Peruna Handler Tryouts Held Saturday

[DiamondM75]

There was some sort of barn dance or Little Abner party held at the house. There was apparently hay all over the floor. Either during or after the party something ignited the hay, and a guy who was sleeping (apparently passed out) upstairs died of smoke inhalation I seem to recall.

That is very accurate. My dad was the treasurer of the ATO housing corp when that happened. He got a phone call at 3:00am making sure he had mailed the insurance payment. Fortunately, he had.

[FordtoTolbert]

Let me attempt to educate you, EastStang, if possible...Party was held during 1978 Rush Week, and like all the fraternities on campus, the ATO's had a theme party. The tradition of the "Cantina Party" was held the evening of 1/13, a Friday night. The ATO house was decorated with Mexican pots, jars, pictures, ponchos, etc.,etc..including hay, in one isolated part of the house, to simulate a barn area.

Like most, if not all fraternities, after the party, the gentlemen of the ATO house gathered to go over the prospective new members, deciding who to invite back, who to offer bids to, etc., etc...this process went late into the evening.

After the meeting, the brothers either headed back to the dorms, apartments, up to their rooms at the house, or, like Steve Lewis, crashed on one of the couches in the big den, downstairs...at this point, very late in the evening, early the next morning.

Steve Lewis was a Sophomore SMU soccer from Principia High School in Town and Country, Mo....he was likeable, funny as hell and was a great guy, brother and friend.

Apparently, a heater unit, smoldering cig or cigar??? egnited some of the hay. Within minutes, it caught the curtains downstairs on fire. Smoke alarms awoke the brothers, who all escaped. Lewis, who was downstairs asleep, evidently awoke during the blaze, was disoriented due to the darkness and smoke, but attempted to exit the house. His body was found several feet from the front door.

SMU basketball players Jeff Ralph and Mike Anderson attempterd to enter the burning house, realizing Lewis was unaccounted for, but were turned away by the heat and UP fire fighters...I was also on the front porch at the same time, but could not get inside...one of the biggest regrets of my life, learning later that Lewis was right by the front door.

Yes, EastStang, it was a tragedy, a shocking, unbelievable moment in time with a lasting impact on families and friends.

I hope this clears some of your "misinformation / attitude".

[EastStang]

I thought they also had a fire with a fatality while I was there (1972-1976). 1978 was after I had graduated. But 30 years does make things hazy. I then heard the second fire got them the boot, but that's all gossip.