News and Events

BROTHER DR. GEORGE RAPP ('51, #563) HONORED WITH AWARD OF MERIT

At the Old Oaken Bucket gathering on November 21 in Fishers, IN, the international Acacia Fraternity presented Dr. George Rapp with the Award of Merit. Dr. Rapp has been an innovator and entrepreneur for many years. He was also recognized in recent years by the State of Indiana with the state's highest honor, the Sachem Award.

Heralded as a “medical pioneer, champion of education and supporter of the arts,” Brother Rapp retired as an orthopedic surgeon and chief of orthopedic surgery at St. Vincent Hospital. He served as a clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Along with his late wife, Peggy, Brother Rapp took to heart the “human service” foundation of Acacia Fraternity. His own motto: “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, for all the people you can, for as long as you can.”

CHRIST DROSSOS, JR

1955–2022

In the fall of 2022, the Indiana Chapter lost one of its most loyal, stalwart supporters, Christ Drossos, Jr. ('73 #1113).

RECENT AWARD RECIPIENTS

At the Acacia Fraternity Conclave in early August, 2022, several Indiana Acacia alumni were recognized with awards.

• Dr. George Rapp ('51, #563) – Award of Merit
• Paul Centanni ('17, #2588) – Order of Pythagoras
• Will Maher ('19, #2668) – Order of Pythagoras

702 E THIRD CHRISTENED THE FERGUSON CHAPTER HOUSE

Members of the Indiana Acacia Building Corporation board voted unanimously at the 2022 Annual Meeting to name the house at 702 E Third "The Ferguson Chapter House." The naming honors the Ferguson family devotion to Indiana Acacia, as well as to the international organization, Acacia Fraternity, Inc. over four generations.

Read here the announcement speech given by IABC board president, Dr. Scott Lakin ('77, #1202).

Other named spaces at The Ferguson Chapter House include:

• Arthur D. Lautzenheizer Library (adjacent to the dining room)
• Kyle P. Simcoe Patio
• David J. Allen Formal (living room)
• Christ Drossos, Jr. Room (former Kibler room)
• Richard E. Ford Library (library above the dining room)

BROTHER FORBES NAMED PRESIDENT OF IU FOUNDATION

Those of you who know JT ('86) from his undergrad days will not be surprised. IU President Pamela Whitten named JT. Forbes president of the IU Foundation after he served for nearly a year in an interim capacity.

See the IU news release.

JULOVICH DOES HIS WOODWORKING THING

Jim Julovich ('77) restored the pin light a few years ago, repairing the wood frame, replacing decades old electronics with LED bulbs, and installing a easy switch to turn the hypotenuse on and off for rituals. More recently, Brother Julovich completed a triangle case for the pin light to protect it when not in use over the next three years during the chapter suspension.

CHAPTER SUSPENSION JULY 1, 2021

Acacia Fraternity, Inc. Executive Director Patrick McGovern announced on July 1, 2021 that the Indiana Chapter of Acacia is suspended for three years. The suspension is a result of negotiations with Indiana University after active members hosted two off-campus parties, attended by as many as 200, that violated IU and Monroe County COVID rules.

Other issues were involved, too, including failure of members to cooperate with the investigations. You can read more about the suspension here.