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William and his grandson, both DEKEs. As you can see, some things will never change. |
With the New Year upon us, it’s time to start thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. One of Beta Chapter’s 2016 resolutions is to stay connected with our fellow brothers and be more active. So, what have you been up to since you left UNC? Have you caught up with any brothers recently? Attended any events? Gotten married? Had kids or grandkids? Moved? Retired? We, your brothers, want to know!
“My favorite memory was the night in 1946 that Charlie Norton and I poured a gallon of Sherwin-Williams best Carolina Blue over the head of James B. Duke and it was WW2 all over again!
The four years after the war (1945-1949) had to be the best of them all at the DKE house in Chapel Hill. There were lots of former Air Force leather and Eisenhower jackets along with Navy sweaters. In the fall we had Charlie Justice football and in the spring we had May Frolics until the Dean of Men, along with the CH police, said enough is enough. The drink of choice was elution-solution served in the Scholarship Cup awarded in 1927. As there was no means of electronic entertainment in those days, we did have a player-piano, which was a gift from Brother Phil Haines’ mother, with hundreds of rolls of music all with printed lyrics. Singing was everyone’s favorite at beer parties.
The Bull City Night Hawks (they came over from Durham) were the favorite band for special week-ends. That’s when I first heard what was to become the “rock and roll beat”. I frankly believe they started the whole thing.
The uniform of choice was dirty white buckskins with red rubber soles,grey flannels, oxford button downs, black knit ties and seersucker jackets. For the girls, it was saddle shoes (made by Spaulding if you were in the “right” sorority), pleated knee-length skirts and cashmere sweaters.
As a ninety-year-old recalling all of this, it truly brings tears to my eyes.”
-William M. Bass, Beta UNC 1949
Email us your update today or submit it here and don’t forget to include photos for our online albums!
