History of the Gamma Pi Chapter of Sigma Chi

11 founders of Gamma Pi:

Fredric G Bell
Trafton Boulls
Frederick D Brooks
Herbert R Childs
Charles R Dalton
Atwood G Decoseter
John T Ferner
M Steuary Hylan
Mark F Kerihmaier
Paul S McFarland
E Baird Robinson

            The Gamma Pi chapter was originally a society known as ETES. This society was formed by the 11, all from the class of 1920, men seen above. The members of the ETES made a pact to ensure that the member would be both loyal to their society as well as their college. As one founder put it, “He who would serve his fraternity must serve his college.” The society’s symbol at the time was a gold and black triangle.
            In 1918 the society went into a temporary hiatus as all the founding members were called to arms for World War I. Fortunately, all the members returned and served the society with a renewed vigor. The society’s accomplishments gained recognition from local fraternities, specifically Sigma Delta Epsilon (SDE). On May 19th 1919 a petition to the students association was presented in hopes to be recognized as a member of the Sigma Delta Epsilon fraternity. The petition was unfortunately denied due to lack of senior leadership. The fallowing year, March 4th 1920, a second petition was submitted and accepted. The new members of SDE rented a house near the old campus on 21 Prince Street. Construction for a new house located on the present day River Campus began on September 27th 1930. The cornerstone was laid at 2:30 pm and can be seen on the front right corner of the house with the SDE insignia on it.
            The accomplishments of SDE began to spark interest in national fraternities. The first, in 1929, came from Mr. William E. Lockner, representing the Chi Psi fraternity. However, due to Chi Psi’s interest of expanding west, SDE gained little support. The brothers of SDE were then urged to petition with Phi Kappa Psi in 1931. The current president of the chapter, Brother McGuire, and a few other brothers attended a Phi Kappa Psi convention. There they were poorly received by drunken, nonchalant, and emasculated brothers. As a result the brothers of SDE withdrew their petition to Phi Kappa Psi.
            In May of 1931, SDE began to consider other national fraternities: Phi Psi, Chi Psi, and Sigma Chi. In another meeting with Mr. Lockner, a proposition was made for $20,000 towards their new house in exchange for SDE petition towards Chi Psi over Sigma Chi. The resulting vote was unanimous in favor of Sigma Chi, as Brother McGuire’s responded to Mr. Lockner, “Sigma Delta Epsilon is not for sale.”