In January 1925, President Calvin Coolidge said, “The chief business of the American people is business.” This quote from “Silent Cal” aptly summarizes the important role that those who are intentional, diligent, and inclusive
in commerce play in setting the country on a productive course that benefits society at large.
Delta Sigma Pi has long celebrated those who do well and do good in business. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Fraternity’s introduction of programs celebrating brothers’ exemplary career achievements. Grand President
Allen Fowler first proposed the creation of the Deltasig of the Year award to the Executive Committee in May 1949. The award was to be presented annually “to the Deltasig who had made the most outstanding contribution to business on a national
scale or to our national way of life”.
In 1990, Deltasig of the Year evolved into separate Career and Lifetime Achievement Awards. The new achievement awards allowed the Fraternity to separate recognition between career success and lifetime service to the Fraternity.
Deltasigs of the Year
The first Deltasig of the Year award was presented to Oliver Powell, Minnesota, in 1952 for his achievements as a banker. Powell began employment with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in 1920, and he became its first vice president in
1937. In 1950, he accepted a position on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C., returning to Minneapolis two years later to become president of the Ninth Federal Reserve Bank. Oliver also made substantial educational
contributions by serving on the faculty at the University of Minnesota, Rutgers University, and the American Institute of Banking.
Twenty-nine brothers were honored as Deltasig of the Year. Two are still living: George Simkowski (1975) and Carl Schneider (1977).
George R. Simkowski, Wisconsin, was recognized for his successful sales career and as “an integral figure in Psi Chapter some 20 years after graduation”. While at Wisconsin, George was president of the Deltasig chapter and a star
football player. After graduation, he became a tank officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. After his service, he returned to the States and took a job in the sales promotion department of the Red Ball Footwear Division of the U.S. Rubber Company. After
two years at Red Ball, he returned to his hometown of Chicago and worked for several companies. He served as vice president of marketing of All Consumer Products for Rockwell International’s Admiral Group at the time of his award presentation.
Later, Brother Simkowski became a pioneer of movie product placement as president of Let’s Go Hollywood. The idea for his business sprouted when he was an ad manager for Webcor phonographs and tape recorders. A producer contacted him about using
a tape recorder as a prop. He successfully placed hundreds of brands in thousands of movies during his career.
Carl G. Schneider, Texas-Austin, was recognized for his fraternal service while serving a distinguished career in the U. S. Air Force. He enlisted in the Air Force to earn money to attend college, spending a year as a B-29 gunner and mechanic.
He continued his service and ultimately reached the rank of Major General. Brother Schneider went on to serve as Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Assistant Chief of Staff for the United Nations Command/United States
Forces in Korea, and as the Commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base.
Despite the responsibilities of his command, Brother Schneider remained active in Delta Sigma Pi through the Oklahoma City Alumni Chapter, arranging professional events for local chapters at Tinker and serving as the keynote speaker at the 1976 Midwestern
Regional Conference. He was also served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma City Symphony, the Allied Arts Foundation, the Last Frontiers Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Salvation Army Advisory Board.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The first Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to William Leonard, Arizona State, in 1990 for his lifetime of support to the Fraternity. Bill served as a District Director and then as Intermountain Regional Director (and therefore a Board
of Directors member) from 1981 to 1985. After serving on the Board, he became chair of the Bylaws Review Committee. Bill also helped start the Phoenix-Thunderbird Alumni Chapter, fulfilling multiple officer roles, and was instrumental in forming the
Sun City-Roadrunner Alumni Chapter.
Career Achievement Award
The first Career Achievement Award was presented to William R. (W.R.) Howell, Oklahoma, in 1992. Howell was recognized for long history working with J.C. Penney, starting in 1958 as a management trainee and culminating in becoming Chair of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer of J.C. Penney Company, Inc. in 1983.
In addition to his career at Penney's, Brother Howell served as a Director for Exxon Corporation, Warner-Lambert Company, NYNEX Corporation and Bankers Trust. He also functioned as a director for numerous nonprofits: National Retail Merchants Association,
the National Urban League, United Way of America, the National Organization on Disability and the North Texas Commission.
The Career Achievement Award was presented biennially for a dozen years until 2020 when the Board voted to return it to an annual recognition. Most recently, Jay Farner was recognized with the 2022 Career Achievement Award, which will be featured in the November issue of The Deltasig.
Since the beginning, Deltasigs have excelled professionally and personally in unique ways that reflect their individual abilities. A common thread exists in these honorees: an ethic that drives our brothers to be of service to their companies, communities
and country. We are grateful to the seven decades of award recipients who have made their mark and provided inspiration and support to generations of Delta Sigma Pi brothers.
Nominate Deserving Deltasigs
Nominations for Lifetime and Career Achievement Awards are due no later than January 2 for consideration. Contact alumni@dsp.org for more details on submitting a nomination.