Phi Kappa Alpha

In the fall semester of 1999, the Chaplain and the Community Service Coordinator were approached by Dr. David Powell. They were told about a couple he had met at Henderson church that past Sunday who had a son. Their son, Brandon, had Cerebral Palsy and Dr. Powell thought it would be a good idea if PKA went out and visited with them. The Chaplain and Community Service Coordinator went out, introduced themselves, and explained to the Gover's what PKA was. The Gover's welcomed PKA with open arms, and so started the tradition of the Gover's. PKA went every Sunday to worship with the Gover's. They would visit with Brandon and talk football, visit with Ms. Linda Sue while enjoying tea and cookies, and chat with Mr. Don about his Martin nests, life, and The Bible. Sadly, in January of 2001, Brandon passed away due to complications from Cerebral Palsy. Phi Kappa members participated in Brandon's memorial service as well as giving him a PKA jersey the Christmas before he passed away. The Gover's had become family to the members of Phi Kappa so to the surprise of Don, and Linda Sue PKA showed up at 4:00 the next Thursday ready to eat and visit with them. For the past 20 years PKA has gone out to the Gover's house every Thursday at 4:00 to visit and eat with them. Over time the Gover's became an integral part of the big red family, serving as a home away from home to many students. Through thousands of students and thousands of cookies, the Gover's have made an incalculable impact on Freed-Hardeman students. 

In September of 2018, Mr. Don received an injury while working on his tractor. After a week in the hospital, he passed away. Phi Kappa members again participated in the memorial service of Mr. Don and celebrated the life that he lived for God. We made a jersey in honor of him with the name Mr. Don on the back and the number 23 as a reference to his favorite portion of scripture Psalm 23. Phi Kappa continues to visit Ms. Linda Sue every Thursday at 4:00. Linda Sue continues to bake cookies and makes her famous sweet tea. Over time PKA realized that the Gover's had been helping us as much as we had been helping them. Looking back over the years we can see the effects that the Gover's have had on PKA and everyone they've come in contact. The Gover's have shown genuine love, care, concern, and hospitality to everyone who has walked through their front door, and that is what PKA is all about.