Decades in the Making: Georgia Sigma Brothers Reunite Where It All Began

More than 50 years after Georgia Sigma’s founding, brothers from across a decade of the chapter’s history returned to Valdosta to reconnect, remember and celebrate friendships built to last.

For some, it had been years, even decades, since they had seen one another. But when more than 60 Georgia Sigma brothers returned to Valdosta, Georgia in May, the time apart seemed to disappear quickly.

“In a lot of ways, we just picked up where we left off,” said Stewart Conner (Valdosta State ’81).

The 2.5-day reunion brought together brothers from 1973 through 1983, representing the first decade of Georgia Sigma at Valdosta State University. With spouses and guests, more than 100 people participated throughout the weekend. Paul Towle (Valdosta State ’82) led the planning and organization of the reunion, building on connections that smaller groups of brothers had maintained for decades. Valdosta State University Alumni Director Amanda Peacock also played an important role in supporting the reunion, along with the VSU Department of Archives.

The weekend began on a Friday at The Crescent, a historic Valdosta landmark that once hosted many SAE formals. Saturday offered a golf scramble at Valdosta Country Club, organized by Conner, along with skeet shooting and time simply spent together before a banquet that evening featuring dinner, music and recognition of brothers celebrating 50 years since their initiation.

For founding member Louis Forget (Valdosta State ’73), the evening offered an opportunity to share the earliest chapters of Georgia Sigma’s story, from its beginnings as a colony seeking a charter to the brotherhood it would become.

“The brotherhood will always remain in you no matter how long it has been since I graduated,” Forget said.

He also recognized the former Little Sisters of Minerva and sweethearts who supported the chapter during those early years, several of whom attended the reunion.

Remembering the past also meant remembering brothers who were no longer there.

“The most memorable moment would have been when I realized that we have lost many leaders who paved the way for people like myself,” said Cole Woodroof (Valdosta State ’83). “There are many great memories that were discussed with brothers who I don’t have the pleasure of seeing very much.”

A historical slideshow created by Bret Allen (Valdosta State ’82) helped bring those memories back to life – while, as Chris Yale (Valdosta State ’83) joked, “being careful to burn some pictures, while including others! Glad my time was pre-iPhone.” The slideshow also paid tribute to fallen brothers.

While the Georgia Sigma chapter house has since closed, the relationships formed there have continued. Smaller groups have remained connected through trips, phone calls, texts, emails, social media and regular gatherings. Some have maintained friendships for nearly 50 years.

For Woodroof, those relationships have taken on even greater meaning with time. “Good friends and brothers are like the stars, you don’t always see them but you know they are there for you.”

Woodroof also met his wife, Dottie, at an SAE social in the fall of 1978. They have now been married 41 years and have two children, two grandchildren and another granddaughter on the way… one of countless ways the fraternity experience continued shaping life long after graduation.

For Ben Blanton (Valdosta State ’81), the weekend provided perspective on what ultimately matters most. “This group has been successful in life, but the feel I had for this time in all our lives was the significance of SAE and the friendships that were created in our lives.”

That significance could be felt in the simplest moments: conversations over breakfast, a handshake between old friends or reconnecting with a brother who had not been back to Valdosta since graduation.

Allen found some of his favorite moments in those quieter parts of the weekend.

“I especially enjoyed staying at the hotel where most of us stayed, catching up over a cup of coffee or breakfast, even with those brothers that I wasn’t particularly close to. Many of us committed to stay in touch and not let so many years pass,” Allen said.

“The Reunion was great, a firm handshake and authentic conversations with your brothers validated many core values learned from my fraternity experience,” Yale said.

And as the weekend ended, many left with a renewed commitment to their brotherhood. As Forget put it, “All these things that I have mentioned will definitely keep us connected as long as we can still get together.”

A special thank you to Jeff Yale (Valdosta State ’79) for helping to organize the details and reflections for this story.