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- FSU Pikes Delta Lambda Newsletter - February 2026
FSU Pikes Delta Lambda Newsletter - February 2026
Chris Dietz
February 28, 2026
Please forward this copy of your Delta Lambda Newsletter to your Pike friends and encourage them to sign up to receive the monthly letter. It’s free.
Join the Old Guard of Delta Lambda!
Contributions to the Old Guard may be made by credit card through this secure link, or, if you prefer to send a check, please make payable to The Old Guard of Delta Lambda and send to Charlie Barnes / 1490 Saint Charles Place / Tallahassee, FL 32308
We are grateful for the generosity as well as the stature of alumni who support The Old Guard, our alumni annual fund.
Special note should be taken of Todd Trimmer’s ’69 (Annie was Delta Lambda’s Dream Girl in 1970). With respect to his $100 annual contribution for 2026, the January newsletter was emailed at 4:42 p.m., and Todd’s donation was recorded in the portal at 5:10 p.m.—less than 30 minutes later. [email protected]
Special recognition also and thanks to long time Old Guard member Joel Padgett ’71 for his $100 renewal for 2026. Joel and Dianna live in Tallahassee. [email protected]
Some alumni choose to make their annual contributions to The Old Guard in conjunction with Founders’ Day, March 1st. This year will mark the 77th year since Delta Lambda’s Chartering in 1949.
 | Preserving our Legacy; Securing the Future The Old Guard is Delta Lambda’s alumni Annual Fund. Your gift goes toward strengthening the Bonds among alumni, enriching both the alumni and undergraduate Delta Lambda experience. Volunteer dues are $100 or more annually. Alumni who give as much as $1,000 are recognized as Sembler Society members. All new contributions are recognized monthly. |
UNDERGRADUATE NEWS
Pictured: Delta Lambda’s Spring, 2026 pledges.
Delta Lambda’s Spring, 2026 pledges. Rush Chairman Ryan Paradela ’25 reports they are all freshmen with the exception of one sophomore. Pledgemaster Riley Scofield ’23 faces the daunting task of organizing them, educating them and guiding them along their arduous way to achieve Brotherhood in our Fraternity. All of this must be accomplished within the time frame imposed by the University and by National. No, things are not the way they used to be, but Delta Lambda is still achieving unrivaled success.
Newly-elected SMC Cole Summers ’23 was effusive in his praise of Rush Chairman Paradela and his team of Rush Captains. “Ryan and Riley are two exceptionally talented and committed Brothers,” Summers said. “Ryan brought in the 81-man pledge class to Initiation last fall, and we are doubly fortunate that he agreed to accept the role of Pledgemaster again for the spring.”
In other news, Delta Lambda sent a dozen new Brothers to the Pike University event in Atlanta….”Dads’ Weekend” will be toward the end of February…Pike has a substantial lead in the race for the Overall Intramural Sports Championship …Lambda Chi alumni have negotiated permission for their new re-established chapter to conduct rush out of their old house near the Pike house this fall. Phi Delt also has returned to FSU. They own their house and have leased it to Delta Chi fraternity. Phi Delt will re-occupy the property at the end of the lease. It will be to Delta Lambda’s advantage to have great Lambda Chi and Phi Delt chapters back as neighbors again.
Two of the Three Baseball Captains in 2026 are Pikes
Past SMCs Owen Murtagh ‘22 and Doug Russell ’79 with Pikes at the 2026 Baseball Leadoff Banquet in February. Pikes dominate the 2026 team with eight Brothers including Team Captain Ben Barrett RHP, OF Brayden Dowd ‘25, OF Brody DeLamielleure ‘25, Team Captain Cal Fisher ’25 INF, INF Gabe Fraser ‘25, RHP John Abraham, INF Noah Sheffield and LHP Wes Mendes ‘25.
From left: Noah Sheffield, Owen Murtagh ‘22, Wes Mendes ‘25, Doug Russell ‘79, Gabe Fraser ‘25
Former Seminole Boosters National Chairman Doug Russell pointed out, “Wes Mendes is our #1 pitcher, and Noah Sheffield is the son of Gary Sheffield, Major League Baseball stud and World Series Champion.”
Alumni News
Delta Lambda’s MONTHLY LUNCHEONS
 | All are welcome to come and enjoy Pike Fellowship at these Monthly Luncheons featuring our Chapter Advisors and Undergraduate Officers. We meet on the first Wednesday of every month, at Madison Social in College Town.. Chapter Advisor John Peacock ’01 chairs the meetings beginning at noon and concluding by 1:00 PM. |
Chapter Advisor John Peacock ’01 850-321-2198 [email protected]
Chapter SMC Cole Summers ’23 813-539-1217 [email protected]
The next Luncheon will be Wednesday, March 4th, 2026.
 |  |
Delta Lambda is bound for the Olympics again!
Josh Williamson ’16, featured on the cover of Pikes Illustrated 2019, has qualified for another try for the Olympic Podium From WCTV: “Florida State University graduate Josh Williamson is once again set to compete on Team USA’s bobsled team….The 29-year-old from Lake Mary, Florida, is no stranger to Team USA after competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics in the 4-man competition. From the FSView: “The world’s top winter athletes will travel to Italy to compete in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics from Feb. 6-22. A prime star competing in bobsledding at the upcoming games is Florida State alumnus Josh Williamson, the Seminoles’ first athlete to compete in the winter sport. Just days ago, Josh was a fraction of a second away from the Medal podium in the Bobsleigh 2-man. The Fraternity is very proud of his competition!
College of Business Alumni Hall of Fame, and Faculty Hall of Fame
The Herbert Wertheim College of Business Hall of Fame was established in 2003. Since then, 60 exceptional (male) individuals who are distinguished alumni of the College have been selected. Four Hall of Fame Members are Delta Lambda alumni:
 | Class of 2022: Brett Lindquist ’82 (BS Finance and Real Estate ’83). Co-Founder and CEO of The Mortgage Firm. Brett is a former varsity letterman in Swimming for the Seminoles. Brett and Cindy’s son Cole Lindquist ’13 is also a Delta Lambda alum. |
Class of 2018: Dan Hendrix ’76 (BS Accounting ’77). Chairman, President and CEO (retired) of Interface, Inc. Dan’s wife Betsy (Vickers) is a former Pike Little Sister, and their son John Hendrix ’05 is a Delta Lambda alum. |  |
 | Class of 2016: J. Robert “Bobby” Jones, Jr ’72. (BS Finance & Accounting ’75). Partner (retired) Bluff Point. Bobby was a Past SMC, and is now Chapter Eternal. His wife Susan (Miller) is a former Pike Little Sister. Bobby’s brother-in-law Andy Miller ’70 is also a past SMC, and a member of the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame. |
Class of 2010: Harry Sargeant III ’78 (BS Management ’79). Chairman, Sargeant Group. Harry’s sons Harry Sargent IV ’02 and Garrett Sargeant ’17 are also Delta Lambda alumni. |  |
These starters from the 1976 IFC Basketball Champions celebrated at the 2025 Grand Reunion in March, on the 50-year anniversary of their winning achievement. Left to right: Scott Griffith ‘76, Denny Hepler ‘76, Steve Laird ‘73, Rodney Alsop ’76 and Danny Hendrix ’75. Thanks to Mike Markowski ’75 for the photo.
The Wertheim College of Business also has selected 20 (male) Professors for the Charles A. Rovetta Faculty Hall of Fame. Two of these distinguished Faculty are Pikes.
Dr James Pitts ’62 (Omega Chapter, Kentucky). Dr. Pitt’s son John Pitts ’06 was a loyal member of the FSU Pike Firemen in the 1990s, and was fully initiated in 2006.
Dr William Ross “Pete” Heck ’53 (Upsilon Chapter, Auburn).
AD ASTRA
 Sam Baptista ‘70 |  |
Randy Parker ’70 was first to send word that “Unfortunately, another one of our Brothers has passed…Sam was quite successful, and he attended to multiple ‘Big Chill’ events prior to the Clemson games we had back in the day.
(Above right, one of many ‘Big Chill’ reunions. Randy Parker writes, “The boat was parked outside Clemson stadium on Lake Hartwell. We would drive the boat from the rental house to the Stadium throw out an anchor, shoes off, hike up pants legs and wade to shore then dry off and walk 1/2 mile or so to the game. Rinse and repeat for return trip!! Good times were had by all. Great memories for all attendees. Night games were an adventure returning home, about an hour boat ride, before GPS but we always made it, being the resourceful Pikes that we were lol.” Dave Clark ’70, Mett Morgan ’70, Jack Bailey ’68, Jim Barth ’71, Pete Burnett ’68, Mark McAleer ‘69, Larry Wright ‘70, Rob Macklin ‘70.)
From Sam’s obituary: “After graduating from FSU, Sam moved to Washington, DC. where he embarked upon a distinguished career, leading the effort to pass landmark legislation, the Financial Services Modernization Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in November 1999. The bill rewrote the country’s financial regulation rulebook, allowing commercial banking, investment banking, and insurance to become more integrated.
“Sam was founder and president of the Financial Services Council, an entity he formed with the nation’s major banking institutions to promote the development of an open and competitive financial services marketplace. Prior to this position, he served as a managing director with Morgan Stanley, responsible for U.S. and international government affairs and policy. He worked in various roles in the financial services industry, and was a legislative aide in Congress. In 2015, he settled in Park City with his wife and loving partner, Denise Bell, and felt blessed to build a new life in such a wonderful and welcoming community.”
Delta Lambda mourns the loss of another beloved Brother.
 William “Bill” Parker ‘49 |  |
(Above right, with fellow Delta Lambda alumni at the Bobby Bowden Banquet in St. Pete, 1990.
Tobyn DeYoung ’86, Frank Cooke ’65, Greg Anderson ’87, Bill Parker ’49, Chris Mariani ’86, David Lyons ’65, David Rancourt ’84).
Bill Parker ’49 died at his home in Bellaire this January at the age of 100. He was FSU’s first three-letter man (baseball, basketball and football), and at the time of his death Bill was the oldest living Seminole letterman.
Parker pledged the Pi Kappa Alpha colony in 1948 but was not initiated for financial reasons. This unfortunate shortcoming was corrected in 1982 when Bill was finally officially welcomed into Delta Lambda Brotherhood by Andy Miller ’70 and other Pike alumni. Bill lettered in three sports, starting with the earliest Basketball team in 1946. He played halfback for the Football team in 1947 and played Baseball in 1949.
In later years, Bill was a Founding member of the Golden Chiefs in 1976, and served as National Chairman of Seminole Boosters, Inc in 1986, as well as National Chairman of the FSU Alumni Association in 1990. He was elected to the FSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.
Parker created Crest Products, Inc., primarily involving sales to military PX installations. Bill and Charlotte were married 73 years. Delta Lambda mourns our loss.
Ken Powell ’74 entered Chapter Eternal on January 15th . He was in his home in the presence of loved ones.
From his obituary: “He enjoyed many personal and professional milestones throughout his life, from car dealership owner, mining invest/operator, business consultant, and most notably as a successful State of Florida Legislative Lobbyist. Known for his quick wit, and anecdotal sayings, always being nattily attired; he could certainly command a room.”
Ken was among the contingent of good Gadsden County Pikes who entered Delta Lambda in the 1970s. This influential number included Andy Miller ’70, Bill Miller ’74, Taylor Bud Williams ‘74, Taylor Fletcher ’73, Bert Fletcher ’74, Dewayne Nalls ’73, Rick Green ‘74, Chip Gray ’74.
Cliff Davenport ‘73 sent word of Ken’s passing. “He was my Little Brother.”
These alumni organizations exist to support Pike at Florida State
The Legends of Delta Lambda. Legends owns the Chapter House. Brent Sembler ’78, Chairman. Jimmy Keen ‘73, Legends Vice Chairman. Brent Sembler [email protected]
The Delta Lambda Chapter Advisory Board. Chapter Advisor John Peacock ’01 Chairs the Chapter Advisory Board. John Peacock ’01, 850-321-2198 [email protected]. Steve Walker ’81 is Co-Chairman [email protected]
The Delta Lambda Alumni Association. Eric Carr ’01, President. [email protected]
The Old Guard of Delta Lambda. The Old Guard is the alumni annual fund. Jack McMullen ’64, David Rancourt ’84, Doug Russell ‘79 and Charlie Barnes ’65 are members of the Old Guard oversight board.
The Legacy Dads of Delta Lambda. Doug Russell ’79, Founder and Chairman. [email protected]
The Delta Lambda Communications Team. The Delta Lambda Website and the Delta Lambda Monthly Newsletter are productions of Dietz Consulting, Inc. Chris Dietz ’87, owner.
The monthly newsletter is Edited by Tim Sheridan ’79 and Charlie Barnes ’65. Len Tucker (and Jean) Tucker ’70 provides the chapter with its annual composite. The Team also consults with the Chapter on the annual production of Pikes Illustrated.
The official Delta Lambda website is: www.deltalambdapikes.com
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