News

Meet Golden Landis Von Jones, our next potential superstar, who has been signed to Columbia Records and as of this post has the #43 single on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart.  24kGoldn is a Spring 2019 Beta-Sigma Chapter initiate who has taken a leave from USC to tour full time.   TKE Fraternity at USC seems to be a magnet for talented musicians like Mark Watters, Robby Hauldren of Louis the Child, and Steven ZHU.  You can read more about Frater 24kGoldn at this Daily Trojan interview and listen to his single Valentino here.

We are very sorry to report that Frater John Nelson, Beta-Sigma #392 passed away on Thursday, September 26th.  John joined TKE in 1961 and served on the Board of Advisors for the chapter for more than 30 years.  His dedication, hard work, and expertise will be greatly missed.  Our hearts go out to his wife Hoa and daughter Cynthia.  His funeral service and reception to celebrate his life will be this coming Saturday, October 5th, at St. Dorothy Catholic Church in Glendora, California, at 10:00 am, with the reception to immediately follow in the Church hall. The Church is located at 241 S. Valley Center Avenue, Glendora, CA 91741. His family welcomes everyone who can attend with open arms and much appreciation. In an email received from John’s daughter Cynthia she said, “My Dad would have wanted to personally wish you all well, with thanks and gratitude for your friendship, advice, good humor, care, and kind words over the years. With deepest sincerity, Hoa and I send this to you on his and our behalf. We also send special appreciation to all of his physicians, who undoubtedly helped extend his life for as long as possible”

Frater Nick Maloof is a legend who started the TKE philanthropic partnership with St. Jude in 1972, secured the Miller High Life national sponsorship for the TKE Keg Roll, and poured his creative talent into the Beta-Sigma Chapter from 1975 to 1977.  Initiated at the Epsilon-Alpha Chapter at St. Louis University in 1969, Nick was elected Prytanis of the Gamma-Kappa Chapter at Indiana University when he transferred in 1971.  In 1975 Nick moved to Los Angeles and connected with the Beta-Sigma Chapter where he was the first guest performer in the history of USC Songfest.  He teamed up with six-time Emmy award winning composer Mark Watters.  Together, they co-wrote the TKE Songfest skit “Welcome to Our World.”

Frater Nick recently visited TKE HQ in Indianapolis where he met the movers and shakers of TKE Staff including Donnie Aldrich, Alex Baker and Nathan Lehman. During his visit Frater Nick said he, “wanted to meet key TKE Personnel, and relive some of the highlights of my TKE experience and my presentation before the TKE Grand Council in 1972, which resulted in the TKE / St. Jude philanthropic partnership.”  And his creativity is still flowing.  He pitched TKE on a PR initiative for the TKE / St. Jude 50th Anniversary partnership and proposed a St. Jude Museum.  Beta-Sigma is proud to claim TKE legend Frater Nick Maloof as one of its own.

RSVP and Pay Here: https://tkeusc.org/support/ffl/

Looking great, filled with optimism, and sporting TKE letters, The LA Times covers Jack Jablonski’s graduation from USC.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-jack-jablonski-kings-usc-20190521-story.html

Sad news from Frater Jerry Murphy, “My frater and friend Ed Garr (Beta-Sigma #326) has passed away. He was about three years ahead of me in the house. He was a great guy and a loyal frater, a veteran who served in Vietnam as a medic.  His funeral will be this Saturday at 1:30 at the Sacred Heart Chapel at the Sisters of St. Joseph on the Sister of St. Joseph grounds at the Mother House. The address is 480 South Batavia, Orange, 92868. All of our fraters deserve a good sendoff. I am looking forward to finally meeting his sister Teri Garr. Lets make it a wonderful celebration of a good man’s life.” More details: Brown Colonial Mortuary

Dr. Edward L. Garr was born in Manhattan, New York, on May 20, 1938, and died Monday April 16, 2019 at St. Joseph’s hospital where he dedicated 40 years as an Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon and Wound Care Doctor.  The Service will be on May 4th at 1:30pm at the Sacred Heart Chapel at the Sisters of St. Joseph on the Sisters of St. Joseph grounds at the Mother House.  Ed is survived by his loving wife, 2 children, 3 grandchildren, and his brother and sister. Ed believed that laughter and humor were very important remedies in the healing process. And he said, in his comical way, “Life was good, life was great. Glad to know you, Sorry I’m late!”

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Dr. Garr’s name may be made to St. Joseph Hospital Foundation. Call for information at 714-347-7900 or go online to http://www.sjo.org/For-Community/Ways-to-Give.aspx.  Checks may be mailed to St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, 1100 West Stewart Drive, Orange, CA 92868 in memory of Edward L. Garr, MD.  Gifts will be designated to the Wound Care Center.

Frater Graham Harrell, who was initiated along with Frater Aaron Rodgers into TKE Fraternity while playing for the Green Bay Packers joins the USC Trojans as Offensive Coordinator and QBs Coach.  Beta-Sigma TKE is proud to welcome him to the Trojan Family.

The Beta-Sigma Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon (2017-2018)