On August 30, 1967 Durand completed his last day of active duty service for the Air Force. He soon found himself heading to San Marcos. After a good friend from high school talked him into transferring from UT Austin to the much smaller South West Texas in San Marcos.
“It was beautiful. People were friendly and I became very interested in fraternity life.
He pledge Pike in the Spring of ’68. “There was no doubt in my mind that they were the best on campus. There were 26 pledges and 26 were initiated on April 28th. I became the Historian and immediately bought a camera. We still enjoy seeing all of the pictures of our time in college.
“A year later we bought an old hospital and converted it into a fraternity house. This was the beginning of a new era. From parties in the house to playing softball and football on our front lawn there was always something happening. “
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology he began work with E.R. Squibb and Sons as a detail representative. In 1974 he moved to Merrill Lynch for six years before launching Durand & Associates. Rich is currently an Investment Adviser for Dominion Investor Services, Inc. As an independent contractor he specializes in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options and annuities.
Rich has been very active with the university. He served 14 years on the Texas State Alumni Association Board of Directors, 1993 through 2007, including serving as President in 2001 and on the Presidential Selection Committee in 2002. Durand was awarded the Key of Excellence in 2005, Chaired the Alumni Association Pillar in the Pride in Action Campaign, 2007-2014.
Brother Durand has also remained very active with Pike. He served as President of the Alumni Association from 1977-1980, Pi Kappa Alpha National – Silver Chapter in 1993. He held the post of Secretary for the Greater San Antonio Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association in 2009. In that year he was also awarded the Zeta-Theta Distinguished Lifetime Alumnus Award. He is a member of the Garnet and Gold Society of San Marcos, Texas.
“In 1970 I graduated and moved back home to San Antonio. One thing is for certain, you can never leave the friendships and memories.”