Bill Meyer was a friend of all ages of Sigma Pi. At the annual Founders Day, he was easily approachable by the young and old and always enjoyed chatting one-on-one. He readily was proud of his family, talking about his newest grandchild and such.
For many years, Bill was the most veteran alumnus to attend Founders Day, a prominent member of the Old Men’s Club and he was part Landfair Manor a couple of years before Joe Marsalek’s era began.
Bill’s greatest legacy is most likely his work with the Educational Foundation, on the national and chapter level. For years, he presented the academic awards to actives at Founders Day, and he also served on the national board of the Educational Foundation.
Bill, an avid Bruin football fan who had a lifetime pass from the Athletic Department, made his final public appearance at the UCLA-USC game at the Rose Bowl. He stopped by the Alumni Cookout with his wife and to visit old friends, including Joe Henrickson. Meyer died several days later on Nov. 30.
“He was there for all the events, he was just a really good guy,” Dick Kruger said.
Others were more pensive and reflective.
“I never saw him unhappy when he had a beer and cigarette,” said Joe Marsalak, long-time Chapter Advisor.
William “Bill” D. Meyer born May 5, 1923 in Litchfield, Minnesota, died at the age of 79 on November 30, 2002, in San Marino, California. He will forever be remembered as a dedicated brother to all Sigma Pi, and as a great man to many others.
Meyers moved to California with his family when he was a seven-year-old, and, knowing a good thing, spent most of his life in our beautiful state, the fairest in the union. He attended UCLA in 1941, where he started his fraternal life at Upsilon Chapter. Meyer, like most men in the U.S., interrupted his studies to fight for the United States after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He served the U.S. Navy as a Supply Officer during WWII, spending three years fighting in the Pacific Theater. Think of that dedication the next time you have a “problem” or “issue” in your life.
Meyer continued to move up the ranks of naval command retired at the rank of Lt. Commander. He returned to UCLA and lived in the Sigma Pi house until he finished his studies in 1947, and in later years helped brothers join the Naval Reserve. Brother Meyer went to work for Prudential after graduating from UCLA. He met his wife, Betty Ann McBride, whom he married in 1950.
At Upsilon, Pledge Dick Kruger remembers how Meyer and another Upsilon legend Bill Cutbirth made tough Hell Masters, and the pledges tried to retaliate with pranks. One prank was to pile cow manure high in front of Meyer’s door.
For a war veteran to be pestered by young whippersnappers, Meyer did not take to that too kindly, and the pledges were treated to some paddling afterwards from a paddle stored behind the small iron door by the fireplace.
“He was one of the meanest sons of bitches there was during Hell Week,” Henrickson remembered fondly.
Dick Welsh, who was very close to Meyer, recounted the story of how the Old Men’s Club was founded. It’s not because the gentlemen of the 1950s era seem old today. It is based on the returning war veterans who were in their mid-20s when they return. The house was large with more than 100 members, and brothers lived 2-3 per room. Meyer, was 24, after his service in WWII, and there were few bars near campus. So, he and Cutbirth, Everett Rea, Jack Bletz and other tromped up to “The Glen,” which was located on Beverly Glen Boulevard or “Pete’s,” located on Pico Boulevard. In 1947 at “The Glen,” the OMC was inaugurated with its charter written under the auspices of bartender Bill Irish.
Also at UCLA, Meyer was involved in campus and was the manager of the track and field team, which was coached by an Upsilon alumnus Elvin “Ducky” Drake. Drake was a long-time UCLA institution until his death in 1990, and the current track and field/soccer stadium on campus bears his name. Drake is most famous for coaching the gold and silver decathlon medallists at the 1960 Rome Olympics – UCLA products Rafer Johnson and C.K. Yang.
After UCLA, Meyer made a career change in 1952, going to work for Carter Hawley Hales Stores, Inc. He spent 40 years with the company before retiring as Corporate Secretary.
Brother Meyer was deeply involved in Sigma Pi. He served the brotherhood in many facets including positions as Province Archon, Educational Foundation Trustee, Expansion Chairman, Educational Vice President, and as a key member of the Publications Committee.
Meyer also helped Sigma Pi expand in the western states, along with Bill Cutbirth, and had a hand in almost every “double-named” chapter, including Fullerton, Long Beach, San Diego and San Diego State. He also helped re-colonize the dormant UC Berkeley chapter, one of the fraternity’s oldest.
“He was a very strong leader, he was very involved until the very,” Kruger said.
Meyer was also extremely involved in United States Diving. He was elected to numerous offices, including Treasurer and Vice President of the national organization. He had a great passion for the sport and the people involved. Brother Meyer also spent time helping the community with his involvement with Traveler’s Aid.
He will be remembered by his family as “the greatest Dad” to his three daughters: Patty Ann Walk, Janet Meyer Drez, and Jean Meyer. He has seven grandchildren: Billy, Jimmy, Summer, K.C., Philip, Jr., Jack and Jennifer.
