February 2019 News

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SIGNIFICANT SIG

Brother Leo F. Corbet, ’59, has been selected as a Significant Sig, Class of 2019. 

The Sigma Chi International Fraternity has recognized more than 1,800 brothers with the Significant Sig Award since its inception at the 1935 Grand Chapter. Alumni in any profession, occupation or service work are eligible for consideration.

Brother Corbet was elected to the Beta Phi Hall of Honor, 2002. The following is information from his Hall plaque: For Brother Leo Corbet, Beta Phi 1959, serving others has been a lifelong quest. His longstanding tradition of service began at the University of Arizona and has continued up to the present. While an undergraduate and law student at the UA, Brother Corbet served the chapter twice as Consul and also served as Quaestor.

On campus he was letterman in wrestling, a member of Sophos and the Traditions Committee and business manager for the UA Rodeo. After law school, Brother Corbet practiced law and became a successful politician. Elected to the Arizona State Senate seven times, he held the offices of minority leader, president pro tempore and twice held the office of president of the Arizona State Senate.

He was also a Reagan delegate at the 1980 Republican National Convention and in 1982, the Republican candidate for governor of Arizona. As an early supporter of alternative fuels, in the ‘90s Brother Corbet became president and a part owner of Nebraska Nutrients, an ethanol plant.

Corbet has been honored for work and philanthropy. In 1981. He was commended by the Arizona Bar Association for his contributions to the advancement of jurisprudence and law reform. In 1990, the Arizona Department of Corrections honored him for his efforts in the field of corrections.

Additionally, he was named an Honorary Bobcat by the University of Arizona, an accomplishment that Brother Corbet remains quite proud of. A heart transplant recipient in 2001 at the University Medical Center in Tucson, he is now a board member of  the New Heart Society and the Arizona Coalition on Transplantation.

“The friendships and values derived from my association with Sigma Chi and the University of Arizona have enriched my life so much. I am honored to be able to give back and support those institutions whenever possible,” Brother Corbet said.

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SIGMA CHI INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY

Brother Joe Beers, ’83, has been selected to the Order of Constantine, Class of 2019. This is Sigma Chi’s highest award given to those with exemplary service to Sigma Chi for more then 20 years. He was selected as a grand trustee in 2017.

Each year, the Order of Constantine recognizes a group of Sigma Chi brothers for their commitment, dedication and service to the fraternity. Induction into the Order of Constantine is considered to be the highest honor that the Sigma Chi Fraternity bestows upon one of its members. The honor of being named an Order of Constantine Sig has been conferred on just over 720 brothers since the Order's inception at the 47th Grand Chapter in 1948. 

He is the eighth Beta Phi to be so selected and he joins three other living Beta Phi members Jack McDuff, Bill Scott and Steve Schuyler. He will be inducted during Grand Chapter 2019 on June 29 in Salt Lake City.

Broher Beeers was inducted in the Beta Phi Hall of Honor in 2004: The following is from his Hall of Honor plaque: Brother Beers received his bachelor of science degree in business economics from the University of Arizona in 1983. During his undergraduate years he served Beta Phi as philanthropy chairman, social chairman and Consul. He was selected by the chapter as the Outstanding Officer in 1983.

On campus, he served as president of the College Republicans and co-chairman of the President’s Club. He met his wife, Cindy, during his sophomore year at a Sigma Chi function.

Upon graduation he began a 13-year career in commercial real estate. Brother Beers shifted careers in 1996 and began work with Diversified Human Resources, a start-up company specializing in outsourcing of human resources, where he now serves as executive vice president. He helped the firm attain the number one position in the Arizona market in less than three years, a position it still holds. He is past president of the Arizona Association of Professional Employer Organizations and serves on numerous national committees.   He has written more than 20 articles on the PEO industry and other topics and served as a keynote speaker for the PEO industry’s 2003 annual conference.

Brother Beers has been an active alumnus. For Beta Phi Chapter he has served as a member of the House Corporation, president of the Board of Governors, Alumni Receiver and has been a frequent speaker at rush and other chapter activities. As chapter advisor for Epsilon Upsilon Chapter at Arizona State University, he helped guide the undergraduate brothers to winning the first Peterson Significant Chapter Award in the 30-year history of the chapter.

His efforts at Beta Phi and Epsilon Upsilon during difficult times earned him two Grand Consul citations for service. He is a past grand praetor of the Southwestern Province and past president of the Phoenix Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter. He served on the Leadership Training Workshop faculty for six years, is a Life Loyal Sig and has been a featured speaker at many chapter and province functions throughout the west.

Brother Beers served on the Executive Council of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix for more than a decade, holding numerous officer positions. He was named Man of the Year in 1996. He has also served as a guest lecturer for the Eller School of Business at the UofA.

“My parents raised me with the same values found in the Norman Shield and our Ritual. But for some reason, when I was exposed to it by Sigma Chi, it all clicked and has been with me ever since. I have committed much of our public and ritualistic literature to memory and it has served me well in every endeavor in life. Sigma Chi has given me favor and distinction. For every bit of effort I have given to the Fraternity I have received tenfold in return. I will never be able to repay what I have received in the form of values, life tools and close relationships. These were freely given to me as a direct result of my involvement in Sigma Chi Fraternity. It is a truly humbling blessing.”

He is now president and chief operating officer for Integrity Outsource, which excels in human resources, in Phoenix. He was appointed by the governor of Arizona serves as vice chairman of the Arizona State Personnel Board. He is a member of the Executive Association of Greater Phoenix and serves as a mentor at Seed Spot, a social entrepreneur incubator. Brother Beers is married and has two children. 

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CHAPTER ETERNAL

Brother Matt Kennelly, ’92, a partner in Fushion Consulting in Austin, Texas, died Feb. 12, four days from his 51st birthday. He died after a sudden and brief battle with an extremely aggressive pneumonia.

He was a graduate of Saguaro High School in Scottsdale.

His company, Fusion, has implemented more 200 analytics solutions across multiple verticals including healthcare, oil and gas, manufacturing, retail, supply chain and real estate. It specializes in providing clinical services and analytic solutions that support the business needs of healthcare professionals and executives.

“It should be known that Matt had a wonderful, adventurous year. He has been in the greatest of health and the highest of spirits. He spent his days full of joy and his mischievous smile was ever-present. He went out on top,”  said his wife, Danielle.

A service is planned in Phoenix later in the spring.

All Honor to His Name.

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