Dad, Chuck, and Gary
Marty, Chuck Nuechterlein, and I attended U. of M. together on Navy ROTC scholarships, so we were close friends. The two of us pledged the same fraternity (Sigma Alpha Epsilon). Marty was also a member of SAE. The three of us were very close friends through college. During our senior year, the three of us lived together in an apartment close to the fraternity house.
During those years we would hold full membership meeting several evenings during the year. They were always held in the SAE dining room. We would discuss various issues that affected us all. When we contributed to the discussion, we were required to stand. Because Marty contributed a good deal, he stood often. When he did, it was tradition for the rest of the SAE brothers to holler, “Stand up, Marty.” He was somewhat shorter than most of us. He took it without being offended.
During our fraternity years, each year we would have a weekend for each of parents to spend their nights in our fraternity bedroom (entire floor in the top of the house). Marty would invite his father who, like many from Frankenmuth, spoke very little English. It always amazed me, because Frankenmuth was founded by German families back in the mid-1800s. My family used to visit the two former hotels there which stood across from each other. They specialized in serving large portions of chicken dinners. One was owned by Chuck’s family and the other by Judy’s family, who in the early 1960s as I recall, bought out the Fisher family.
I lost track of Marty for a few years, but he re-contacted me about 15 years ago. He would call me about once a quarter back then.
I always held Marty in high esteem. I was troubled when his mental facilities began to falter a few years back.
He will forever remain a good friend in my mind.
Best,
Gary Slaughter
http://www.garyslaughter.com
