DU MourNs Ed Porter and George Wada

Alvan E. Porter 
Oklahoma '65

Delta Upsilon mourns the loss of Past International Fraternity President Alvan E. (Ed) Porter, Oklahoma ’65, who passed away on Dec. 13, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Born July 11, 1943, Brother Porter graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Business Administration and was a member of DU and the ROTC. Following graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam where he was awarded the Air Medal and Bronze Star for his bravery. Brother Porter later earned his MBA from OU before embarking on a successful career in banking and real estate. He worked for Republic Bank in Dallas, then moved back to Oklahoma to manage the real estate department at First National Bank in Oklahoma City before entering the commercial and industrial real estate field with his father. He also served on the FNB Community Bank board of directors for many years.

Brother Porter was dedicated to serving others. In his community, he was a member of the Rotary Club, OKC Men’s Dinner Club, the OKC Chapter of the American Heart Association, the YMCA Camp Classen board of directors and OKC Area Young Life. He was an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Edmond.

Within Delta Upsilon, Brother Porter held many roles both for the Oklahoma Chapter and International Fraternity. He joined DU’s Board of Directors in 1997 and served as the International Fraternity President from 2000-2006. In 2009, he received the Fraternity’s Distinguished Delta Upsilon Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a member.

“Thanks to Ed Porter’s dedication and leadership as a member of our Delta Upsilon International Fraternity and as President of the Fraternity from 2000-2006, the lives of thousands of DU men across North America have been forever altered for the better,” said Bill Messick, Lafayette ’68, Former Chairman of the International Fraternity Board of Directors. “Ed was instrumental in influencing significant changes in the direction of the Fraternity, changes which have led to Delta Upsilon becoming the industry leader that we are today. Delta Upsilon and I will miss Ed’s wise counsel.”

Brother Porter is survived by his wife of 53 years (Judy), three children (Heather; Will, Oklahoma ’98; and Justin, Harvard ’99), and five grandchildren. 

George T. Wada
Fresno '74

Brother George Wada, Fresno ’74, passed away on Sept. 27, 2024. Those who have attended Delta Upsilon’s Leadership Institute from 2007-2024 will likely remember Brother Wada who served as the Fraternity’s official LI photographer.

Born March 26, 1952, in Fresno, California, Brother Wada went on to graduate from Fresno State University in 1974. Following graduation, he worked for Air Cal and later moved to Texas to work in revenue management with American Airlines. Following his retirement in 2001, Brother Wada dedicated his time to his passion for photography and filmmaking, as well as martial arts and yoga.

In addition to his work at DU’s Leadership Institute, he was a dedicated supporter of his adopted chapter, the Arlington Chapter.

“George was the perfect example of a DU man: compassionate, kind, reliable, and a beacon of light to many,” said Delta Upsilon Executive Director Justin Kirk, Boise State ’00. “You could see in his interactions with our students and alumni just how much he cared. George will be missed dearly, but the example he set for others will live on forever.”

Brother Wada is survived by his wife of more than 25 years (Eve), two sons (Eric and Ellison), and one granddaughter.