Knight Errant 2021 V2

T H E
KNIGHT ERRANT
Captain of Industry –
John Hairston
Leaders Emerge
with Opportunity
Day of Giving Results

2 KNIGHT ERRANT | THE DELTA CHI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Heritage Society
Passing of Brother Ralph Fabozzi,
Embry Riddle ’73
This issue’s Heritage Society spotlight is on Brother Ralph Fabozzi, Embry
Riddle’ 73. Upon his passing to that higher court early in 2021 he left
in his estate plan the gift of real property to the Delta Chi Educational
Foundation: a Hatteras 75 ft. motor yacht. Upon the sale of this property
of which the proceeds benefited the Embry Riddle ECHI (Educational
Chapter Housing Initiative) account, Brother Fabozzi posthumously
became the 27th New Founder in the Delta Chi Fraternity, having given
over $100,000 lifetime.
Special thanks to Brothers Ed Fusco, Embry Riddle ‘73 and Chip Merlin,
Florida ‘80. Brother Fusco aided the Fabozzi family serving as Executor
of the Hatteras, and Brother Merlin lent his connections in the boating
industry to connect the DCEF with a reputable yacht broker.
Ralph was a Founding Father and charter member of the Embry-Riddle
Chapter of Delta Chi. He was also the MVP (center) and playing coach for
the Delta Chi Jets, winning three intramural championships and going 35-0!
Upon graduating Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Ralph
joined the McDonald’s Corporation, quickly climbing the corporate ladder
to lead Hamburger University in Chicago, IL. After corporate life, Ralph
remained with McDonald’s and franchised a group of restaurants in the
Florida panhandle. After 25 years with McDonald’s, Ralph sold his stores
and signed up as a franchisee with a new fast-food concept; Firehouse
Subs. Over the next 15 years, he and his wife Jill successfully operated
eight stores in north Florida and south Georgia which became among the
best in the entire system. In his good health, Ralph was a multi-engine pilot
and an avid seaman with all the associated “big boy” toys you’d expect.
The Fabozzi Family was honored in person on October 15, 2021 at the
ERAU Chapter House with the Delta Chi Memorial Ceremony, and presented
with the New Founders’ Key by DCEF Executive Director, Justin
Sherman. Brother Fabozzi leaves behind sons Chris, Brandon, and wife
Jill of over 30 years. The ERAU Charter is sadly draped in his memory
and we all send our deepest condolences.
Brothers Fusco & Fabozzi – 1994

13
Chairman’s
Welcome
Rod Arnold,
Texas A&M ‘88
MAKING A
Difference
OOur Founder’s Day, October 13th served as the
setting for the most successful Day of Giving we
have ever seen for the foundation. 330 unique
donors and over $204,000 raised. A heartfelt
Thank you to all who participated. See the full
results at www.deltachi.org/foundersday.
Notable to the effort was that some of our top-ranked
chapter donation totals were from chapters currently
inactive. This leads to a question I’m frequently asked
by loyal donors whose own chapters are on hiatus;
“How can I stay involved? Is there a place for me?”
The answer is a resounding “yes”. Our Foundation’s
activities are driven toward being responsive to the
desires of our alumni base. I often say that the one ray
of sunshine to come from my own chapter’s temporary
closing was the opportunity to expand brotherly
relationships beyond the boundaries of my single
franchise location. Close association does indeed
promote friendships; the Foundation activities have
brought me friendships that span the country. Staying
involved is as simple as being an active donor to the
Foundation. Once a donor’s lifetime giving* totals
a mere $200, they become a voting member of the
Foundation. This is the best way to guarantee receipt
of all communications about our fun alumni-focused
experiences.
If you’ve received this publication, you’re likely
already a donor. Thank you for your involvement, and
your tax-deductible support of the brotherhood. A way
to build your circle is to sponsor a favored chapter
brother with your next gift of $200, bringing him back
into the communications loop. We know of several
alums who now use the foundation gatherings as
opportunities for enjoyable road trips with their
brothers who live in other cities.
I’d like to invite you all to our Winter Meetings, scheduled
for January 21st - 23rd at the beautiful Omni
Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas. Comfortable
January temperatures and some of the best golf in the
country. Activities will follow in the fun tradition of
past meetings in St. Pete Beach, FL and Lexington, KY
where we’ve established the balance between
business and brotherhood. I hope you can join us.
*Use the QR code on the back of this Knight Errant to
track your own lifetime giving to the DCEF.
In The Bond,
Rod Arnold
Chairman of the Board
V2:2021
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
Heritage Society
Ralph Fabozzi,
Emery Riddle ‘73
Chairman’s Welcome
Rod Arnold,
Texas A&M ‘88
Captain of Industry,
John Hairston,
MSU ‘87
Impact Report: Leadership
George Preussel,
Huntsville ‘09
Impact Report: Scholarships
Jackson Spencer,
Virginia Tech ‘22
Impact Report: Programs
Emerging Leaders’ Academy
Founders’ Day of Giving
Scholarship Recipients
Texas A&M ECHI
Raymond Galbreth
Leadership Fund
DCEF Winter Board Meeting
and Alumni Weekend
62nd International
Delta Chi Convention

24 KNIGHT ERRANT | THE DELTA CHI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Captain of Industry
T
John Hairston
The success and generosity of John M. Hairston, Mississippi State ‘87 is well chronicled in numerous publications
throughout the U.S., but what isn’t as well known is how this Captain of the Banking Industry rose from humble
beginnings along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast to the unlikely fraternity man, and transitioned from a graduate with a
Chemical Engineering degree into the longest serving Bank President in Hancock Whitney Corporation’s 122 year history.
As the CEO and President of Hancock Whitney Corporation based in Gulfport, MS Hairston has overseen mergers and
acquisitions, combined with organic growth taking the company from $2 Billion Assets Under Management (AUM)
to over $35 Billion, and nearly 4,000 employees in the past 15 years.
Two weeks after I was accepted into Mississippi State
University (MSU) my Dad suffered a major heart attack.
I spent the next year at a community college so I could
be nearby to care for my Dad. I was pre-law, but that
year I took core classes and discovered I had a knack for
science and math. I decided to switch to Engineering;
Dad was none too happy but respected my decision.
The next fall I enrolled at MSU in the Engineering
school. Life was hard - lots of studying and I was
working three jobs to pay for school since I used up
my savings during Dad’s recovery.
I had no time for fraternity pledging, and I really wasn’t
interested in Greek Life because all my classmates were
so focused on their coursework (like me). I reconnected
with my H.S. baseball buddies and of course they had
made new friends. Several of them had become Founding
Fathers of the Delta Chi Chapter. This is how I was
introduced to Delta Chi.
Those guys all made me feel welcome; I felt like they
had as much interest in me reaching my goals as I
did for myself. They became my family. Our values
were School, Fun, Family, and Brotherhood. Our
purpose was having a group we could depend on and
get through school together and make the most of our
opportunity to improve ourselves and our lives.
I also liked the idea of being part of something bigger
than myself. In my experience I’ve found that everyone
generally yearns to be part of something bigger
than themselves, whether you find that at church, a
civic group, a hobby that you’re passionate about, or
fraternities and sororities.
I took on being the “E” and threw myself into it! I spent
the whole time writing letters (folding, licking, stamping)
and sending those out to distant alumni. I made it
a goal to get a Founding Father to come back each

53
semester to recount the early history of the chapter,
and pass that along to the current chapter members.
I also served as AMC one semester; I had 28 men under
my care and we initiated 21 of them. I am as close
to those guys as I am with my own pledge brothers.
I’m very proud to say out of that group of Associate
Members I trained we had two rise to the office of “A”,
and two or three “D”s. We talked about holding a 10
year reunion for that class, but life got in the way and
it never happened. I still think about that and hope one
day we can come together.
Many of my lifelong friends came out of Delta Chi.
I still go Duck Hunting every year with Stacey Goff
‘87, one of my pledge brothers. He’s had a successful
career in his own right, serving as General Counsel for
his company. I’m proud to say the two of us partnered
in making a gift through the Delta Chi Educational
Foundation, Mississippi State ECHI account towards
the new chapter house to dedicate the Chapter Room.
The primary man that recruited me to join Delta Chi
also happens to serve as the current Alumni Board of
Trustees (ABT) President of the Chapter, Chris Strohm
‘85. I’m very proud to serve with him now on the ABT;
he’s always made me feel welcome. I have Delta Chi to
thank for introducing me to my wife, Ann! She was a
Little Sister for Delta Chi, and in May 2021 we celebrated
our 30th wedding anniversary!
The presence of women in the house dictated order and
civility. These women could dress-down the biggest ol’
Mississippi farm boys and lead them out of the situation
with such grace, never raising their voice or hardly
lifting a finger.
For the first 12-15 years after college I wasn’t engaged
with Delta Chi or the Chapter at all; I was building a
career and raising a young family. I was called in when
the Chapter was in trouble, and I’ve remained on the
ABT ever since. I have a lot of respect for Alex Chism
‘19, who the ABT put into a difficult situation to lead a
paradigm shift in the chapter’s culture.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
My Dad had a shrimp boat so I grew up around the
Gulf of Mexico and absolutely loved it! While I was in
college I co-op’d with DowChemical and Exxon. I spent
one summer drill-rigging in the Gulf around New Orleans.
It was a hot job and long days of tough physical labor.
I came back from that experience and decided to take
a chance on an opportunity with Exxon, to apply my
knowledge and experience in Chemical Engineering to
the business side of that business vs. the engineering
side of the business. I went to work in Exxon’s business
consulting division, trading my hard-hat in the heat for
a suit in the air conditioning!
Upon graduation, Accenture (Arthur Andersen) had a
deal with MSU business school to bring new graduates
into their consulting division. It was the age of
Technology Deployment! The consulting division split
off from the firm (audit and tax). Eventually they went
out of business during the Enron scandal. One of the
things I learned as a result of the Enron scandal that
was relatable to the fraternity is that the fraternity is
only as good as the worst behaving member. Put another
way, the culture of the chapter is what ultimately
dictates the type of members that are part of it; what’s
acceptable behavior and what isn’t. A bad apple stinks
up the whole lot.
Continued on page 9
John Hairston with
Stacey Goff
Official Bank of the New Orleans Saints v(NFL) and Pelicans (NBA)

46 KNIGHT ERRANT | THE DELTA CHI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Impact Report: Leadership
George Preussel, Huntsville ‘09
www.hexagonsafetyinfrastructure.com
My experience in Delta Chi was like getting two years of business school for free. If I were to put a market
price on that it would be $50,000. What other experience can you serve as CEO of the organization, with a budget,
with risk, that if you fail you aren’t fired but instead you’re given the chance to learn and grow? I can’t think of
any. If I could pay-to-play and do it again, I’d pay double, heck triple it!
George Preussel, Huntsville ‘09 was an untraditional student at the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH);
he was older, having come out of active duty in the Marine Corps., to the Reserves. He never expected to go
to college, let alone join a fraternity. Steven Bunner ‘03, (now a professional chef) and Wesley Trousdale ‘05
(Marines) invited him to join. Ultimately, George attended every leadership program Delta Chi offered: “A”s’
Academy, Regional Leadership Conferences, and Convention.
The major takeaway from the “A”s’ Academy for me was
learning to listen, instead of just waiting for your time to
talk. As a Program Manager I do this all the time now in
my professional life, giving my attention to the speaker,
really listening to what their needs are, take a breath,
figure out what I want to say, then deliver, instead of just
jumping in as soon as they’re finished talking. I credit
this to a communications class that Executive Director
Emeritus, Ray Galberth, Missouri ‘69 gave at the Academy.
Right now I’m with Hexagon, we’re a public safety
company that’s focused on the software side of public
safety. Anytime you’ve called 911 you’ve used a software
solution developed for public safety. I just finished
a multi-year project with the NYPD in New York City, the
largest system in the country. My job is to implement
the software across municipalities, states, counties, etc.
I really enjoy working in this space because I view it as
giving back to the citizens of the United States, which the
Marine Corps instilled in me.
I relate the complexities in my role to what a Chapter
“A” or “B” does. I have projects that need to be profitable
which I’m responsible for implementing. There’s no
way I can do everything so I have to delegate. The only
thing I can really do to incentivize these people is talk
with them, make sure they have notes and are prepared,
provide praise, etc. It’s exactly like what I learned to do
as a chapter leader: I know how to manage a room; how
to manage a conference; how to recover if things go off
base; how to deal with someone who’s being silly,
I still have to be tactful and deal with them in a
professional manner.
The other major takeaway from Delta Chi that I use in
my day to day is: 1) Keep it simple. 2) Take notes. 3)
Follow-thru. If you want to be successful in life and in a
professional manner you’d better be taking notes (paper/
digital) and you’d better do what you say you’re going
to do in a timely manner. That’s it. Honestly, as the
“BB” of the Huntsville Chapter we’ve finally learned to
do this and I believe it’s the #1 reason we’ve repeated as
President’s Cup winners.
The DCEF has led me to many new fruitful relationships.
One of Delta Chi’s New Founders, Dave Cloutier, Embry
Riddle ‘92 took several hours to sit with me and offer
what worked for him in his career to help me think
about my own career moves. Eric Stice, Southern Illinois
‘04 has done the same; he ran a very successful business
for many years and I’m trying to grow a small business
that I’m running now too.
My wife Tera and I are pretty religious, we believe if you
have the means to help others, you should. One of the
things that drew me to Tera was that she was always
serving the needy, serving meals, working food
drives, giving back her time and what money she
had to help others.
Being a Hand and Key Club donor in the DCEF, we find
reward knowing our money helps make scholarships
possible; perhaps someone who didn’t know how they
were going to pay for school, and we were able to make
it easier on them. That means so much. Let’s be honest,
we really need to give back to organizations that have
helped shape who we are and developed us.
*Full interview at dcef.com.

57
Impact Report: Scholarships
Jackson Spencer,
Virginia Tech ‘22
The Delta Chi Educational
Foundation was
proud to grant Brother
Jackson Spencer,
Virginia Tech the 2021
Duane and Mary Meyer
Scholarship. He was
one of 16 recipients this
year. We decided to find
out more about Jackson.
Here is some of his story!
Brother Spencer was curious about fraternity but
not quite sure that was the route for him. He
decided to ask multiple professors if fraternity was
the right choice, the resounding answer was “no,
Fraternity nowadays is not what you expect it to
be”. He decided not to rush his first semester. In
Spring Semester, Jackson met a new friend Jackson
Wilson ‘22, who asked Jackson to check out Delta
Chi, a brand new fraternity on campus. Both men
had a long chat about Delta Chi’s values and those
were exactly what Jackson was looking for. Once
initiated, Jackson took on the ‘E’ (Alumni Relations)
role as well as the ‘B’ (Vice President) role.
Jackson initially pursued the Hospitality and Tourism
degree plan with the hopes of going into Country
Club management, but life has a way of changing
our plans. “During COVID, I chose to be resilient and
tried to capitalize on thoughts I had even prior to
COVID. My thoughts were that I would really enjoy
going into Human Resources Management. I believe
that Human Resources is a great career in which you
are dealing with your employees and contractors
and help guide them on their path and improve the
company from within. You get to use your human
resources to help capitalize on business opportunities.
My experiences in Delta Chi have helped fuel my
passion for upholding human values and making
sure people are treated fairly. My career aspirations
have always fixated on helping people.”
Jackson was actively searching for scholarship
opportunities. Reminded by the chapter’s Education
Chair as well as the Chapter Advisor, Jackson decided
to apply for the DCEF Duane and Mary Meyer
Scholarship. “If you intend to be a lifelong learner,
it’s imperative that you seek out opportunities for
support. I took a chance, filled out the application
to the best of my ability and hoped I would win,
but I was happy knowing that the best man will get
this scholarship”.
After applying, Jackson got back to his Summer
work and began looking forward to the Fall Semester.
“In looking through my finances for the coming
school year, I found myself calculating my upcoming
expenses down to the penny. How much is this book
going to cost? What about taking an extra class
over Winter? What does food cost? I came to the
conclusion this was going to be a tough semester
of penny pinching.”
“Hearing that I won this scholarship, I was just in
shock! In a sea of applications, out of all the well
qualified men in Delta Chi, they would pick me?
I am entirely honored to have been awarded this
scholarship. Delta Chi has truly been the gift that
keeps on giving for me. The leadership training and
education this organization has given me has been
invaluable. It’s an honor to be recognized.”
Jackson ended our time with a message for the
donors of the Delta Chi Educational Foundation:
“My resounding message to you is a huge thank
you! Not only have you invested in us as the future
of Delta Chi, but you have invested in the ability
for us to come back and give back in the future.
I believe the gift of giving is truly very powerful.
Delta Chi has given me more than I could ever give
back to it.”

68 KNIGHT ERRANT | THE DELTA CHI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Leaders Emerge
When Given Opportunity
Impact Report: Programs – Emerging Leaders’ Academy
Emerging Leaders Academy
by the numbers:
100% of participants gained a
greater understanding of their
leadership style
100% of participants felt
more prepared to be a person
of action
95% of participants felt more
prepared to identify and
address issues around them
95% of participants felt more
confident in their ability to
hold themselves and others
accountable
95% of participants felt more
confident in their ability to
have challenging conversations
95% of participants better
understood how their values
positively influence their
decision making
Delta Chi continues to find new ways to uplift and
empower our members to make a difference. In 2021,
the Fraternity was excited to offer our first ever virtual
Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA). Thirty-three members
spent three days together connecting, learning,
and growing as leaders.
“We knew that the experiences of our members
continued to be impacted by COVID, including fewer
options for leadership development offered at the campus
level;” shared Alex Brown, South Dakota State ‘08,
Delta Chi’s Director of Education and Leadership Programs.”We
decided we would offer a Virtual Emerging
Leaders Program. It was an opportunity to provide our
members with access to developmental opportunities
that they might not get otherwise.”
The Emerging Leaders Academy is designed for students
who are in the early stages of their leadership journey.
While several other Delta Chi leadership programs
center around officer support and preparation, ELA
offers participants the chance to invest in their own
growth and development.
During ELA, participants work to understand their
personal leadership style, discuss the importance of
understanding their identity and experiences and
how those can shape their approach to leadership,
practice accountability and confrontation skills, and
how to utilize our values to be a person of action. The
capstone of the program was an interactive Q & A
session with Executive Leadership Coach and Delta Chi
alumnus Bobby Dewrell, Troy State ‘93.
The participant’s of this year’s ELA had some wonderful
things to say about the program and what they learned:
“I learned skills to better prepare for goal setting and
how to understand my actions.”
“I have learned my leadership style and how it can fit
into some of my other chapter members’ leadership styles
so that we can work together instead of butting heads.”
“(My favorite part was) the guide to confrontation.
Having very specific techniques to apply to be a leader
are more helpful to me than introspection.”
“I want to be a servant leader, using my abilities to
raise up the team around me and accomplish something
greater than the sum of our parts.”
The Emerging Leaders Academy is Delta Chi’s newest
leadership program. While this provides new access and
opportunities for our members, it also takes time to grow.
A unique aspect of the Emerging Leaders Academy is that
it is completely voluntary. Members must show a sense
of initiative to sign up for an experience.
“As we grow the number of participants, we also grow
our advocates for the program who can encourage
their fellow brothers to participate;” Brown shared.
“I hope that ELA will become an important launchpad
for the development of our members that ignites the
interest and passions of our participants, and inspires
them to be engaged with Delta Chi throughout their
lifetimes.”
Programs like the Emerging Leaders Academy rely on
the support of our amazing donors. If you’re interested
in supporting this wonderful program or our other
leadership initiatives, please make a gift at deltachi.
org/give. Your gift can provide a transformative experience
for the next generation of Delta Chis, and a path
for them to continue their leadership journeys.

97
Founders’ Day of Giving:
A Day for Delta Chi 2021
Total Raised:
$204,919
Total Gifts Received:
368
Unique Donors:
330
Chapters Participated:
100
Chapters Raised $1000 or More:
41
(+135% YoY growth)
Annual Meeting 2021 – Lexington, KY
T
10
O
P
FUNDRAISING
CHAPTERS:
1. Embry Riddle $22,980 / 44 Gifts
2. Oklahoma* $17,231 / 14 Gifts
3. Huntsville $15,828 / 13 Gifts
4. Ohio State $10,205 / 3 Gifts
5. South Florida* $6,435 / 5 Gifts
6. Georgia Southern $6,095 / 12 Gifts
7. Texas A&M* $5,008 / 16 Gifts
8. LSU $5,005 / 7 Gifts
9. Louisiana Tech $4,712 / 4 Gifts
10. Missouri $4,487 / 10 Gifts
*Denotes Inactive Chapter

TOTAL NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
10 8 KNIGHT ERRANT | THE DELTA CHI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
INTERNATIONAL
The Delta Chi Educational Foundation is proud to announce
SCHOLARSHIPS2021
the recipients of the International Scholarships for C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S T O :
DUANE AND MARY MEYER
SCHOLARSHIP:
BORELI FAMLIY
LEADERSHIP AWARD:
Elijah Bowen,
Missouri State Chapter
Collin Kruczek,
Pittsburgh Chapter
Elijah Bowen,
Missouri State
Alan Calderon,
Wilmington Chapter
Gerald Angelo Deocariza,
Creighton Chapter
Varun Dutta,
Case Western Reserve
Chapter
Riley Glaze,
Texas Tech Chapter
Jordan Herzing,
Central Missouri Chapter
Eugene Kim,
Riverside Chapter
Joshua Klein,
Massachusetts Chapter
Chris Mehdizadeh,
Riverside Chapter
Gabriel Platas,
Kingsville Chapter
Lorenzo Rodriguez,
San Diego State Colony
Nick Sabatino,
Missouri State Chapter
Matt Segal,
Michigan Chapter
Jackson Spencer,
Virginia Tech Chapter
Steven Zak,
Truman State Chapter
WASHBURN SCHOLARSHIP:
Maxwell Robert Servais,
Wisconsin Whitewater
Chapter
Samuel Finn Mazo,
Denison Chapter
GRADUATE STUDENT
SCHOLARSHIPS:
Payton Mangham,
Louisiana Tech Chapter
Quinten Yurek,
Riverside Chapter
21AMOUNT AWARDED
$21,500
IN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Did you know?
The Delta Chi Educational Foundation has designated fund
accounts for you to support your favorite programs inside
of Delta Chi. Here are just a few examples:
ECHI
Educational Chapter Housing Initiative (ECHI) Accounts are a
convenient way to collect Tax-Deductible contributions to offset
the “educational component” of building and maintenance
expenses associated with a college fraternity house. An ECHI
account can be used for an active chapter house or an inactive
chapter as a savings account towards a future chapter house
or renovation. The Texas A&M alumni leaders are calling for all
chapter alumni to become DCEF Voting Members with a $200
gift to the Texas A&M ECHI account.
* To sponsor content, email staff at fdnstaff@dcef.com
Raymond Galbreth Leadership Fund
In recognition of Executive Director Emeritus, Raymond D.
Galbreth’s vision, his friends and colleagues established an
endowment fund at The Delta Chi Educational Foundation in
2012 to increase the capacity of existing leadership development
programs and to support future initiatives. The purpose of the
Leadership Fund is to provide for financial assistance to the
Delta Chi Fraternity to support the educational purposes of the
Fraternity’s programs. Examples include, but are not limited to,
the Leadership Consultant program, “A”s’ Academy, Emerging
Leaders Academy, Undergraduate Inter-Fraternity Institute
(UIFI), and other educational programs of the Fraternity.
Consider a gift on #DXGivingTuesday November 30, 2022
to benefit the Ray Galbreth Leadership Fund.

119
Continued
Captain of Industry– John Hairston
I lived in Houston and I served many different clients during my
time with Andersen, one in particular was headquartered in my
hometown of Gulfport, MS – Hancock Bank. I built a good relationship
with the Bank President during that time. I was intrigued with
their people, with their culture. They had a healthy banking environment:
they treated people honorably. In the Founding Minutes of
Hancock they stated the purpose of the Bank was to create a safe
place to keep money and help people realize their goals.
I was working in Mergers and Acquisitions. Being a Consultant
meant I was never in one place very long; I traveled a lot during
the week, but I was working hard towards becoming a Partner in
the firm and this was the way to do it. One day I came home from
traveling for the week and my daughter, Taylor, who was just a
little girl at the time, wouldn’t let me hold her because she didn’t
recognize me. That was it for me and I didn’t hesitate; called my
boss and quit that night. I walked away from being a Partner,
and moved my family back home to Gulfport. That was 1994.
Soon after I quit, Andersen, the President at Hancock Bank, called
and invited me to come meet with him. We hadn’t talked long
when he said “I can’t afford to pay you” and before he could say
anything else I said “that’s OK, we’ll make it up over time” as he
replied laughing “but I haven’t even offered you a job!”... I took
it on trust and that was it. I always loved and defended the culture
at Hancock. It was a big hit financially to my family, but I only
have one life and one career. The rest is history.
Hairston is now the longest serving President in the bank’s 122 year
history, dating back to 1899. Since 2006 they’ve grown from
$2 Billion Assets Under Management (AUM) to more than $35 Billion.
In 2010 Hairston oversaw the acquisition of Whitney Bank in
New Orleans, creating Hancock Whitney Corporation (HCW). The
first half of 2021 yielded record earnings.
Several things I’ve learned about doing business and leading
an organization:
• If you’re good at something, pass it on
• If you’re not good at something, surround yourself with
good people
• If we meet expectations, I raise the bar
• Don’t set goals that are layups
• Strive to be a company that never knows completion
• Never put all your chips on Red, or on Black, you bet on both
– If you lose on a bad bet and don’t learn, that’s an expense
• If you learn that’s tuition; tuition pays off in the future
• Have to be willing to admit you’ve made a mistake
• Find people that will sign on for the hard stuff, then deliver
– Best moments of my career are giving out bonuses when they
don’t expect it
• Treat people honorably
Another thing, on Hurricanes, living and operating in the Gulf
Coast region HCW has seen their fair share of devastation, but they
pride themselves on being the first to open and being there for the
communities they serve. Hairston states “When hurricanes come,
we operate the longest, and we will ALWAYS be the first to reopen.
ALWAYS.”
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005 HCW’s headquarters, data center,
and 43 branch locations were destroyed. Hairston remembers several
feet of standing water in the streets outside his office building in
downtown Gulfport as the storm hit. The next day, he was the first
to arrive, “I drove my old hunting truck - 20 people rode to the
HQ building. We opened seven locations in our market; we opened
the branches on folding tables out in front of the wreckage...You
can’t teach that!”
Hairston was kind enough to respond to the DCEF during Hurricane
Ida’s relief, August 2021: “True to our word, we were the first to
open again, and have taken an active role in the community relief
efforts. HCW donated $2 million to hurricane relief in Louisiana
and Mississippi, and reduced rates for loan recovery. We’re feeding
7,500 people per day at relief centers, giving out maybe 20,000
bottles of water per day, with four semi-trucks full of ice bags…
it’s a busy operation but we’re honored to do it.”
Hairston is a sought after advisor, and a leader in the non-profit
sector having chaired many different organizations. He previously
occupied the position of Chairman of Mississippi Department of
Information Technology Services, President of Operation Thank
You, Chairman at The Mississippi Gaming Commission. He also
serves on the Board of nine other companies.
Notable contributions include: Mississippi Aquarium, WWII Pavilions,
National WWII Museum One of his proudest leadership roles is
serving as Secretary & Trustee at The National World War II
Museum, Inc. “I love seeing the faces of the veterans when they
gather together with their comrades - even decades later, though
their bodies have aged, when they are together you see them
come alive as 18 year olds again - and that’s how they see
themselves and remember those relationships. That’s why I do it.”
The same could be said about fraternity-men.

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Executive Director Message – Justin Sherman
Use the camera on your mobile device
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link that pops-up to easily make your
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automatic monthly gift. Thank you.
The definition to assist in the acquisition of a sound education has evolved over the many years to be more than
just academics. Delta Chi now offers more and better opportunities for leadership development, personal growth,
and skills training which ensures that our undergraduate members have a rewarding and impactful Delta Chi
experience. Your tax deductible donation to the Foundation supports our members and chapters by providing the
programming and resources that are crucial to their success. Please contact the Development team to learn more
about how you can assist in the acquisition of a sound education.
DCEF Winter Board Meeting
and Alumni Weekend
January 20 - 23, 2022
Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa – Austin, TX
62nd International
Delta Chi Convention
July 27-31, 2022
Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch – St. Louis, Missouri
The DCEF Board of Directors invites all donors, alumni and spouses to
the annual Winter Meeting and Alumni Weekend in Austin, Texas.
Mixing business and brotherhood, enjoy the camaraderie with fellow
alumni alongside the best golf in Texas and one of the best spas in
the country!
Reserve your room: bit.ly/DCEFAustinWinter
Confirm your attendance: bit.ly/DCEF_wintermeeting
The Board of Regents of the Delta Chi Fraternity is proud to invite all
Delta Chi members and their spouses to the 62nd International Convention
which will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, July 27-31, 2022. Along with
many educational opportunities for alumni and undergraduate members,
there will be many opportunities to attend brotherhood and donor events
including the 4th Annual Trustee Society Experience. Make your plans to
attend today! Registration is available through www.mydchi.com.
www.deltachi.org/convention/