The family of William Townsend sings ‘Amazing Grace’ during a memorial service for the 10-year anniversary of a fire at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house Wednesday. (DM Photo/Thomas Graning)
Aug. 27 marked the 10-year anniversary of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house fire that claimed the lives of three University of Mississippi students. Wednesday the university and ATO alumni held a ceremony at 5 p.m. in Paris-Yates Chapel to honor those lost in the tragedy: William Townsend, Howard Stone and Jordan Williams.
By 4:30 p.m., stacks of last Wednesday’s special edition of The Daily Mississippian sat atop a table just outside the chapel doors. Attendees picked up copies on their way into the building, looking over the front page and the photograph of Vida Townsend holding a picture of her son William.
Max Miller, who had been ATO president of the house corporation 10 years ago, waited in the chapel lobby with former President of the Local ATO Board of Trustees Buddy Chain.
“Sororities and fraternities are not usually tested like this chapter was,” Miller said. “The brotherhood was really evident among these young men, and I think this event will highlight that.”
Chain agreed with Miller.
“I think this class is closer than most,” he said. “Their ties were really strengthened through this tragedy.”
UM ambassadors greeted and ushered guests into Paris-Yates Chapel, giving speakers and family members of the honorees the first pews. Seated at the front among them were Chancellor Dan Jones, Oxford Mayor Pat Patterson and Oxford Alderman Ulysses Howell. Also attending were friends of the honorees and members of the police and fire departments who had been first responders to the fire. Ruth Miller, ATO house mother at the time of the incident, was also present.
Former Chancellor Robert Khayat recalled the fire as one of the saddest events he encountered at Ole Miss. He also claimed to have learned something from it.
“The unique relationships we form in college stay with us through life and death,” he said.
Validating Khayat’s observations, fraternity brothers and friends of Townsend, Stone and Williams arrived, having walked together from the ATO house just down the street. The members of the Delta Psi chapter filed into pews reserved for them on the right side of the chapel. More than 300 people filled Paris-Yates Chapel.
When the organ’s final note echoed through the sanctuary, the chapel bells rang at 5 and the ceremony commenced.
Speakers were all ATO affiliates, excluding the Rev. Chris Robinson. Eddie Rester, who was initiated into the fraternity 25 years ago and is now Oxford University United Methodist Church’s new senior pastor, welcomed the crowd before Dewey Knight took the stage for opening remarks. Knight is the Associate Director of the Center for Student Success and First Year Experience at Ole Miss.
“The good and the not so good are part of our existence,” Knight said. “But we cannot not remember.”
After readings from the books of Psalms and John and remarks by Miller thanking all those that served the ATO community, Vida Townsend approached the podium. Townsend, who has served as a member of the ATO board of trustees, spoke about love in the presence of tragedy.
“We’ve learned so much,” Townsend said. “Brotherhood is greater than tragedy, actions are greater than words, and love is greater than fear.”
Candles were lit for each of the three students killed in the fire and the congregation sang “Amazing Grace” to conclude the ceremony.
Now, over 10 years and many ceremonies later, Miller is still grateful.
“The support from the university, community and nation was incredible,” he said.
Khayat acknowledges a connectedness when it comes to tragedy.
“Universities are trans-generational,” he said.
