John W. Baughman II Memorial Endowment

John Baughman enrolled in Kansas State University in 1955 having grown up in Liberal, KS. An agriculture major, John sought to find a career in the agriculture world after college. During the spring of his freshman year, he decided to become a member of Acacia Fraternity and was welcomed into the brotherhood in May 1956.

John’s brothers remember him as a caring man with a sense of humor and a love of jazz. Bill Cox ’54 remembers many a night at the Acacia house when John would listen to old jazz records. When he would hear one he didn’t like, it wouldn’t take John long to grab that record and throw it off the back porch and into the yard. John also loved cars, and he especially loved his 1941 Ford Hot Rod. However, ultimately it would be a car that would end his young life. Late in 1956, while driving home for break, John was killed in a car accident near Junction City.

Following his death, John’s parents created a scholarship endowment in his memory. The endowment at KSU was created to benefit future Acacians who could carry on John’s spirit. Having benefited Acacians for almost 50 years, it is the oldest and most generous endowment ever created for Kansas State Acacians.

Today, the endowment is utlized to support the leadership programs of Acacia. In John’s name, Acacia assists its members as they pursue advancement in the field of leadership. Whether that pursuit is through the internal leadership program of the chapter or the Leadership Studies program of K-State, the John W. Baughman II Memorial endowment continues to perpetuate the spirit of its namesake and better the lives of his fellow Acacia brethern.

Travis Alan Gracey Memorial Endowment

Travis Alan Gracey’s life adventure started on January 24, 1966, in Aviano, Italy. His parents, Rodger and Betty Gracey, had recently graduated from Kansas State Univesity in veterinary medicine and elementary education, respectively. Through the Air Force, they were stationed in Italy. By the time the family departed for the US, one and a half years later, Travis could speak as much Italian as English.

The family settled in Cheney, Kansas, where Rodger opened a veterinary clinic. Travis assisted his father on calls whenever possible, which played a role in his desire to become a medical doctor. After moving to the country during his 7th grade year, Travis, with the guidance of an uncle, began renovating and rebuilding a 1940 Chevrolet truck, which he finished his senior year in high school. While in school, Travis lettered in basketball and track. He also kept busy farming and working construction. He was a National Merit semi-finalist and a Foundation Scholarship recipient, graduating from Cheney High School in 1984.

Through the years, Travis was active in the church and youth fellowship. After a youth seminar in Washington, DC, Travis presented a summary for the congregation. Anohter time, he gave a sermonette with the theme, “If God closes a door, He will open a window.” Travis spoke in front of others with ease and confidence.

Trav demonstrated his loving and giving nature often. For instance, in 1982, after Betty had several surgeries, Travis, along with his sister, Marnie, cared for his mother and kept the house and yard work going.

As an adventure, Travis was always busy. In 1984, he organized a trip to the Olympics. He and four friends drove a van to Los Angeles, which was the highlight of his adolescence prior to entering college in the fall.

Travis broadened his horizons at KSU by meeting new friends, facing a challenging education, and pledging the Acacia Fraternity. He was enrolled in premedicine and was progressing toward his goals, when he was in an auotmobile accident. Travis died on July 23, 1985. The last year of Trav’s life at K-State was exceptional – the spark in him gleamed through to everyone that year.

The Gracey family established The Travis Alan Gracey Memorial Endowment to perpetuate Travis’ life that was spent sharing and enjoying others. Through those that benefit from the memorial, Trav’s spark will continue to shine.

Jay P. Crabb Memorial Endowment

Certain people pass through this world and leave it a much better place in which to live. Jay Crabb was one of those people. He was a refreshing person and he clearly lived his life according to the Acacia principles. No matter how difficult a problem seemed, Jay was able to view the problem differently and make his fellow Brother see and understand that things weren’t as bad as they seemed. Robert Brougham will never forget his best friend Jay. “When I lost interest in my course of study he suggested journalism, which became my first career,” Robert said.

Jay was not only an outstanding Acacian but also full of humor and a talented journalist. “We would sneak into the Acacia kitchen, make coffee by dumping the grind into boiling water and strain it through our teeth while we discussed philosophy all night long,” Robert said. While at K-State, Jay wrote and directed a Y-Orpheum production that placed second in the competition and then served as executive producer the following year while helping Acacia win first place.

As an undergraduate, Jay was always very active and took an interest in introducing quality men, including his cousin, Lynn Johnson, to the Acacia way of life. “While growing up on a farm in Western Kansas, I had always looked up to my older and more sophisticated cousin who lived in Colby, Kansas, so I was honored when Jay introduced me to his friends at Acacia during my first semester at K-State. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to pledge Acacia without the encouragement and support of Jay.”

After graduating in 1963, Jay toured Europe with friends and wrote a series of colorful travel stories in a unique journalistic style for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He officially joined the Capital-Journal staff in August 1965. At 25 years old, he was a promising newsman and beginning a career in which he was bound to succeed. Unfortunately, Jay Crabb’s life was tragically cut short in December of that year in a car accident. It was a terrible loss to his family, friends, and colleagues.

As the Acacia Fraternity is refocused on its core values, it is only appropriate to honor Jay with a memorial endowment. It was founded by the brothers of the 1950’s who knew Jay and the joy he brought to life. “No one is more worthy of this honor,” declared Robert Brougham. We must never forget Kansas State University’s purpose of higher learning and our Acacia commitment to supporting this University. By fostering leadership, Acacia will produce outstanding leaders and scholars who go on to hold important roles in their communities. The Jay Crabb memorial endowment has been created for this purpose.