Alumni

SIGNIFICANT SIGS/ORDER OF CONSTATINE:

For more than 150 years, the Delta Chapter of Sigma Chi has shaped leaders at the University of Georgia. Our alumni continue to uphold the values of wisdom, integrity, and friendship across every field of endeavor. This page recognizes the brothers whose achievements, leadership, and lifelong devotion to our fraternity continue to bring honor to Delta.

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Significant Sigs:

As one of the Fraternity’s highest honors, The Significant Sig Award recognizes those alumni members whose exemplary achievements in their fields of endeavor have brought great honor and prestige to the name of Sigma Chi.

Brown Whatley ’26

Tap Bennett ’37

Kenneth McCall ’49

Sonny Seiler ’57

John McMullan ’58

Pete Correll ’63

Robert McTeer ’64

Saxby Chambliss ’66

David Jones ’70

Rees Sumerford ’70

Steve Goodroe ’71

Bob Hurley ’71

Jeff Muir ’71

James Watrous ‘71

Norman Baldwin ’73

Gordon Smith ’75

Bob Pirkle ’76

Scott Askew ’78

Vic Corrigan ’79

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Order of Constantine

Induction into the Order of Constantine is considered to be the highest honor that the Sigma Chi Fraternity bestows upon its members. The honor of being named an Order of Constantine Sig has been conferred on just 720 brothers since the Order’s inception at the 47th Grand Chapter in 1948

H. Abit Nix ’11

Joseph Marshburn ’11

Tomlinson Fort, Jr. ’52

John “Bubba” Noell ’63

John Manning ’69

Jimmy “Birddog” Walker ’69

Steve Goodroe ’71

Jeff Muir ’71

Brad Kohl ’76

Sam Roper ’76

Fred Lanier ’78

Calder Clay ’79

Mark Douglas ‘95

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Other Notable Delta Alumni:

Colonel James R. Lockett (1874) - Charter member of the Delta Chapter, Camp Lockett named in his honor

W.O. Payne (1900) - Athletic Director - UGA - 1936-43, Payne Hall named in his honor

Henderson Lanham (1910) – U.S. House of Representatives from 1947-57

Alfred Blalock (1918) – Surgeon; co-creator of the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig Shunt

Freddy Sales (1924) – Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Nolen Richardson (1926) – Third baseman, NY Yankees, Head Baseball Coach - UGA

Brown L. Whatley (1926) - Chairman of Arvida Corp, President of Mortgage Bankers

Association of America

Vernon “Catfish” Smith ‘32 - Head Baseball Coach - UGA, College Football HOF

Garland Byrd ’49 – Lt. Governor of Georgia from 1959-63

Col. Charles Beckwith ’52 – Founder of U.S. Delta Force

Bert Lance ’52 – Director, Office of Management and Budget during the Carter Administration

Reid Patterson ‘54 - 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games swimmer

Len Hauss ’64 – Washington Redskins, NFLPA President

Larry Rakestraw ’64 – Chicago Bears, GA Sports Hall of Fame

Steve Greer ’70 – UGA coach, Toronto Argonauts, UGA Circle of Honor

Paul Fersen ’72 – New Orleans Saints

Fred Newman ’74 – Emmy-winning actor/comedian

Reggie Bradford ’89 – SVP Oracle; founder of Virtue; CMO WebMD

T.J. Middleton ’90 – Professional tennis player

Jeff Arnold ’91 – Founder WebMD, HowStuffWorks, CEO Sharecare

Bubba Dean ’92 – Musician (Memory Dean)

Spencer Frye ’92 – Georgia State Representative

Jason Branch ’97 – Superintendent, Oconee County Schools

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Sonny Seiler

    Sonny Seiler’s legacy persists as one of the most influential and enduring figures in the history of the University of Georgia. A proud Double Dawg, Seiler earned his BBA in Finance and later his Juris Doctor degree. He distinguished himself as a student leader, serving as President of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, The Interfraternity Council, and Gridiron. He was also a member of the Sphinx, the Blue Key Honor Society, Varsity Swimming, and a Founding Member of the Greek Horsemen

     Following his time at UGA, Seiler practiced law in Savannah, Georgia, where he built a distinguished legal career. He later served as President of the State Bar of Georgia (1972–1973), a member of the University of Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors, President of the University of Georgia National Alumni Association, member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Student Educational Fund, Chairman of the University of Georgia School of Law Board of Visitors, member of the President’s Club, and Trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation.

    The origin of one of college football’s most iconic traditions began in 1956, while Seiler was a law student selling football tickets on the side. Sonny and his wife, Cecilia, received a white English bulldog as a belated wedding gift. Cecilia fashioned the dog’s first outfit by sewing a black felt “G” onto a child’s size 8 red t-shirt.

    On September 29, 1956, the Seilers brought the bulldog to the Sigma Chi house before the season’s first home football game. They never intended to take him into Sanford Stadium. As Seiler later recalled, however, “you know how that goes after a few iced teas." The decision was made to bring Uga to the game. Georgia went on to win 3 - 0, and a tradition was born.

  The following week, Coach Wally Butts summoned Seiler to his office and asked him to bring Uga to all future games as the University of Georgia’s official mascot. From that moment forward, Uga, or one of his direct descendants, became a living symbol of tradition, pride, and Georgia Bulldog excellence.
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