Written by Michael Osborn (Zeta Epsilon)

You may have sat at an NCD Convention Banquet and heard the name Charles Hass when the Charles W. Hass Memorial award was awarded but you may not know who Charles Hass was and why an award was created in his honor.

Charles Hass was initiated into the Gamma Pi Chapter at Purdue University in 1992. My first interaction with Charles was in 1995 watching him run for District Office at a block meeting being held at Eastern Michigan University. To be completely honest, from a first impression standpoint I was a bit concerned about Charles as a district officer as he seemed loud, a little too outgoing, and a little crazy from a far. When Charles was elected NCD President I had no idea how our paths would intertwine moving forward. Shortly after Charles was elected I was asked to become one of the NCD Governors and even though my term did not start until National Convention, Charles was on the phone early on excited to work with me to help the district grow and laid out his plans and focus and sought advice. He essentially on-boarded me as District Governor so that the transition into the position was seamless in so many ways. Ultimately those things that gave me pause from my first impression were the things that made him a great NCD President.

Charles had a vision to try to bring the district closer together and to increase interaction between the District Council and the chapters. He was never one to shy away from a conversation with any Brother and sought opportunities to meet Brothers at any event possible. In fact for his spring break he made a tour around the district, crashing on floors and couches and brought a couple of Gamma Pi Brothers (future district officers) with him to share in the fun. One memory that wraps up Charles for me is that as Governor I made the trip to Ohio University for a Block Meeting. At the block meeting Charles mentioned to me that he and others were making the 6 hour trip from Athens to the installation of the chapter at Wake Forest University. He worked hard to convince me to go on the trip, making me forget that while it was only a 6 hour trip to Wake Forest it was 12-14 hours back home. So with Charles’ influence and despite not having packed clothing appropriate for a chapter installation, I made the trip. Thank goodness for credit cards so I could try to find suitable clothing in North Carolina on a Sunday morning. And yes, I made it back to Michigan just in time to teach the next day, wearing the clothes I bought in North Carolina the day before.

That was a typical Charles story. He was all about getting people together and convincing people that they wanted to do things Fraternally that they might not have done on their own. He was a force in moving the NCD into the District we are today.

Following his term as NCD president he and I remained close friends as he did with many others he interacted with during that year. Also following his term in office Charles stayed involved in many ways and still worked to bring Brothers together not only in the NCD but in every location he moved to for his job that had a chapter nearby. When he moved to Indianapolis post graduation he became involved with the Alpha Beta Chapter at Butler. When his job transferred him to Dallas, Charles found a way to interact with and support the Delta Sigma Chapter at UT Arlington. Just days before his untimely death he was key in getting a group of Brothers and Sisters from multiple districts together in Tampa to keep that connection that was brought from our bonds of Brotherhood.

In 2000 Charles moved to the San Francisco area for his work with Federal Express. He found a place that he felt was home. On January 27, 2001 Charles made a trip to a local convenience store with a new friend, on his way out he and his friend were attacked, robbed and Charles was stabbed in the parking lot and later died of his wounds. His funeral back home in Indianapolis was attended by Brothers and Sisters from across the district and the country.

Despite Charles’s short involvement in Kappa Kappa Psi he made a lasting impact on the North Central District that lasts to the present day. It is because of all he dedicated to Kappa Kappa Psi that an award was created in his honor in 2001.

A group of Brothers and Sisters (spanning three districts) gathered for a social event in Tampa, FL. This picture was taken a little over a week prior to Charles’ passing.

The Charles W. Hass award is granted by the North Central District in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Fraternity by an alumnus or alumna of the Fraternity. An individual is eligible for the award after five years of alumni status and after an application is submitted to the Governor(s) and President by a chapter in the North Central District or the district council.

1999 NCD Convention in Toledo. Each of the Brothers and Sisters in the front row served as an NCD Officer. (Michael Osborn, Charles Hass, Amy Dorsch Heavilin, Andrew Peak, Jen Ishmael DiBenedetto and H.R. Jung).

Charles W. Hass Memorial Award Past Recipients

2002- Mark (ZO) and Rose Bradbourne (BPsi)

2003- Craig (Nu) and Leslie McClure (Lambda)

2004- Michael Osborn (ZE-KKPsi)

2005-

2006- Derrick Mills (H)

2007- Roy Johnson (Gamma Pi)

2008- Not Awarded

2009-

2010- Rod Whiteman (AB)

2011- Doug (Gamma Pi) and Amy Heavilin (ZO)

2012- Not Awarded

2013- Not Awarded

2014- Laura Blake (AB)

2015- Jen DiBenedetto (Delta Epsilon, TBS, NCD KKPsi Honorary)

2016- Raina Regan (ZE-KKPsi)

2017- Malinda Matney (Nu)

2018-