The building’s architecture is outdated.
At best, it should be torn down and reconstructed.
At the least, it could use some modern touches and a few coats of paint.
Tucked away among the grandiose mansions in Mizzou’s Greek town, stands the home of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
Built in the mid-1960s, the 110-yard two story building is made of dark brick and grey stone. It presents as a structure whose time has long past.
Yet, to many, it stands proudly as an edifice of achievement; some hardship, much friendship, and most of all brotherhood.
Though the building’s years number 55, the memories created inside reach into the thousands.
High achieving professionals have resided within its domain.
Many became accountants, attorneys, dentists, journalists, surgeons and business owners. One even the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys football team.
Some found their soul mates. Many marriages followed.
In January 1970, after high school graduation and a six-month stint in the Coast Guard reserves, I passed through its doorway for the first time.
Wary and nervous I searched around. After a few minutes I saw some familiar faces.
A handful of friends from my high school alma mater, Ladue, had joined the fraternity and were already living there.
They rushed up and greeted me.
Soon 75 others would engulf me. One by one they introduced themselves.
Their names flashed by like short bursts of light against a dark sky.
Most were from cities other than St. Louis. They hailed from Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Memphis, Miami, New York and more.
Digesting their names and hometowns was like trying to eat a seven-course meal in five minutes, remembering everything you ate, what sauces and preparations were included, and who made each serving.
It would take time to remember them all and as I would soon learn, I would be required to do so.
