Pete Rich ’76

Pete was born in Colorado in 1954.  At 10 years old, Pete moved with his family to Scottsdale, Arizona.  Since he couldn’t stay out of the pool he decided that competitive swimming might be his niche.  He competed successfully on the Saguaro High School swim team and even considered several scholarship offers to major universities.

In the Summer of 1972, Pete decided to attend the University of Arizona.  The  next Spring, Pete went through Rush and along with several friends from Saguaro High, he pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon.  Pete lived in the House for two years.

Upon graduation, Pete joined the family business and began his career in commercial real estate.  In 1980 Pete met his wife Gail and together they raised three wonderful children, who incidentally, all attended the University of Arizona.  Like many of us, Pete’s closest friends are Sig Ep buddies from the House.

Pete has always been a huge supporter of Sigma Phi Epsilon and when he saw that the House was in trouble he immediately took action and began working hard to save the fraternity from expulsion.   Unfortunately, it was too late and after the House lost its Charter, Pete took on the role of President of the Sig Ep Alumni Association and began negotiating with the University and Sig Ep National to bring Sigma Phi Epsilon back to the University of Arizona.  After a very successful negotiation to sell the old House to the University Pete and the Board took the proceeds along with an option on a new site and parlayed the funds into a down payment on a new home.  Since that time, Pete has worked tirelessly to raise additional funds, recruit a new Fall pledge class and oversee the construction of a beautiful new fraternity house.

There is simply no doubt in anyone’s mind that without Pete Rich we wouldn’t be here tonight.   Pete’s unwavering dedication to the goals, traditions and brotherly love of Sigma Phi Epsilon has made the celebration of this new House possible.

Well done Pete….