Talbott & Cavallo
“Only in West Virginia can your daughter marry your ‘Big Brother’s son and everyone is happy about it”
– Larry Cavallo ’81
This Phi Psi Story started 99 years ago, back in 1924 when (Roll #277) Richard H. Talbott Sr ’24 (Senior) pledged Phi Psi. He owned and operated the Talbott Insurance Agency of Elkins. He was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and also served as clerk of the Senate. I am certain the Elkins native had no idea his decision to join WV Alpha would begin a legacy for the Talbott Family that is celebrated today…something unique within all of Phi Kappa Psi. They are the only four-generation legacy family in the Fraternity’s 171-year history.
For (Roll #725) Richard H. Talbott Jr ’53 (Junior), it was somewhat of a different path. His college of choice was Princeton. Upon graduation, he attended WVU College of Law. Once he landed in Morgantown, he made the decision to pledge Phi Psi…an interesting decision when you consider the limited time available for a social life. But Senior had planted that seed years earlier and Junior wanted to carry on the legacy. He pledged because of his “Phi Psi roots” according to (Roll #1477) Steve Talbott ’79.
While he was born in Elkins, unlike his grandfather and father, Steve grew up in Fairmont. The family moved when Steve was young, He recalls hearing Phi Psi stories from both Senior and Junior…that were etched in his memory. Not to mention the Phi Psi keepsakes Senior passed on including: Pin, Wallet, and Membership Card.
In high school, Steve met Dr. Lee Pyles ’76, who invited him to visit the Fraternity house. Steve credits Brother Pyles for introducing him to the chapter. Steve was quite active with the chapter as an undergraduate, which includes serving as GP.
Larry Cavallo ’81 grew up in Clarksburg, WV, and attended Washington Irving (WI). There were several from his senior high school class who came to WVU and pledged Phi Psi. Larry acknowledged that neither he nor his sister (Lori) knew anything about Greek life upon arriving in Morgantown but went down that path because so many classmates (Tim Dyer ’81, Tom Dyer ’81, Tom Caruso ’81, John Hornor ’81, Mike Robinson ’81, Pat Parrill ’81, Todd Furbee ’81, Brad Hall ’81, Tom Kennedy ’81) had an interest and eventually joined as well.
Larry vividly recalled visiting the Fraternity house “on the second night of rush week”. He met Steve (Talbott) for the first time. Steve’s name tag reflected he was from Oslo, Sweden. Upon receiving his bid and beginning pledgeship, Larry decided he wanted “that dude from Oslo as his Big Brother”. Thus, a new Fraternity seedling began, but they never dreamed of what would lie ahead. Through the years, Steve (and wife/Debbie) and Larry (and wife/Cathy) would hang out in the Blue Lot at WVU Football Games. But it was with the annual Christmas card exchange that their kids would vicariously become smitten with one another.
In 2009, the Talbott Family traveled to Morgantown (Hawley Field) for an American Legion Baseball Tournament. It was (Roll #2245) Chris Talbott ’11 who was tagging along to watch twin brother Ryan play. With Larry, Cathy, and their daughter Carrie attending the games…sparks began to fly quickly between Chris and Carrie. Chris arrived (to start college) in Morgantown in 2010, and Carrie followed three years later. According to Steve, those WVU Football tailgates allowed this romance to develop.
On August 10, 2019, Chris and Carrie officially blended the two families with their marriage. And on February 14, 2022, Tate Joseph Talbott arrived. Chris and Carrie reside in Bridgeport, WV. With any luck, Steve and Larry will be sitting in their rockers 18 years from now celebrating a five-generation Talbott legacy.
