The following is an excerpt from the eulogy given by Councilor Tom Faircloth at a memorial service organized by Mike Lee (Zeta Iota - Indiana State ‘96) and held by Zeta Iota chapter and other ISU alumni.
David Fribley was a hero in the strife. And as Longfellow urged [in his poem Psalm of Life], David left his “footprints of the sands of time.” We all knew David or knew of him, to varying degrees. I first met David when he was a freshman at Indiana State University. He had just been initiated into the Zeta Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order, our national collegiate fraternity. As a national officer of KA, I was speaking at the chapter’s Convivium, the celebration of the birthday of our spiritual founder, Robert E. Lee. David was one of my hosts for the event and therein began a friendship and bonding that transcended the distance in miles and the difference in ages. There are those of you who knew him longer. There are those of you who knew him better. But few of you were impacted by his brief life more than I.
For those of you who might be unaware of KA, our fraternity was founded at Washington and Lee University in the early years of the presidency of Robert E Lee. His influence so impacted our founders that they designed our Order based on the principles and qualities of the gentleman, respect for women, devotion to family, love of God, and an unsurpassed loyalty of brotherhood. Excellence is our motto and our aim. David was the epitome of a Kappa Alpha.
Always a gentleman, he was a “gentle-man”, concerned about the welfare of his fellow man and his brothers. He had a total respect for the ladies and was devout in his belief in his God. Lee once said, “I have a way of estimating young men which does not often fail me. I cannot note the conduct of any one, for even a brief period, without finding out what sort of mother he had.” We all know what kind of mother and father that David had. As we say in south Georgia, David and his brother and sister were raised right. This community instilled in him a sense of purpose and a dedication to duty. You helped make the boy, a man!
“Duty is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. . .you cannot do more, you should never do less,” Lee told his students. The concept of duty was a driving force in David’s life. He was concerned about his responsibilities to his family and friends, to his employers and fellow workers, to his fraternity and his brothers, and to his fellow Corps members, to his country and its freedoms. David and I spoke often about his views of life, about his goals and aspirations, about his philosophies. Some of his feelings during the months preceding his decision to become a Marine had to do with his deep desire to “make a difference.” While he was very happy and challenged in his work in Florida, he had a yearning, as he told me, to do something significant with his life, and while he wasn’t sure what that would be, he felt that earning and wearing the uniform of a United States Marine would give him the foundation to make that difference. In his departure letter to his fellow employees at Florida’s Shell Point Retirement Center, David wrote, and I quote in part, “May I honor you and our fellow countrymen and women. I will earn the privilege to wear the eagle, globe, and anchor for all those who cannot. With the strength of my fellow Marines, we shall always provide you with the comforting feeling of safety that you have each day. I will strive for excellence in all that I do.”
David achieved that excellence. He earned that privilege of being a Marine. He lived a life of excellence. He died making a difference.
Duty done is glory won. David Fribley did his duty and won his glory. The gift of freedom for our nation and oppressed people throughout the world is the legacy of the life of this mighty warrior.
He was a true friend, a brave knight, and a brother, faithful unto death. 
