Pause for a minute and consider the two fraternal plaque near the front door of the Castle. Typically we race through the front door without noticing them, much less giving them any considered thought. They are just there. Strictly speaking, they two go together and speak volumes about who we have been for 147 years, honestly and authentically. They are mutually enriching fraternal testaments, a communion, about our historic fraternal home and our long-linked historic brotherhood. Hence, there is a historic rightness about their placement at the front of the Castle. They announce our unifying identity as a brotherhood. They are, figuratively speaking, like sentries over the Castle. Combined, one could say that they are a witness, a combined historic witness, of our oneness as the most historic fraternal brotherhood at the University of Maine. Let’s think about that. The Castle represents the beautiful communal dimension of our greatness, and the other represent the unwavering brotherly dimension of our greatness. Combined, both speak to our unique greatness at Maine. They speak to how special our fraternal home is, and how special our Omega Mu brotherhood is at the University of Maine. One plaque commemorates the architectural importance of our Tudor-inspired Castle, and the second honors an extraordinary fraternal brother, Hosea Buck, a mentor, friend, and unflinching, tireless leader who helped shepherd our brotherhood, as well the University of Maine, in many ways until he died in 1937. These two plaques, along with the commemorative plaques and brotherly memorials inside the Castle, speak to fraternal continuity, fraternal cooperation, fraternal courage, fraternal energy, fraternal dignity, fraternal loyalty, fraternal caring, fraternal generosity, fraternal spirit, fraternal family, fraternal triumphs, fraternal achievements, fraternal vision, and fraternal fortitude at the University of Maine. These qualities, through most of our combined fraternal history, have created a good fraternal portrait. These qualities matter most in the end, and they have been our blood and marrow, heart and mind, since our founding. They have all created our lifelong pride, and we remain steadfast and positive about our future as we approach our 150th and 125th fraternal anniversaries in 2024. We have forged a very distinct fraternal path at the University of Maine, and our fraternal longevity, our fraternal success, did not come by chance. Sustained success is never achieved by chance in anything in life. It is only by individual and collective responsibility and determination that success is sustained, and our fraternal legacy of success will continue at the University of Maine. The future holds beautiful things for Omega Mu, and our history proves it.  Let's think about that! ​

We are all keenly aware of our history at the University of Maine, and we are, rightly so, proud of that history. Upon that fact there is no debate, and I am unequivocally sure that we are all thankful for whatever motivation, coincidence, circumstance, brought all of us to the front door of the Castle to start the pledging-initiatory journey to become Omega Mu brothers. In any case, thank God you went through the front door to become Omega Mu brothers, and in so doing becoming part of the historic lore of our fraternal brotherhood at Maine, steady and true since 1848, 1874, 1899. And as such, we are unique, and that is a wonderful testament to our collective perseverance and determination. Be proud of that, that is all. 

​Happily, we walked through the front door of the Castle. Happily, we all lived together in the Castle. It was a fun, life-enhancing experience, Yet, happily, and with deep gratitude, we continue to return to the Castle to see life-long friends. Our Omega Mu brotherhood and the Castle, a great union through life. A simple truth that started with a simple Q.T.V. catchphrase: “Enjoyment, sociability, and the best interests of the brothers through life.” Our fraternal continuity is strong because of these simple ideals. ​

Burr’s General Store was on Route 2 in Costigan, Maine. It was a special place for many of us. The building was unassuming on the outside, but was the quintessential country store when viewed from the inside. It was in an ideal location to kick off our many adventures out to fish the Sunkhaze Stream for wild brook trout, or for partridge hunting. ​

The first thing we noticed on our initial venture, was the stuffed bear standing on a shelf on the back wall who was wearing a red pork-pie hat. Inside the store, was an amazing array of foods, dry goods, and fishing and hunting equipment. ​

This continued into our time at the house. I can remember Earl’s friends coming down from Houlton, Jimmy Joyce’s friends coming up from Dedham, MA, and the guys from third floor Chadbourne were always coming through the front door, and a crew of Ricky Bean’s Rangelites were always welcome. Now that was a mixture of personalities! The guys even came complete with their own nicknames: Boomer, Turtle, Woody, Woodskunk, Smokey, Willie and McGuirk are a few I can remember.  Throw a sorority into this mix, and you had the feeling that Fiji was a good place to be. Ever wonder where the Phi Gamma Delta sign that hangs on the wall behind the bar came from?  It was hand carved by Steve Symonds, a Chadbourne Hall friend. His nickname is McGuirk, and he was one of our number on Fiji Island. ​

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 and 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 because they engaged life fully and responsibly. In short, they were authoritative pillars throughout life. They were-are exemplary in their citizenship, character, and their sense of dutiful responsibility, and, in many instances, they were 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. Their spirit permeates our brotherhood, and it always will. 

We have long been, from one generation to the next, proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. 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 exhibited a can-do fraternal spirit since 1874. And, to be sure, all present and future generations of Omega Mu Fijis will continue to do the same, with fraternal enthusiasm and commitment. As a brotherhood, we always see the path behind us and the way forward with equal clarity, and our future remains bright at 79 College Avenue because we fearlessly move forward, always guided by sound fraternal principles. Perge.​

Ted Curtis was a legendary brother in our Omega Mu brotherhood, and with energy and determination he lived a good life. Ted was, in truth, a living journey-through-time history of our brotherhood, and he stood tall in his effectiveness, influence, relevance, and zestful love in his life-long service to the University of Maine, and in his gracious, sure-handed dedication to our Omega Mu brotherhood. The university and our brotherhood remained close to his heart for his entire life because he believed in serving something larger than himself, and he exhibited our fraternal ideals in everything that he did for both: hard work, integrity, honor, faithfulness, kindness, and responsible care as the Faculty Manager of Athletics for every University of Maine student athlete for thirty-six years, in coaching the perennially successful University of Maine ski team, and in providing behind-the-scenes counsel, guidance, and history lessons for the undergraduate brothers of Omega Mu through many decades. Year-after-year, his genuine professional sense of duty had a far-reaching effect for the good as an administrator working behalf of thousands of young men and women participating in intercollegiate athletics at the university, and being a valued, inspiring mentor to hundreds of Omega Mu undergraduate brothers from the 1930’s-1980’s. He gave them confidence and encouragement during periods of success or struggle, at all times. He made real, significant contributions in everything that he did because he was always perseverant and determined. Most importantly, he radiated pride and compassion for all things Omega Mu as an undergraduate and graduate brother: brothers, traditions, our history, the Castle. In addition, he was Omega Mu’s longest serving Purple Pilgrim, and his signature fraternal belief was a rugged hope and trust for a sustained fraternal presence at the University of Maine; that we would never fade away; that we would thrive for decades and decades to come. Ted Curtis was a man of many faces, and he ably juggled all the responsibilities because he was guided by a sustaining grace in his service to the University of Maine and our Omega Mu brotherhood. His dedication was complete, total. In short, he went over-and-above in his call of service, and in doing so he had a lasting impact on the life of the university and our Omega Mu brotherhood. And furthermore, with an equal degree of time, heart, energy, and commitment, he worked for the Y.M.C.A., and he served as a senator in the Maine legislature. 

​In everything that he did, Ted Curtis embodied and championed, in fraternal strength, confidence, and purpose, the fraternal values that we still hold in high regard. After all, our fraternal heritage at the University of Maine, which is an unbroken chain since 1874, is unique because of the brothers like Ted Curtis. It is with a constancy and firmness of Omega Mu spirit that we continue to believe, in our historic totality, that responsible, tradition-grounded, fraternal life does shape determined, great leaders in many fields, and Ted Curtis was one of those Omega Mu brothers. Ted Curtis will always have our deepest fraternal respect and admiration. 

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge!