Notable Lehigh University Kappa Alpha Society Members

Compiled by Walt Clevenstine, VL ’73

The information below is believed to be accurate as of April 16, 2023. Anyone with corrections, clarifications, or proposed additions to offer is welcome to send them in an Email with subject line “KA in VL Notable Kaps Input” to .

  1. Notable In Service to The Kappa Alpha Society
    1. Kappa Alpha Society Executive Council (EC) and John Hart Hunter Educational Foundation (JHHEF) Officers
      1. James E. Brooks (VL 1894-Init, 1895-M.E.); EC President 1931; EC Treasurer 1900-06.
      2. James F. Middledith (VL 1895-Init, 1899-M.E.); EC Treasurer 1920-29.
      3. Charles R. Wylie Jr (VL 1909-Init, 1913-E.M.); EC President 1959-61; EC Vice-President 1955.
      4. Aubrey B. Wolle (VL 1917-Init); EC Vice-President 1953-54.
      5. Bertrand Schweigaard-Olsen (VL 1951-Init, 1954-B.S. IE); EC President 1987-91; also Co-founder and President of the JHHEF 1989-2008.
      6. Richard B. Cawthorne (VL 1959-Init, 1960-B.A. Economics & Finance); EC Treasurer 1980-92; also Co-founder and Trustee/Portfolio Manager of the JHHEF 1989-2003; JHHEF Advisory Board member 2008-2022; EC member continuously from 1965 to 2022 either as EC officer or VL Chapter Repesentative.
      7. Douglas P. Stives (VL 1965-Init, 1968-B.S. Accounting); EC 2nd Vice President 1994; EC President 2005-08; also Co-founder and Trustee 1989-2008, and then President 2009-13, and Secretary/Treasurer 2014-2022, of the JHHEF.
      8. Donald J. Wikstrom (VL 1966-Init, 1969-B.S. Accounting); EC Vice President 1975-80.
      9. R. Lane Stebbins (VL 1970-Init, 1973-B.S. I.E.); EC Treasurer 2009-11.
      10. Steven S. Lee (VL 1988-Init, 1990-B.S. Accounting) Trustee/Portfolio Manager of the JHHEF 2005-2019.

    2. Kappa Alpha Alumni Association of Lehigh University Officers

      Incorporated in 1921, The Kappa Alpha Alumni Association of Lehigh University was established to provide support and guidance to the Active Chapter at Lehigh and to represent the Chapter in its relationships with both the University and the Kappa Alpha Society Executive Council. It also provides opportunities for KA in VL Alumni to maintain contact with the Society after their college days. For more than a century the following Lehigh Kaps have given generously of their time and efforts as officers of the Association. (Entries show years in office, names, and graduation class year.)

      President
      1921 Frederick R. Horne ’07
      1922 – 25       James E. Brooks ’95
      1926 – 28 William L. Estes Jr ’05
      1929 Arthur Peck ’03
      1930 – 47 — Information gap–
      1948 Harrison W. Conrad ’28
      1949 – 68 Charles R. Wylie Jr. ’13
      1969 Charles W. Brennan ’60
      1970 – 85 — Information gap–
      1986 Robert C. McGrory ’56
      1987 – 89 Robert M. Bevan ’60
      1990 – 92 Allan R. Frank ’76
      1993 – 95 Kenneth G. Tower ’78
      1996 – 98 Steven G. Reale ’85
      1999 – 01 Brian P. Dahmer ’85
      2002 – 04 Christian A. Borglum ’84
      2005 – 07 Gary A. Scott Jr ’83
      2008 – 09 Richard B. Cawthorne ’60
      2010 – 13 Evan D. Gerber ’04
      2014 – 18 Donald M. Rosencrantz ’60      
      2019 – Mark C. Messics ’82
      Vice President
      1921 – 25       William L. Estes Jr. ’05
      1926 Roswell S. McMullen ’06
      1927 – 28 Phillip R. Van Duyne ’06
      1929 Roswell S. McMullen ’06
      1930 – 47 — Information gap–
      1948 Lathrop Bevan ’21
      1949 – 50 Frederick M. Fisher ’27
      1951 – 58 Aubrey B. Wolle ’21
      1959 – 61 William G. Wehner ’45
      1962 – 68 Charles W. Brennan ’60
      1969 John E. Turner ’46
      1970 – 86 — Information gap–
      1987 – 89 Allan R. Frank ’76
      1990 – 92 J. Andrew Hadley ’81
      1993 – 95 Steven G. Reale ’85
      1996 – 98 Brian P. Dahmer ’85
      1999 – 01 Robert A. Weisstuch ’85
      2002 – 04 Steven S. Lee ’90
      2005 Peter C. Wolle ’53
      2006 – 07 Richard B. Cawthorne ’60
      2008 – 09 Evan D. Gerber ’04
      2010 – 13 Jeffrey E. LeVeen Jr ’97
      2014 George S. Kounoupis ’84
      2015 vacant
      2016 – 18 James P. Lynch ’90
      2019 – Blair K. Hogg ’82
       
      Secretary
      1921 – 24       W. Butler Neide ’15
      1925 W. B. Neide ’15
      Hendrick M. Search ’15
      1926 – 28       Hendrick M. Search ’15
      1929 – 30 J. Leroy F. Knight ’20
      1931 – 47 — Information gap–
      1948 – 59 John E. Turner Jr ’46
      1960 – 61 Robert C. Moore ’43
      1962 – 63 William G. Wehner ’45
      1964 – 68 Harry B. Ramsey ’50
      1969 Richard B. Cawthorne ’60
      1970 – 85 — Information gap–
      1986 R. Henry Weed ’71
      1987 – 89 J. Andrew Hadley ’81
      1990 Steven D. Sturgis ’76
      1991 Kenneth G. Tower ’78
      1992 – 94 Brian P. Dahmer ’85
      1995 – 98 Robert A. Weisstuch ’85
      1999 – 01 Christian A. Borglum ’84
      2002 – 04 Gary A. Scott Jr ’83
      2005 James M. Pontius ’04
      2006 – 09 Kenneth G. Tower ’78
      2010 – 12 J. Andrew Lascar ’04
      2013 – 14 William F. Nilsson Jr ’58
      2015 Joseph B. Dow ’10
      2016 – James A. Schwanda ’79
      Treasurer
      1921 Charles B. Warren ’98
      1922 – 24       W. Butler Neide ’15
      1925 W. B. Neide ’15
      Hendrick M. Search ’15
      1926 – 28 Hendrick M. Search ’15
      1929 – 30 J. Leroy F. Knight ’20
      1931 – 48 — Information gap–
      1949 – 65 Charles D. Couch ’38
      1966 – 69 Gary A. Scott ’57
      1970 – 85 — Information gap–
      1986 Allan R. Frank ’76
      1987 – 89 Murray S. Gorson ’78
      1990 – 92 Steven G. Reale ’85
      1993 – 94 Murray S. Gorson ’78
      1995 – 98 Gerald C. Stocker ’89
      1999 – 01 Steven S. Lee ’90
      2002 – 09 Joseph R. Daly ’90
      2010 – 12 William F. Nilsson Jr ’58
      2013 – Mark D. Yoder ’82

  2. Notable In Service to Lehigh University
    1. Lehigh University Trustees
      1. William L. Estes Jr, M.D. (VL 1901-Init, 1905-B.A. Latin-Scientific; 1909-M.D. [Johns Hopkins]; 1948-Sc.D. (Hon.) [Lehigh]; 1958-LL.D. (Hon.) [Moravian]); Alumni Trustee 1943-46, Corporate Trustee 1946-58, Trustee Emeritus 1959-70.
      2. Robert B. Honeyman (VL 1916-Init, 1920-Met.E., 1959-L.H.D. (Hon.)); Appointed Trustee 1960-62; Donor of the Lehigh University Libraries ‘Honeyman Collection’ of about 3000 volumes of rare books and manuscripts focused on English and American Literature and the History of Science — donations made periodically from the 1920s to the 1980s, with the main donation occurring in 1955.
      3. Malcolm Carrington Jr (VL 1936-Init, 1939-B.S. Business Administration); Appointed Trustee 1973-80, Honorary Trustee 1981-86.
      4. D. Brooks Zug (VL 1964-Init, 1967-B.S. Accounting; 1970-MBA [Harvard]); Appointed Trustee 2000-08.
      5. Donald J. Wikstrom (VL 1966-Init, 1969-B.S. Accounting); Young Alumni Trustee 1974-77.

    2. Lehigh University Administration and Faculty
      1. Dr. William H. Chandler Ph.D., F.C.S. (CC 1858-Init, 1862-A.B., A.M.; 1871-A.M. [Columbia]; 1872-Ph.D. [Hamilton]); Columbia School of Mines: Instructor in Chemistry 1868-1871; Lehigh University: Professor of Chemistry 1871-1905 including design supervision for the Lehigh Chemical Laboratory built in 1884 (later named Chandler-Ullmann Hall); also Acting University President 1895, 1904-05; also Director of the Library 1880-1906; Emeritus Professor of Chemistry 1906; Member American Chemical Society; London Chemical Society; Société Chémique de Paris; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Founding Faculty Sponsor of the Kappa Alpha Society at Lehigh University in 1894.
      2. Robert A. Harrier (VL 1923-Init, 1927-E.M.); Executive Secretary of the Lehigh University Alumni Association 1951-70.
      3. Charles W. Simmons (VL 1935-Init, 1928-M.S., previously 1920-B.Sc. [Queen’s University, ONT]) Lehigh University: Instructor 1928-30, Assistant Professor 1930-34, Associate Professor 1934-40, and Professor of Chemical Engineering 1940-55.
      4. Harry B. Ramsey (VL 1944-Init, 1950-B.A.); Associate Executive Director of the Lehigh University Alumni Association 1964–88.
      5. Colonel Donald H. Bott, USAF, Ret. (VL 1951-Init, 1954-B.S. Business Administration; 1965-M.S. [George Washington]); Executive Director of the Lehigh University Alumni Association 1983-95; Lehigh Active Chapter Faculty Advisor 1983-95.
      6. Charles W. Brennan (VL 1960-Init, 1934-BS [Alabama], 1953-MBA); Lehigh University: Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering 1955, with additional duties as Assistant to the Dean of the College of Engineering 1958-60, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Associate Dean of the College of Engineering 1960-64; Dean of Students 1964-74; Epitome Yearbook Dedicatee 1966; VL Active Chapter Faculty Advisor 1960-74. Previously, Gulf States Paper Corporation: Engineer 1937-47; University of Alabama: faculty member and Assistant Dean of the College of Engineering 1947-51; Georgia Institute of Technology: Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering 1951-55.
      7. Dr. J. Gary Lutz (VL 1963-Init, 1965-B.S. in E.P., 1968-M.S., 1969-Ed.D.); Lehigh University 1971-2016: Assistant Professor, School of Education 1971; Professor, School of Education & Human Services 1981; Director Lehigh Computing Center 1982-86; Received Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching 1988; Interim Dean, College of Education 2007-08; Vice Provost for Institutional Research 2010; Lehigh Active Chapter Faculty Advisor 2007-16.
      8. Dr. David M. Bell (VL 1965-Init, 1967-B.A., 1972-Ph.D. [Stanford]); Lehigh University: Assistant Professor, Biology 1972-79.

    3. Lehigh University Alumni Award Recipients

      Described by Lehigh as “. . .alumni who have given continued support to the university, have been instrumental in directing students to Lehigh, have been willing to give their time and energies, and have contributed significantly to the life of their respective communities.”

      Lathrop Bevan Class of 1921 (1916-Init)       Robert M. Bevan Class of 1960 (1957-Init)
      Robert A. Harrier Class of 1927 (1923-Init)   Stephen F. Goldman Class of 1966 (1963-Init)
      Charles D. Couch Class of 1938 (1935-Init)   D. Brooks Zug Class of 1967 (1964 Init)
      Harry B. Ramsey Class of 1950 (1944-Init)   Douglas P. Stives Class of 1968 (1965-Init)
      Peter C. Wolle Class of 1953 (1950-Init)   Donald J. Wikstrom Class of 1969 (1966-Init)
      Donald H. Bott Class of 1954 (1951-Init)   A. Raymond Schmalz Class of 1969 (1966-Init)
      Bert Schweigaard-Olsen Class of 1954 (1951-Init)   Thomas A. Stoneback Class of 1972 (1969-Init)
      Robert C. McGrory Class of 1956 (1953-Init)   Randall J. Pescek Class of 1973 (1971-Init)

  3. Notable in Professions or Activities

    See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kappa_Alpha_Society_members.

    1. William L. Estes Jr, MD (VL 1901-Init, 1905-B.A. Latin-Scientific; 1909-M.D. [Johns Hopkins]; 1948-Sc.D. (Hon.) [Lehigh University]; 1958-LL.D. (Hon.) [Moravian College]); Chief of Surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital Bethlehem, PA 1930-50, and Chief of Surgery Emeritus 1957-71; Member, American Medical Association House of Delegates 1942-60; President, Pennsylvania Medical Society 1945; elected Chairman of the Board of Governors, American College of Surgeons 1950 and subsequently served as First Vice President 1955 and President 1957-58; Lehigh University Trustee 1943-70.
    2. Charles R. (‘Doc’) Wylie Jr (VL 1909-Init, 1913-E.M.); Eastern Mediterranean Chief of Operations, Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (later Standard Oil) 1914-47; Administrator 1948-51, then Board President 1951-65 of the Pottstown Memorial Hospital. Active officer and supporter of numerous charitable and civic organizations in his hometown of Pottstown, PA.
    3. Dr. Andrew H. Knoll (VL 1970-Init, 1973-B.A. Geological Sciences, 1977-Ph.D. [Harvard]); Harvard University, Professor of Natural History, Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1982-2021. Author. Recipient of multiple honorary degrees, awards, and scientific society memberships. Science team member for NASA’s Mars Rover missions, 2004-2019. Awarded the International Prize for Biology, conferred in Tokyo in the presence of the Emperor and Empress of Japan, 2018. Recipient of the Crafoord Prize in Geosciences for 2022, awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and presented by H.R.H Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

      Below: Dr. Andrew Knoll (fourth from left) receiving the 2022 Crafoord Prize in Geosciences from HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Source: crafoord2022ceremonyKennetRuona-press photo.