Category: Chi Phi History

Did You Know … ?

Chi Phi is known for not only strengthening the bonds of Brotherhood, but for also producing some of the finest gentlemen this country has ever seen.  But did you know that some of those gentlemen went on to become quite well known?

Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite – yes, THAT Walter Cronkite – was a Chi Phi from the University of Texas.  The longtime nightly news anchorman learned sound journalistic practices both in college and while working for United Press International. “Cementing bonds of life-long friendship that can be a source of happiness through life” was his testimonial to his Chi Phi Fraternity experience.

 Mark Ordesky

Mark Ordesky, an Oscar-winning producer who is now the president of the Fine Line division of New Line Cinema, is a Chi Phi from the University of Southern California.  He was the executive producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as a number of other films you may have seen.

 Chris Hardwick

Chris Hardwick,  a name quickly recognizable to anyone who is a fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead and its follow-up talk show, The Talking Dead, is a Chi Phi from the University of California, Los Angeles.  He has also hosted MTV’s Singled Out, he has appeared on Attack of the Show, and has had brief appearances in a number of television shows and films.

 Dan Bakkedahl

Dan Bakkedahl, a former correspondent for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, is a Chi Phi from Florida State University.  He has made guest appearances on numerous television shows, as well as had recurring roles on shows such as Community, Veep, and Legit.

And these are not the only famous Chi Phi.  Adam Larson of MTV’s Road Rules 10: The Quest is a Chi Phi from Boston University, and Gabriel Cade, a participant in CBS’ hit series, Survivor, is a Chi Phi from the University of NC, Wilmington.

You never know where the path of a Chi Phi will lead, and you just never know whether that television show or movie your are watching might just star a Brother!

A Little Chi Phi History … Chi Phi Invents Football at Night!

Russell Guin Alpha Chi 1917 staged the world’s first night football game in 1928 while principal at Westville, Ill., High School-and wrote a booklet about it which led to his life-time publishing career with Interstate Printers and Publishers in Danville, Ill., where he became vice president in 1931, later president and now board chairman.

Night football was born at Westville because Saturday afternoons were dominated by college ball, and fans had to work on Friday afternoons. Guin got his idea by seeing lights blazing at a filling station one night and decided they were bright enough to play football.

 Football at Night

Twenty-five foot poles were cut nearby, with two 1000-watt bulbs backed by reflectors on each. “By today’s standards, we were out in the dark,” Guin recalls. When the visiting team objected to the night game, Guin raised the guarantee from $35 to $200. In addition the lights, reflectors, poles and installation cost 700 all done without the knowledge, much less permission, of the school board.

Fans arrived all day, and some 4000 eventually turned out. The ball was painted white and became slippery in the damp evening, but the home team won and the game ran off “without a hitch,” making $1000 net profit.

When he was besieged by inquiries, he wrote a booklet, “Staging a Night Football Game,” which was printed by Interstate. 10,000 copies were sold, so Guin wrote a second book on staging a high school play, then a third on designing an “Extracurricular Accounting System” which is still in use. Success as a writer led to a job offer by Interstate.

Originally printed in The Chakett Online at https://www.chiphi.org/chakettonline/alumni-updates/2014/01/russell-guin-inventor-of-football-at-night/