After high school, another future Zeta Phi Wall of Fame member and rush chairmen, Samuel M. Walton, invited Dr. Stephenson into the Zeta Phi Chapter. Dr. Stephenson graduated at the top of his class in 1943 with two bachelors degrees from the University of Missouri. His academic achievements included his initiation into the Phi Beta Kappa society at M.U.

Like many Zeta Phis, Dr. Stephenson continued his endeavors beyond M.U. He was selected by the United States Chamber of Commerce as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation, in 1956. He also was honored with the University of Missouri Citation of Merit and can be found in Who's Who in America.

After receiving his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Stephenson was named the first full-time faculty member of the four-year medical school at the University of Missouri. Despite being on the board of directors of countless organizations and authoring numerous works, his most famous accomplishment is his invention of the portable defibulator. Currently, Dr. Stephenson is a professor and the Chief of the Division of General Surgery at the University of Missouri School of Medicine.

Along with his accomplishments as a physician, Dr. Stephenson also had a profound part in the development of the Zeta Phi Chapter and the politics of the General Fraternity. Dr. Stephenson led the campaign to build an additional chapter house in 1958, which was named in his honor and stands at 1307 Wilson Avenue. He served as Counselor from 1965 through 1968, Chief of District XXI from 1967 through 1973, and Vice President of Beta Theta Pi from 1973 to 1976. He was named President at the 1978 General Convention and served until 1981. For all of his service, Dr. Stephenson received the Oxford Cup in 1998. He is the third Zeta Phi to ever receive such an honor.

Despite all of his awards and obligations, Dr. Stephenson never forgot his Beta Spirit, which is evident with his attendance at every intramural championship, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, the pledge test, and virtually every important event during the year. Dr. Stephenson is clearly a great man, but more importantly a great Beta.

 

 

Samuel Walton grew up like every normal child of the Dust Bowl era. His father earned his living repossessing farms during the Great Depression, but his family couldn't escape the financial turmoil of the 1930's. Like many of his generation, he had to work his way through life. He grew up in Columbia and went to Hickman High School. As quarterback for the football team he led the Hickman Kewpies to a state championship in 1935 over Jefferson City. In fact, he never lost a game that he played in. After high school, he naturally attended the University of Missouri-Columbia. Due to his parent's financial unstability, Mr. Walton delivered newspapers to pay for his college tuition and clothing. He was rushed into Beta Theta Pi because of his personality and athleticism. His sophomore year he was elected rush chairman and that summer could be seen driving all over Missouri in his old Ford truck looking for potential Zeta Phi members. He had a bright personality and it is said that he always said 'hi' to someone before they could say it to him. Mr. Walton was the kind of person who knew everyone, even the janitors on campus.

When Mr. Walton graduated from M.U. in 1940, he decided he wanted to be in the retail business. He was married on Valentine's Day, 1943, to his wife Helen. He bought his first store in St. Louis with fraternity brother Tome Bates. He then moved to Arkansas and bought a store in the Ben Franklin franchise. Here, in Newport, Arkansas a man named Harry Weiner taught Mr. Walton what was to be the future philosophy of Walmart. The first Walmart opened on July 2, 1962. Mr. Walton was forty four years old, but his patience paid-off.

In 1985, Forbes Magazine named him the "richest man in America." Mr. Walton's success earned him the highest individual honor given by Beta Theta Pi, the Oxford Cup. Sam Walton is admired as one of America's most famous and wealthyinessman, but more importantly as a Zeta Phi.

 

 

Phillip J. Yeckel, Missouri '33 One of the most generous and loyal Zeta Phi ever to walk through the chapter doors was Phillip J. Yeckel. After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1933, he is most famous for founding Hidden Valley Ranch. However, throughout his professional career he never forgot about his years at 520 S. College Avenue. Not only did he contribute towards the annex at 1307 Wilson Avenue and it's library named in his honor, but recently, through his widow, a great donation of five new computers was made on his behalf. The computer room, valued at over $25,000, is not rivaled by any other fraternity on campus. His contributions also extend to the University.

The recently erected Natural Resources building bears a plaque in his honor and an extraordinary display of African and North American animals made possible by him and his wife, Jane Yeckel.