HONORING MARGIE LEE "DELTA CHI MOM"
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HON. JOHN L. MICA
OF FLORIDA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, September 11, 2008

    Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, as William Wordsworth once wrote, “the Child is Father to the Man.”  

Like all of us, from time-to-time I fondly recall those who have made a significant impact upon my life.  For where would we be if not for those who made the special effort to guide the next generation, and befriend us but demand much from us, so that we may learn to demand much from ourselves? 

It is because of those who touch our lives and instill the values we all hold dear as a society, those who provide guidance to our young people every day, that make us successful and our nation stronger.  Some are there to deal directly with us from day-to-day.  Others help set up and run the institutions that provide the networks for others to have a profound impact upon our young. 

In my life, Margie Lee was one such person.  Known affectionately as “Marge” and across America as the “Delta Chi Mom,” Marge inspired several generations of Delta Chis while working in the Fraternity’s International Headquarters since 1964.  She was devoted to Delta Chi and to us all, helping to provide guidance to thousands of young men in those potentially very difficult years at college and first time away from home.

I had both the honor and the pleasure of working directly with Marge.  It was while I worked as assistant to the Executive Director of the Delta Chi Fraternity in my first job after graduating from the University of Florida.  I saw how Marge worked every day on behalf of my Delta Chi Brothers.  Over the years, I witnessed first hand how she devoted her life to bestowing the advantages of a brotherhood of college and university men to use their education “to promote friendship, develop character and advance justice.”  In doing so, Marge helped generations of young boys grow into successful, value-driven men.  

Marge passed away yesterday morning in Iowa City at age 79.  She is survived by four children and thousands of her adopted Delta Chi sons around the world.

When we are young we don’t fully appreciate the time and sacrifice our elders take to shape us into successful adults.  Sometimes our separate paths take us away from our mentors before we fully appreciate what they did for us.  All too often they pass on before we get the chance to thank them properly. 

Not many of us have the opportunity to recognize and publically say thanks. Today, to her family, to my colleagues in Congress and Delta Chi Brothers, I am honored and pleased to say: Thank you Margie Lee!

 

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