Recognizing a lifetime of service and loyalty to the Fraternity, the Distinguished Service Award is the highest individual award a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon may receive. Their actions exhibit their understanding of the Fraternity’s teachings, adherence to Fraternity Laws, attention to promoting its welfare, and exemplary conduct that guards its honor and high standing.
The Fraternity has 355,000+ initiated members; only 158 have been recognized with the Distinguished Service Award. Major Raymond Mark “Hondo” Davids (‘77), USMC Retired, is the most recent recipient, which was awarded on June 17, 2023, which was awarded on June 17, 2023, at Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s 167th Anniversary Convention.
Hondo’s service in giving back to the Fraternity started immediately after graduation as a Province Deputy Archon for two provinces and volunteering for four different area alumni associations and four different collegiate chapters. Through these leadership positions, he has been a delegate at 18 consecutive Anniversary Conventions over the past 40 years. His passion for the Fraternity does not stop there, as he is a multi-year faculty member of various Province Leadership Schools as well as the John O. Moseley Leadership School, serving as its Director twice.
Impressively, his service to SAE might not be what he’s most well-known for within the Fraternity. After all, most of our Brothers know you by the nickname bequeathed on you from the military, not your actual first name. Hondo dutifully served the United States Marine Corps for over 22 years, retired with the rank of major, and subsequently served many years as a financial management consultant to the Chief of Naval Operations. While the details of his armed forces career can’t be divulged, the awards he has received should speak enough to the level of service and commitment Hondo has given to our country, having received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Media, Volunteer Service Medal (twice), and the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three times).
As a firm supporter of military service and our beloved Fraternity, Hondo has helped create a scholarship fund to support United States Marine Corps veterans and Officer Candidates at the University of Maryland. He was honored by Province Gamma as Archon Emeritus, one of the first to have a position of this kind. He also served on the Board of Directors for the SAE Financial and Housing Corporation for five years and currently serve on the national Health & Wellness Committee; as such, he has already received The Highest Effort Award, the Order of the Lion, the Order of Minerva, and the Merit Key Award.
Congratulations to Major Raymond Mark “Hondo” Davids, the 158th recipient of Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Distinguished Service Award.
