AZALEA FESTIVAL 1962
by James H. Stout, Eta Beta 71
Sigma Nu Fraternity, East Carolina College
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“Where the Boys are”, was a juvenile movie of the early sixties that predicted the social behaviors of the sun starved collegiate students during their annual trek to Fr. Lauderdale, Florida. The Sigma Nu’s of ECC, alias the “Snakes”, had their own rendition of this senseless impression, held annually at Carolina Beach, NC., know as the “Redneck Rivera”.
When the hormones began to rise every spring, college students from all over North Carolina would use the Azalea Festival as an excuse to head to the coast for some sun razes, cold beer, meeting sweet Carolina co-eds and dancing the Shag!
Being the social chairman in 1962 and under the proficient leadership of Eminent Commander, brother Bobby Veasey, I was called upon to arrange a “suggestive” beach party that would transcend all mythical parties in the brief history of East Carolina Fraternities. First order of business was to give my “little brother”, Terry Trexler, a beach veteran of the famous KMA’s of Ocean Drive, South Carolina, the task of renting a humble abode for the week-end, thus setting the legendary stage.
Memories of brother Frankie Galloway’s futile caper to steal the Wurlitzer jukebox from the famous “Ocean Plaza Ballroom”, or Sammy Hunt leading his fellow brothers in the GD street dance and of course brother “Butch” Smith trying his flying skills by jumping out of the second floor window, only destroying the awning below, were just a few of the delirious acts during that week-end. The beer chased the whiskey, the whiskey chased the co-eds, and the beat went on and on with the sounds of the Clovers, the Drifters and the Hot Nuts!
“Black Monday” at 411 West Fifth Street in Greenville, started off with the usual routine of sleeping in, dealing with hangovers, cutting morning classes and playing “hearts” at the student union.
Soon Commander Veasey received the death call from ECC president, Dr. Leo Jenkins that simply stated: Eta Beta Chapter has twenty four hours to cover the two thousand dollar cottage damage and a letter explaining why the hallowed “charter” should not be pulled.
A hasty summoned middle of the night fraternity meeting resulted in a fifty dollar assessment from each brother that attended and it should be noted here that Brother Hunt and Brother Shelton had such a good time that they put in an extra fifty bucks. A letter of remorse to the ECC administration and the Inner Fraternity Council officially put to rest the beach orgy of 1962.
I believe when the illustrated fraternity history of East Carolina University is finally written the rumors, gossip and myths of this beach party will fail to be mentioned and can only be found deeply burried in the cerebral cortex of some forty “Snakes”, with their madras shirts, weejun loafers, and of course a pretty little blonde under one arm and a cold Blue Ribbon beer in the other hand! College was good!
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