Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

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beta tbeta pi BETA THETA PI was the first of the triad formed at Miami University, Ox- ford, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by John Reilly Knox and seven other undergradu- ates, it was the first fraternity to be organized west of the Alleghenies. Although secret societies were banned at Miami, Beta Theta Pi grew until it now has over eighty active chapters, under the authority of a board of directors. The Lehigh chapter was begun through the influence of a transfer student from the Randolph-Macon chapter. With two other transfers from Dickinson and Bethany Colleges he built up a local organization and petitioned the national Beta Theta Pi. The petition was granted, and in 1891 the Beta Chi chapter was installed at Lehigh. A small house on West Fourth street served as the first chapter home. In 1902 the rapid enlargement of the chapter made it necessary to purchase a more suitable house. This house, located on Wyandotte street, was occupied by the fraternity for the next sixteen years. After another move, this time to East Church street, the fraternity built a house in Sayre Park, completing it in 1926. Beta Theta Pi men have been particularly prominent in athletics, especially in wrestling. Both the captain and the manager of this year ' s wrestling team are members of Beta Theta Pi. The varsity and junior managerships of football are held by Beta Theta Pi ' s. Members of the chapter are on the tra ck, soccer, and baseball teams. But the Beta ' s do not concentrate on sports to the exclusion of other activities. There are members in several campus honoraries, including Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, and Alpha Kappa Psi. Other members, on the staff of the Brown and White and in Mustard and Cheese, round out the Beta list of activities. IN THE PICTURE: Back Row: F. Winter, ' 45; E. R. Dawson, ' 45; D. R. Lowrey, ' 44; S. C. Pruett, Jr., ' 44; A. C. Mermann, ' 44; H. H. Stirling, Jr., ' 45; B. M. Peacock, ' 44; J. J. Deach, Jr., ' 44. Third Row: J. J. Lotz, ' 45; W. P. Snyder, ' 44; P. L. Reiber, ' 44; E. Jones, ' 44; D. Coles, ' 44; F. F. Roberts, ' 42; W. H. Lindsay, Jr., ' 42; R. H. Brenneman, ' 42; E. W. Palmer, ' 42. Second Row: W. D. Gorman, ' 43; R. Brune, ' 42; N. R. Clark, ' 42; R. S. Struble, ' 42; J. P. Larkin, III, ' 42; R. F. Forshay, ' 42; C. G. Thorn- burg, Jr., ' 42; J. C. Lampert, ' 42. Front Row: F. W. Williams, Jr., ' 45; K. B. Wiss, ' 45; R. J. Given, ' 45; E. J. Downing, ' 45; G. W. Meyer, ' 45; R. P. Lampert, ' 45; J. A. Davis, Jr., ' 45. IN THE CANDIDS: Quarantine keeps the Betas near home; Clark plays some record rhythms. 212

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beta kappa BETA KAPPA fraternity, after its founding at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, in October, 1901, expanded to western and mid-western colleges and universities. It began an eastward expansion in 1925 and now is composed of over twenty-five active and ten alumni chapters. Beta Kappa ' s history at Lehigh began in the fall of 1927 when an organization of undergraduates was formed by a group who did not wish to have fraternity activity interfere with their studies. The next spring the organization was made a local fraternity. It was called Omega Phi Sigma, and the following fall it obtained a house on Montclair avenue. The original purposes proved successful, for it ranked first in scholarship in five out of the eleven semesters as the only local at Lehigh. The continued success of the local chapter was sufficient to cause a petition to Beta Kappa to be granted in 1934. On May 19 of that year Omega Phi Sigma was made the Alpha Sigma chapter. The same year the house moved to 821 Delaware Avenue, but rapid growth forced them to move to 805 Delaware Avenue, the present location of the fraternity. Beta Kappa ' s are in varsity football, baseball, and track. The fraternity also has men on the rifle team, freshman track, and freshman basketball. Members are represented on the Brown and White, Newtonian Society, Alpha Phi Omega, Band, and Sportsman ' s Club. The business manager of Mustard and Cheese, a member of the Interfraternity Ball committee, and the chairman of the University Rushing Committee are also members of the Alpha Sigma chapter. An alumni chapter of the local fraternity, binding together all graduates, acts as an advisory council for the undergraduates. During the past year the Lehigh chapter strength- ened itself by the purchase of the chapter house, thus enjoying security which few off-campus houses possess. IN THE PICTURE: Back Row: R. C. Slutzker, ' 45; R. B. Morison, ' 45; R. H. Miller, ' 45; L. F. Page, ' 44; V. R. Tomaselli, ' 45; F. W. Bloecher, ' 45; R. F. Watson, ' 45; E. R. White, ' 45. Second Row: S. A. Bacskay, ' 44; J. M. Cordrey, ' 44; W. T. Buhrig, ' 43; L. O. King, ' 43; R. C. Stoehr, ' 42; T. F. Humphrey, ' 45; T. P. Bradford, ' 43; E. R. Velie, ' 45. Front Row: L. D. Larson, ' 43; A. F. VonBlock, ' 43; J. F. Musante, ' 42; J. B. Hill, ' 42; O. W. Cooke, ' 42; G. W. Houston, ' 43; D. W. Robinson, ' 43. IN THE CANDIDS: Advertisement for Rum-Maple: Two Beta Kaps in candid pose. 211

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