The beginning History of The Delta Xi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi at Eastern Kentucky University
It all Began…
In the year of 1964, EKU had never seen the makings of an organized fraternity. However, in the early months of that year, a relatively small number of students began to press the issue of fraternities and sororities on Eastern’s campus. So, on October 23, 1964, Dr. Robert R. Martin, President of EKU, presented the issue at a faculty senate meeting.
President Martin reported that throughout his tenure as President, there had been considerable agitation on the part of some students for the approval of social fraternities and sororities on the campus. He said that he was convinced that the time had come to organize an ad hoc committee of faculty to study the matter of social fraternities and sororities and to report back to the faculty, the administration, and the Board of Regents concerning their findings. A motion was made and approved and President Martin appointed a committee to conduct the study.
After 16 months, the committee submitted a report containing their findings. The committee wanted to find the most conscientious means where fraternities and sororities would be best for the university and the students. Therefore, after much deliberation and discussion, revising and amending, on April 1, 1966, it was moved and seconded that fraternities and sororities be established at Eastern. On separation of the faculty, 113 members voted ‘in favor’ of the adoption and 70 voted ‘not in favor’.
With the start of fraternities and sororities, the university saw many groups come and go.
Many young enterprising individuals began to petition the university for a charter. Then in 1969, a very unique group of men presented their petition for a charter to the university. The story of these young men and the evolution of the local Alpha Chi Alpha Fraternity to the Delta Xi of Beta Theta Pi follows just as it appeared in the petition for a charter to Beta Theta Pi. (Note: This is a copy of the original petition; no revisions have been made.)
We are glad you ask that question. You see, it was a local fraternity formed at Eastern Kentucky University. One which we are proud to look back on and say “thanks” to its 24 original members. That is right, Alpha Chi Alpha is our cornerstone with a strong foundation of brotherhood.
It all began on an October afternoon in 1968. A group of about three young men was talking in a room on the seventh floor of Todd Hall. They had visions of forming a new fraternity at EKU, one which stressed brotherhood, achievement, and scholarship.
It was hard work for this group of men as they grew from a number of three to a select group of twenty-four. There was a great deal to be done: ground rules to be laid; goals to be established; obtain recognition from the Interfraternity Council and university administration, and to become known on Eastern’s campus.
Our first big step was going in front of the IFC. Five people were chosen to go before the council: Larry Hitch, Steve Sloan, Randall Starnes, Clint Justice, and Karl Frey. On March 18, 1969, the IFC met and recognized AXA as a local fraternity at EKU. The first greek event we entered was the Pi Kappa Alpha Bowling Tournament. We did not gain any material recognition at the tournament but were told by a number of Greeks that they had never seen such a great amount of spirit and brotherhood as we had. That, perhaps, is the best recognition we could ever have received, as we had the second-largest pledge classes for the next two semesters.
Then on May 5, 1969, we went in front of the University Administration to petition for recognition. Steve Sloan, Larry Hitch, Karl Frey, Denny Gillespie, and Barry Brooks represented our fraternity. On this date, Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity received full recognition at Eastern Kentucky University and was told that the Administration was never so favorably impressed by a group before.
Our first recognized officers were: Larry Hitch, President; Steve Sloan, Vice President; Bob Kelley, Treasurer; Jim Money, Secretary; Kelly Marinaro, Seargent-at-Arms; Bill Smith, Pledge Educator; and Karl Frey, Social Chair, Rush Chair, and Historian.
During our first year of existence, we had a monthly due of $3.00 per person. Our parties during this time consisted mostly of the cave and creek parties. The treasury was supplemented by money-raising projects such as plane car washes. We were also the only fraternity to meet the requirements of Eastern by having a balance of $250.00 in our treasury at the end of the school year.
During the first month of our recognition, Mike Campbell was our Ugly Man contest winner which was sponsored by the Sigma Nu fraternity. We entered Delta Upsilon’s bicycle race marathon during the week of May 12th. We came in fourth in the marathon. Our riders were Bill Smith, Jim Money, Don Wilmes, Harry Roth, Denny Gillespie, Duane Stuart, and Rick Spencer (who brought us in first in the speed race). In the queen contest, our Kay Johnson of Chi Omega sorority won the third-place trophy. We also placed first in the Phi Delta Theta Softball tournament. We also selected our first sweetheart, Linda Sue Lawson of the Kappa Delta sorority.
The last two weeks of school proved to be very exciting. On May 22, 1970, we had our first Senior banquet. It was held at Hall’s Restaurant and honored Denny Gillespie, Karl Frey, and Barry Brooks, our first graduating seniors. Bill Smith also graduated but came back the next year to work on his Masters.
Besides social activities, we also had service activities. We had a Halloween party at Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children. We had a food drive for underprivileged families in the Richmond area and sang Christmas carols with the Alpha Delta Pi sorority at the Richmond hospital.
The 1969-70 school year proved to be a rewarding one for AXA. Rush for the fall semester had not even begun before we were contacted by a national fraternity. We then proceeded to look further into Kappa Sigma and corresponded with Delta Chi, Phi Kappa Tau, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha, and Beta Theta Pi. During the year we visited different national chapters in the surrounding states and attended functions in Lexington KY at the Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Tau houses. We were also invited to and attended a function at the Phi Kappa Tau house at Centre College in Danville KY. In return, we invited both Phi Kappa Tau chapters to Eastern for a cave party.
When it came to the selection of the fraternity we wanted to belong to, Beta Theta Pi was unanimously chosen. We visited the Centre and the University of Cincinnati chapters of Beta Theta Pi and were very impressed. We notified the national office of Beta Theta Pi and after much correspondence, visits by Beta Theta Pi administration, and support from EKU, we became a provisional colony of Beta Theta Pi in May 1970 and attained full colony status in September 1970.
As a colony of Beta Theta Pi, we knew that much was expected of us; that we had a great name and reputation to live up to. The area in which the greatest improvement was needed was scholastics. With Thomas A. Smith, ’73, who won the overall scholastic award with a 4.0 GPA leading the way, our grade point average improved from a sixth-place among eleven fraternities to second place with a fraternity GPA of 2.57.
The year saw a vast improvement in athletics as well. In football, our record was 7-3, which captured third place. The season climaxed when we won the first annual Beta Theta Pi football tournament. The basketball team posted a 6-3 record, good for third place. In the TKE tournament, we advanced to the semifinals but lost to the eventual champions. Our volleyball team compiled a season record of 6-3 which tied us for second place. In the Pi Kappa Alpha bowling tournament, our colony placed second. Mike Conway gained several points for us by his victories in wrestling.
Perhaps the most important test of a fraternity’s strength is the stability of its finances. Because we are relatively young, our treasury is not overflowing. However, we feel that we have the foundation of a sound financial system. Recently, we converted our accounting method to correspond with that of Beta Theta Pi. Our dues are now $10 per month or $40 per semester, of which $2 per month is set aside for our trip to Sun Valley for the 132nd General Convention. When we obtain our charter, we expect our membership to grow and our finances to expand.
As a colony of Beta Theta Pi, we were active both on campus and in the community. Among our community projects were a Halloween party for crippled children at Shriner’s Hospital in Lexington KY and a Thanksgiving food drive for the needy people of the Richmond area. We were active in several Greek events such as the TKE Academic Bowl, Pi Kappa Alpha Bowling Tournament, BOG County Fair, Greek Week, TKE Basketball, Pi Kappa Alpha Pie Eating Contest and Chi Omega’s Santa Claus Contest (in which we won). We also have had mixers with numerous sororities.
We have four brothers on the Student Senate, a judge on the Student Court, several brothers in academic honoraries, and an assistant head resident. We feel that our brotherhood is composed of a well-rounded group of individuals. We are proud to be affiliated with Beta Theta Pi and feel that we can bring added glory to her name.
The Beta Theta Pi colony held its first formal pledge ceremony on Sunday, September 24, 1970, at 8:30 p.m., in the conference room of the Holiday Inn. This was the official beginning of the pledge training period which would last about eight weeks. Through this time period, the pledge class which was formally AXA became familiar with BETA history, lore, and traditions.
At the end of the pledge period, the members were initiated and their names went on the University of Cincinnati roll book until the AXA/Beta Colony could be granted a charter. Twenty members officially initiated at the University of Cincinnati chapter house on November 29, 1970. The Beta Theta Pi colony continued to grow and could only wait for the day that they would be granted a charter. The colony continued to conduct formal rushes and initiate members once they had completed pledge training.
By the spring of 1971, the colony was ready to petition for its charter at the 132nd General Convention to be held in Sun Valley, Idaho. The weeks and months passed by quickly and the time had come to submit the colony’s petition. Eight members drove to Sun Valley where they were granted a charter for membership and became the Delta Xi Chapter of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
The installation ceremony took place on Sunday, November 7, 1971, in the President’s Dining Room in the Student Union Building on the EKU campus. Harold Stephen Sloan ’71 served as the official toastmaster. Brother Edsel Mountz ’47, the faculty advisor, gave the invocation and Thomas F. Stovall, Vice President for Academic Affairs, welcomed everyone to the university. Gifts for the chapter were presented by General Secretary Richard R. “Misty” Shoop, Denison ’41. The charter and chief address were presented by General Fraternity President Peter F. Greiner, Minnesota ’51. The official response was given by Delta Xi Chapter President Bill Wethington ’71.
The Chapter’s Coat of Arms was designed by Brother Richard Allen Spencer ’73. The symbolism of the design is through an inverted greek alphabet letter delta with a xi placed on top. This design creates a torch, just like the torch used on the AXA crest. The torch symbolizes scholarship and the flame placed on top represents the eternal brotherhood in Beta Theta Pi. The Chapter motto is “Gift of Fellowship”. With some thought, one can conclude how much of a “gift” it is to have the opportunity to share in the bonds of “fellowship” that Beta Theta Pi has to offer.
Note: A complete chapter history covering 25 years of Alpha Chi Alpha to Beta Theta Pi, 1969-1994, can be purchased from the chapter. Contact the chapter alumni relations chair for further details.
