As a rule, Rho Sigma has opposed honorary memberships. However, there have been three honorary memberships awarded. The three honorary members are Freddie Jim Mills, Jim McCommas, and Hal Bass.
Freddie J. Mills of Hot Springs was the first honorary Red Shirt. Mills was awarded honorary membership sometime before February 1957. Mills was considered an excellent prospect, but he was a senior who was married with three children and served as pastor of the Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. He had little time to pledge, so the Red Shirts decided to make him an honorary member.
Mills graduated from Hot Springs High School. He then served four years in the U.S. Navy as a medic. At Ouachita, he was commander of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion, training officer (and charter member) of the Ouachita chapter (Company N-7) of the Pershing Rifles national military honorary society, first vice president of the Student Senate, and was elected to the 1956-57 edition of Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.
Upon graduation, he received a regular Army commission. His commission was different from usual commissions in that Mills could serve as long as he wished instead of the usual two years. He was posted for a short time as a reserve officer, then transferred to Brooks Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, where his regular Army commission went into effect.
Rho Sigma's other two honorary members received the award for their years of service as faculty advisors. Dr. James McCommas, a professor in the education department, was Red Shirt sponsor from 1969-73. He was made an honorary Red Shirt in 1977-78. Dr. Harold (Hal) Bass, a professor in the social science department, has served as Red Shirt sponsor from 1980 to the present day. He was made an honorary Red Shirt in 1991-92.
Red Shirt Newell Blakely was listed as an honorary member in the 1942 yearbook. However, he was clearly a regular member before that date. It is likely that he was simply an inactive member rather than an honorary member.
Freddie J. Mills of Hot Springs was the first honorary Red Shirt. Mills was awarded honorary membership sometime before February 1957. Mills was considered an excellent prospect, but he was a senior who was married with three children and served as pastor of the Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. He had little time to pledge, so the Red Shirts decided to make him an honorary member.
Mills graduated from Hot Springs High School. He then served four years in the U.S. Navy as a medic. At Ouachita, he was commander of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) battalion, training officer (and charter member) of the Ouachita chapter (Company N-7) of the Pershing Rifles national military honorary society, first vice president of the Student Senate, and was elected to the 1956-57 edition of Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.
Upon graduation, he received a regular Army commission. His commission was different from usual commissions in that Mills could serve as long as he wished instead of the usual two years. He was posted for a short time as a reserve officer, then transferred to Brooks Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, where his regular Army commission went into effect.
Rho Sigma's other two honorary members received the award for their years of service as faculty advisors. Dr. James McCommas, a professor in the education department, was Red Shirt sponsor from 1969-73. He was made an honorary Red Shirt in 1977-78. Dr. Harold (Hal) Bass, a professor in the social science department, has served as Red Shirt sponsor from 1980 to the present day. He was made an honorary Red Shirt in 1991-92.
Red Shirt Newell Blakely was listed as an honorary member in the 1942 yearbook. However, he was clearly a regular member before that date. It is likely that he was simply an inactive member rather than an honorary member.
FREDDIE JIM MILLS
