The Harcha Men Share Formative Fraternity Experience

During orientation, Howard Harcha IV ’12 remembers his parents driving him and his triplet brothers, John Harcha ’12 and Matt Harcha, down 15th Avenue and pointing out the Delt Shelter. It was the first indication that his parents hoped they might find a fraternity at The Ohio State University, like their dad, Howard “Hank” Harcha III ’79, and their grandad, Howard Harcha Jr. ’48, had before them. Howard IV was the first to follow their footsteps to Beta Phi with John joining the quarter after him. Although Matt decided to join Beta Theta Pi instead, their shared fraternity experiences over the years have strengthened their bonds as family.

“It was cool to share the same ritual with Dad and Grandpa,” Howard IV shared. “We all have a different experience, but there’s definitely a connection. It’s neat that the same organization can link us from the ’40s to the ’70s and the early ’00s. It stands the test of time.”

Howard Jr. is especially proud of his son and grandsons following his footsteps to Beta Phi. His fraternity experience was incredibly important to him, and he’s grateful for how ∆T∆ shaped them all into men of great character and prepared them for successful and rewarding lives.

“The creed and the initiation of becoming a Delt taught me and ingrained in me self-confidence, honesty, and integrity. The Delts added a lot to my son’s and my grandsons’ self-discipline and growth as young men as well,” Howard Jr. said. “The life lessons learned there prepared me for many of the matters I would face in the future as a young man and as an adult.”

Growing up, Hank heard his father talk about his fraternity days, though he was never pressured to join. He went through recruitment with an open mind, but Delta Tau Delta stuck out the most.

“The Delts were well respected, I liked the members, and I was treated well by them,” Hank stated. “They made me feel special, so I decided to join, and I’m so glad that I did.”

John was also aware of the strong Delt reputation when he went through recruitment, and he has enjoyed sharing the fraternal experience his brother, father, and grandfather.

“We weren’t pressured to keep the tradition of joining Delta Tau Delta alive, but I think the fact that my brother and I also joined shows how strong we feel about this brotherhood,” John said. “To have something else in common between us is really special.”

The Harchas were already a close-knit family, and the fraternity has undoubtedly provided them each with life-changing experiences and given them even more to share with each other. Many of their favorite undergraduate memories revolve around times with their Delt brothers, but the biggest takeaway has been how their membership in the brotherhood prepared them for life after college.

“Living in the Shelter for three years taught me how to get along with different types of people from various backgrounds. It forced me to give and take, and I think that’s important in life,” Hank said. “Being a part of the fraternity teaches you character, affords leadership opportunities, and gives you a sense of responsibility—to yourself and to your brothers.”

Delta Tau Delta has been a compass for Howard IV from his time as an undergraduate to today.

“It’s made me a better man and has been a guidepost in life,” he said. “When you get to the end of college, you look to those guys who are in the next chapter of life ahead of you. They help you get through it all—grad school, buying a house, navigating your professional career, and having children. Delt gives life perspective and helps you navigate deep waters of life.”

As Howard IV has gotten older, he’s also started to look to more seasoned alumni, like Tom Calhoon ’70¸ to help navigate those deeper waters of life. Howard Jr. also credits Tom for bringing brothers together for golf outings and Beta Phi’s annual Christmas party at the Shelter. While the brotherhood has changed over the years, its invaluable experience remains the same.

“I’m extremely proud to have a son and grandsons who are Delts and who are successful,” Howard Jr. said. “So many of the traits and lessons learned through being a Delt are embedded in us all and will always stay with us.”

Howard Jr. and Hank spent several years practicing law together; Hank has been a judge for Scioto County Common Pleas Court since 1997. They both reside in Portsmouth, and Howard Jr. can be reached at hhharcha@aol.com and Hank at hharcha@adelphia.net.

Howard IV worked as a Delt consultant, traveling the West Coast for a year before attending law school. He’s currently a Beta Phi chapter advisor and practices law in Columbus, where he lives with his wife. You can connect with him at harcha.6@gmail.com.

John and his family are relocating to Cincinnati where he’ll begin his internal medicine residency this summer. He can be reached at johnharcha@yahoo.com.