Theta-Theta
Chapter Installed
At Western Kentucky
Kappa Sigma's Newest Undergraduate Chapter, its 133rd
Is the first International Social Fraternity in
Western's Growing Greek Community
By
Dwight T. Tomes (Western Kentucky State)
Article originally published
in May 1965 issue of The Caduceus of Kappa Sigma
On
Friday, February 5, 1965, Theta-Theta Colony at Western Kentucky State
College was installed as Theta-Theta Chapter, which now becomes the
133rd active Undergraduate Chapter in the United States and Canada.
The initiation and installation ceremonies were held in the afternoon
at the Masonic Temple in Bowling Green, KY. Because our ceremonies
started 30 minutes ahead of those for Pi Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma
became the first international social fraternity on Western's campus.
That mark now can be chalked up with that set on April 20, 1964, when
the local fraternity of Phi Kappa Alpha became Theta-Theta Colony
- the first of four then existing groups to be colonized.
However,
the Greek world at Western Kentucky State College is rapidly enlarging.
In the men's social fraternities-in addition to Kappa Sigma and Pi
Kappa Alpha-there are now nine local groups: Lambda Chi Alpha Colony;
Sigma Nu Colony; Alpha Gamma Rho Colony; Alpha Tau Omega Colony; Phi
Delta Theta Colony; Delta Kappa Nu (petitioning Sigma Alpha Epsilon);
Sigma Phi Alpha (petitioning Sigma Chi); Phi Phi Kappa (petitioning
Delta Tau Delta); and Kappa Gamma Chi (not yet affiliated - but expecting
to do so soon). The sororities on Western's campus are Sigma Kappa,
Chi Omega, Phi Mu, Kappa Delta Colony, Alpha Omicron Pi Colony, and
Alpha Delta Pi Colony. Chi Omega was installed on February 6, the
day after our installation.
We were having our post-installation reception
at the Holiday Inn at the same time that the Chi Omegas were having
their installation in another part of town. The two simultaneous events
prompted The Holiday Inn to put up a sign (see picture on a following
page) welcoming Chi Omega and Kappa Sigma. The fact that the manager,
John Anderson, is a Kappa Sigma didn't hurt either.
WGM J. Leonard
Raulston (Tennessee) of South Pittsburgh, Tenn., conducted the installation
ceremonies with the assistance of DGM Horton Early (Vanderbilt) of
Nashville, Tenn., and Assistant Ritualist Brad Holbrook (Tulane) of
New Orleans, La. Seven members of Kappa Charter (Vanderbilt) comprised
the initiation team, as follows: John Henderson, GM; Tom Chase, GP;
Olin West, GMC; Jim Hicks, GS; Bob Davis, GT; David Dye, Guard; and
Pete Sutherland, Conductor. Assisting the initiation team at various
times were two local alumni, AA Charles B. English and Ass't AA Lucas
Floyd - both of Beta-Nu Chapter (Kentucky); and two Nashville alumni,
Charles S. Roberts of old Alpha-Theta Chapter (Union in Tennessee)
and Henry Gillespie of Beta-Nu Chapter (Kentucky). Also assisting
in the arrangements were two other Nashville alumni, Dick Haining
(Millsaps) and William Rainey (Vanderbilt). After the initiation,
Brad Holbrook performed his usual masterful job of the explanatory
lecture.
Following the installation of Chapter Officers on Saturday
morning, a luncheon was held at the Holiday Inn for all new members
and visiting alumni. Highlights of the luncheon were a talk by WGM
J. Leonard Raulston; the removal of the name "Colony" from our Fraternity
Flag by GM Charles M. Hepp, Jr., and GP Ronald A. West; and a bagful
of magic tricks by Brad Holbrook doubling in legerdemain. After the
luncheon, a reception was held in the Kentucky Room of the Holiday
Inn. Several parents of the members attended. Honored guests were
Dean of Students, Charles Keown; Ass't Dean of Students, Jack Sagabiel;
Dr. Baxter, Head of the Agriculture Department; Dr. Poteet, Head of
the History Department; and Dr. Nalbach, Head of the Industrial Arts
Department.
Highlights of Theta-Theta Chapter With one of the highest
scholastic standings on campus, Theta-Theta Chapter was first among
campus fraternities for the fall of 1963 and third for the spring
of 1964. This past semester, Mike Duggins and Dwight Tomes were on
the Dean's list. The Chapter expects to keep its high standards of
scholastic achievement (luring the semesters to come. A recent achievement
of the Chapter was the winning of the Alpha Delta Pi "500" in competition
with all other campus fraternities. The "500" consisted of a four-hour
program with a two-mile bicycle relay race. This year the Chapter
has participated in intramural football and bowling and is now in
intramural basketball. GM Charlie Hepp was elected to the all-intramural
football team. In addition to its athletic leaders, the Chapter has
leaders on the campus newspaper. Members of the Chapter served as
ushers of the play, Antigone, the second major production of the Western
Players, a campus drama group.
At present, Theta-Theta is concentrating
on Spring Rush - with the highest expectations of an excellent pledge
class. Four years ago, a group of men at Western Kentucky State College
formed a local fraternity called Kappa Sigma Tau. At approximately
the same time, another group of men had also formed a local fraternity
called Delta Tau Sigma. Unknown to these two groups at the time, they
would eventually merge to form a Colony of Kappa Sigma. Both fraternities,
knowing little of a local fraternity and its many functions, faced
many obstacles that made it necessary for them to merge - forming
Phi Kappa Alpha, with the ultimate objective of becoming a strong
fraternity on the Western campus. The new fraternity had no idea of
its strength in membership, it had no credit, it did not have an established
name, money, or a common brotherhood - but it did have the fear of
nonexistence and the hope of becoming a part of some international
fraternity in the distant future. Phi Kappa Alpha worked hard to qualify
for petitioning an international fraternity. The members completed
the several fund-raising projects - plus concentration on rush and
pledging. International representation arrived on campus and the fraternity
system advanced on the Western campus. Phi Kappa Alpha interviewed
several international fraternities - and Kappa Sigma was the unanimous
choice of the group.
On April 20, 1964, Phi Kappa Alpha became a Colony
of Kappa Sigma. For nine and one-half months, the Colony worked toward
their Charter. And on February 5,1965, the dream was fulfilled. Credit
for making the dream come true must go to every man who has been a
member of Phi Kappa Alpha and their two antecedent groups - to every
man who has worked toward the Charter. Especial recognition must go
to Larry Weeks, past president of Phi Kappa Alpha; and to Charles
M. Hepp, Jr., present GM of Theta-Theta Chapter. Were it not for the
leadership of these two men, the Charter would not have been attained.
And now for the future - every member of Theta-Theta Chapter is confident
that Kappa Sigma will travel far and will remain in the highest esteem
of the Western Campus.
Some
of the Officers of new Theta-Theta Chapter left to right: GM
Charles Hepp, GP Ronald West; GT Robert Langford, GS, Dwight
Tomes; Guard Mike Duggins.
College
and Kappa Sigma officials left to right: Dean John W. Sagabiel:
WGM J. Leonard Raulston (Tennessee); Dean Charles Keown;
DGM Horton Eearly (Vanderbilt); Asst Ritualist Brad Holbrook
(Tulane).
left
to right: DGM Horton Early (Vanderbilt); GM Charles Hepp (Western
Kentucky); WGM J. Leonard Raulston (Tennessee); Ass't Ritualist
Brad Holbrook (Tulane); Ass't AA Lucas Floyd, Jr. (Kentucky).
Chapter
Officers pose with two of the assisting alumni, left to right
GM Charles Hepp; Guard Mike Duggins; Charles Roberts (Union
in Tennessee); GS Dwight Tomes; GT Robert Langford; Henry Gillespie
(Kentucky); GP Ronald West.
Theta-Theta
Chapter
(Western Kentucky)
CHARTER MEMBERS
Charles M. Hepp, Jr. - Grand Master
Ronald A. West - Grand Procurator
Joseph Knoth '65 - Grand Master of Ceremonies
Dwight T. Tomes '67 - Grand Scribe
Robert L. Langford '66 - Grand Treasurer
Michael E. Duggins '65 - Guard
Nick A. England '67 - Guard
Edward L. Anderson '65, John A. Mahurin '65, James M. Booth '67,
Earl P. Murphy, Jr. '66, Charles W. Campbell '65, Robert I. Newsome,
Jr. '66, Benjamin H. Crume '66, William C. Patterson '65 Billie
G. Foster '65, William M. Ragland '65, Jerry L. Harrison '65, Larry
D. Rightmyer '65, Steven C. James '66, Roy C. Ross '65, Robert G.
Rufer '65
PLEDGES
Ron Chestnut, Stanley Cottrell, Keith Fuller, Ron Hoffman, Gene
Howard, Thor Larsen, Tom Lutz, William Nichols, Philip Page, Bob
Rightmyer, William Swartz.
ALUMNUS ADVISERS
Charles E. English, AA - Beta-Nu Chapter (Kentucky)
Lucas Floyd, Jr., Ass't AA - Beta-Nu Chapter (Kentucky)
KAPPA SIGMAS ON THE FACULTY
Charles E. English - Beta-Nu Chapter (Kentucky)
Thomas F. Sheppard - Kappa Chapter (Vanderbilt)