Join Phi Psi in endowing the Ralph “Dud” Daniel

Leadership Award and celebrate a brother’s legacy that

for 63 years inspired the Fraternity, its membership, and the
Mr. Phi Psi
The Life, The Legacy
interfraternal world. Visit the Foundation’s website,
www.PKPFoundation.org, to make a gift in honor of Brother
Ralph “Dud” Daniel, Arizona ’47, Executive Director Emeritus.
www.PKPFoundation.org
800.350.1852
UNMATCHED
FRATERNAL IMPACT
{Ralph D. “Dud” Daniel was born April
12, 1925 to Alice and Charles
Daniel in Phoenix, Arizona.
Brother Daniel joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 at
the age of 17. On September 20, 1947, upon return-
ing from service during WWII, Dud was initiated into
the Arizona Alpha Chapter as badge number 3. A year
later, he began his tenure on the Fraternity Headquar-
ters’ staff which culminated on July 30, 1956, when he
officially took the Fraternity’s reins as Executive Di-
rector. Throughout his incredible Phi Psi journey Dud
was present at every chapter’s installation, provided
leadership to the Foundation for nearly ten years as a
Trustee and served as editor of the Shield for over eight
years. In August 1979 Brother Daniel stepped down as
Executive Director and was
bestowed the position of Ex-
ecutive Director Emeritus. Brother Daniel . W
upon all those he met
Dud’s leadership and impact
stretched well beyond Phi chance encounter or a planned meeting most effective and orga-
Psi. Throughout his frater- he made each person feel appreciated
nal career Brother Daniel and left them feeling inspired
was continually recognized
for this leadership, vision
and dedication to fostering programs and efforts that
taught young men and women the skills needed to be
successful in their personal and professional lives.
Dud was elected president of the Fraternity Execu-
tives Association in 1961 and during his term led the
organization to new heights. In 1979 Brother Daniel
was presented with the North-American Interfraternity
Conference’s most prestigious award, the Gold Medal,
which recognizes lifetime service to the fraternity
movement. Similarly, the Fraternity Executives Associ-
ation awarded Dud the Distinguished Service Award in
1997 for his outstanding service and successful leader- ers will never be forgotten and is continued through
ship in Interfraternity affairs. He was also the recipi- the lives of those he touched.
ent of Lambda Chi Alpha’s ”George W. Spasyk Order of
Interfraternity Service Award”, Delta Tau Delta’s “Ed
Heminger Interfraternity Leadership Award” and Theta
Chi’s “Chapman-Alter Award for Interfranternal Excel-
lence”. All three honors were given to Dud because of
his integrity and unselfish service to the betterment
of all college fraternal organizations and his concern
for the welfare of the global Greek community. During
the 71st Grand Arch Council (GAC) in 2002, the Phi
Psi Medal of Honor was awarded for the first time
and bestowed appropriately upon Brother Daniel as
an individual who embodied the Fraternity’s Creed.
Additionally, Arizona University honored Brother
Daniel when on October 20, 2007 the Ralph D. “Dud”
Daniel memorial bench was dedicated. More recently,
the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation also honored Dud with
the National Leadership Award at the 2008 GAC for
his professional achievements, the significant impact
he made on the greater community and the impres-
sion he left on the Fraternity. 
Phi Psi has also formally recognized Dud’s contribu-
tions through the establishment of numerous awards
that carry his namesake. Established in 1980, the
Ralph D. Daniel Award
left an impact
for Excellence in Chapter
Management was cre-
hether a ated to recognize Phi Psi’s
nized chapter. The award
is given during each GAC
. to a chapter that employs
management techniques
which ensure stability and growth. The Fraternity’s
sesquicentennial GAC celebration in 2002 brought the
unveiling of the Ralph D. “Dud” Daniel Award for In-
terfraternal Excellence which honors those who have
been instrumental in the fraternal movement.
Affectionately known as “Mr. Phi Psi” Dud served the
Fraternity and Interfraternal world in numerous ca-
pacities for 63 years until his joining Chapter Eternal
on January 14, 2011. His gentle demeanor, unwaver-
ing fraternal commitment and desire to better the
country and world through the development of lead-
Brother Daniel left an impact upon all those he met.
Whether a chance encounter or a planned meeting
he made each person feel appreciated and left them
inspired. He touched the lives of countless Phi Psis
and his reach within Phi Psi and the Greek Commu-
nity was insurmountable.
Share your story, memories and photos of Brother
Daniel and view others’ COMMENTS too by visiting
the Foundation’s website, www.pkpfoundation.org
and the pages dedicated to the life and memory
{
of Mr. Phi Psi.
and, while the financial support to my education aided
me a great deal, I was most pleased that I could share a
connection with Dud. His honor, integrity, and loyalty
{
“Dud was a perfect example of all it means to be a Phi Psi.
I was honored to receive the scholarship named for him
to his brothers were without comparison and will serve as
an inspiration for our brotherhood forever. I can re-
call his presence at Executive Council meetings; how his
soft-spoken and humorous anecdotes were a comforting
link to the tradition of our brotherhood, reminding us of
our solemn duty to guide the institution to which he had
devoted his life’s work. Dud will continue to be an inspi-
ration to me and to all Phi Psis.”
—Barrett Anderson, Iowa ’04
Past District V Archon and 2007 recipient of
the Ralph D. “Dud” Daniel Leadership Award
{
[Brother Good recounts Brother Daniel in-
viting him and Charlie Umberger, Duke ’70 to
dinner] “My first thought was: what are we
going to do after that? Surely dinner won’t take
over an hour, will it? I soon learned that there
was no “after that.” Dinner consumed the whole
evening and then some! Dud was quite the food
connoisseur and wine aficionado. While my ham-
burger and beer background made me a bit antsy
that first night, I soon grew to enjoy the experi-
ence, and over the next two years we spent many
long evenings over dinner, enjoying each other’s
company. Dud was a gentleman, a gracious host
and a great conversationalist. Always interested
in and concerned about the welfare of others —
he loved his Phi Kappa Psi!”
— Bill Good, Iowa State ’69
Brother Good served as a Field Secretary for two
years while Brother Daniel was Executive Director
“Upon opening the letter indicating
I was the recipient of the national
scholarship named in Dud’s honor, my
first reaction was to share the news
with my family and several brothers.
When I spoke with them, my conversa-
tion didn’t lead with information on
the monetary stipend that accompanied
the award but rather and explanation
of who Dud was and his impact on the
Fraternity. To receive an award named
for the man whom had so success-
fully directed Phi Kappa Psi and whom
had been considered the epitome of a
gentleman affected me profoundly.”
— Daniel Dennhart, Case Western ’04
2008 recipient of the Ralph D. “Dud” Daniel
Leadership Award
[Brother Brantley recalls a time during the 1986
GAC] “The ceremonial materials for the Order of the
S.C. had not arrived by the time of the banquet and
it fell to Dud and several others to reconstruct, as
it were, the entire process, including the ceremonial
words. Room arrangements were variable and easily
recalled, but the mysteries to be imparted were precise.
For those of us being initiated into the Order, little
information on the exact problem was not initially
shared, although the materials arrived the follow-
ing day, and we had a “second” presentation of what
we were required to hear. However, what we received
on that first evening seemed to capture more than the
words, but the actual essence of what the Order is and
ought to be. A few years later, Dud invited me to join
his team in preparing the room, and for the last twenty
years, I have shared in the ceremony that few had ever
seen in print.”
— Flynn Brantley, South Carolina ’72
President of the Order of the S.C.