Dr. Russel L. Wiener, Chairman
('39, Phi, Rhodes College)
As Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund Chairman since 1993 and the most generous donor in Endowment Fund history, Brother Wiener sets a high standard of excellence only befitting to the Order.
Aside from his service as Endowment Fund Chairman, he is credited with helping to save the Phi Chapter and its house after being appointed as the House Corporation Treasurer in 1987, a position he still holds today. Since then, Phi Chapter has remained one of Kappa Sigma's most successful chapters. His generosity has extended to several chapters in Arkansas, Mississippi and western Tennessee.
Individual undergraduate brothers have also benefited from Brother Wiener's generosity and love for the Order. He has regularly provided cash incentives for Phi Chapter members who have made Order of Omega or Omicron Delta Kappa (Greek Honorary) and has rewarded the Phi Chapter pledges with the top four GPA's. Since 1995, the Endowment Fund has annually awarded the Russel L. Wiener Scholarship-Leadership Award to a to undergraduate student-leader, including this year's winner, Jason C. Borden (Xi-Eta, Christian Brothers).
Kappa Sigma has honored Dr. Wiener in many ways. He has been recognized as a John Tower Most Distinguished Alumnus and was Kappa Sigma's 1991 Man of the Year. Locally, Phi Chapter, whose chapter room is named in his honor, has named him Alumnus of the Year and he was named Memphis Alumni Association Man of the Year. He is a member of the McCormick Circle - Diamond Crest Club and is One of Jackson's Men, Pin # 22.
In 2007 Dr. Wiener was named Phi Chapter's Man of the Quesquacentennial and was elected to the Kappa Sigma Hall of Honor alongside Stanley W. Martin..
A lifelong resident of Memphis, he practiced dentistry early in his career and later focused his attention to operating the family confectionery business and farming interests. He and his wife, Dr. Joy Brown Wiener, retired Concert Master of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, have given generously of their time to civic, cultural, and educational organizations in Memphis.
For his leadership to the Endowment Fund and daily example as a Brother, Kappa Sigma is eternally grateful.
Contact Information:
65 E. Parkway North
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-4781 h
(901) 458-6027 w
dwiener2@midsouth.rr.com
Luke J. Schissel, PWGM, Vice Chairman
('62, Epsilon-Nu, University of Southern Mississippi)
Brother Schissel is a 1962 initiate of the Epsilon-Nu Chapter at the University of Southern Mississippi. As an undergraduate, Schissel served as House Manager and secured the national recognition for maintenance of the chapter house during his tenure. On campus, he was student body vice president, treasurer of his senior class, president of Kappa Mu Epsilon Honorary Mathematical Society and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, among other honors. While attending the University of Mississippi School of Law, he was president of his class and chairman of the honor council.
As a Kappa Sigma alumnus, Brother Schissel has ‘done it all.’ He has served as a member of his chapter’s House Corporation, Legal Advisor to the Fraternity, Worthy Grand Master of Ceremonies (1979-1981), Worthy Grand Procurator (1981-1983) and Worthy Grand Master (1983-1985). He was elected as a lifetime trustee of the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund in 1985, serving as Chairman (1985-1988) and presently as Vice Chairman. In 1998, he was named the Epsilon-Nu Chapter’s “Man of the Half-Century.” His son, Jim (Alpha-Upsilon, Millsaps), was the Model Initiate at the 1989 Grand Conclave in Orlando, Fl. He served on the Board of Directors of the North-American Interfraternity Conference from 2000-2002. More than 1,600 members have made gifts of $1,000 or more in support of the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund through the Jackson’s Men Program; Brother Schissel was one of the founders in 1989 and wears Jackson’s Men, Pin #1.
Professionally, he has been a member of the Mississippi Bar for more than 30 years and presently serves on its Technology Committee and is a past president of the Leflore County Bar Association. A municipal court judge from 1973-1977, he has practiced law in Greenwood, Mississippi for more than 30 years. His record of service to his alma mater and to numerous civic and community organizations is marked with similar distinction. He served as the 1978-1979 president of the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association, is a charter member of the University of Southern Mississippi Hall of Fame and is past chairman of Mississippi's Inter-Alumni Council, representing the eight state universities to the State Legislature. Most recently Brother Schissel has been named to serve on the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation Board. He has also served as the president of the Greenwood, Miss. Rotary Club, the Greenwood-Leflore Chamber of Commerce and is president of the Cottonlandia Educational Foundation, Inc. His example is truly one which "some may equal, but none excel."
Contact Information:
110 W Washington
P.O. Box 659
Greenwood, MS 38935
(662) 453-3057 h
(662) 453-6871 w
ksjax1@aol.com
Dr. John W. Ryan, Treasurer
('50, Delta-Sigma, University of Utah)
The Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund is extremely fortunate to have as a Trustee a Brother with the vision and experience of Dr. John W. Ryan ('50, Delta-Sigma, Utah).
Brother Ryan served as Worthy Grand Master from 1985-1987, having previously served two-year terms as WGP and WGMC. In 1975, he was named Kappa Sigma's Man of the Year. He served a two-year term as Endowment Fund Trustee from 1987-1989. He has also served as chairman of the Long-Range Planning Committee and chairman of the President's Commission.
In August, 2000, he was appointed to a vacant term as Trustee of the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund. He was unanimously elected as a lifetime Trustee by the Delegates at the 63rd Biennial Grand Conclave in Memphis on July 26, 2001 and was elected as Endowment Fund Treasurer two days later. He holds Jackson's Men, Pin #2.
Brother Ryan is one of the most well known and admired educators in American higher education. He has been a leader in higher education for more than forty years. He was President of Indiana University from 1971-1987, where he currently holds the title of President Emeritus.
Since his 'retirement' from I.U., Brother Ryan has served as interim president at Florida International University and University of Maryland at Baltimore. He also served as Chancellor of the State University of New York's 64-campus system.
Dr. Ryan is one of the most well known and admired educators in American higher education and one of Kappa Sigma's most distinguished and respected alumni, bringing keen insight, knowledge and a level of integrity unmatched in the fraternal world to the Endowment Fund.
Contact Information:
Indiana University
1315 E. 10th Street
SPEA 415
Bloomington, IN 47405-1701
(812) 855-5780 w
chancem123@aol.com
Thomas P. Bishop, Esq., Secretary
('79, Alpha-Beta, Mercer University)
Kappa Sigma's former Worthy Grand Master (2001-2003) serves as the Endowment Fund Secretary.
Brother Bishop is Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer for Georgia Power Company. Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (SO) generating almost of of Southern's $17 billion in annual revenue and serving customers in 154 of Georgia's 159 counties. He was initiated into the Alpha Beta chapter of Kappa Sigma on February 27, 1979. As an undergraduate, he served Kappa Sigma as IFC president, Grand Master of Ceremonies, Grand Master, President of the Order of Omega, and UAC delegate for Area II 1981-82. He served the liberal arts college in the Student Senate, and as Chief Justice of the Honor Court. He was elected to membership in Blue Key and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. He graduated summa cum laude from Mercer University in 1982. He is a 1985 cum laude graduate of the Mercer University Law School, where he was editor of the 11th Circuit Survey edition of the Law Review and served on the Moot Court Board.
Brother Bishop began his volunteer service to Kappa Sigma in 1982 as AA for Alpha-Beta chapter at Mercer and secretary of its house corporation. He served as Ritualist from 1983 until 1993, earning the Outstanding 1st Year Volunteer Award in 1984 and Distinguished Service Commendation at Conclave in 1985. He served as Chairman of Long Range Planning Committee from 1993 to 1995. Then he served as Membership Development Chairman from 1995 until Conclave in 1997. He received the first Master of Ritual Certificate presented at the Richmond Grand Conclave in 1995. He holds Jackson's Men Pin #9.
He was elected Worthy Grand Master of Ceremonies at the 61st Biennial Grand Conclave in New Orleans in 1997. He was elected Worthy Grand Procurator at the 62nd Biennial Grand Conclave in Phoenix in August of 1999. He was elected Worthy Grand Master at the 63rd Biennial Grand Conclave in Memphis in July of 2001.
Brother Bishop lives in Cartersville, Georgia, with his wife Darla, son Tyler, and daughter Darian.
Contact Information:
270 Peachtree Street, Suite 1400
Mail Bin 918
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 506-0801
404-506-0554 (fax)
pwgm@tpbishop.com
E. L. (Bill) Betz, Jr., Worthy Grand Master
('67, Epsilon-Psi, Lambuth University)
By virtue of the Worthy Grand Master’s office, he serves as an Endowment Fund Trustee.
Worthy Grand Master E. L. (Bill) Betz, Jr. is a February 28, 1967 initiate of the Epsilon-Psi Chapter at Lambuth University. While at Lambuth, he served as Pledge Educator and Grand Procurator. He also held the office of Grand Scribe for the Gamma Chapter, LSU. Following his graduation, he has served as Alumnus Advisor, Assistant District Grand Master, District Grand Master, Volunteer Training Commissioner and finally Business & Finance Commissioner. In 1999 at the 62nd Biennial Grand Conclave in Phoenix, AZ he was elected Worthy Grand Treasurer in which position he served until 2003. In 2005 at the 65th Biennial Grand Conclave in Las Vegas, NV, he was elected to Worthy Grand Master of Ceremonies; in 2007 at the 66th Biennial Grand Conclave in Miami, FL, Worthy Grand Procurator and in 2009 at the 67th Biennial Grand Conclave in San Antonio, TX, Worthy Grand Master.
Brother Betz's three brothers, two sons and one nephew are all members of the Fraternity. The seven Betz Brothers donated the naming privileges for the Front Portico Entrance of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity Headquarters. He holds Jackson's Men pin #1394
The former President of Memphis Folding Stairs, Inc., he is currently the Area Manager (Blytheville Arkansas Area Terminals) for Kinder Morgan, Inc. He lives in Memphis, TN.
Contact Information:
elbetz@kindermorgan.com