When John Conrad ’68 thinks back on his time in Delta Tau Delta, chapter achievements and hijinx both feature in his memories. “We were a fraternity that was on the way up to the top 15 of 57 houses,” he said. “We had a reputation for throwing great parties with sororities.”
The chapter reputation and achievements did not occur in a vacuum, however. There was focused leadership that made those things possible. “John Gleeson ’68 had a plan to make Delta Tau Delta the most recognized fraternity on campus with sorority parties with top five houses on campus, Delt choir for serenades, and a torch lit serenade for all pinning. He also pushed the brothers to get involved with campus organizations,” John said.
John fondly remembered hanging out at Chances R, serenades, and making it to the finals in a water polo tournament. There was always fun to be had when the brothers were together.
“When putting together a rush slide show, we snuck into Memorial Stadium and took pictures of five or six brothers hanging on the cross bar of a goal post. When they let go there was an obvious bend in the middle.”
Thankfully, those relationships and good times did not end with graduation. “I developed closer relationships with several brothers,” John said. “Dennis Mesic ’68 always kept in touch after graduation. We met in Minneapolis, San Jose, and other places.”