Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 25, 1992 TAG: 9202250226
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Kathleen Wilson
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
THESE GREEKS BEARING GIFTS ARE ALL
Never did the fraternity/sorority thing in college. Sure, I went to a frat party or two, maybe three. But never joined. I just didn't quite get the whole concept of pledging to get a whole house full of instant friends. The idea was Greek to me.I was proud to be a GDI (God---- Independent).
So it was with more than a just a few preconceived notions that I arrived at Roanoke College's Kappa Alpha Order fraternity Rose Ball in the Marriott's Grand Ballroom on Saturday night.
James Gilbert, a Kappa brother from Covington, filled me in on the frat's history.
The Kappa Alpha Order was founded at Washington College - later Washington and Lee - when Robert E. Lee was named president after the Civil War. The order was formed to stand for all that General Lee embodied: chivalry and commitment to the high standards of a Southern gentleman.
Its motto: Deux et les dames, God and women.
The Rose Ball was established to name a new fraternity "rose," or the woman these guys select as the person whose standards they will live up to.
Most of my fraternity encounters were of the "Animal House" variety. This one sure wasn't.
It was an elegant affair, in fact, attended by a group of well-mannered students. The brothers wore suits. Their dates were dressed mostly in basic black with tasteful decolletage.
Tisho Holtby, a tall, pretty blonde from Annandale, and her date Jason Cording of Stafford were a hoot. Tisho is loaded with personality, and her laughter filled the room. I caught just part of one of their conversations:
\ Tisho: "Well, that's certainly not a very Southern-gentlemanly thing to say," she said laughing.
\ Jason: "I was only teasing."
\ Tisho: "Well, I want to go home now," still laughing.
\ Jason: "Good, as a gentleman, I'll call you a cab."
Dinner was a feast: lamb and turkey and monstro-sized slices of chocolate cake.
Then came the dancing. Big lesson learned here: I am OLD! Just a half-generation behind this group, but when it comes to music, I may as well have been from another planet.
Compact-disc jockey Alan Sioberg from Chambersburg, Pa., explained the evening's music: "Just you're standard college stuff," he explained. Looking at the discs, I recognized absolutely nothing: Boyz 2 Men? Greater D and the Boyz?
It was alarming. Don't we all want to think of ourselves as at least on the cusp of hip?
Sioberg tried to console me. "We did bring some oldies," he said, listing Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, the Eagles and the Doobie Brothers. My blood went cold. I mean, good grief, aren't they classics?
It only got worse. The gang was hounding him to play something danceable. Figuring that I had some clout, considering my age and the fact that I was from the newspaper, three of the brothers dispatched me to make a request.
When I requested something called "Hippy Chick" by Soho, three girls standing around Sioberg squealed, "Yeah! She knows what we want to hear!"
Eventually, the new officers were named. Chris Dillard from Blue Ridge begins his second term as president, or No. 1, as they call it.
Todd "Just call me the stud" St. Clair from Buchanan was re-elected as No. 2. Kind of like a gunnery sergeant, I guessed? "I turn these guys into brothers," he explained.
"What a cheeseball," Dillard said, shaking his head.
The outgoing rose, Lorraine Gimblett from Edison, N.J., was thanked for all of her time and support. Then came the big moment. It was time to name the new Kappa Alpha rose.
"Elle MacPherson! Cindy Crawford!" the guys yelled out.
But Ali Levering from Williamsport, Pa., won out, even over the supermodels.
To hear about it, the whole affair had seemed a little sexist. But to see Ali receive a bouquet of roses and then watch 20 brothers drop to their knees and sing "My Kappa Alpha Rose," it all seemed charming and touching. Everybody got a little choked up.
Growing up a Yankee, I realized it was this Southern gentleman chivalry thing that was all Greek to me.
Meanwhile, over in the Marriott's Director's Suite, another very special gathering was taking place. It was an intimate gathering of 20 or so, drawn together to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Florence and L.L. Jonas of Roanoke.
"We just told them we were taking them out to dinner and to pack a suitcase," their daughter, Marcia Jonas Holtzman, explained.
They decorated the room with framed photographs from the Jonases' Feb. 26, 1942, wedding. Marcia brought along the original wedding announcement, which ran in this newspaper in the "Society and Activities of Women" section.
Among those who turned out were five members of the original wedding party, including best man Hartley F. Mays from Bluefield and maid of honor Emelyn Moomaw Hutts of Roanoke.
Granddaughter Jill Holtzman, 21, described her grandmother as "like, too sweet to believe . . . a wonderful role model."
In a world some view as lacking in commitment, a world of broken, transient relationships, what did the Jonases view as their secret to 50 years of marriage?
Florence's face just lit up. "I don't know what the secret is," she said, "but I do think 50 years is a good start, don't you?"
THE PARTY LINE: If you'd like to invite free-lance Mingling columnist Kathleen Wilson to a party or social gathering, call her at 981-3434; when asked for the mailbox, dial MING (6464) and press the key. Or write her in care of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.