The Eta Rho Bond Eternal

John C. Myatt

Honoring John Myatt

- by John Olenick, Eta Rho Alumni - Alpha Class

"John Myatt was the kind of guy you would've loved to hate. He had more going for him than anyone I've ever known; tall, good-looking, quick with a smile or a joke - a real charmer. He excelled at everything he put his mind to whether it was academics, sports, playing the guitar, writing for the Greensboro News and Record or being the second vice-president of Delta Sigma Phi at UNC-Charlotte. His enthusiasm and good humor were infectious. I don't believe I would be exaggerating when I say that John was one of the more popular men not only in the fraternity but also on campus. John was the sun and we all orbited around his radiant glow."

"I was lucky enough to be John's roommate and close friend for two years at UNCC. I was closet to the fire. Though I hate to admit I was his sidekick - the John to his Ponch. Wherever John was usually Oli was alongside. While I say that John was not an arrogant person despite all of his talent I would be lying if on occasion I didn't have to bring him down a notch or two. Like when he would be posing in front of the mirror or rambling on about how he had the plan to shut down Joe Case and finally beat Chi Phi in football. No, John was a talker but he was also a listener. He cared about people, about their feelings. I think that's what really set him apart from other 'loudmouths'."

"The first time I met John was the summer before my freshman year at UNCC. We were assigned to be roommates on the Honors Floor in Oak Hall. I called him up and we agreed to meet on the steps of the Wake Forest Library at 10 a.m. to drive down to Charlotte together and check out the campus, our room and meet another roommate. Well, 10 rolled around - no sign of John. 10:15, 10:30 and finally 10:45. As time drew on I was getting more and more pissed. I had gotten up off the steps to leave when all of a sudden a brown RX-7 pulls into the parking lot and this tall, blond gets out and says with this shit-eating grin, "Are you John?" I told him, "Yes," barely able to control myself from cussing him out. "Dude, I'm sorry I went the wrong way on Silas Creek Parkway." Well, I got in the car and we headed down to Charlotte, It turned out that we had a lot in common. We both loved sports and the movie "Fletch". After we toured campus, saw our room and had lunch with our other roommate John turned to me and said, "Man, that guy is weird." Our friendship was sealed."

"I was lying on the couch one Saturday afternoon in the fall of our freshman year watching a college football game when John burst in all excited. He said, "Oli, we're starting a fraternity." "Great", I replied. I really had no interest. But he kept pressing me about the interest meeting he had attended and all of the great guys he had met. He could barely control his emotions. He was like a used car salesman he wouldn't let up until I agreed to attend the next interest meeting to see what the big deal was. I went and met some of the guys and got excited, not as excited as John mind you, hearing the vision for the fraternity. John went around working the room, shaking hands, talking to newcomers, reconnecting with guys he'd already met. He was a natural Rush Chairman."

"John gave 110% to Delta Sig. It literally engrossed him perhaps to the detriment of other important things in his life. He had this boundless energy and passion for all things Delta Sig. He plotted how to recruit new members, how to improve our 2-3 defense in basketball. He would lay in his top bunk while I was in the bottom and would bounce nicknames for guys off me. "How about Snark for Thomas Eatmon?" he asked. "I like it", I replied. This would go on for hours. John understood the importance of friendship. He had a large number of friends from high school whom he kept in contact with but there was always room for another friend in his life. John was loyal and looked out for the little guy. The person others ignored or at least didn't pay much attention to. When he talked to you, you felt like you were the only person who mattered. John just made you feel good by making you feel good about yourself. He was a great guy to be around. I believe that's why the brothers who knew him remember him so fondly. Like me, they've probably never met anyone like him since. To be sure his flame was extinguished much too soon. His death was a loss for all of us but I know I learned a lot from John and am grateful for having been blessed with his friendship."