Jeff Kerby '89 has the distinction of being a founding father of the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Beta Theta Pi.

The Founding Inspiration
"I was a medical student in my second year and there was a student a year behind me named Tad Duke. His father Harold Duke, Sr. was a big alumnus in Beta Theta Pi and Tad came to campus with a lot of energy and enthusiasm to start our own chapter on campus," Jeff said. "His enthusiasm was infectious and we liked what he had to say about the values and standards of the fraternity, so about 20 of us organized to form the original chapter."

The group had the vision and drive to found the new Beta Theta Pi chapter, but the complex application process required more than enthusiasm. However, the group was guided by Tad's father as well as local Beta leaders. For guidance on ceremonies and initiation process, the chapter partnered with Beta at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

"Basically they were our mentors," Jeff said. "We conducted our initiation ceremony at Columbia and went to Mizzou for social events on quite a few weekends."

Humble Beginnings
Jeff was galvanized by a regard for the standards of excellence that are part of Beta and the chance to be involved in a group that valued both academic and intramural athletics excellence. But Jeff and the rest of the group was also enthusiastic to change their living situation and the new chapter needed a place to live.

"As med students, we all lived in this small dorm on campus for the first year of two. We didn't have a house when we started out," Jeff said. That didn't happen until three or four years after I graduated. But we found an apartment complex near campus and took several units that made up the bottom floor."

We asked Tad how the old apartment complex compares to the Beta house today.

"It was a pretty humble situation," Jeff laughed. "But we didn't know any better and at the time it served our needs. It was our place to have social gatherings and meetings. We even had a cook. So, really we thought it was great. Of course, the house today is a little nicer than what we had then. Just a little."

Jeff remained active with the new Beta chapter at UMKC for five years till he graduated with his medical degree. He served as the chapter's first Vice President and Tad served as the first chapter President.

Evolving Brotherhood
There have been 27 classes of Beta brothers since the founding of the UMKC chapter and Jeff still keeps in contact with the chapter.

Jeff said he uses the web site to keep abreast of chapter activities as well as Facebook to keep up with individual alums. He said there is a close group of students from his graduating class, including Pat Griffith, Jim Burke, Brian Sieck, Jim Milburn, Sam Platt, and John Hickman.

"I did make it back October of 2009," Jeff said. "I was able to visit the house where they are now and attend an initiation ceremony. It was very enjoyable."

When asked his impressions of the new generation of active brothers in the Beta chapter he helped create, Jeff said that although some things have changed he felt the important things have stayed the same.

"The chapter has evolved and changed. It used to be heavily focused on medical students. Now, it's much more of a diverse group," Jeff said. "But the principles we valued are still being upheld. Every year Beta is at the top of the GPA for Greek organizations on UMKC campus. They do very well in intramural athletics as well and have some of the best social programs. The makeup of the chapter has changed, but the principles and high standards of Beta Theta Pi are doing very well."

Jeff has stayed active with the active Beta brothers through mentoring, making trips to the Tuscaloosa campus to mentor medical students.

Lasting Legacy
Jeff currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama where he is Professor of Surgery, Emergency Medicine at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has a wife and twin boys who are entering high school.

Jeff said that he is trying to direct his sons to toward thinking about becoming Beta brothers in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama.

"The Beta house is next to the football stadium on campus, so whenever we drive past it to go to a game, I point out to them how packed the house is and how fun it looks," Jeff said.

"Being a Beta brother was definitely good for me. It helped me build relationships that have lasted a life time," Jeff said. "To me Beta is a group that as a whole wants to excel and has high standards for excellence. I want my own sons to be part of that group."

Reconnect with Jeff at jkerby@uab.edu.