Several generations of Omega Phi Du's at the 2nd Monagan Award Dinner honoring Eddie LeBaron.
Several generations of Omega Phi Du's at the 2nd Monagan Award Dinner honoring
Eddie LeBaron.
2nd Monagan Award Dinner a huge success!
Active and Alumni brothers gathered on October 30, 2004 for the second Monagan Award Dinner. Like any Omega Phi event, the evening proved to be quite enjoyable. The wines donated by David Gerber '50 (Gerber Vineyards) and Marc Cuneo '02 (Sebastiani Vineyards) certainly helped. Brothers enjoyed great food, and a variety of speakers including Tom Honey '66, Joel Colf '01, Bryce Kawabe '06, Dr. Phillip Gilbertson, University Provost, Bruce Orvis '50, Robert T. Monagan '42, and a humble acceptance by Eddie LeBaron '50. House Cheers were not the same without Brother Boyd Thompson, but Brothers McGavren and Farnum pulled it off just fine. Video clips and pictures will be posted shortly. All in all, it was a great event, and I'm sure we all look forward to the next one!
-Charlie Riley, '04
Video Clips
The Robert T. Monagan Award for Distinguished Service
For over 80 years, brothers of OMEGA PHI ALPHA and DELTA UPSILON have entered an left the portals of the fraternity with a rich and enduring heritage. Omega Phi Alpha was founded in 1921 on the origianl campus of the College of the Pacific in San Jose. When the campus moved to Stockton, Omega Phi moved with it. Under the leadership of brother Fred "Red" Busher and with the help, guidance, and support of Chancellor Tully C. Knoles and Tom Baxter, President of Holt Caterpillar Tractor Co., a new brick, two-story, house with four white pillars was constructed and dedicated in 1925. As the last fraternity to be founded on the San Jose Campus, Omega Phi Alpha became the first to have a house in the center of fraternity circle on the Stockton campus. With bulldog determination the brothers of Omega Phi Alpha had fulfilled its meaning in Greek - "Last But First."
This bulldog determination, spirit of brotherhood, and sense of community has been the house's legacy for generations. The fraternity has served as an important right of passage of boys into manhood as they have made their wau into all walks of life, leadership, and contributions to their professions and communities, and service to our nation and the world. The house boasts a "Whose Who" of distinguished Pacific Alumni.
In 2001 fraternity alumni established an award to be given periodically to an esteemed alumnus who exemplifies the spirit of the fraternity and its core ideals of bulldog tenacity, a positive "can do" attitude, and a standard of excellence in a lifetime of selfless contributions and service to the brotherhood, the university, his profession, and the community at large. The first brother to be so honored and for whom the award is named was Robert T. (Bob) Monagan '42. The inaugural Robert T. Monagan Award for Distinguished Service was presented to Bob at a dinner in his honor in April 2002 for his contributions to the university as a student leader, director of athletics, alumni association chairman, regent and chairman of the board of regents, and to his community and nation for his service in the Coast Guard during World War II, and later in the California State Assembly and as Assembly Speaker during the Reagan Administration in Washington, D.C.
2004 Award Dinner Honoring Eddie LeBaron '50
The 2004 Monagan Award Dinner is a formal affair to honor the recipient, Eddie LeBaron '50, celebrate the principles and ideals surrounding the award, reunite brothers from past generations, and connect the legacy of past generations with present house members.
This year's dinner also serves as a fundraiser for the Robert T. Monagan Scholarship- established in conjunction with the Monagan Award for Distinguished Service to provide financial aid to a leader among the active brotherhood who exemplifies the spirit and ideals of Omega Phi Alpha and Delta Upsilon. A portion of the price for each meal has been contributed to the scholarship fund along with purchases of commemorative wine and direct contributions received from alumni not able to attend the dinner. A goal of $25,000 was established in 2002, of which $15,000 has been raised prior to this year's dinner. Contributions this year will bring us substantially closer to our goal.
The name of Eddie LeBaron is synonymous with Pacific. He is credited by many as the one person who "built Pacific" during his football playing days as an All American quarterback for Pacific's undefeated and nation's highest scoring team in 1949, and MVP of the East-West Shrine Game. After being drafted by the Washington Redskins of the NFL, Eddie's career was halted by service in the Marine Corps during the Korean War where he earned a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart. He returned to the Redskins in 1952 and campaigned in the NFL for 12 seasons (including a season in the Canadian Football League). He finished his career as quarterback for the NFL expansion Dallas Cowboys. Eddie went to the Pro Bowl four times and led the NFL in passing in 1958 when the passing game focused on down field passing. Despite only being 5 feet, 7 inches tall, Eddie endured the punishment dealt by many hall of fame defensive linemen and linebackers while gaining their admiration and respect for his tenacity and courage under fire, as well as for his wizardry with the "play action pass" and other play fakes that he perfected while at Pacific.
Eddie earned a law degree in the off-season at George Washington University and went on to a successful career as an attorney in Dallas and Nevada, where he once was part of a legal team that represented Howard Hughes. He took a break from the law for five years, accepting a position as general manager of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. He was named NFL's Executive of the Year in 1980. He also served on the NFL's Competition Committee and was intrumental in drafting many of the games rules in existence today and in reccommending innovations such as instant replay and speakers in quarterback helmets.
He returned to Sacramento and the law in 1988 becoming managing of Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro before retiring in 1997. Eddie is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. He has served as president of the Nevada Golf Association and Georgia Golf Association, and is currently a director on the board of the Northern California Golf Association and Poppy Holdings, Inc. Eddie is also active with the Pacific Athletic Foundation.