He'd be right proud...

[Erik P Conard]

Wilson Benton Heller, Missouri, was a WWI ace, a movie agent,
and the foremost authority on greek ratings---and a Pike.
I corresponded with him until his death, and drank lots of coffee
with this controversial man who I greatly admired.
His papers are in a large collection now at the University of IL,
including many copies of my letters to him.
Wilson would be right proud at the growth in quality and quantity that you, the Pikes, have garnered.
May you thrive at Howard!
Interfraternally, Erik P Conard, TKE Field Rep, '57-'60

[Firehouse]

Thanks, Erik. I too had the pleasure of slogging through those deliciously detailed and gossipy 6-page newsletters. Always a joy to find one in my mailbox. He wrote notes to me a couple of times, knowing I was involved with the Pikes at FSU. During my tenure with National the world turned and their view of Wilson Heller changed toward more what it should have been from the beginning. I'll never forget: "every wanted quality follows quantity". He made such an articulate, persuasive case for his theories, but not enough people could embrace, or articulate, the same vision. A few did: TKE benefitted greatly from post-war expansion. Pike jas been able to boast the largest average chapter size for 20 years more or less. Some nationals never got it, and so declined.
The measure of Heller's power and impact is probably expressed by the fact that no one has taken his place. Who else would compile the notes? Who else would write those great newsletters? More's the pity for the - our - loss.

[Erik P Conard]

George Woolery, TKE, tried to get in bed with Heller but could
not attract enuf interest. George then died, and I do not know if
anyone else tried to replace Wilson.
I have fond memories of Wilson, his bow tie and his scathing of
folks who he thought were honor seekers. Wilson tried to downplay his Pike loyalty, but beneath it all, he beamed, and he
would be a-bustin' his buttons now.
Yep, he was good, over all, for the Greeks. Even Slip Slifer of Chi
Psi read his six pagers in the Union Triad lavatory.