The Alfred C. "Pete" Nelson Service Award

REMARKS MADE BY CARL L. HYDE AT THE FIRST-EVER AWARDING OF THE "ALFRED C. NELSON DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD":

"The Denver Lambda Chi Alpha House Corporation has caused to be established a memorial in honor of Dr. Alfred C. 'Pete' Nelson, Alpha Pi #17, whose recent death has caused it to reflect on his distinguished and exemplary life.

Pete's biography is much too long to list here, but during his very ambitious and fruitful life he was dedicated to the University of Denver--as an Instructor, Professor, Dean, Vice-Chancellor, and Chancellor; as well as to Lambda Chi Alpha--for which he was a founding member of this Zeta; House Corporation member; for many years a Grand High Zeta member; and always and foremost, a true champion of and frequent visitor to the Alpha Pi chapter house. His contributions to Alpha Pi Zeta and Lambda Chi Alpha and his love for our fraternity knew no bounds and have no equal.

It was therefore unanimously agreed at the March, 1982 meeting of the Denver Lambda Chi Alpha House Corporation that the "Alfred C. Nelson Distinguished Service Award" be established to recognize, once yearly, an undergraduate and an alumnus of Alpha Pi Zeta who have distinguished themselves, after the example set by Dr. Nelson, in service to Alpha Pi Zeta and Lambda Chi Alpha."

"THIS I BELIEVE" 

     Man finds himself a part of an infinite universe with finite limitations upon him in time and space. His worldly existence comes not by his own choice of his place in the universe, nor by his own selection of time in the span of history, nor by any determination by him of his ancestral heritage.

     As he progresses from infancy to the time when he passes into the great beyond, he must learn to adapt himself to many situations. Some of these are of such a character to bring him satisfactions and happiness in his adjustment to his environment. Other experiences bring him pain and sorrow. In the unfolding of life's panorama the degree of choice which he has is limited. Many of the things which enter his life and affect his future are the results of factors and combinations of circumstances beyond his control. This I know from personal experience.

     There are, however, many options which man can exercise in the determination of how he reacts or adjusts to those experiences which come to him with out any choice on his part. Education and religion go hand in hand as man's best means to assist him in making satisfactory adjustments to life's situations. The infinite God gives each of us the only source of that inner strength required to contend with all that the finite phases of our existence bring into our lives.

     In using every resource which God has put at our disposal, and having the faith to know that His infinite power is ours to draw upon for every need, we can surmount all obstacles and achieve true happiness, even though forces beyond our control may, at times, produce events in our lives which we would not choose or which we cannot understand.

     It is not what happens to us so much as what we do about what happens that really counts. The power of good, of service to our fellow men, of faith in the infinite wisdom of our creator; these are essential to rising above the finite limitations of mere physical existence. These bring us to the full realization of the eternal values inherent in the spiritual realities of life.

     This I believe.

                                                        Alfred C. Nelson