(Spike’s letter to Marty Haskill) … I read the most recent Theta Data with enthusiasm. So well done!! Many of the stories took me back 40 or more years to some of the best times in my life. Great guys and great times. I thought you might appreciate this story which I believe occurred in 1965
Each year the Beta pledges at OWU had a tradition to “kidnap” an Active Brother who they felt had plenty of Fraternity spirit, and take him along on an off-campus weekend retreat. This year was my turn.
Unaware to me on Friday afternoon after a touch football game, I hitched a ride back to the Beta House with a pledge on a motorcycle that stopped on a side street. Here, I was pounced upon, tied up and put in the back of a rental truck. Off we went from Delaware OH to the Beta chapter at Northwestern at Evanston, IL. Little did the dozen or more pledges know what they we’re getting themselves into.
First stop on the drive north, they pulled into a late-night diner restaurant where we all disembarked from the backend of the truck. While hopping down, I dislocated my right shoulder. I remember lying prone on one of the diner’s food counters holding a heavy red fire extinguisher in my right hand in hopes of easily having the shoulder “pop” back in. No such luck. The pledges had to find the nearest hospital where I was given a shot to kill the pain. A doctor put the shoulder in, and I left with my arm in a sling.
When we finally arrived at Northwestern, I was “treated” to a hair makeover. At the time I had long dark hair. By later that evening, I had long summer-blond hair. With my arm in a sling, I was no match for a hair-dye session. I had to admit it actually looked surprisingly good.
So, the pledges and I went out to some of the local bars for beer, which continued, into Saturday. It was a great time. What the pledges did not know, though, was that I’m an asthmatic and they’d not brought any of my prescription emergency inhaler medication. As time wore on through Saturday and Sunday morning, I was having some difficulty breathing.
On the drive south back to Delaware, I was having enough discomfort that the pledges made a choice. They pulled into the Toledo OH Hospital Emergency Room.
Here, I was treated for a partially collapsed lung. Mind you, I’ve got my arm in a sling and my hair is bleached blonde. The nurses were going bonkers. I ended up staying in the hospital for about two weeks before able to finally get back to OWU.
This story is relevant for a couple of reasons. First, with our litigious society now, the pledges would probably avoid any fraternity hazing or “kidnapping” at all cost. But, more importantly, I have to say I really treasured that off-campus get-away. Sure, I got battered a bit, but the camaraderie was well worth it.
To all those Beta pledges, “thanks for a great time and lots of enduring memories!”
“Spike” Reed, ’66,
36 St. Nicholas Rd.
Darien, CT 06820
203-662-0231
sreed01@optonline.net
Spike Reed ’66 shown with undergrads
Spike Reed Family Christimas, 2007
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