**NEWS**
On Wednesday, April 07, 2004, Delta Chi signed the lease to our first chapter house. It is located right behind the Alpha Sigma Alpha house at 516 S. Florence St. Our tentative move-in date is August 1st. If you have any old furniture you would like to get rid of, please contact Jeremy Galloway, chapter “A”, or Jose Quirarte, “E” at (417) 883-8547.
Lost brother Found
Nathan McClain, Delta Chi Brother and Artist, Dies at 24
Nathan McClain, a naturally gifted visual artist whose designs appeared in the Cornerstone, died September 7, 1997.
Nathanial Allen McClain was born August 6, 1973 to David & Lynn McClain. Nathan was an only child and was raised in Granite City, Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri. From as early as 4 years old, he began showing talent as an artist and created his own custom "greeting cards" that he would share with family. His Mother, Lynn, was an artist and was a major influence & encourager of Nathan's abilities. As he went through grade school, Nathan's artistic creativity continued to expand and he always seemed to have a crayon, pencil, or marker in his hand. Nathan had a natural fun loving spirit and charisma that everyone wanted to hang around him. Consequently, he always seemed to be the unspoken "center" of his group of friends.
During his high school years, Nate refined his ability to create near-reproductions of physical objects, photographs, and other people's works (all of this before the age of 18) as well as creating artwork from his very vivid imagination. Nate was known and respected throughout many different "cliques" in high school. Academically he was average to above average, athletically he played in some sports (like Tennis), and artistically he was way ahead of the pack. The artwork Nate produced in high school allowed him to receive local acclaim, attend a summer art camp at Notre Dame, and receive a college scholarship to SMSU. Some of his most treasured pieces were created during this period.
Nathan attended SMSU in Springfield, Missouri from 1992
- 1995 and he obtained a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) degree with an emphasis in
Illustration. Nathan became a Delta Chi Brother in April 1992 when he was a
Freshman. Nathan provided the artwork for a number of Delta Chi events; one of
those being the infamous 5th Annual Fight Night. He also illustrated a Delta Chi
cow "mascot" that appeared on a pledge paddle and in the Cornerstone. In late
1993, Lynn McClain (Nathan’s Mother) died after battling cancer. Lynn was
Nathan’s biggest supporter and her passing profoundly affected Nathan as well as
his artwork. His color choices seem to become darker and his “themes” harsher.
After completing his art degree, Nathan spent some time in the Northeast and he returned to the St. Louis area in mid 1996. He “settled” in the Art Lofts downtown St. Louis with childhood friend Dave Edwards and was surrounded by many types of artists (musical, visual, performance, etc.). While in this environment, Nathan continued to produce artwork while working various waiter positions. Nathan’s place became a major gathering party spot and he spent many nights socializing at a local bar a few blocks from the Art Lofts. 1997 was a banner year for Nate - he and other Art Loft artists put together an art showing, he traveled to New York City, he took a road trip to California, and in late August he began interviewing for Illustration positions.
Nathan attended the wedding of two SMSU college friends in Louisiana, Missouri on September 6th, 1997. That night after the wedding reception (on Sept. 7th), Nathan and some others were going to dive off a nearby bride into the Mississippi river. Nathan, a certified lifeguard, was the first to dive and he never surfaced. Authorities later found his body downstream. Nathanial Allen McClain had died at the age of 24.
Nathan taught so many people about the essence of living life to its fullest. He had an amazing artistic gift at such a young age and he continued to be a vital creative force right up until the end. He is greatly missed by all who were privileged to know him – his family, friends, Delta Chi Brothers, and ex-girlfriends.
On August 6, 2003 which would have been Nathan’s 30th birthday, the website www.NateMcClain.com was created as an online memorial and to showcase Nathan’s artwork. The pieces displayed are a cross-sectional representation of the artwork Nathan produced with additional pieces regularly being uncovered and added. Anyone who knew Nathan is encouraged to submit artwork, snapshots, or comments on the website. Nathan shared the best of himself with those who know him and his creative legacy will live on for the world to appreciate.
HOMECOMING
ATTENTION ALUMNI: It is that time again!! Time to RSVP if you will be attending the colony’s Homecoming Events. Homecoming has been set for the week of October 18-23rd. Homecoming game will be held on Saturday 23rd. If you would like to attend to any events this week specially on Saturday please RSVP ASAP at smsdchialumni @ yahoo.com. Come join the colony and alumni celebrate Homecoming!!
SMS DELTA CHI
ALUMNI GOLF TOURNAMENT
If you are interested in participating in the annual golf tournament please RSVP with Brother Mike Trokey at mtrokey1 @ yahoo.com or you can contact him at 314 249-0691.
CHAPTER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thank you to Brothers Mark Sluss, Jan Anderson, and Keith Gall for making it down to Springfield for the Delta Class Initiation.
Chartering Banquet will be held next semester. Tentative date is for Labor Day Weekend.
Alumni Happy Hours every fourth Thursday of the month at 6:00 at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood, Missouri.
The colony received 3 out of 5 Striving Excellence Awards this past March. We received the Community Relations, Chapter Leadership and Management, and Risk Management Awards. The Striving for Excellence awards are the University’s and Greek Life’s awards given out every spring to the chapters who excel in five different categories. The Colony’s goal for next Greek Awards is to obtain all five awards.
Brother Jeremy Galloway, Colony “A” got engaged to Stacy Melton, member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority on March 14th.
If you would like to make an announcement, share some memories on next month’s edition of Kimball Connection, please e-mail Jose Quirarte, Alumni Relations at smsdchialumni @ yahoo.com. Please take the time to visit our website if you have not done so at www.smsdeltachi.org. If you have not registered on our website as an alumnus, please take one minute to fill a simple form under the “Alumni” section of our website. You may also contact Jose via telephone at (417) 883-8547 or Jeremy Galloway, Chapter “A”, at (417) 883-8547.
