Letter from the Editor
If you know the story of our founding, you understand why the Rock is one of our most important symbols. The Legion of Honor was born in the shelter of a saucer-shaped limestone outcropping near the parade ground of Virginia Military Institute. Untouched for years, it became our Rock before it gave way to dynamite in the 1910s when the parade ground was enlarged.
At that time, Brother Ora Baldinger, a VMI alumnus in charge of the blasting, buried major segments of the blasted outcropping on the edge of the parade ground for safekeeping and possible future retrieval. In 1959, Brother Baldinger’s dream came true when the fragments were needed following the opening of the Fraternity’s Headquarters in Lexington, Va. Brother Baldinger traveled to Lexington from his home in Pasadena, Calif., and assisted in pinpointing the Rock using detailed notes he kept from his oversight of the expansion. Portions of the Rock were excavated, and a two-ton section was placed in a tiffany setting at the entrance of the Headquarters.
The Rock is a symbol of the enduring strength of the Fraternity’s timeless principles. Like a beacon, it reflects our ideals unchanging, constant as a lighthouse on troubled seas. But the Rock’s presence also serves as a reminder of Brother Baldinger’s legacy. His vision, investment, service, and hope in the face of uncertainty allowed the Fraternity to recover one of its cherished symbols.
This issue of The Delta draws inspiration from Brother Baldinger to tell stories of legacy and the Legion of Honor. In our cover feature (pg. 14), you’ll read about the investments of Nu Chapter (Kansas) alumni to secure a facility, which has now served as the Nu Chapter home for over 100 years. You’ll learn about the extraordinary achievement of Brother John Bitove (Indiana), whose vision for his city led to the transformation of Toronto as a sports capital of Canada and the home of a championship-winning NBA team (pg. 20). You’ll be inspired by the leadership of Dr. William Spears (Oklahoma State), whose transformational gift helped fund the new Spears Family Epsilon Epsilon Center for Excellence at the Fraternity’s Headquarters (pg. 4). Finally, you’ll hear from Regent Tim Huffmyer (Michigan State) as he shares insight into the Fraternity’s investment in alumni engagement and his vision for the future of our Fraternity (pg. 10).
As always, The Delta spotlights outstanding alumni and chapter news (pg. 36). This issue also includes a report of our award recipients for 2022 (pg. 24) and our Foundation’s annual donor report for the recent fiscal year (pg. 46). Recognizing these dedicated and exceptional brothers is a special duty of The Delta. The Legion of Honor is forever grateful to each of them for advancing our honorable Mission.
We hope you enjoy this issue and would love to hear from you with feedback and ideas for stories we should consider for future issues. Letters to the editor, comments, and general feedback can be sent to news@sigmanu.org.
Fraternally,
Christopher Brenton (North Carolina State)
Managing Editor