Thomas Eakin
Denison '56

A Brother's Generosity - Brother Eakin has made more gifts to the Phi Delta Theta Foundation than any other individual.

Thomas C. Eakin, Denison ’56 says he’s always been goal-oriented. He enjoys accomplishing something big, for example, he holds the title in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest bio in the 2008 edition of Who’s Who in America, currently at 174 lines. Just a few of those lines include awards he’s received like the 1991 Cleveland “Mayor’s Award for Volunteerism”, the 1978 “Ohio Governor’s Award” and in 1995, his induction into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. He’s also been honored by more than 300 cities in the United States with a “Thomas C. Eakin Day” and holds the record for having such a day proclaimed in his honor in at least one city or village in every county in the State of Ohio.

At 75 years old, Eakin has admittedly dedicated his life to helping people and volunteering. He founded the Target/Reach Youth (TRY) program which has raised millions of dollars to help underprivileged youth. He’s received awards, accolades and commendations locally and nationally, with recognition from several U.S. Presidents, including Truman, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Bush, Sr. as well as Ohio Governors James A. Rhodes and John Gilligan.

His generous philanthropy, achievements in sports promotion (including being the founder and president of the Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame) and leadership to advance the efforts of community organizations have earned him speaking invitations where he enjoys sharing motivational stories and passing along the good things that have happened in his life to others.

Eakin says his interest in joining Phi Delta Theta in college was the result of friendships he had with several members. “They were interesting characters. I loved being around them. They had so much to offer. I knew somewhere along the line they were going to be real leaders in the community, and today they are. I so enjoyed my Fraternity membership,” he shares.

In 1997, Phi Delta Theta honored Eakin with the “Distinguished Alumnus Award” in recognition of his mission to put community service and volunteerism back into people’s lives. He now has another claim to fame among Phis: he holds the record for the greatest number of gifts given by one person in the history of the Phi Delta Theta Educational Foundation.

It all began at the 2003 Founders’ Day Banquet in Akron, Ohio, where Eakin received his 50-year pin. In honor of this milestone he told Rusty Richardson, President of the Foundation, that he would make a weekly gift to the Foundation in the name of a Phi Delta Theta brother. Week after week he gave in honor or memory of chapter brothers and famous Phis like Astronaut Neil Armstrong, Former Secretary of State James Baker and Bob Shieffer of CBS News—each of whom sent personal letters to thank him for his gesture. One gift led to another, and as of the end of 2009, he holds the record for greatest number of gifts at 440.  “It’s my expression of love and dedication to the people in the Fraternity who influenced my life. Phi Delta Theta has been so great to me,” says Eakin. 

His record-setting philanthropy made him a member of the Founders Club and provided another immeasurable benefit: the chance to reconnect through phone calls he received from several fraternity brothers he hadn’t heard from in years. He’s grateful for the opportunity to renew acquaintances because of his gifts to the Foundation and says it gives him “a good feeling about helping the Fraternity.”