  Our brothers’ careers have been productive, constructive, spirited, and prosaic. They displayed impressive skills, talents, and abilities They were, and we continue to be, a beautiful and lively expression of our enduring fraternal beliefs, and that underlying harmony is far-reaching in expectation for all brothers’, undergraduate and graduate. It is the core of what our fraternal founders asserted in 1848, 1874, and 1899: to live active, commendable, and responsible lives, and to build up community. Clearly and compellingly, they added, and continue to add, positive value at the local, state, national, global, and fraternal level. In many instances, they were committed leaders and leading voices in their career fields. They prove that success of any kind does not occur by luck or accident, and we remember them because they continue to provide that message for our time. Put simply, our Phi Gamma Delta fraternal culture has a commitment to excellence through life, and Omega Mu has produced many outstanding men who have done just that in many fields, and were good citizens in their various communities, and in the world at large. It is a well-established fact that everyone appreciates beautiful architecture, and architectural taste has many broad expressions, but it is the character of the whole that always matters the most in designing beautiful, functional buildings, down to the smallest detail. Beautiful, functional architecture can be quite transformative, inspirational even, in creating a positive civic-mindedness, a social cohesion, and a communal pride and care in where one lives. The communal and artistic implications that go into the design process to create the synergy of social cohesion and pride is essential for the benefit of any town or city, college campus, and fraternities. In short, the communal good, and what Frank Gehry did for the city of Bilbao comes to mind with his imaginative, stylistic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. However, like any art form, architects have widely divergent architectural ideas as to what is beautiful. Some architecture, functionally and aesthetically, is imaginative and thought-provoking, some lack aesthetic feeling, some down-right puzzling, even confusing, and some are flat-out architectural eyesores. And, like any other form of art, everyone responds differently to the broad range of architectural styles from Rem Koolhaas, Frank Lloyd Wright, Eero Saarinen, Renzo Piano, Louis Kahn, Zaha Hadid, Alvar Aalto, Santiago Calatrava, Norman Foster, Kenzo Tange, Richard Neutra, Frank Gehry, and so many others. In our fraternal context, we can all agree that the Castle is architecturally warm, beautiful, and inviting. Quite simply, in architectural conception, inside and outside, there is architectural fluidity, balance, and dignity, making it the most beautiful building at the University of Maine. It has a character all its own, and it is our architectural gem and treasure, our fraternal home, and we are all grateful for it. This sentiment of gratitude for our fraternal home and friends only grows, and it is fraternally satisfying, generation-to-generation, to walk through the front door each time we return to the Castle, our home. The Castle and our fraternal brothers bind us together, still. Three of our distinguished fraternal brothers found meaning and fulfillment in the field of architecture: Frank E. Kidder, Raymond J. Mayo, and John Rohman. Each of them were committed to architectural excellence in designing distinct, charming, thoughtful public buildings, schools, homes, churches, and chapels. There is an essential quality of good taste, functional and aesthetic, in what each of them have done in the field of architecture. Their technical architectural discipline was outstanding and, not surprisingly, each of them had splendid achievements in their respective careers. And so, we fraternally appreciate, honor, and celebrate their architectural accomplishments from the University of Maine, Bangor, Portland, Boston, and Denver, to name just a few place. Each of them are esteemed in our fraternal history, and we are pleased that they are our fraternal brothers. Each of them exhibited our determinant fraternal character of persistence and determination, and their historic significance can never be overstated. We have long been, from one generation to the next, proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. For this reason, we continue to cherish our fraternal friendships, our shared memories, and our evolving, forward-focused history at the University of Maine. These things, above and beyond everything else, are the underlying rooted connections that make us proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. Why, after all, should we believe otherwise? We have always been a scrappy fraternal brotherhood, individually and collectively, since 1874, and we will continue to be that way ‘- here, now, always’ (T.S.Eliot). You cannot shake our historically proud fraternal confidence, and it is with our enduring fraternal self-confidence and collective integrity, which is almost instinctive, we will reach our 125th anniversary in 2024. It will be a great celebration, and not one to be missed because our brotherhood has a rich, distinguished fraternal heritage at the University of Maine. Though many fraternal brotherhoods have long-vanished at Maine, our connection to our land, our fraternal home, and each other, of any age, endures. That is special, and time, commitment and a great deal of work has made it so. With that in mind, we owe a great deal to all of our fraternal brothers who came before us. Proud Q.T.V. and Fiji brothers. With all honesty and truth, fraternal life is not an old-fashioned, outdated notion! In sum, at its best, it is meaningful, sometimes extraordinary, and that is good enough, and it has validity through life. The linked chain of our brotherhood, decade-through-decade, is special, and we are proud. Perge. Omega Mu Portrait Frank E. Kidder, 1879
Maine State College Years   "As a boy he was always interested in building operations, and at the age of fifteen he determined to become an architect."   Q. T. V. Brothers in a Surveying class: Frank E. Kidder, third from the right; Charles A. Morse is the third student in from the left.  "There is a pleasure in poetic pains, Which only poets know."  First Q.T.V. Chapter Hall, 1876  It is safe to assume that Frank E. Kidder is one of the Q.T.V. brothers sitting in front of the house.    Frank E. Kidder, as a student, design and build our first fraternal home.   After graduating in 1879, Frank E. Kidder pursued graduate studies in architecture at Cornell and M. I. T..   Cornell in the early 1880's   M. I. T. in the mid 1880's, above and below  Frank E. Kidder, Architect "An architect who was concerned with good, solid and intelligent architecture, and his temperament was at odds with the brash and markedly eclectic architecture in the late 1880's and 1890's." (Architectural Historian Richard Brettell's characterization of Frank E. Kidder) Kidder Architecture At The University of Maine Coburn Hall   F. E. Kidder, Architect   The first library at the University of Maine was in Coburn Hall.  Two fraternal brothers are in this picture: Allen E. Rogers and George H. Hamlin. Holmes Hall  "F. E. Kidder, C. E., M. S. C. '79, of Boston, has been appointed architect."  Professor Hamlin, our fraternal brother, helped oversee the construction of Coburn Hall Experiment Station - Holmes Hall     The newly constructed center section of Holmes Hall is next to the recently moved second Q. T. V. Chapter Hall, left.   Wingate Hall   "Wingate Hall was designed by noted Bangor Architect. Frank Kidder."  L-R: President's House, Fernald Hall, Wingate Hall, building with a tower; farm house and farm buildings. The First Phi Gamma Delta House Was Designed By Frank E. Kidder           Professor Walter Flint, our fraternal brother, built our first Phi Gamma Delta House   Our First Phi Gamma Delta Castle Was Built Under The Direction Of Perley F. Walker, Our Fraternal Brother.  Professor Perley F. Walker, our fraternal brother, oversaw the construction of our first Phi Gamma Delta House    A view of the dining room, living room, and the music room with a piano in the first Phi Gamma Delta House designed by Frank E. Kidder, our fraternal brother.  A view of the living room and dining room in the first Phi Gamma Delta House designed by Frank E. Kidder, our fraternal brother.  Living Room Dining Room  Brothers inside the first Phi Gamma Delta House
Alpheus C. Lyon, left and right, in his room in the first Phi Gamma Delta House Kidder Architecture Bangor, Maine  A Queen Anne style home on Union Street that Frank E. Kidder designed and built for his father, Bradley Kidder, 1887 Kidder Architeture Boston    Kidder Architecture In Colorado Stanley House, Northern Colorado   Colonial Revival Style   Boulder, Colorado  Grace Commons Church, formerly First Presbyterian Church    Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, Colorado, above and below.  Denver  Christ Methodist Episcopal Church   Christ Methodist Episcopal Church after the spire was removed, above and below.   A beautiful home designed by Frank E. Kidder in Denver  Chamberlin Mansion Frank E. Kidder's Home Denver     A Four Square Home in Denver that was designed by Frank E. Kidder.    Frank Lloyd Wright Author  "As a practicing architect in Denver, Mr. Kidder has made a very creditable reputation, but it is as an author and structural engineer that he is best known to the profession at large."    
   Dean Hart, our fraternal brother
Kidder Scholarship        “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)    Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge
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Our brothers’ careers have been productive, constructive, spirited, and prosaic. They displayed impressive skills, talents, and abilities They were, and we continue to be, a beautiful and lively expression of our enduring fraternal beliefs, and that underlying harmony is far-reaching in expectation for all brothers’, undergraduate and graduate. It is the core of what our fraternal founders asserted in 1848, 1874, and 1899: to live active, commendable, and responsible lives, and to build up community. Clearly and compellingly, they added, and continue to add, positive value at the local, state, national, global, and fraternal level. In many instances, they were committed leaders and leading voices in their career fields. They prove that success of any kind does not occur by luck or accident, and we remember them because they continue to provide that message for our time. Put simply, our Phi Gamma Delta fraternal culture has a commitment to excellence through life, and Omega Mu has produced many outstanding men who have done just that in many fields, and were good citizens in their various communities, and in the world at large. It is a well-established fact that everyone appreciates beautiful architecture, and architectural taste has many broad expressions, but it is the character of the whole that always matters the most in designing beautiful, functional buildings, down to the smallest detail. Beautiful, functional architecture can be quite transformative, inspirational even, in creating a positive civic-mindedness, a social cohesion, and a communal pride and care in where one lives. The communal and artistic implications that go into the design process to create the synergy of social cohesion and pride is essential for the benefit of any town or city, college campus, and fraternities. In short, the communal good, and what Frank Gehry did for the city of Bilbao comes to mind with his imaginative, stylistic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. However, like any art form, architects have widely divergent architectural ideas as to what is beautiful. Some architecture, functionally and aesthetically, is thought-provoking and marvelous, some lack aesthetic feeling, some down-right puzzling, even confusing, and some are flat-out architectural eyesores. And, like any other form of art, everyone responds differently to the broad range of architectural styles from Frank Lloyd Wright, Eero Saarinen, Renzo Piano, Louis Kahn, Zaha Hadid, Alvar Aalto, Santiago Calatrava, Norman Foster, Kenzo Tange, Richard Neutra, Frank Gehry, and so many others. In our fraternal context, we can all agree that the Castle is architecturally warm, beautiful, and inviting. Quite simply, in architectural conception, inside and outside, there is architectural fluidity, balance, and dignity, making it the most beautiful building at the University of Maine. It has a character all its own, and it is our architectural gem and treasure, our fraternal home, and we are all grateful for it. This sentiment of gratitude for our fraternal home and friends only grows, and it is fraternally satisfying, generation-to-generation, to walk through the front door each time we return to the Castle, our home. The Castle and our fraternal brothers bind us together, still. Three of our brothers found meaning and fulfillment in the field of architecture: Frank E. Kidder, Raymond J. Mayo, and John Rohman. Each of them were committed to architectural excellence in designing distinct, charming, thoughtful public buildings, schools, homes, churches, and chapels. There is an essential quality of good taste, functional and aesthetic, in what each of them have done in the field of architecture. Their technical architectural discipline was outstanding and, not surprisingly, each of them had splendid achievements in their respective careers. And so, we fraternally appreciate, honor, and celebrate their architectural accomplishments from the University of Maine, Bangor, Portland, Boston, and Denver, to name just a few place. Each of them are esteemed in our fraternal history, and we are pleased that they are our fraternal brothers. Each of them exhibited our determinant fraternal character of persistence and determination, and their historic significance can never be overstated. We have long been, from one generation to the next, proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. For this reason, we continue to cherish our fraternal friendships, our shared memories, and our evolving, forward-focused history at the University of Maine. These things, above and beyond everything else, are the underlying rooted connections that make us proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. Why, after all, should we believe otherwise? We have always been a scrappy fraternal brotherhood, individually and collectively, since 1874, and we will continue to be that way ‘- here, now, always’ (T.S.Eliot). You cannot shake our historically proud fraternal confidence, and it is with our enduring fraternal self-confidence and collective integrity, which is almost instinctive, we will reach our 125th anniversary in 2024. It will be a great celebration, and not one to be missed because our brotherhood has a rich, distinguished fraternal heritage at the University of Maine. Though many fraternal brotherhoods have long-vanished at Maine, our connection to our land, our fraternal home, and each other, of any age, endures. That is special, and time, commitment and a great deal of work has made it so. With that in mind, we owe a great deal to all of our fraternal brothers who came before us. Proud Q.T.V. and Fiji brothers. With all honesty and truth, fraternal life is not an old-fashioned, outdated notion! In sum, at its best, it is meaningful, sometimes extraordinary, and that is good enough, and it has validity through life. The linked chain of our brotherhood, decade-through-decade, is special, and we are proud. Perge. Omega Mu Portrait Raymond J. Mayo, 1900      
Raymond J. Mayo, Architect  Miller and Mayo Architectural Firm, 1907-1926  Delbert D. Coombs, artist.
 Miller and Mayo designed the home for Delbert D. Coombs, an artist, in Auburn, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the Whitney Cottage, Good Will Home and School, Hinckley, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the home for Edward L. Bradford in Auburn, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the home for Frederic C. Dudley in Portland, Maine.   Miller and Mayo designed Berry Hall at New Hampton School, New Hampton, New Hampshire.   Miller and Mayo designed Roberts Hall at Colby College, Waterville, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the Thomas Emery School, Biddeford, Maine.  Farmington State Normal School  Miller and Mayo designed Purrington Hall, Farmington State Normal School, Farmington, Maine  Miller and Mayo designed Stateway Apartments, Portland, Maine.   Miller and Mayo designed East Hall, Gorham State Normal School, Gorham, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the Elm Theater, Portland, Maine.           Miller and Mayo designed the B. C. Jordan Memorial Hall, Ocean Park, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed Portland High School, Portland, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the home for Henry B. Estes, Auburn, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the Gorham Town Hall, Gorham, New Hampshire, above..  Miller and Mayo designed the Cottage Farm School, Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the Lewiston United Baptist Church, Lewiston, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the Cyr Building, Waterville, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the parish house for the Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland, Maine.  Miller and Mayo designed the Thomas B. Reed School, Portland, Maine.   Miller, Mayo, Beal Architectural Firm, 1926-1929  Miller, Mayo and Beal designed the Edwin Gould School, Hinckley, Maine.  Miller, Mayo and Beal designed Norway High School, Norway, Maine.  Miller, Mayo and Beal designed Scarborough High School, Scarborough, Maine. “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)    Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge Our Omega Mu brothers who served in the military are cherished and constant fraternal friends, and we would like to say thank you for the steadfast, purposeful commitment you made to our nation to defend those four freedoms we all believe in: “Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.” For those brothers who were killed in defense of these freedoms, they will always occupy a consecrated place in our linked fraternal heart because they exemplify the idea of superlative commitment, strength, and fortitude for the good to the end itself. The greatness of their collective purpose and will, on our nation’s behalf, will never be forgotten. By their “clear-eyed faith and fearless heart,” these brothers have left us a fraternal legacy that echoes what we often say about Omega Mu Fijis: “Perseverance and determination are omnipotent.” Their code of integrity, courage, duty, responsibility, and self-sacrifice on behalf of our nation is a powerful legacy that we will always be proud of as Omega Mu Fijis. Whether it was at New Orleans, Red River, Fort Blakely, Marianna, San Juan Hill, Santiago de Cuba, Chateau-Thierry, Verdun, El Guettar, Elba, Monte Della Vedetta, the Battle of the Bulge, Rabaul, Inchon, Pusan, Chosin Reservoir, Pork Chop Hill, Hue, Easter Offensive, Phu Cat, The Iron Triangle, Hamburger Hill, la Drang Valley, Bien Hoa, Khe Sanh, Rumaila, Al-Batin, Medina Ridge, Kabul, Kandahar, our Omega Mu brothers have demonstrated devotion to duty in defense of freedom and liberty. They are the stability of our nation, and we, the Omega Mu brotherhood, revere, honor, and salute their persevering and determined spirit within our great nation and our historic brotherhood. We will always honor the heroism of all of our brothers who have served in the armed forces from the Civil War to the present. Thank you. Omega Mu Veteran Dana A. Beers, 1984  Omega Mu Years        
    Military Career  Dana was an aircraft commander in the United States Air Force. He flew B-52's during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
     Dana joined the Air National Guard flying KC-135’s as an Instructor Pilot in a variety of worldwide operations, and he retired as a lieutenant colonel.  KC-135, above and below   “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)    Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge Truthfully, there is no fraternal brotherhood quite like Omega Mu at the University of Maine. We are proud of our history, and we are proud of the impressive number of fraternal brothers who played on many University of Maine athletic teams. With conviction and commitment, our Omega Mu athlete brothers brought a great deal of joy and satisfaction to the university community, creating many wonderful memories since the first baseball team was established at Maine State College in the 1870's. The worked together for the success of each Maine team, and the overall civic good of the University of Maine. The sheer number of Omega Mu athlete brothers is an unqualified triumph for the University of Maine. They each gave their best efforts on each team, and what they achieved perfectly compliments what we fraternally believe: drive and determination. It is a heady athletic legacy. Accordingly, their accomplishments claim our fraternal attention and respect. For the eminence of their athletic success; and, above all, for being our Omega Mu brothers, we are proud. Therefore, in the linked soul and spirit of our long fraternal history, we gratefully remember and celebrate our QTV and Omega Mu brothers who participated on many varsity athletic teams at the University of Maine. Their sacrifice of time was worth the effort for them and the student body at the University of Maine who watched them play. They created many warm memories since the early 1870’s. For the eminence of their athletic success; and, above all, for being our Omega Mu brothers, we are all very proud. Thoreau said it best: “What a difference, whether in all your walks, you meet only strangers, or in one house is one who knows you, and whom you know. To have a brother…How rare these things are.” How true that is, and we remain that way to this day. That is a heady fraternal legacy. Omega Mu Athlete Carl S. Cleaves, 1912  Omega Mu Years         "The house was prettily decorated in evergreens and Xmas bells intermingled with frosted stars."   
      While the breezes are whisp’ring that Summer is near, And all Nature rejoices in Spring, We are planting our Ivy with tenderest care, May its increase the future years bring. May it flourish and live; may it broaden and grow, Even higher its branches still climb; ‘Till covered be all of our dear-college walls Far down the long ages of time. (As printed in The Maine Campus, May 29, 1906, page 329)  "Class Oration....Carl Shurz Cleaves" University of Maine Athlete          "Carl S. Cleaves, 1912....Quarterback" 
     “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand." (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)   Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge Truthfully, there is no fraternal brotherhood quite like Omega Mu at the University of Maine. We are proud of our history, and we are proud of the impressive number of fraternal brothers who played on many University of Maine athletic teams. With conviction and commitment, our Omega Mu athlete brothers brought a great deal of joy and satisfaction to the university community, creating many wonderful memories since the first baseball team was established at Maine State College in the 1870's. The worked together for the success of each Maine team, and the overall civic good of the University of Maine. The sheer number of Omega Mu athlete brothers is an unqualified triumph for the University of Maine. They each gave their best efforts on each team, and what they achieved perfectly compliments what we fraternally believe: drive and determination. It is a heady athletic legacy. Accordingly, their accomplishments claim our fraternal attention and respect. For the eminence of their athletic success; and, above all, for being our Omega Mu brothers, we are proud. Therefore, in the linked soul and spirit of our long fraternal history, we gratefully remember and celebrate our QTV and Omega Mu brothers who participated on many varsity athletic teams at the University of Maine. Their sacrifice of time was worth the effort for them and the student body at the University of Maine who watched them play. They created many warm memories since the early 1870’s. For the eminence of their athletic success; and, above all, for being our Omega Mu brothers, we are all very proud. Thoreau said it best: “What a difference, whether in all your walks, you meet only strangers, or in one house is one who knows you, and whom you know. To have a brother…How rare these things are.” How true that is, and we remain that way to this day. That is a proud fraternal legacy. Omega Mu Athlete Gerard Charles de Grandpre, II, 1960
Omega Mu Years      Omega Mu Housemother, Mrs. Tate         University of Maine Athlete           Running Back 
     "deGrandpre, the games leading ground gainer.."  Jerry de Grandpre hurdling into the end zone.  ..."deGrandpre bulled over for the winning touchdown"  Jerry de Grandpre making the catch.   Jerry de Grandpre being tackled.   Military Career    After graduating, Gerard Charles de Grandpre was commissioned in the United States Army, and he served in Vietnam.  “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)    Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge |
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