Brother Richard A. Koella Inducted into UT Greek Alumni Hall of Fame

On October 11 of this year, Brother Richard (Dick) A. Koella (Tennessee-Knoxville ’44) was inducted into the University of Tennessee Greek Alumni Hall of Fame. Dick was one of the most influential alumni of the Tennessee Kappa chapter ever had.

Here are some of Dick’s highlights:

• Served as the Emimnent Archon twice
• Member of the most influential secret non-Greek society on campus (Scarabbean)
• Recipient of the highest award an undergraduate can receive (Torchbearer)
• Member of House Corporation for years and years
• Served as the Commission Chair
• Chapter Advisor for almost 20 years
• Contributor to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation
• Initiated the Leadership School scholarship fund
• Received the Order of the Lion, Minerva, Merit Key and the Distinguished Service Award
• At the University level, he continually donated money and time to the flagship campus and, with his wife Angie, was a large supporter of the University of Tennessee (particularly with the John C. Hodges Library)

Attached below are three recomendation letters written on behalf of Dick’s fraternity brothers, Richard Scharff (Tennessee-Knoxville ’85), John Werner (Tennessee-Knoxville ’86), and Steven Jacoway (Tennessee-Knoxville ’82).

Richard Scharff:

“I am honored to Write in support of Richard Koella’s selection as a nominee for the FRATERNITY
HALL FAME . There is no doubt he deserves this honor . I was President during his Alumni Advisor
stewardship and in the University Senate as a student representing Fraternity Ro 2 years. He was a
Father figure , Friend , Counselor , and fellow Brother (SAE). He was a head of his time for Inclusion
and Diversity. I had lunch with him once a week and visited in the evenings at his home , which was
open to the Fraternity members. Ther is so much I could include about Richard, but I know there is
no one else who gave up so much of his time for the betterment of our FRATERNITY in the University
community and in the Knoxville community. He cared about every member and was willing to help
in any way. He found employment , and places to live for some members during summer school.
When trouble occurred, he was there to listen , and provide input but knew one had to face the
consequences , even the Fraternity as a whole. I miss him deeply and know he gave decades of
service to the Fraternity. When I graduated, he was there to meet my family and congratulate me.
Over the years we stayed connected, but my biggest regret was his calling me and telling me , do
not come see me in the ground , come up to see me before . I did not get there and spent several
days thinking about him and all he instilled in me. I shed a lot of tears for him. He is most deserving
of this honor, and it will be the Hall of Fame’s loss if he is not honored. Richard Koella could be the
definition for the Fraternity Hall of Fame. Thanks for your consideration.”

John Werner:

“To Whom It May Concern:

Please accept this letter of recommendation for Richard A. “Dick” Koella for the UTK Greek Hall of
Fame. I cannot imagine a more fitting tribute to such a fine SAE and Volunteer.
Dick was initiated into the Tennessee Kappa Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon on April 20, 1941. The
following year, he volunteered for military service in WWII. Upon his return from active duty, he was
elected president in 1945 and 1946 (at that time, the largest chapterin SAE history) as they continued
to serve a leading role on the Tennessee campus. During his undergraduate years, Dick was a
member of Phi Eta Sigma, Scabbard and Blade, Junior class officer, assistant manager All Sing, Phi
Kappa Phi, and – in his slightly delayed planned senior year – was inducted into the Scarabbean
Society and a Torchbearer.

After graduation he immediately began serving on the housing corporation and continued to do so
for many years. In 1979, during our darker hours and the year of our centennial, Dick was asked to
serve in the seemingly hopeless job as chairman of our alumni commission. Three years later, in
1981, the Chapter was saved and the commission disbanded. For his efforts, Dick received Chapter
Advisor of the Year—twice and awarded the Order of the Lion for the miraculous turnaround of the
active Chapter. But instead of “retiring,” Dick assumed the role as the sole Chapter Advisor—no
board; just him. Over the years, under his wise tutelage, the Chapter received The Chapter
Achievement Award (the second highest award for Chapters that are exemplary, top-performing, and
excel in core, fundamental areas of chapter operations) six times. For these efforts, he was
nominated by the National Fraternity and received the Order of the Minerva. Over the following years,
his endeavors were acknowledged by the University with the Chancellor’s Citation (1986), the Order
of Minerva, and in 1991, Dick received the second highest award to a volunteer alumnus can receive
in Sigma Alpha Epsilon- the Merit Key. But Dick’s enthusiasm for SAE did not stop in the Chapter
House. Outside the hallowed walls of 1808, Dick also was the founding member for creating the
Chapter Leadership School Tuition Endowment Fund within The Levere Memorial Foundation, which
creates scholarships for SAE undergraduates to attend the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Leadership School
at our national headquarters in Evanston, IL. In addition to the tens of thousands of dollars he
donated to the National Fraternity, he also spearheaded the funding for the Spring Equinox Pavilion
housing addition completed in 2000. Finally, as an appropriate capstone to his illustrious association
with the bonds of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, he received the coveted Distinguished Service Award – the
highest award any member can receive. Indeed, a feat so rare, fewer than .0043% (forty-three
hundredths of one percent) of all our initiates have obtained it.

Dick was not only gracious with his time and connections, he was also generous with his money. A
long-standing member of the President’s Club and the Development Council, he loved giving back to
his alma mater. His favorite contribution, however, was when he and his wife became John C. Hodges
Society members after establishing for the enrichment of the University of Tennessee’s Library
System the “Angelyn Donaldson and Richard Adolf Koella Endowment” dedicated for special
collections.

Dick’s influence was so noteworthy a recent edition of The Phoenix (the official volume for members
that discusses among other things, our reason for existing, our standards and the history of our

Fraternity) notes Dick three separate, unrelated times: as president after WWII, a photo of him with
other Tennessee Kappa fraters at the 1946 Leadership School (featuring UTK Dean of Students and
SAE great, Dr. John O. Mosely), and his establishment of a permanent endowment. Only three
laudable SAEs are mentioned more often. At Dick’s funeral twelve years ago, over 150 of “his boys”
representing three decades attended his funeral, not to mourn his passing but to revere his greatness
and our deep, deep love for him. So loved someone will post on Facebook (and dozens will affirm)
each Father’s Day: “He never had any children, but hundreds of sons.” Indeed, his influence
continues to exist, particularly in this nominator. I am fond of telling others how I chuckle each time
I slip out of my Buick in a pair of slacks, a button down, and loafers, and affix my badge as I walk into
a Chapter meeting hoping to channel my best “inner Dick Koella.”

Behold Brother Koella! May you perpetually shine ever more and more unto all your boys at Tennessee
Kappa!”

Steven Jacoway:

“To Whom It May Concern:

Please accept this letter of recommendation for Richard A. (“Dick”) Koella for the 2024 UTK
Greek Hall of Fame class.

I believe that Dick Koella has made numerous and significant contributions to both his fratemity,
Tennessee Kappa Chapter of SAE(‘SAE’) and the University ofTennessee at Knoxville(“UTK”).
After his initiation into SAE in 1941, Dick volunteered and served in the military during WWII.
Upon his completion ofhis military service and re-entry into UTK as an undergraduate, he served
as president of SAE in 1945 and 1946. During his undergraduate years, he has received many
awards and recognition which culminated in his induction in the Scarabbean Society and being
named a UTK Torchbearer. After he graduated fiom UTK, he served as an executive with
Rockford Manufacturing Company located in Rockford, Tennessee for many years and continued
his engagement with SAE and UTK.

When SAE had its charter suspended in 1978, Dick reengaged in a large way by agreeing to chair
an alumni commission which SAE National set up to oversee and revitalize SAE. After SAE
regained it charter in 1981, Dick agreed to remain as the chapter advisor and continued in that
formal role for 17+ years. I first met Dick when I became an SAE active and served as SAE
president in 1981, I worked closely with Dick in addressing and improving SAE in many areas.
Some of SAE’s activities which were a direct result of Dick’s efforts during those early years were:

• SAE’s re-engagement and invo’lvement in the annual homecoming activities in 1981 after an eight (8) year hiatus;
• The founding and growth ofthe annual SAE Fraternity Boxing Toumament held at Golden
  Cloves arena which started in 1981 and continued for a period of forty (40) years dunng
  which over $ I .5 million dollars was raised for MDA and Knoxville Golden Glove Charities
  along with the engagement and involvement of thousands of members from every liatemity
  and sorority on UTK’s campus during the same period;
• The establishment ofan annual leadership workshop for SAE actives and pledges which was conducted during a spring weekend and staffed with numerous UT administrators and leaders, particularly then Vice Chancellor Phil Scheurer;
• Annual spring leadership luncheon at the SAE fratemity house which was regularly attended by the University of the UT President, UTK Chancellor, Vice-Chancellors, and numerous UT officials in order to facilitate and re-build the relationship between SAE and and UTK;
• Overseeing and obtaining the necessary financing for a total rehab of the SAE fratemity house including the new construction of an additional multi-purpose building of approximately 2500 square feet adjoining the existing fratemity house which became necessary to serve the new and continuing growth in mernbership of SAE.
• The annual recruitment and retention of a graduate/law student to move into the fiatemity house and serve as an onsite scholastic advisor funded through donations made by alumni specifically recruited by Dick to enhance and improve SAE’s scholastic results.
• Setting up an annual workshop fair/seminar at the SAE house for actives which was staffed solely by SAE alums liom different fields to educate and inform the SAEs of future job and career opporfunities. This workshop was also assisted by the UTK job placement office as well.
• The engagement and recruitment of dozens of SAE alumni to actively and financially support the chapter after many years ofneglect by both the chapter and alumni.

In conclusion, Dick’s passion, time and effort, almost single handedly, caused the re-birth and re-
introduction of SAE to the UTK campus in a positive manner and provided a sfong base for the

contribution of SAE to both UTK and the Knoxville community. Dick’s time commitment on an
annual basis equaled hundreds ofhours and was done on a completely voluntary basis. During this
same time fiame, he also was an active supporter of UTK in gifts, donations and time through
serving on many UTK alumni and leadership boards. Dick’s friendship, motivation, and mentoring
greatly benefited hundreds of SAEs liom the I 980s through the early 2000s.

For these reasons, I believe Dick Koella would be an outstanding addition to the upcoming 2024
class for the UTK Greek Hall of Fame.”