Rick Whitley ’78

Rick Whitley was not certain that he was going to join a fraternity as an incoming freshman at SWT, until the evening on the first night of fall rush when he turned the corner from Belvin Street to the driveway to the Pike House.  “As I drove, wide eyed, up the driveway to the huge mansion with the a real cannon out in front and the spotlights shining on the massive columns, I knew that I wanted to become a Pike.”

Rick loved living at the Pike House and spent 7 of his 8 semesters in college living at the house.  He was very active in the chapter, serving as Pledge Trainer and Vice President, before serving as a student body senator for 2 terms and as student body Vice-President during his Senior year.  He was also a charter member of the Student Foundation. Upon graduation he was honored by the Alumni Association at the University as the Lyndon Baines Johnson Outstanding Senior Student.

After law school, Brother Whitley started practicing law with a large Austin law firm before founding the law firm of Rogers & Whitley, LLP in 1999.  He is board certified in Commercial Real Estate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.  He has a long history of community service in the Austin community serving on the board of Directors of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Austin, the Clean Air Force of Central Texas, Caritas Citizens Advisory Council and the Austin Bar Association Real Estate Section.

Rick and his wife Pam, who was a Chi Omega, Strutter and Pikette while at SWT, have a son, Travis and a daughter, Lauren Taylor.  Travis followed in his dad’s footsteps and became a Pike (serving as President of the Beta Mu chapter while attending the University of Texas), and Lauren Taylor became a lawyer (currently Assistant General Counsel for Curves International in Waco).

“Pi Kappa Alpha was a very important part of my college experience and led to a lifetime of friendships.  I became brothers with guys from all over Texas, from big cities like Houston and Dallas to rural areas like El Campo and Levelland.  I enjoy coming back to Founders Day Weekend each year to continuing long friendships and meeting the new members of the Zeta Theta chapter.  I am so proud of undergraduate chapter who have continued the Pike tradition of being the “Finest Fraternal Organization on the Hill”.