Brother Gover's association with Delta Sigma Pi started nearly 62 years ago - on December 13, 1958, when he was initiated into the Beta Phi Chapter at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He later went on to receive a Master of Science degree with a major in Finance from the University of Illinois-Urbana in 1961. Gover also worked on a doctorate at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville while serving as an Instructor of Economics, and fell in love with his beloved wife, Marilyn, who he married in 1963.

Fraternally, Tim helped charter Epsilon Omega Chapter at Eastern Illinois in 1963 and served as Chapter Advisor until 1985, being honored as Chapter Advisor of the Year in 1982. During that time, he also served as District Director for Southern Illinois from 1966 until 1982. He continued to support the Fraternity by later serving on the Board of Directors being elected into the Golden Council in 1982. Brother Gover received his Silver Helmet for 25 years of service in 1984, his Golden Helmet for 50 years of service in 2009, and was honored as the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. He also served as an officer and director of the former Delta Sigma Pi Educational Foundation and the Leadership Foundation’s Gifts and Solicitations Committee. Recently, Tim sat on the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic Task Force’s Long-Term Planning Committee. He was also a lifelong supporter of the Delta Sigma Pi Leadership Foundation, as a Centennial Founder of the 10K Club, 2007 Centennial Society, a VIP Foundation Donor, and reached the Benefactor Level of cumulative lifetime giving.

Professionally, Brother Gover was a finance professor at Eastern Illinois for 32 years and served as Director of First Federal Savings and Loan in Mattoon, IL for over 35 years. During his years at Eastern, Gover authored more than 30 articles which were published in banking and other periodicals.

Gover joined the Charleston Rotary Club in 1981 and served as president from 1990-1991. In 1995-1996 he served as Governor of Rotary District 6490. The District level he served as a member or chairman of several major committees. He was named to the District Hall of Honor in recognition of his service to the District and Rotary. Gover was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and a major donor to the Rotary Foundation.

In 2009, Gover was elected to the Mattoon City Council, and upon resignation of Mayor David Cline, he was named Mayor, and re-elected in 2013 and 2017 without opposition. As mayor, he served on the Board of Directors of Coles Together, the Mattoon Area Industrial Corporation and the East Central Illinois Development Corporation. He also served on the Board of Directors of Coles County Crime Stoppers and the Local Emergency Preparedness Committee. 

Tim was a part of a family legacy within Delta Sigma Pi – his son, Ed, Illinois-Urbana, brother Bob, Eastern Illinois, and cousin Tim, Eastern Illinois. His late wife, Marilyn, and daughter-in-law Bonnie, were Pink Poodles having attended Grand Chapter Congress with him. Tim’s granddaughter Lainey, Baylor, was also initiated in 2013, making her the third generation of the Gover family to be affiliated with Delta Sigma Pi.

Brother Gover’s wisdom, experience, humor and example will be sorely missed.