Iowa Beta's Thompson brings a cutting-edge style to the Iowa City salon he and his wife own
By Greg Miller
Director and Communications Chair, Iowa Beta Alumni Association
He’s a former high school football player, baseball player and wrestler. He’s an entrepreneurial business owner. He works with his hands and loves sports. He’s a rough-and-tumble red-blooded American; a manly man. And he loves to cut hair.
Iowa Beta alumnus Bobby Thompson (IABE ‘06) and his wife, Kayla, own Thompson and Co., located off East Washington in the downtown Iowa City commercial area. It opened on April 21 of this year. In its six months of existence, Bobby said the response has been amazing and his business is benefitting from the fact that Iowa City is the fastest-growing city in Iowa.
“We have services for everyone,” he said. “The concept is traditional salon meets classic barber shop. So you have two spaces that meet into one. We have had people say that our salon rivals the high-end salons in New York City, Paris or Los Angeles. My wife did an amazing job designing our space. “
Once the customer walks in, he/she sees the salon first and as you travel through, the barber shop reveals itself.
“We have three old-school barber chairs and the middle one has gator skin,” Thompson said. “That’s my chair! We have TVs on and you know we have Hawkeye and Cubs games on.
“And you can look out the giant windows and get that classic barbershop feeling. You will see five guys sitting there just 'talking barbershop.' It has a social gathering feel to it.
"Our motto is ‘Community, Culture, Couture.’ We want to be positive, active and responsible members of the Iowa City community. And this is where SAE comes in. I want to give back to SAE and the university because both have given so much to me.”
Thompson is not named after the New York Giants outfielder/third baseman who hit the “Shot Heard Around the World” on Oct. 3, 1951. That Thompson hit a walk-off 3-run homer off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca to win the National League pennant.
“I have been asked that a lot my whole life, but I was named after my grandfather," Thompson said. "I am a huge baseball guy, though.”
Iowa Beta’s Thompson is an avid Cubs fan and watches as many games as he can. Rhyne Sandberg is his all-time favorite Cubbie.
Thompson said the Iowa City landscape is changing dramatically.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that right now Iowa City is one of the premier cities for young entrepreneurs and new businesses. The growth in this city in the five last years alone has been insane.
“Of course, medical is already here but a ton of tech companies are coming this way,” he said. “Downtown is growing it’s exciting to see all the changes.”
After Thompson graduated from Barlett High School, located in the Chicago suburbs, he stepped onto the University of Iowa campus in 2001.
“As a freshman, I really did not have an academic plan,” Thompson said. “I was on a path to go to Ohio State. But at the time, I had a girlfriend who did not want to go to Columbus. And I have always been kind of an independent person who loves people. I wanted to get away.
“Previously, I had gone to a football camp at the University of Iowa and I remembered walking down the street with several of the people and I noticed that so many people would say ‘hi.’ My dad is one of the nicest men you will ever meet and I remember him saying ‘hi’ to people in the suburbs of Chicago. And I liked that about Iowa City. I did not know anyone who was coming to school here. This place gave me a chance to be on my own and find out who I was. And (laugh) that girlfriend told me she would go to Iowa if I went there too. But in all seriousness, I fell in love with the campus on day one.”
Thompson began his academic journey as a pre-med major but he said blood and bodily fluids were not appealing. He next went into business “because that was what everyone else was doing.” He said at the time he did not have the patience to study that discipline. He finally found his groove in health promotion so he altered his coursework as a health and sports studies major with a health promotion emphasis.
His major encompassed a wide variety of application from pre-medical training, to corporate wellness as well as personal and athletic training. Being a robust athlete in high school, Thompson had an affinity for fitness. He and his SAE brothers won the flag football intramural championship in 2003 and 2004.
“I love sports. I love training. I love working out and pushing my body,” he said. “So this major would help me make a living working in an area I was interested in.”
Thompson went through rush his freshman year as means to start meeting people.
“Rush had a huge impact on me,” he said. “And I think this was the first year the university went to a dry campus. It was like a whirlwind going through rush. You saw so many things. Houses stood out both good and bad. Being in a collection of kids who were all new to the school from all areas and walks of life was pretty exciting.”
Thompson was only cut from Phi Psi. He met some guys who were going to pledge Fiji, some Pike and some Beta.
“I was sitting there thinking, ‘hey, I might go Pike, I might go Fiji.’ But there was something about SAE that kept coming back to me. And it wasn’t my first pick after the first day. But after the second and third day I liked what I saw. And remember that I wanted to go against the grain. But there was something dynamic about these SAE guys.
“You’d walk in and see a diverse selection of people. There were athletes, super social guys, music lovers, business students and art fans. To me, SAE was the most well rounded group. And this sounds weird…even though I didn’t know…I knew I was an SAE. The atmosphere was just perfect – really fun.”
Guys who made a big impact on Thompson were Brendan Ferrari (IABE '03), Mike Mlakar (IABE '03), Deke Emmerick (IABE '03), Tom Dryer (IABE '03) and Andrew Morris (IABE '03).
“The other houses tried so hard to impress me,” he said. “These SAE guys were older and all they did was treat me like a friend. They wanted to know what I liked instead of trying to tell me how cool their house was. It made me feel real comfortable. These were guys who I had met for a half hour and left feeling like we were friends for 10 years.”
Thompson lived in Hillcrest his freshman year and moved into the basement of the SAE house his sophomore year. He lived with Scott Kirchner (IABE '05). At the time, there was an abundance of brothers who wanted a shot at living in the house, so Thompson transitioned to apartment living his last two years.
“Living in the house was a blast; almost too much fun at times,” Thompson said. “We had really good rush classes. We never had the largest class, but the guys who joined were solid, quality dudes!”
Thompson took a semester off before his graduating semester to work as the front-of-the-house-manager at the Atlas World Grill on Iowa Avenue.
This experience led him to land a job at Charlie Trotters, which at the time was one of the top three restaurants in the Chicago area. Thompson read two books about service that stemmed from Trotter, Lessons in Excellence and Lessons in Service.
“When I worked there, I could truly learn what it meant to engage someone and give them unmatched service,” Thompson said. “However, I also learned being in the industry would make it very hard for me to have a family. I did not want to work nights, weekends and holidays. I wanted a wife and family.”
Thompson returned to Iowa City to complete his final semester and worked as a bartender at Martinis, a downtown bar in Iowa City. He was living with three other bartenders.
"One day, one of the guys came home and said, ‘Guys, I know what I am going to do with the rest of my life.’ And we all said, ‘Nice, what is that?’ He said, ‘I am going to open up salons.’ And all of us looked at him like he was just a little bit crazy. Salons?
"But he broke it down for us. He asked:
1. What is something somebody always needs? Haircuts.
2. We’re in an economy that is starting to slip so will there be a job for us?
3. Don’t you see this as a way to make someone’s day instantly?
“The last one struck a chord with me,” Thomson said. “Being a student of health promotion, I wanted to make people better. And I am not saying that day right then and there I decided to start salons, but after a couple of late nights of talking I started to see things his way.”
Thompson’s roommate asked him to stop by the local hair school.
“First off, you are surrounded by beautiful women,” he laughed. “I was young and single and I said, ‘Oh my God, this is awesome.’ ”
Thompson was given a haircut and enjoyed the interaction between the owner. He stayed for lunch and was given an offer to become an owner and help disrupt an industry.
Thompson agreed and went on to start some salons in the Iowa City/ Cedar Rapids area. His track record is one that exudes success.
“If you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be working in the salon business, I would have said, ‘Uhh, yeah, right.’ But it has literally given me everything.
Thompson met Kayla at hair school in 2006 and when they had their second child, they decided that it was time to start a salon on their own. They thought Iowa City would be the most appropriate place to locate it.
Kayla, who hails from Cascade, Iowa, had received her degree at the prestigious Aveda Institute in Minneapolis and in order for her to get her certification in Iowa, she had to work some hours in Iowa City.
“Now let me tell you, I went to school to learn how to do hair.,” he said. “I have always thought of myself doing manly jobs working with my hands. I like to cut and structure hair all day. I am a follicle engineer and it’s really fun. But since I had to learn hair color techniques, I could not go to barber school I had to go to cosmetology school and that meant learning to do a wide range of services.
“I was running a bar at the time and I had all my waitresses come in all at once so they could get their styling, manicure and pedicure. Having collected a lot of hours my mindset this particular day was to skip pedicure class and take the afternoon off. I popped my head into the pedicure classroom on my way out to a lazy afternoon and in there was sitting my (future) wife. She was not my wife at the time but I knew she was my wife.
“I walked in, sat next to her and started talking a mile a minute. She did not say a word back to me. She had me right there. It was awesome.”
Bobby and Kayla have two children.
“Lola is a Lola,” Thompson said. “She is sweet, sensitive and all heart. She is a little dramatic but has no fear. She talks to people in the shop, dances around and is just a beautiful little maniac. And then you got Logan, 1, who is all boy…rough and tough. We are just extremely blessed.”
Looking back on his undergraduate years, Thompson said his brothers were a tight-knit bunch. Guys he bonded solidly with included Jessie Kinsinger (IABE '05), Kirchner, Jeff Reddington (IABE '05), Grayson Beatty (IABE '05), Chuck Stanley (IABE '05), and Mark Hatfield (IABE '04).
"I hung out with those guys and we did so much together...sports, parties, you name it," he said. "But the two guys who were the most influential and whom I was closest with were Jason Geater (IABE '03) and Praveen Bontu (IABE '05). They never let anyone get them off their course. They had fun and were social, cool guys but they also worked their butts off. They did not let any partying or sorority girl distract them.
"Jason has opened up a few of his own companies…I think he still has a software company,” Thompson said. “Praveen was pre-med, scored great on the MCAT and decided that he did not want to be a doctor. He went back to the University of Chicago and got his MBA and now he is killing it in business. They taught me that you can merge fun and work. They were quality examples of a leader. Actually because they were such hard workers, it made them attractive leaders. It’s something that I have tried to mimic.”
Thompson said one of the skills Iowa Beta helped him to develop is networking.
“As an undergrad and even as an alumnus, SAE has been great for networking.” It taught me how to present myself in a room of people and extend my contacts.”
He said while he was an undergrad, he knew the True Gentleman, but it was during his career that the epic words of John Walter Wayland took on a very deep meaning.
“When you first read and recite the piece, it tells you how to be a nice, stand-up guy,” He said. “But when I really went back and read it with more conviction, I found that it is giving you the recipe to be a strong leader.
"The ideals of True Gentleman is something that I try to bring to bring to my life every day…whether it’s being a father, a business owner, a husband or a community member. And now, I want to support and be a role model for the SAEs that will be coming to this campus in the very near future.”
Outstanding: Iowa Beta Alumni Association named best chapter alumni group in the country
The Iowa Beta Alumni Association did it again.
During the national Fraternity's annual awards competition in August, the Iowa Beta Alumni Association was named the Outstanding Chapter Alumni Association and tied for runners-up for its electronic communications.
This marks the second consecutive year that the Fraternity has recognized the Iowa Beta Alumni Association as being among the very best in the SAE realm. Last year, the alumni association was recognized as best in the nation for its innovative website and electronic communications and was the runner-up for Outstanding Chapter Alumni Association.
"These awards are a reflection of the volunteers who work tirelessly to make our alumni association so special," said Iowa Beta Alumni Association president Marc Rosenow (IABE '86). "These awards are a celebration of their hard work and dedication. Our alumni volunteers are committed to reengaging alumni in advance of rebuilding the Chapter.
"This important recognition by the Fraternity shows that the hard work is paying off. Our programs and initiatives are ranked as among the very best in the country. We gratefully accept these honors on behalf of all Iowa Beta alumni brothers whose support and involvement have made this possible."
Founded in 1999, the Iowa Beta Alumni Association is now the second-largest SAE alumni group in the country and is within striking distance of being the largest. There are nearly 300 official members and multitudes of non-member "Friends of Iowa Beta" supporters. Recognized by the IRS as a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for educational purposes, their objectives include reengaging and supporting Iowa Beta alumni, establishing a Chapter Advisory Board to rebuild the Iowa Beta chapter, and providing scholarship, leadership, and lifetime career development opportunities for Iowa Beta SAEs.
Each month, the alumni association sends news-related communications to all known living Iowa Beta alumni with a valid email address. Additionally, electronic birthday cards and special bulletins in the event a brother has entered the Chapter Eternal are sent to its members. This strategy helps keep alumni informed of the latest Iowa Beta developments.
"It is a tremendous honor for us to be named best in the nation," said Greg Miller (IABE '86), director and communications chair of the Iowa Beta Alumni Association said, "All of our brothers have a wonderful story to tell about their SAE experience. We are beyond excited to win these awards and thank for the Fraternity for its continued recognition and support."
The Iowa Beta Alumni Association will be highlighted in an upcoming edition of The Record, the national magazine of the Fraternity.
Alumni tailgate set for Sept.19 in Iowa City
The Iowa Beta Alumni Association will be hosting a family-friendly tailgate event on Saturday, September 19. Alumni, family and guests are welcome. Food and beverages will be provided throughout the day.
The University of Iowa will be playing a night game against the University of Pittsburgh, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
The Iowa Beta alumni tailgate event will be held at the University of Iowa Main Library parking lot on South Madison Street, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.Look for the Iowa Beta Alumni Association flag. This is a great weekend to bring family and tour Iowa's campus and the surrounding communities.
You can also check for updates at: www.iowabetasae.org/events.html.
For planning purposes, please respond with your interest by clicking the RSVP button. Thank you.
Past ESA Lou Smith enters the Chapter Eternal
Dr. Louis Ephraim Smith Jr. (Drake '51), Past Eminent Supreme Archon of the Fraternity and a strong supporter of the Iowa Beta chapter, entered the Chapter Eternal on July 28, 2015 in Des Moines. He was 85 years old.
Smith was born in Des Moines and was childhood friends with Steve Jaeger (IABE '54).
"Lou and I went to the same church and we were good friends. My dad was a Charter Member of Iowa Delta (Drake) and received his SAE badge from Billy Levere. So when I heard Lou was EA at Drake I wanted to join Iowa Beta. He called the EA and made sure I got it in," Jaeger recalled.
Smith joined the Iowa Delta chapter at Drake University in 1947 and held numerous leadership positions. Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in education guidance from Drake, and he earned a doctorate degree in education in 1955 from the University of Northern Colorado.
He was active in many organizations but was particularly proud of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, holding nearly every volunteer position available. He was elected to the Supreme Council and led the Fraternity as Eminent Supreme Archon from 1977 to 1979. He was the senior-most living Past ESA.
Smith worked as the Bureau Chief for the Iowa Department of Education for 20 years and also served as a high-school principal for three different schools. During his retirement, Smith loved to spend time with his family and enjoyed hobbies such as gardening and traveling.
"I had the opportunity to work with Lou on some SAE Central Iowa Alumni projects," said Tom Halterman (IABE '89), Director and Des Moines-area Chairman of the Iowa Beta Alumni Association. "He was a very smart and kind-hearted man who cared deeply about the Fraternity."
The Fraternity recognized Smith’s dedication by bestowing upon him several awards, including the Merit Key and the Distinguished Service Award.
"Lou was a great friend to Iowa Beta and just a terrific guy," said Marc Rosenow (IABE '86), president of the Iowa Beta Alumni Association. "Each month he would read our newsletters and provide us with advice and words of encouragement. At Fraternity Conventions, he was very vocal in his support that Iowa Beta must be restored to its rightful place as one of the finest SAE chapters as soon as possible and with all of the Fraternity resources required. He was a one-of-a-kind."
Smith is survived by his wife, Joyce; two daughters, Stephanie Foster and Allison Luedtke; and a son, Peter, who is an alumnus of Iowa Gamma at Iowa State University. His grandsons, Benjamin Smith and Ross Luedtke, also are SAE members, having joined Minnesota Alpha at the University of Minnesota.
QUIZ ANSWER: D. Bo Schembechler
The former Big Ten football coach who was a member of SAE was the late legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler (Miami '51).
Glenn Edward Schembechler was born in the Akron suburb of Barberton, Ohio on April 21, 1929. He was nicknamed "Bo" as a young boy by his little sister.
Schembechler attended Miami University and become a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He played college football as a tackle and was first coached by the offensive genius Sid Gillman and, after Gillman left Miami to coach at the University of Cincinnati, by the great Woody Hayes. In 1952, Schembechler would serve as a graduate assistant coach under Hayes at Ohio State University.
After a tour of duty in the US Army, Schembechler became an assistant coach at Presbyterian College and at Bowling Green, before joining the staff of former college teammate Ara Parseghian at Northwestern as a defensive coach. In 1958, Hayes asked Schembechler to return to his staff at Ohio State and Schembechler would spend the next five years there.
In 1963, Schembechler became head coach at Miami University, leading them to a 40-17-3 record over the next six seasons. Under his direction, the team won two Mid-American Conference titles and finished second three times. He compiled a .692 winning percentage at Miami.
In 1968, Schembechler succeeded Bump Elliott, becoming Michigan's 15th head coach. Bump Elliott would later serve as athletic director at the University of Iowa, where he hired legendary coaches Dan Gable, Hayden Fry, Lute Olson, Vivian Stringer and Dr. Tom Davis. During his tenure, the Iowa Hawkeyes won 41 Big Ten Conference championships and 11 NCAA titles. Elliott was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
At Michigan, Schembechler became one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. He won a school-record 194 games, lost only 48, and tied five for a winning percentage of .796. His teams never posted a losing season. In Big Ten Conference play, he had a record of 143–24–3 for a winning percentage of .850. His Michigan teams won or shared 13 Big Ten titles and made 10 Rose Bowl appearances. His 96–16–3 record during the 1970s was the best of any Division I coach. Schembechler led the Wolverines to a total of 17 bowl games, going 5–12 in 21 years, placing him ninth in all-time bowl appearances.
In his first ten years at Michigan, Schembechler's teams developed a fierce rivalry with his good friend and mentor Woody Hayes' Ohio State Buckeyes. During the so-called "Ten-Year War," Michigan or Ohio State would either win or share the Big Ten Conference championship every season.
In 1988, Schembechler assumed the additional role of athletic director but retired as head football coach after the 1989 season. Schembechler left the University of Michigan in 1990 to become president of the Detroit Tigers, serving until 1992. He was inducted into the College Football of Fame as a coach in 1993. During his later years, Schembechler hosted a sports talk radio show in Michigan.
Brother Schembechler entered the Chapter Eternal on November 17, 2006. He was 77 years old.
Banzuly receives much deserved recognition
Brother Doug Banzuly (IABE '86) was presented with a True Gentleman plaque in appreciation for his dedication to the fraternity and his efforts on behalf of recent alumni.
Commenting on the award, Iowa Beta Alumni Association president Marc Rosenow (IABE '86) told Banzuly that "I always knew you were a True Gentleman, but now you have a plaque to prove it."
The award was co-presented by Iowa Beta Alumni Association treasurer Bill Stelter (IABE '88) at the alumni golf event on July 30.
Burial services set for Torrence on August 29
Jerry Torrence (IABE '57), a loyal brother of Iowa Beta and a kind and generous supporter, will be laid to rest on Saturday, August 29, 2015.
He entered the Chapter Eternal on June 19 in New York, NY.
Brother Torrence will be laid to rest next to his beloved late wife Judy in the cemetery at St. Charles, Iowa. The burial service will take place at 12:30 pm Central.
Immediately following the service, a reception will be held at St. Charles Methodist Church. All are welcome.
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