The History of the
Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Alumni Association

by T. Jervis Underwood - Historian, DFWAAA

There is no better way to recount the story of the founding and early history of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Alumni Association than in the words of its founder and first president, Kevin McNerney, Gamma Theta,’80. Kevin was elected Alumni Secretary of Gamma Theta Chapter in 1988 and continued in that office after his graduation from the University of North Texas in 1990; his interest in forming an alumni organization was a logical extension of that activity [Brother McNerney served as president of the DFWAAA until May 20, 2001, when the press of his duties as Governor of Province 32 (to which he was appointed after Darhyl Ramsey became National President) became too heavy for him to do both]:

The Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Alumni Association (DFWAAA) grew out of a series of informal meetings held in the summer and fall of 1995 at Friday's Front Row Grill in the Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers. Heading up the initial effort were Province 32 Governor Darhyl Ramsey, Lambda Omega, ’67, his original CPR, Kevin McNerney (1988-91); and a later CPR and eventual CPR Council Chairman (1995-97), Douglas Evans, Gamma Theta, ’92. After an initial mailout of over 2,000 names, a core group was formed. Included in that group were Brian Stratton, Delta Omega, ’79, PG-14; and Tom Ufert, Eta Upsilon, ’84, a former CPR-14, 1988. After that July meeting, another one was held on October 15, 1995, when the decision was made to form an alumni chapter. A small slate of officers was elected, with Brother McNerney chosen as president, Brother Ufert as vice-president and Darrin Smith, Zeta Sigma, ’89, as secretary/treasurer. Brother Evans was placed in charge of devising a set of bylaws, based mostly on Sinfonia’s General Regulations for Collegiate Chapters. It was decided to take a few months to get the organizational side going, with monthly meetings, to take place on the first Sunday of the month, to commence in January 1996. During the first spring of its existence, the group applied to the Commission on Standards to be recognized as an official alumni chapter (changed to “alumni association” at the time of its recognition). At the time, the group was the only such association not tied to a particular collegiate chapter.

The group soon established the basic pattern of activities that it has followed ever since. On the day of the meeting, those who are interested in and able to do so meet for lunch at 1:00 P.M. at a restaurant nearby. For the last several years, that has been the Chili’s Restaurant on Highway 121 in Bedford, Texas. Until 2004, the business meetings were held at Harwood Junior High School there in Bedford, where Chris Ferrell, Alpha Theta, ’91, and Steve (Stephen) Shadman, Kappa Omicron, ’91, were the band directors. After Brothers Ferrell and Shadman moved on to new teaching positions at other area schools, the association switched to meeting in the backyard studio of W. Alan Oldfield, Omicron Epsilon, ‘55, still in Bedford just a few miles from the junior high school.

Because alumni associations cannot initiate new members, participation in a ritual seemed unlikely, but an opportunity presented itself when Delta Mu Chapter decided to initiate José Feghali as a chapter honorary member. The members of the alumni association took the principal roles of the ritual to induct Señor Feghali into the fraternity at the Province 32 Workshop on January 26, 2001. Brother Feghali, winner of the 7th Van Cliburn Piano Competition in 1985, had accepted a National Citation on behalf of the Bass family at the National Assembly in Dallas, and had been favorably impressed with the fraternity. In turn, the fraternity had been impressed with the musicianship displayed by Brother Feghali when he presented a short piano recital following the award ceremony. Feghali, a native of Brazil, teaches piano at Texas Christian University.

This year on October 8th the association will host its 11th Annual Founders Day Concert. Every year it assumes the responsibility of identifying a host institution and scheduling the concert, of notifying all the chapters in Province 32, and of arranging the program. Each chapter is encouraged to participate in the concert, either as a group or to be represented by soloists or ensembles; and all the chapters join together for a choral finale of Sinfonia songs. A jazz big band was organized and led by Greg Ball, Nu Omega, 89, (Faculty Advisor of Mu Theta Chapter) in 1996 and again in 1997, and Kevin McNerney has continued the tradition ever since. A notable highlight on the concert in 1996 was the appearance of Robert J. Rogers, Gamma Theta ’40, longtime faculty advisor of Gamma Theta Chapter and namesake of the Robert J. Rogers Lifetime Service Award. Brother Rogers entertained from the piano in his own inimitable style. At the 2003 Founders Day Concert, held in the PepsiCo Recital Hall on the TCU campus in Fort Worth, José Feghali presented an extraordinary recital enjoyed by all. For the past few years T. Jervis Underwood, Gamma Theta, ’54, has manned the conducting duties for the chorus. Starting in 1999, in what has become a wonderful tradition, the brothers of the Alumni Association have presented the Founders Day Ceremony before all of the recent concerts.

One of the most important goals of the association has been to visit the chapters in Province 32, for the purpose of communicating to the collegiate members the importance of remaining involved in Sinfonia after graduating from college. These visits are challenging to arrange because of the variables in both the chapters’ and association members’ schedules. Nevertheless, visits have been made, and when possible, the association members have demonstrated presentations of the Ceremony for Graduating Brothers.

Several social events have provided opportunities for sharing brotherhood outside the meeting room. Annually a holiday dinner gathering at a restaurant has been held during the Christmas season, in lieu of a business meeting. This opportunity to meet with wives and significant others has proven to be very popular and has grown each year. Every summer groups of association members have attended Rangers baseball games usually in lieu of a June meeting. In March 2005, the association auditioned to sing the National Anthem at a Rangers game, and was asked to perform at the May 21st game. Having proved their mettle, this year the group didn’t have to audition and was asked to fill a last minute cancellation at the May 29th Memorial Day game. As this was a special occasion, the singing of the National Anthem was televised live. We hope that this can become a long lasting tradition of the association and that we can expand it to include singing for other sporting events in the metroplex.

Annually in the Spring, the members of the association, and their wives and sweethearts, look forward to sharing a family-style cookout at Sandy Lake Amusement Park. The park is a commercial establishment with rides and miniature golf, plus nice picnic pavilions, and the unpredictable North Texas April weather has alternately provided either a cold rainy day or a warm windy afternoon. Originally a short but important business meeting interrupted the social activities, to hear the nominating committee report and adjust the meeting schedule for the remainder of the school year; but lately we’ve decided to have the picnic at the end of April when it’s warmer, so we hold the regular April meeting as well and just enjoy the socializing at the picnic.

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