2021 Inductees to the Hall of Honor and Hall of Fame
Five brothers were celebrated with Sigma Nu’s highest honors during the 69th Grand Chapter. During the virtual conclave, Brother Lester Newkirk (Colorado) was inducted into the Hall of Honor and Brothers William S. Spears (Oklahoma State/Texas Tech), William S. “Army” Armstrong (Indiana), Charles W. “Chuck” Dicus (Arkansas), and Jerry D. Fields (Texas State) were inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Honor, established in 1948 at the 33rd Grand Chapter, honors those members whose distinguished service to Sigma Nu has brought enduring strength and vitality to the Fraternity. The Hall of Fame, established in 1982 at the 50th Grand Chapter, is awarded to alumni who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields, thus bringing credit to their nation, profession, self, and the Fraternity.
Hall of Honor
Lester F. Newkirk (Colorado)
Brother Newkirk, a Nebraska native, began his Sigma Nu journey at the University of Colorado, where he was initiated in 1928 as Gamma Kappa #291. While an undergraduate, he held several officer positions including House Manager for two years, IFC representative and Lt. Commander during his senior year.
Les served as the local Gamma Kappa Chapter Advisor from 1951 to 1954 before his appointment as Division Commander to the Colorado, Utah and Wyoming chapters which he served for a decade.
Brother Newkirk was first elected to the High Council of Sigma Nu in 1964 as a Junior Grand Councilman, served on the High Council for the next eight years becoming the 42nd Regent of Sigma Nu from 1970-1972.
Les was a successful businessman and outstanding Civic leader for nearly 40 years in Boulder, Colorado.
Brother Newkirk was elected to the Hall of Honor in 2021.
Hall of Fame
Dr. William S. Spears (Oklahoma State/Texas Tech)
Dr. Spears is the Founder & Chairman of the Board of Cenergistic, a Dallas-based technology-powered and data-driven energy conservation company who empowers organizations to become more energy efficient. To date Cenergistic has helped nearly 1500 clients achieve significant savings without capital investment. His company has earned numerous awards and national recognition from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
In 2004, the Oklahoma State University College of Business Administration was changed to the William S. Spears School of Business and updated to the Spears School of Business in 2009.
In 2014, Dr. Spears pledged $1.5 million to build new leadership training facilities on the Sigma Nu Headquarters property. In June of that same year, Dr. Spears challenged his fellow brothers of Epsilon Epsilon Chapter to match his gift of $1.5 million. His Oklahoma State chapter brothers answered the call and raised the matching funds. Nearly 300 brothers of Epsilon Epsilon Chapter stepped forward to contribute. This building is now called Spears Family Epsilon Epsilon Center of Excellence
Dr. Spears became inspired to make this gift after reflecting on the experiences he gained in his own chapter. He stated, “I feel indebted to Sigma Nu for the leadership capabilities I developed during my time with the chapter,” he said. “I believe my time with Epsilon Epsilon Chapter shaped me in ways that are still bearing fruit to this day.”
“The fraternity experience is important for our nation’s future,” he added. “It is our expectation that this challenge – this collaborative effort to support Sigma Nu – will be the spark that prompts brothers from other chapters to join what has become a growing coalition of alumni dedicated to making Sigma Nu the most formidable men's fraternal organization in North America.”
William S. “Army” Armstrong (Indiana)
Brother William S. “Army” Armstrong Initiated into Beta Eta Chapter in 1938 as Beta Eta #575 and served as President of the Indiana University Foundation for 31 years (from 1952 to 1983).
As a young alumnus, he was known for his firm handshake, enthusiastic greeting, and astute planning ability, which recommended him as he built the Indiana University Foundation into one of the most successful foundations of its kind in the nation. His splendid contributions enhanced IU's stature as a distinguished institution of higher learning.
During his 31-year tenure as Executive Director and President of the Indiana University Foundation, the University's fund-raising arm expanded from a small base of donors and dollars to a multi-billion-dollar organization, supported by tens of thousands of alumni and friends. His clear vision of the goal of the Foundation; to assist the University in developing peaks of excellence for which state funds are not available, and his articulate advocacy of those goals-built scholarships, faculty support, and important structures on all of IU's campuses.
Encouraged growth of the Student Foundation, which stages “The World’s Greatest College Weekend” every spring centered around the Little 500 Bicycle Race
Instrumental in starting men’s soccer as a varsity sport, women’s varsity sports, and the Student Athletic Program at IU.
Armstrong Stadium, home for IU Soccer and the Little 500 Bicycle Race, is named in his honor
Served as Grand Marshal, Sigma Nu Educational Foundation Board Member and Trustee Emeritus, and Beta Eta Chapter Advisor
Charles W. “Chuck” Dicus (Arkansas)
Brother Charles W. “Chuck” Dicus was initiated into the Gamma Upsilon Chapter at the University of Arkansas in 1969.
Chuck played football as a wide receiver for three seasons for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from 1968 to 1970. Chuck’s Professional career in the National Football League lasted two seasons with the San Diego Chargers and one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As a Razorback, Dicus caught 38 passes in his first year, 42 the second year, and 38 the third. The total of 118, was the school record for 25 years. He averaged 16 yards on each catch. His 1854 receiving yards was the school record for 16 years and is still ranked inside the top 15 best receiving careers for the team.
Chuck played under Hall of Fame coach Frank Broyles and during the Dicus years, the Arkansas Razorbacks had a 28-5 record. The 1968 team went on to beat the Georgia Bulldogs 16-2 in the Sugar Bowl. Dicus who scored the only touchdown in the game, caught 12 passes for 169 yards and was named Most Valuable Player.
Chuck collected numerous awards and accolades during his college football career. He was selected as All Southwest Conference player in each of his three seasons, he was a two-time Consensus All American, 1st team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association in his Junior year, and American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press and Walter Camp Foundation Awards following his senior season.
He is a member of the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor and All-Century Football Team. In 1995 he was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and in 1999, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 2017, he was inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame alongside fellow Sigma Nu members, Coach Paul Bear Bryan, and Quarterback Archie Manning. In 2020 he was inducted into the Texas High School Hall of Fame.
Jerry D. Fields (Texas State)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of J.D. Fields and Company, Inc., a worldwide supplier of steel products headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Brother Jerry Fields was initiated in 1964 as a charter member of the Eta Tau Chapter at Texas State University as Eta Tau #4.
It is during his time as an undergraduate at Texas State that he met his sweetheart and love of his life, Linda.
In 2009, Fields and his wife Linda gave a record-setting $6 million gift to Texas State University. After making the largest single gift in Texas State history to athletics, the Jerry D. and Linda Gregg Fields Bobcat Stadium West Side Complex was named in their honor.
In January 2012, Fields was the keynote speaker before a captivated audience of undergraduate members at the Sigma Nu’s College of Chapters, one of the educational programs supported by the Educational Foundation. He shared stories of his life and successes and encouraged the young men to live life as if they could not fail.
Shortly thereafter, Brother Fields made the announcement of a 1.5-million-dollar gift to Sigma Nu of which a portion of his gift was designated for the preservation and care of the nearly 12-acre Fraternity Headquarters property located in Lexington, Virginia. It was a decision he made after visiting the historic location of Sigma Nu's founding.
At the 150th Anniversary celebration in Houston, Texas, Jerry announced that he would be making an additional 1-million-dollar contribution to the Foundation making him the single largest donor to Sigma Nu.