While famous for his hall of fame football career, Order of Constantine Sig and Significant Sig Merlin Olsen, UTAH STATE 1962, was equally as committed to his philanthropic efforts as his gridiron prowess.
On Sept. 15, Sigma Chis are encouraged to honor his legacy with participation in the eighth-annual Merlin Olsen Day of Service.
Created in 2010, after Olsen entered the Chapter Eternal, the Merlin Olsen Day of Service was created to honor the philanthropic spirit of a man who dedicated himself to organizations such as Children’s Miracle Network, of which he was a longtime telethon host.
The former Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman was also known as an NBC and CBS football color commentator and for his acting roles on Little House on the Prairie and Father Murphy, as well as a commercial spokesman for FTD Florists.
In honor of Olsen, members are encouraged to better their communities. In previous years, chapters have cleaned riverbanks and roadways, worked at homeless shelters and soup kitchens, donated blood and helped build homes by partnering with Habitat for Humanity, among other activities.
Chapters are urged to share their pictures and volunteering experiences on social media using #honormerlin and #sigmachi, and also by emailing them to honormerlin@sigmachi.org. Submissions could make it into an issue of The Magazine of Sigma Chi and be featured on Sigma Chi’s social media channels.
