MIZZOU NEWS

Greek Life and More
Hangout Stories

@Mizzou Readers share memories of Greek life at Mizzou and continue to their discussion of the fun times they had at favorite Columbia hangouts …

I arrived for Rush Week in September 1963, went through Rush and finally pledged Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE). I remember going through the Columns and announcing the fraternity I chose to pledge. Little did I know what a life-changing experience this would mean to me.

I owe a great deal to the men of TKE for my social education and introduction into living life. When I see the movie Animal House, which I see as much as possible, I am immediately taken back to my fraternity. I thought they actually based the movie on my fraternity at MU. Truly, being a TKE was a life-altering experience. All for the good I might add. Never mind that we were on social probation, scholastic probation and disciplinary probation all at the same time (and that we were eventually closed down by our national office.) I would not change anything that happened. Anyone can be on double secret probation.

These men taught me how to live life, and for that I am eternally grateful. I did graduate in 1967 and went on to medical school and graduated in 1971 and became a successful plastic surgeon. I have a wonderful wife of 39 years, three wonderful children and two really great grandsons. I look forward to telling my grandsons about the water fights with hoses in a three-story house, the food fights, the purple passion parties, the parties at the I.V., known as the Italian Village, and The Shack. And the list goes on and on and on. I even found time to study a little.

— Donald Wehmeyer, BA ’67, MD ’71

In September 1969, the KA and Chi Omega pledge classes had an exchange in the KA dining room. The ChiOs had more pledges than the KAs so some sophomores, including me, were invited to “balance the numbers” as the pledges got to know each other. I saw a young woman across the room with a beautiful smile, and thought to myself, “That’s the one for me.” She was immediately cornered by one of the pledges, Rich Bradshaw, a good friend of mine from high school. They dated for several months while I bided my time. When she was selected for Sigma Rho Sigma honorary society (I just happened to be on the selection committee), I saw my chance. During the induction ceremony, the guest speaker said, “Now, let’s all get to know each other better.” At the refreshment table, we happened to meet again, and the young lady, Becky Allen, said, “Well, I guess we better get to know each other.”

In May we’ll celebrate our 35th anniversary, having traveled the world together for 20 years, courtesy of the U.S. Navy, crossing paths with Bradshaw three times (I even saw him in Antarctica), and settling back in Columbia upon my retirement in 1992. Our son, Scott, KA ’95, and daughter, Amy, PiPhi ’97, also graduated from Mizzou. Scott met his bride, Amber Hensley, PiPhi ’94, at Cafe Ole in similar fashion.

— Mike Rowson, BA ’72, M Ed ’97

In the mid-1960s, the Student Union and Commons (not yet called Brady Commons) were one of several University payrolls that supplied my meager spending money. A fair amount of my income returned to the 16-lane bowling center and pool room, which then comprised the Commons basement.

Upstairs, the Commons of that era included a crowded, no-nonsense bookstore and a cafeteria with about two acres of equally crowded tables. Participants in endless games of hearts came and went according to their class schedules, accompanied by nonstop jukebox renditions of Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” alternating with the Supremes. On rainy days, the umbrellas lost and borrowed in that melee would stretch from St. Louis to Kansas City.

Bowling was at its peak back then. At night, a high-scoring group that included the late Roger Kyllonen, Lowell Smith (I may have his last name wrong - he played trombone in Marching Mizzou), Bob Green, Chuck Timpe, Al Riddle, Don Thompson, Gary Patterson, Dennis DeVasto and others formed the nucleus of a men’s bowling league and more informally, took turns harvesting money from each other and less talented sorts like me. To this day I don’t bet money on sports, after being separated from my entire week’s spending money — $14 — by townie Don Estes, whose sunglasses, buzz cut and massive motorbike made him a forerunner of Mr. T.

The Student Union’s ambience was different. Card-playing Aggies, easily spotted in white Stetsons and FFA jackets, dominated the cafeteria. In the funeral-home decor of the lounge which stretched the length of the south wing along Hitt Street, winter brought real, San Simeon-like wood fires. International students sat transfixed as the flames roared the height of the fireplaces, stoked by the 60-foot draw of the chimney. Downstairs were a higher-end cafeteria, which was popular when parents visited and paid the bill, and a sit-down restaurant where exalted people and functions were served.

— Jim Swinford, BJ ’68

I can’t believe no one has mentioned the Italian Village, also called The I.V., across from Jesse Hall. That was where both Greeks and independents came together Saturday nights for beer, eats and the latest hits on loudspeakers. It was so noisy, so raucous and so much fun. Some tables included professors among the students. One Friday morning I found myself having a beer at 11 a.m. at the I.V. with a dorm buddy. I think it was near the end of the year. I felt like such a rascal. It was my first and last 11 a.m. beer in a lifetime.

— Wayne Brasler, BJ ’62

The time was November 1948, and I was graduating in January 1949. I had been accepted for a job in the accounting department of Esso Oil in Venezuela for $5000 a year plus many perks. I was sitting in The Shack with my then-girlfriend, Carol Vinckemueller, a senior at Stephens College, who was pleading with me to decline the Esso offer and move to Grand Rapids, Iowa, instead. I was 22 and had served in the Army Air Force from 1944-46, and she was 18. As it turned out, I declined both offers, but I can vividly remember that afternoon, drinking beer and dancing to “I'd like to take you on a slow boat to China,” sung by Buddy Clark. I wonder where Carol is today? Should I have gone to Grand Rapids??

I also was a mature member of Phi Sigma Delta fraternity. I accepted all the rah-rah activities of fraternity life with a somewhat jaded eye. I did enjoy having to sing outside a sorority whenever one of our brothers pinned a girl. No matter what time the event occurred! Two of our pledges were Arthur Frommer, who became famous with his travel guides, and Bruce Jay Friedman, who became famous as an author and playwright.

— Robert E. Davis, BA ’49

I played my first pinball game at The Shack.

— Mary Brost, BS HE ’77

My all time favorite hangout was Ford’s Theater!

— Forrest Barbee, BS EE ’74

Let’s also remember the equally important hangout on the same street as The Shack, Cornbreads. Many a great time was had by all between the two places. I started at Mizzou in 1963 and finished in 1972 (drafted for a Far East vacation in 1965). My best memory was when the football season ended and most of the football team would shut down Conley Avenue and run some plays in the street between The Shack and Cornbreads. Ahh … those were some great party days.

— Larry Wilburn, BS EE ’72

Thanks for asking Mizzou Alumni to share their memories of The Shack and other institutions in Columbia. As the grandson of Chandler Davis, the original owner (then named The Davis Tea Room), I was delighted to hear about my grandfather’s place. I have photographs of the old touring car that he converted into a sort of panel truck, which my grandmother and father always referred to as “The Bus.” This vehicle became the nucleus of the building that eventually was constructed around it. I never visited The Shack, and my grandfather died before I was born. So thanks for sharing your memories of this special hangout and drawing me closer to a grandfather I never knew.

— Steve “Sandy” Davis Jr.

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Last Update: March 12, 2007