FRONTIER FIESTA IS FINALLY HERE!

Last year when we brought back Front Porch we never could have imagined the outpouring of support that not only brought the event back, but  made it one of the best ones yet!

And it’s because of your generous giving that the SigEp undergraduates, alumni and friends will continue to have an event where good times will be had and even better memories will be made.   Please join us as we celebrate the brotherhood we so love at Frontier Fiesta.

Click here to find information on what to expect, including a schedule of events and maps to the tent.  See you there!

From the list below you can see we need additional donors at each level to reach our target. If you have the means, please donate to Front Porch, and come out to enjoy Frontier Fiesta 2012 with your fellow SigEp Brothers.

Remember, there are two ways to support:
1. On-line: Click “Donate” on the right side.
2. By mail: 1302 Waugh Dr. #332, Houston, TX 77019
(check payable to Front Porch)

Thank you again to the the following Brothers, who have helped us reach over 45% of our fundraising goal to date:

SIGMA ($50+)
• D. Cumming
• W. Tait

PHI ($100+)
V. Ambrose
• M. Carswell
• K. Waterman
• C. Schmidt
• J. Patel
• J. Sanchez
• P. Tyczynski
• B. Kelly

EPSILON ($250+)
• M. Jones
• D. Guidry
• R. Ford
• M. Shaw
• A. Oran

BROTHER MENTOR ($500+)
• P. Hayden
• C. Garrett
• D. Armendariz
• D. Lopez

Again, on behalf of the Front Porch Committee, we thank everyone who has generously contributed to the success of this year’s event. Mark your calendars for March 23-24 and please come out to celebrate a good time.

With last year’s success, we are proud to announce that we will continue the Front Porch tradition at Frontier Fiesta on March 23-24, 2012. The Front Porch Committee is quickly working to make this year’s Front Porch another great success for both our alumni and undergraduates.  The planning is well underway, and as with most SigEp events, there are a few ways you can help your brothers out:

Attend: Come out and support Front Porch.  Email or call two fraternity brothers and ask them to meet you at the event.  Get them to share their SigEp Stories! Please go to www.sigepfrontporch.com to RSVP.

Volunteer: Your time can help us setup, break down, or serve food.  If interested, please email us at txdelta@sigepfrontporch.com.

Donate: The Front Porch committee has established five support levels for the fiesta weekend.  Please go to www.sigepfrontporch.com to donate.

$  50 – Sigma
$  100 – Phi
$  250 – Epsilon
$  500 – Brother Mentor
$1,000 – Balanced Man

You also can mail a check, payable to:
Front Porch
1302 Waugh Drive #332
Houston, Texas 77019

Remember how as an undergraduate it took member dues to fund retreats, mixers, philanthropies, etc.  Think of this as our biggest annual alumni event, with over $8,000 needed to cover the costs (tent, site, food and entertainment).  We need your help to keep the tradition alive!  To help with an accurate head count, please donate and RSVP by March 1, 2011.

Thank you for your support in making this a memorable weekend for all Houston area SigEp alumni and undergraduates. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at txdelta@sigepfrontporch.com.

On behalf of the 2011 committee, we wanted to thank everyone who made Front Porch a success.  Whether you donated your hard earned money, limited time or simply came and experienced Frontier Fiesta, we cannot express how much we appreciate it.

We can honestly say that we are damn proud to have worked for an amazing group of SigEp and Delta Gamma undergrads, along with an even more generous group of SigEp alumni and friends who made Front Porch possible.

As expected, there were some bumps in the road with bringing the event back, but when you are surrounded by the people who have defined your SigEp experience, the positives will always be remembered for years to come.  The committee looks forward to coming together in the next couple of weeks to discuss what we can do to make 2012 bigger and better.

Feedback is a gift, and we would also love to hear from you regarding your experience at Front Porch.  Please let us know by emailing us.  And if you have any photos from the event, please send them as well and we will be sure to add them to this site.

Once again, thank you.  Your support defined Front Porch and made memories for everyone.

Regards,

The 2011 Front Porch Committee
Dave Armendariz
Terry Chung
Kerim Davis
Michael Fountain
Casey Garrett
Bill Kelly
Petros Pantelis
Justin Rich
Jamie Rogers
Travis Scott

FRONTIER FIESTA IS FINALLY HERE!

Last year when we started planning for Front Porch, we never could have imagined the outpouring of support that has not only brought the event back, but promises to make it one of the best ones yet!

Front Porch is committed to growing the core group of SigEp alumni in the greater Houston area through renewed brotherhood at Frontier Fiesta.

And it’s because of your generous giving that the SigEp undergraduates, alumni and friends will now have an event where good times will be had and even better memories will be made. Please join us this Friday and Saturday as we celebrate the brotherhood we so love at Frontier Fiesta.

Please download our Guide to Frontier Fiesta, where you’ll find information on what to expect, including a schedule of events and a map of Fiesta City. And remember, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

See you there!

Dave Armendariz
Co-Chairman, Front Porch

From the list below you can see the additional donors we need at each level to reach our target.  If you have the means, please donate to Front Porch and come out to enjoy Frontier Fiesta 2011 with your fellow SigEp Brothers.

Remember, there are two ways to support:
1. On-line: Click “Donate” on the right side.
2. By mail: 1302 Waugh Dr. #332, Houston, TX 77019
(check payable to Front Porch)

Thank you again to the the following Brothers, who have helped us reach over 75% of our fundraising goal to date:

SIGMA ($50+)
J. Abrunhosa
R. Boeker
R. Brungard
P. Carlton
A. Cheng
J. Garza
H. Graham
J. Guzman
T. Fendia
P. Hayden
A. Merkin
A. Hernandez
S. Lanford
C. Schmidt

PHI ($100+)
V. Ambrose
N. Biswas
K. Bollman
M. Carswell
J. Castaneda
W. Caulfield II
T. Chung
K. Davis
J. Folmer
J. Gibbs
B. Kelly
A. Oran
R. Patman
J. Rich
J. Rogers
T. Scott
M. Silva
K. Simpson
W. Tait
P. Tyczynski
K. Waterman
J. Zepeda

EPSILON ($250+)
R. Alinger
D. Armendariz
R. Ford
C. Garrett
D. Lopez
P. Pantelis
K. Perouty
A. Pisana
M. Shaw
J. Stackhouse

Again, on behalf of the Front Porch Committee, we thank everyone who has generously contributed to the success of this year’s event.  Mark your calendars for March 25-26 and please come out to celebrate a good time.

A comprehensive guide to the event will be released on Wednesday, March 23.

1949-1951 – Early beginnings of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Predecessor.

Before there was Texas Delta at the University of Houston, the original Houston Alumni Chapter was formed Nov 11, 1949 at the Houston Club.

The predecessor to the undergraduate chapter of SigEp, Alpha Kappa Pi, was founded February 24 at the home of Jay Pappadas by six charter members whose purpose was to promote scholarship, to form school spirit, to promote the principles of the American way of life and to create an indivisible bond among men – Brotherhood.  It was this year that the University of Houston celebrated 25 years as a private institution.

1952 – Golden Nugget is founded

In 1952, the Golden Nugget made its first appearance on the Frontier Fiesta midway. The theme of this show was centered on “Flaming Mamie” the Flame of Barbary Coast, Alpha Kappa Pi with Pi Delta sorority worked hard to make the Golden Nugget a success. The show promptly soared to the top by winning the Best Small Show Award.

1953 – Golden Nugget Casino

Frontier Fiesta was a huge deal at the University of Houston and the Golden Nugget was one of the youngest shows at the time, existing longer than the Texas Delta chapter itself. In 1953 the Golden Nugget again presented a very colorful and spectacular show. This year Alpha Kappa Pi and Sigma Phi Mu formed a show which placed fourth in its gate receipts.

Almost every show was presented before a packed house and left a great impression on those who saw the show.  The most prevalent feature of the show was the can-can line which tantalized onlookers by descending into the audience.

1955 – “Goon with the Wind”

In 1955, Golden Nugget won the first show up award at Frontier Fiesta. O’Hare Plantation was the scene of fun and good entertainment presented by Alpha Kappa Pi and the Red Masque Players.  With vocals by Loyce Wisenbaker, Don Anderson and Milton Graves, and dances by the entire cast, the whole production was emceed by Richard Kennedy.

Cast and Production:

• Emcee and Director – Richard Kennedy
• Choreography – G’Ann King, Arlin Sinclair
• Construction – George Young
• Script – Maury K, Lillian W, Bert Clark, R Kennedy
• Mr. O’Hair – Richard Kennedy
• Scarlip O’Hair – Lillian Walker
• Ashcan Milks – Maury Kenily
• Malady – Loyce W
• Rhett Buttons – Bert Clark
• Dream Man – Milton G
• Mammy – Pat Hangs
• Working Man – Don F
• Working Children – Hazel S, Carl W
• Chorus Girls – Jan Izard, Nancy Mason, Ann Nixon, Carl W, Howard Drake, Henry Schmidt

1956 – Sigma Phi Epsilon’s beginnings and “The Saga of Quiet Erp”

In 1956, Alpha Kappa Pi became Sigma Phi Epsilon, a national fraternity. As one of the last acts as Alpha Kappa Pi President, Harry Whipp, who was instrumental in bringing SigEp’s attention towards the local fraternity, led his fraternity towards a petition for a national charter. SigEp Houston colony members were initiated February 1, 1956 and the Texas Delta Chapter at the University of Houston was granted a charter as the 152^nd chapter in Sigma Phi Epsilon on February 4, 1956. Brother Archie White led the newly formed SigEp chapter as the first President with Brother Les Bains at his side as Vice President.

At Frontier Fiesta, the Golden Nugget hosted “The Saga of Quiet Erp” with characters such as Yer Friend, Nas T. Mann, Shy Anne, Ima SInger, Hans Onme in a comic version of an old west melodrama. Satan and his devil dancers entertained and group of Indians danced. Milton Graves, complete in pink suit, sang some Elvis Presley tunes.

‘Yet the timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness, and knows that yesterday is only today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.’

The Prophet
Kahlil Gibran

1957 – “My Fair Lady – My Square Lady”

This year with the ladies of Alpha Phi, the gentlemen of SigEp presented a western takeoff on “My Fair Lady-My Square Lady.” The main theme is about a young female opera singer who comes to Texas to visit her aunt. She is very aloof but soon becomes very Texan because of a young Texas cowboy.

Cast and Production:

• Miss Hytones – Thamer Sacco
• Sylvia – Dixie Lee Lipp
• Cowpokes – Les Bains, Richard Bell, Jerry Landry, Robert Shearer
• Goldie – Clyde Buller
• Al – Charles Merritt
• Chorus – Abby Murphy, Carolyn Christenson, Lee Johnson, Ruth Wohman, Carol Craig, Carrol Crowson, Nina Lee Jackson, Roslyn Luprete, Claire Underwood, Dana Sellers, Jo Lynn Barrow, Marcia Freeman, Marla Gail Tuggle, Annette Hillman, Patsy Johnstone, Pat Jones
• Writers – Wilton Cohen, R. Shearer
• Production Director – Wilton Cohen, Mary Beth Blaudel
• Construction Director – Ed Gunn, Richard Bell
• Director – Wilton Cohen
• Art Director – Charles Miller, Pat Jones
• Costumes – Wilton Cohen, Carol Craig
• Advertising – Les Bains, Carol Crowson
• Business Manager – James Sterling, Martha Goodrich
• Publicity – Jack Caldwell
• Assistant Choreographer – Jo Lynn Barrow
• Lighting – Tony Iveris, John Lassiter
• Musical Arrangements – Trenton Layne
• Tickets – Charles Greeney
• Special Effects – Jerry Landry
• Frontier Fiesta Representatives – Ed Gunn, Jo Lynn Barrow, Wilton Cohen

1958 – Golden Nugget’s Golden Years
Just after mid-semester in early February to the later part of April, the six gun replaces the slide rule on the hip of the University of Houston engineer.  The bullwhip replaces the baton on the hand of the music major, and the coeds exchange their loafers and flats for cowboy boots and Indian moccasins as the University goes western for its annual Frontier Fiesta.

For six nights, Monday through Saturday, the West lives again for over 100,000 Houstonians who come to see and enjoy the 11 shows and 11 concessions that line the Fiesta grounds at the University of Houston.

Texas Delta won the trophy and $100 for being the first show to complete construction, and a SigEp candidate was elected for sheriff to maintain law and order in Fiesta City. Two of the top ten acts were from Golden Nugget in 1958, while two others were given honorable mention. Overall, Golden Nugget was judged as the third best show and fourth best in production. The show was completely written, directed, and produced by the gentlemen of Sigma Phi Epsilon and only University student talent participated in the production.

Frontier Fiesta was founded in 1939. The event was discontinued during the War years (WWII) and resumed in 1947 through 1959. The current Frontier Fiesta was re–started in 1991 and continues to today.

Dr. Kemmerer, second–in–command to UH President Oberholtzer, is particularly remembered as the founder and greatest champion of Frontier Fiesta. After the brief hiatus during the war, Dr. Kemmerer had pushed to get Fiesta back into full swing in 1946, with the event reaching National recognition in 1953. By that time, Frontier Fiesta was drawing huge crowds of up to 200,000 people, including celebrities such as James Garner, Humphrey Bogart, and more. It was taking weeks and months of students’ attention and raising significant funds for what LIFE Magazine called “the Greatest College Show on Earth” in 1958.

The student leaders behind Frontier Fiesta in the 1940’s and early 1950’s included Welcome Wilson (member of UH System Board of Regents), Johnny Goyen (past Houston City Councilman) and Jack Valenti (press secretary to President Lyndon B. Johnson and head of the Motion Picture Association of America). In 2008 the School of Communications was named for Jack Valenti, a former Frontier Fiesta Director and night editor of The Daily Cougar. One area high school student who participated was Kenny Rogers, he now brings fame to his hometown as a country and western singer.

The students’ spring obsession, Frontier Fiesta, continued in the late 1950’s with some additional administrative oversight. In the fall 1958 President Clanton Williams informed the students that they could spend only four weeks on the event and only full–time university students with at least a 2.0 GPA could participate. A multitude of variables had arisen in the end of the decade, and issues had caused the flamboyant carnival to come to a halt in 1959. The void left by Frontier Fiesta, which was not only a huge benefit for the University, but a tremendous economic benefit to the entire city of Houston, would be filled by the Fat Stock Show. This show eventually evolved into the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, which is presently one of the biggest attractions to the city.

With the suggestion of David Keith, the Vice President for Advancement, the planning of Frontier Fiesta would be started more than thirty years later in 1991. The revival of the event would take place in the spring of 1992 as a student and alumni event. With the help of enthusiastic alumni such as Russel Hruska, Mike Pede, the president of the Houston Alumni Association, and Glen Lilie. David Keith supplied the food, BBQ’ing on his own personal grill. Glen Lilie sponsored labor from his personal company to get Fiesta City Built.

Frontier Fiesta was held behind the Baptist Student Ministries building in 1995–1996. In 1997 Fiesta was transferred to the southeast corner of University Blvd. and Calhoun, the current location of the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center (CRWC). The rugged, unpaved terrain provided a level of authenticity that was only unappreciated when it rained. A wooden pedestrian bridge with engraved name plates was built on the site to honor past Fiesta Chairmen. Part of the program expansion included a petting zoo, wagon rides and Little Wrangler Day which flourished as bus loads of elementary and middle school students would come to be entertained on Saturday of Fiesta weekend. The University started to participate with several colleges participating and hosting receptions during Fiesta.

In 2001 Frontier Fiesta moved to the west side of Robertson Stadium to make room for the construction of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Over time, the tailgating Pavilions were used during Fiesta and fall football games.

Despite the many changes in venue and themes and challenges over the years, Frontier Fiesta continues to be a cherished tradition at the University of Houston. Now, many years since the events inception, and 20 years since its revival in 1991, the University of Houston again invites the community to join in the celebration. Frontier Fiesta celebrates everything that makes the University of Houston important to the Houston community today. The talent and leadership ability of its students, the opportunity to educate Houston’s future leaders, and providing scholarship opportunities for deserving students are just a few ways that Fiesta gives back. Make your plans now to be a part of the 20th revival celebration of one of our oldest traditions, Frontier Fiesta, March 24th, 25th, and 26th, 2011.

(All content borrowed from the official Frontier Fiesta website)

The Front Porch Committee is quickly working to make Frontier Fiesta 2011 a great success for both alumni and undergraduates.  The planning is well underway, and as with most SigEp events, there are a few ways you can help your brothers out:

Attend: Come out and support Front Porch.  Email or call two fraternity brothers and ask them to meet you at the event.  Get them to share their SigEp Stories! Please go here to RSVP.

Volunteer: Your time is valuable and can help us setup, break down or serve food.  If interested, please email us.

Donate: The Front Porch committee has established five support levels for the fiesta weekend.  Please go here to donate.

$  50 – Sigma
$  100 – Phi
$  250 – Epsilon
$  500 – Brother Mentor
$1,000 – Balanced Man

You also can mail a check:
Payable to: Front Porch
1302 Waugh Drive #332
Houston, Texas 77019

Remember how as an undergraduate it took member dues to fund retreats, mixers, philanthropies, etc.  Think of this as our biggest annual alumni event, with over $8,000 needed to cover the costs (tent, site, food and entertainment).  We need your help to keep the tradition alive!  To help with an accurate head count, please donate and RSVP by March 1, 2011.

Thank you for your support in making this a memorable weekend for all Houston area SigEp alumni and undergraduates. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Have a SigEp story of your own?  Don’t forget to come to Front Porch at Frontier Fiesta, March 25-26, 2011 and share your stories among brothers, family and friends.