E. Ben Welch, III

E. Ben Welch, III (Gamma Xi)

Grand Regent: 2009-2011

Past Grand Regent E. Ben Welch was initiated into Kappa Psi in 1968 as a Brother of the Gamma Xi Chapter at the University of South Carolina. He received his BS Pharmacy degree in 1972 and then returned for his PharmD in 1989. He taught Behavioral Medicine and Addictionology as a Professor at Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy. In 2006, he received the Pharmacist of the Year Award for the Oklahoma Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

He served Kappa Psi in a wide variety of roles during his 47-year membership. He was elected as Graduate Member at Large in 1989 and then went on to become Grand Vice Regent. During a brief hiatus from Executive Committee, Brother Welch continued to serve as Satrap and Supervisor of several Provinces, as well as International Webmaster. At the 54th Grand Council Convention in 2007, he was elected as Grand Vice Regent and was elected as Grand Regent at the 55th Grand Council Convention in 2009. During his tenure as Grand Regent, he oversaw the development of Province realignment and electronic membership card access. He also helped create the F. Harvey Smith Order of Platinum Mortar for those Brothers having 75 years of membership.

Some of his favorite Kappa Psi memories were captured in the Winter 2008 edition of The MASK. One of his favorite memories was his first Grand Council Convention in 1972 where he attended as the Province III Delegate and “didn’t know what to vote for.” At the 1975 Grand Council Convention in Philadelphia, he remembered watching fireworks in Valley Forge and meeting one of his mentors, Dr. Frank Eby. Past Grand Regent Welch saw many changes to the conventions, but mentioned that one thing didn’t change: “meeting new Brothers and renewing old acquaintances, something that I always look forward to and what keeps me coming year after year after year.” Past Grand Regent Welch Welch did not miss a single Grand Council Convention since 1972.

Those who knew Past Grand Regent Welch had nothing but great things to say about him. He was known on being an advocate of Kappa Psi for Life, as evident by his long tenure of service. He was very “supportive and kind-hearted” as said by Past Grand Regent Radhakrishnan. She also stated that everyone had smiles on their faces when they interacted with him.

Past Grand Regent E. Ben Welch entered the Grand Agora in November 2015.