Sam M. Walton, 1940: 

Samuel Walton grew up like every normal child of the Dust Bowl era. His father earned his living repossessing farms during the Great Depression, but his family couldn't escape the financial turmoil of the 1930s. Like many of his generation, he had to work his way through life. He grew up in Columbia and went to Hickman High School. As quarterback for the football team, he led the Hickman Kewpies to a state championship in 1935 over Jefferson City. In fact, he never lost a game that he played in. After high school, he naturally attended the University of Missouri-Columbia. Due to his parent's financial instability, Mr. Walton delivered newspapers to pay for his college tuition and clothing. He was rushed into Beta Theta Pi because of his personality and athleticism. His sophomore year he was elected rush chairman and that summer could be seen driving all over Missouri in his old Ford truck looking for potential Zeta Phi members. He had a bright personality and it is said that he always said 'hi' to someone before they could say it to him. Mr. Walton was the kind of person who knew everyone, from the Dean of the University to the members of the maintenance staff.

When Mr. Walton graduated from M.U. in 1940, he decided he wanted to be in the retail business. He was married on Valentine's Day, 1943, to his wife Helen. He bought his first store in St. Louis with fraternity brother Tome Bates. He then moved to Arkansas and bought a store in the Ben Franklin franchise. Here, in Newport, Arkansas, a man named Harry Weiner taught Mr. Walton what was to be the future philosophy of Wal-Mart. The first Wal-Mart opened on July 2, 1962. Mr. Walton was forty-four years old, but his patience paid-off.

In 1985, Forbes Magazine named him the "richest man in America." Mr. Walton's success earned him the highest individual honor given by Beta Theta Pi, the Oxford Cup. Sam Walton is admired as one of America's most famous and wealthiest men, but more importantly as a Zeta Phi.

Harry Cornell, 1950:

In the fall of 1945, Harry Mack Cornell, Jr. moved to the University of Missouri-Columbia from the small town of Carthage. In 1950, he received his BSBA and immediately began to work for Leggett and Platt. He quickly worked his way up the corporate ladder and in ten short years became C.E.O.

A short time later, Cornell built a small furniture and bedding business into the largest producer-supplier of components for bedding and furniture in the world. Last year, the company's revenues topped $7 million and their annual sales hit the $3 billion mark. Mr. Cornell's honors include the Business and Public Administration's Alumni Citation of Merit in 1993. He was the chair of the Business and Public Administration's annual fund and also of the Herbert J. Davenport Society, both in 1994.

In 1995, he was presented with the University of Missouri's Faculty/Alumni Award. In 1998, Leggett and Platt ranked 28th among 476 of the largest companies in the United States as "American's Most Admired Corporation." Harry M. Cornell is truly one of the most successful businessmen ever to have walked through the halls of the Zeta Phi Chapter and to have graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

R. Krosby Kemper, 1950: 

R. Crosby Kemper, Jr. was born into an influential banking and railroading family in Kansas City, Missouri. Both his father and grandfather were very successful in their professional endeavors. Mr. Kemper was born in Kansas City and lived there until about the age of sixteen. He attended Southwest High School in Kansas City until he transferred to Andover Preparatory High School in Massachusetts.

After graduating from prep school he served his country during World War II. He was first stationed in St. Louis before being sent over to the Finger Lakes in Japan. After returning home, Mr. Kemper enrolled in the University of Missouri-Columbia following in his father's footsteps, R. Crosby Kemper Sr., who played football at M.U. He was married while in college to Cynthia Warrick-Kemper, the daughter of a lawyer. In 1950, he went to work for the United Missouri Bank, which is now UMB Bank of Kansas City. He later became president in 1959.

Mr. Kemper wasn't satisfied with his successful banking career. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1962 on the Republican card and in the same year chaired the Kansas City Industrial Committee. He is still very active in the running of The Kemper Art Museum, which was named in his honor. Although he never obtained a degree from M.U., he received an honorary degree from William Jewel College.

Brother in kai and another Zeta Phi Wall of Fame member, Samuel M. Walton, often referred to Mr. Kemper as his "personal banker."

Mr. R. Crosby Kemper III, the son of the great Zeta Phi, is now currently the president of UMB Banks of St. Louis. His father will turn seventy two at the end of February and is still at the office bright and early every morning with no thoughts of retiring any time soon. He remarried some years ago to Mrs. Bebe Stripp-Kemper. He has seven children between his two marriages. His son added that being named 'Mr. Kansas City' by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce was his father's finest accomplishment.

Kenneth Lay, 1964: 

Kenneth L. Lay, Ph.D., the son of a Missouri preacher and farmer, is the archetypical example of a young man from small town America who made good. The former Chairman of Enron Corporation and Deputy Secretary of Energy, Dr. Lay enjoyed a long and impressive career as an expert in the area of energy and as a captain of industry. The former Chapter President was an early proponent of deregulating U.S. utilities; Lay was at the forefront of many changes that have been implemented in the energy industry and in public policy at both the state and national level.

After Graduating from the University of Missouri in 1964, Dr. Lay received his doctorate in economics from the University of Houston, and has taught graduate courses at George Washington University. He became chairman and CEO of Enron when Houston Natural Gas merged with InterNorth Inc. in 1985. Lay has served on the board of directors of Compaq Computer Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, and the Trust Company of the West. He has been a member of the President's council on Sustainable Development, The Business Council, National Petroleum Council, and The American Enterprise Institute and is a trustee for the John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment. Dr. Lay and his wife are also major philanthropists within the city of Houston. Dr. Kenneth L. Lay has left his mark on many aspects of society, including the Zeta Phi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi.

Phillip J. Yeckel, 1933:

Phillip J. Yeckel, Missouri '33. One of the most generous and loyal Zeta Phi ever to walk through the chapter doors was Phillip J. Yeckel. After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1933, he is most famous for founding Hidden Valley Ranch. However, throughout his professional career he never forgot about his years at 520 S. College Avenue. Not only did he contribute towards the annex at 1307 Wilson Avenue and it's library named in his honor, but recently, through his widow, a great donation of five new computers was made on his behalf. The computer room, valued at over $25,000, is not rivaled by any other fraternity on campus. His contributions also extend to the University.

The recently erected Natural Resources building bears a plaque in his honor and an extraordinary display of African and North American animals made possible by him and his wife, Jane Yeckel.

William E. Cornelius, 1953:

William E. Cornelius made a name for himself in the corporate world with the Boeing corporation. The Boeing corp. is one of the largest manufacturers of commercial military and prototype aircraft in the world. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive of Union Electric Company, and currently with AmerenUE, for more than four years until he retired in December of 1993. He also has served as Director of Boatman's Bankshares, Inc. and the American General Life Insurance Company.

Like so many other great Betas before and after him, Cornelius was an extremely dedicated person. He was the type of man who wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than the best. He would contribute his whole self to any give project at any given time. William E. Cornelius' spot on the Zeta Phi Wall of Fame is largely due to his strong will and refusal to forget his brotherhood.

James J. Ellis, 1956:

James J. Ellis made his career in Dallas, Texas after graduating from the University of Missouri in 1956. He joined Mutual of New York in 1960, received his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation in 1972, and became a general manager with MONY in 1976.

The recipient of several industrial awards, Mr. Ellis served on the Managers Advisory Committee for the company's central region before his retirement in 1992. He is now a managing partner for Ellis-Rosier. He is currently serving on the board of directors at First National Bank Park Cities, Merit Medical, Jack Henry & Associates Inc., and Westwood Trust.

In 1988, he received the University of Missouri's Faculty/Alumni Award and Business and Public Administration's Alumni Citation of Merit in 1993. He has also served as president for the University of Missouri's Dallas Alumni Chapter.

Harold S. Hook, 1965:

"Action today, not tomorrow." This quote by Harold Hook epitomizes the powerful businessman. The current chairman for American General Insurance Corporation, and one time member of the Zeta Phi Chapter, Hook earned the honor of being a Wall of Fame member because of his impressive accomplishments with the national fraternity and as a business executive.

Harold S. Hook made a name for himself in the field of management. After majoring in Business Management and Accounting at Missouri, Hook didn't stop until he had reached the top. Soon after graduation, Hook entered the Navy and served his country for three years. This led him back to Missouri where he went to work as an assistant for the President of National Fidelity of Kansas City. In only five short years, Hook was named the President of the California-Western States Life Insurance Company. Shortly thereafter, American General bought California-Western States and named him President in 1975 and then chairman and CEO in 1978.

Away from the office, Harold Hook has continued to devote time to other areas of his life. Growing up as the son of a Kansas City dairy farmer, Hook became involved in Boy Scouts at a very early age and eventually reached the top honor of Eagle Scout. Then in 1988, Hook was named the National President of the Boy Scouts of America. As a dedicated member of his fraternity, Hook took on the task of Trustee of Beta Theta Pi. His efforts did not go unnoticed. Hook received the Oxford Cup, Beta Theta Pi's highest honor, in 1992.

Stephen N. Limbaugh, 1951: 

Typical of men raised in southern Missouri, Stephen N. Limbaugh was instilled with a strong sense of character and dedication. He grew up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri where he first became interested in the field of law. He made the decision to travel north to the University of Missouri and graduated in 1951. Shortly after, Limbaugh obtained his law degree. Limbaugh wasted no time out of his schooling to begin his career in law. He made a rather large name for himself and was appointed a seat as the United States District Justice. Stephen Limbaugh was actually appointed this position for the Eastern District of Missouri by the United States President, Ronald Reagan. While in office, Limbaugh represented nothing less that the ideal of honor, truth and justice. Stephen N. Limbaugh maintained his strong character and dedication throughout his life. These characteristics were enhanced as he passed through the halls of the Zeta Phi Chapter.

Limbaugh, apparently, is not the only one in his family who has achieved success through hard work and determination. His son, Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. also has accomplished many things in his own career. He currently sits on the Supreme Court for the State of Missouri. Another well-known relative of Stephen Limbaugh is Rush Limbaugh, the famous outspoken conservative.

These men are only a few of the greats that have been members of the Zeta Phi chapter of Beta Theta Pi.  There is no “average” Beta, as the combination of the quality men that are chosen with the enriched environment within the House produces success after success after success.