An Interview with Ted Lux '66

Ted Lux ’66 reflects on his best memories from his Acacia days to why he continues to financially support the Penn State chapter in his alumni years.

1. What is your best memory from your fraternity days? 
My fondest memory is of the friends I made, but at the time I didn't anticipate that many of those friendships would last a lifetime.  Plus I have to throw in the pranks. Some of them like Corky Charlesworth taking the door off Mike Reiter's room and putting it in his bed or Jim Ascah starting the lawn mower in one of the "rack rooms" at 3 in the morning were priceless.

2. Why did you join Acacia during your college years? What is the biggest thing you feel you learned from your Acacia experience? 
I did not intend to join a fraternity but was rushed by Acacia. After seeing what it was like I realized I was missing something and accepted the invitation. I had just a handful of ever-changing friends in the dorms but I discovered through rush that these guys were like me. The biggest thing I learned is that I couldn't then, and never will be able to prove the Pythagorean Theorem. I'm lucky I can even spell it.

3. How would your life be different today if you had never joined Acacia?
My attachment to the university would not be as strong as it is.

4. Name 3 brothers you would like to reconnect with.
No one can find Jack Sherwin from the class of '67. Also Gerhard Friedrich from '66.

5. Can you give me a brief update on what's happening in your life today? (family, career, etc.) 
I live in Brecksville, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, with my wife, Roberta. Our one son Jim is an airline pilot and he also flies the KC-10 refueling tanker in the Air Force Reserve. He just got back from "the war." I am the senior center director for the city.

6. Why do you financially support the Penn State chapter in your alumni years? 
The alumni before me did an incredible job of upgrading the house and keeping it beautiful. As we all know, the house fell into disrepair and I feel I owe it to Acacia to support the renovation project because someone did the same for me when I was there. Also people like the Jackson brothers and Doug Trumbower have done a monumental job in supporting the house and I want to support their efforts and thank them.