From collection Phi Gamma Delta Documents Collection
1969-1970 Chapter History of the Rho Phi Chapter at Rose-Hulman
Four page chapter history of the Rho Phi chapter at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology written by chapter historian, John M. Smith (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 1971).
,RHO PHI CHAPTER
of
THE FRATERNITY
of
PHI GAMMA DELTA
HISTORICAL NOTES
Rose Polytechnic Institute
Terre Haute, Indiana
John M. Smith
Historian
August 3, 1970
From: June 1969 to May 1970
RHO PHI CHAPTER
at
ROSE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
During the summer of 1969, many of the members of the colony returned to Terre Haute to help ready our new house for the coming school year. Barhydt house, named after the original owner, is located at 1121 South Sixth Street in Terre Haute. Many long hard weekends were used to change this house, which had only been used as a private residence, into a home for about thirty men, with facilities for sleeping, studying, and lounging. The men are proud of this house, as it has a unique background. The house was built at the same time and with the same materials as the Indiana Theater, an old and respected movie theater in Terre Haute. This fact is easily seen as the ceiling in the entry hall of Barhydt house is of the same design as the ceiling of the theater.
With the return to campus in the fall, came the problem of acquiring permission from the Rose faculty and administration, as well as the fraternity to be fully chartered as a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. The response the colony received was overwhelming. The faculty committees approved the request by unanimous votes, including the waiver of a two-year waiting period. With the Fraternity also granting our request for chartering, we became the Rho Phi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta on November 22, 1969. Thus, we became the 96th Fiji chapter, and the sixth chapter in the state of Indiana (Section XII), the first chapter initiated in the state in sixty-seven years. The time elapsed between the first idea of a new fraternity on the Rose campus to the charter was less than two years, an unusually short time for these events in the Fraternity's system. The usual procedure, as it was related to us, was about two years on the provisional list to become a colony, then a possibility of two more years to the charter.
In the. spring of 1970, the "immortal fifteen", the founders of our chapter, graduated and left the remaining charter members with an important task; that of seeking out the problems that come with inexperience and finding remedies for them. We do have some problems, that we will not deny, but as a brotherhood we are solving these problems, and bringing us closer together as we do. It is my own personal hope that the chapter does have minor problems in the future, because a crisis will bring about brotherhood in men quicker than anything else. With the solutions to these problems will come the fellowship that we have experienced and have made our association with Phi Gamma Delta as undergraduates a pleasant one.
Rho Phi will never be the oldest Fiji chapter, but she looks forward to the near future when she will be the best chapter of Phi Gamma Delta.
The following is a list of important dates in 1969 and 1970 for the Rho Phi chapter.
August 9, 1969 - Formal permission was granted by Rose Poly President John A. Logan to become officially chartered as a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta.
October 7, 1969 - Official approval was granted by the Rose Poly Interfraternity Council for the Delta Colony to become a fraternity chapter. This was by unanimous vote of the Rose Poly I.F.C.
October 10, 1969 - The faculty committee on fraternities and honoraries gave official approval for the Delta Colony to become a fraternity on campus.
October 14, 1969 - Rose faculty voted unanimously in favor of Rose Delta Colony becoming an active fraternity chapter.
October 15, 1969 - Permission was formally granted by the Rose Poly administration to permit chartering of a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Rose. In doing this the administration waived a two-year probationary period.
October 17-18, 1969 - Homecoming 1969: As a part of this year’s homecoming activities, the colony constructed its first float just in time. During Homecoming 1969, we were pleased to have our first Rho Phi Fiji Sweetheart, Miss Kristie Leigh VanAllen, elected to the Homecoming Queen's Court.
October 25, 1969 - The first annual Fiji Olympics was held at the. Rose Poly practice football field. In attendance were teams from the Indiana State Universities sororities and dorms at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
November 13,14 & 16, 1969 - Freshmen rush get-acquainted parties. The ten parties over the three days were held in an informal atmosphere at the house.
November 20-22, 1969 - Chartering weekend: Beginning on the 20th, was registration for graduates and undergraduates from other chapters in the state. This was followed by the dedication of the chapter house. The 21st was the day for indoctrination, conducted by Executive Secretary William S. Zerman, followed by the pledging of thirty-nine men into Phi Gamma Delta at Rose Poly. The next day, November 22, the Rho Phi chapter of Phi Gamma Delta was officially given its charter, and thirty-one men were initiated as brothers of Phi Gamma Delta. The ceremonies took place at the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church, and a chartering ball that evening at the Hulman Memorial Union Building on the Rose Poly campus.
January 9, 10, 16 & 17, 1970 - Freshmen rush parties held at the chapter house.
January 19, 1970 - Freshmen bid day: As a result of these rush activities, nineteen freshmen pledge themselves to Phi Gamma Delta. Also, at this same time, Dr. Michael O. Breitmeyer, associate professor of biological engineering at Rose, also honored us by accepting the pledge pin of our order.
February 7-8, 1970 - Second annual retreat, held at Spring Mill State Park. Again, the pledge father-son tug-o-war, and pledge-active football game highlighted activities.
March 7, 1970 - Fiji State Day: Again basketball, bowling, and bridge were activities shared by all who attended. Dinner followed that evening at the Athenaeum Club in Indianapolis, Indiana. The guest speaker was William S. Zeman, Executive Secretary of Phi Gamma Delta.
April 4, 1970 - Second annual work day at Dobb's Memorial Park, in Terre Haute. The proceeds from the day helped to buy curtains for the dining room and bronze Greek letters for the chapter house, and some going to a local charity. The day ended with a party at the house.
April 6, 1970 - Installation of officers for 1970-71; installed were, President-Steve Goble, Treasurer-Jim Graham, Recording Secretary-Loren Doyle, Corresponding Secretary Tom Hendrickson, and Historian-John Smith.
April 30, 1970 - Second annual Norris Pig Dinner held at the private dining room in the Hulman Union Building on the Rose campus. Guests were from the local graduate chapter and other undergraduate chapters in the state. Honored guests included members of the Delta Colony at Indiana State University.
May 1, 1970 - Founder's Day: This was a day of double celebration as Brother Jim Graham was elected Vice-President of the Rose student body. This is the second year that a brother was elected as a student body officer, as Brother John Hodsden was the retiring student body president. This is the second year of our existence, and the second year that a brother has served the student body.
May 12, 1970 - Spring Honors Convo: Along with brothers being tapped into the various honorary societies on the Rose campus, the I.F.C. Scholarship Trophy awarded to the fraternity with the highest average, was awarded to Phi Gamma Delta.
MEMBERSHIP
Jerry Andrews
George Butkovich
Bob Entrekin
Gary Gladish
Gary Groff
Tom Hendrickson
Tom Jackson
Jerry Loo
Roger Martindell
Greg Montgomery
Jay O'Sullivan
Ken Rasner
Jay Sensibaugh
Sid Stoffer
Cecil Whitaker
Dale Zeleznick
Bruce Brown
Loren Doyle
Don Faris
Steve Goble
Greg Harbin
Bill Henry
Burt Jones
Jim Lowes
Bob Meyer
Dick Newman
Kevin O'Sullivan
Joel Sanders
Rod Smith
John Walter
Steve Whitesell
Tom Dehne
Ed Dye
Fred Franzwa
Jim Graham
Bob Harrison
John Hodsden
Miki Joy
Mark Marinko
Don Morris
Rick Pace
Bob Pacini
John Smith
Ted Smith
Al Wernz
Bruce Williams
Details
,RHO PHI CHAPTER
of
THE FRATERNITY
of
PHI GAMMA DELTA
HISTORICAL NOTES
Rose Polytechnic Institute
Terre Haute, Indiana
John M. Smith
Historian
August 3, 1970
From: June 1969 to May 1970
RHO PHI CHAPTER
at
ROSE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
During the summer of 1969, many of the members of the colony returned to Terre Haute to help ready our new house for the coming school year. Barhydt house, named after the original owner, is located at 1121 South Sixth Street in Terre Haute. Many long hard weekends were used to change this house, which had only been used as a private residence, into a home for about thirty men, with facilities for sleeping, studying, and lounging. The men are proud of this house, as it has a unique background. The house was built at the same time and with the same materials as the Indiana Theater, an old and respected movie theater in Terre Haute. This fact is easily seen as the ceiling in the entry hall of Barhydt house is of the same design as the ceiling of the theater.
With the return to campus in the fall, came the problem of acquiring permission from the Rose faculty and administration, as well as the fraternity to be fully chartered as a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. The response the colony received was overwhelming. The faculty committees approved the request by unanimous votes, including the waiver of a two-year waiting period. With the Fraternity also granting our request for chartering, we became the Rho Phi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta on November 22, 1969. Thus, we became the 96th Fiji chapter, and the sixth chapter in the state of Indiana (Section XII), the first chapter initiated in the state in sixty-seven years. The time elapsed between the first idea of a new fraternity on the Rose campus to the charter was less than two years, an unusually short time for these events in the Fraternity's system. The usual procedure, as it was related to us, was about two years on the provisional list to become a colony, then a possibility of two more years to the charter.
In the. spring of 1970, the "immortal fifteen", the founders of our chapter, graduated and left the remaining charter members with an important task; that of seeking out the problems that come with inexperience and finding remedies for them. We do have some problems, that we will not deny, but as a brotherhood we are solving these problems, and bringing us closer together as we do. It is my own personal hope that the chapter does have minor problems in the future, because a crisis will bring about brotherhood in men quicker than anything else. With the solutions to these problems will come the fellowship that we have experienced and have made our association with Phi Gamma Delta as undergraduates a pleasant one.
Rho Phi will never be the oldest Fiji chapter, but she looks forward to the near future when she will be the best chapter of Phi Gamma Delta.
The following is a list of important dates in 1969 and 1970 for the Rho Phi chapter.
August 9, 1969 - Formal permission was granted by Rose Poly President John A. Logan to become officially chartered as a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta.
October 7, 1969 - Official approval was granted by the Rose Poly Interfraternity Council for the Delta Colony to become a fraternity chapter. This was by unanimous vote of the Rose Poly I.F.C.
October 10, 1969 - The faculty committee on fraternities and honoraries gave official approval for the Delta Colony to become a fraternity on campus.
October 14, 1969 - Rose faculty voted unanimously in favor of Rose Delta Colony becoming an active fraternity chapter.
October 15, 1969 - Permission was formally granted by the Rose Poly administration to permit chartering of a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Rose. In doing this the administration waived a two-year probationary period.
October 17-18, 1969 - Homecoming 1969: As a part of this year’s homecoming activities, the colony constructed its first float just in time. During Homecoming 1969, we were pleased to have our first Rho Phi Fiji Sweetheart, Miss Kristie Leigh VanAllen, elected to the Homecoming Queen's Court.
October 25, 1969 - The first annual Fiji Olympics was held at the. Rose Poly practice football field. In attendance were teams from the Indiana State Universities sororities and dorms at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
November 13,14 & 16, 1969 - Freshmen rush get-acquainted parties. The ten parties over the three days were held in an informal atmosphere at the house.
November 20-22, 1969 - Chartering weekend: Beginning on the 20th, was registration for graduates and undergraduates from other chapters in the state. This was followed by the dedication of the chapter house. The 21st was the day for indoctrination, conducted by Executive Secretary William S. Zerman, followed by the pledging of thirty-nine men into Phi Gamma Delta at Rose Poly. The next day, November 22, the Rho Phi chapter of Phi Gamma Delta was officially given its charter, and thirty-one men were initiated as brothers of Phi Gamma Delta. The ceremonies took place at the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church, and a chartering ball that evening at the Hulman Memorial Union Building on the Rose Poly campus.
January 9, 10, 16 & 17, 1970 - Freshmen rush parties held at the chapter house.
January 19, 1970 - Freshmen bid day: As a result of these rush activities, nineteen freshmen pledge themselves to Phi Gamma Delta. Also, at this same time, Dr. Michael O. Breitmeyer, associate professor of biological engineering at Rose, also honored us by accepting the pledge pin of our order.
February 7-8, 1970 - Second annual retreat, held at Spring Mill State Park. Again, the pledge father-son tug-o-war, and pledge-active football game highlighted activities.
March 7, 1970 - Fiji State Day: Again basketball, bowling, and bridge were activities shared by all who attended. Dinner followed that evening at the Athenaeum Club in Indianapolis, Indiana. The guest speaker was William S. Zeman, Executive Secretary of Phi Gamma Delta.
April 4, 1970 - Second annual work day at Dobb's Memorial Park, in Terre Haute. The proceeds from the day helped to buy curtains for the dining room and bronze Greek letters for the chapter house, and some going to a local charity. The day ended with a party at the house.
April 6, 1970 - Installation of officers for 1970-71; installed were, President-Steve Goble, Treasurer-Jim Graham, Recording Secretary-Loren Doyle, Corresponding Secretary Tom Hendrickson, and Historian-John Smith.
April 30, 1970 - Second annual Norris Pig Dinner held at the private dining room in the Hulman Union Building on the Rose campus. Guests were from the local graduate chapter and other undergraduate chapters in the state. Honored guests included members of the Delta Colony at Indiana State University.
May 1, 1970 - Founder's Day: This was a day of double celebration as Brother Jim Graham was elected Vice-President of the Rose student body. This is the second year that a brother was elected as a student body officer, as Brother John Hodsden was the retiring student body president. This is the second year of our existence, and the second year that a brother has served the student body.
May 12, 1970 - Spring Honors Convo: Along with brothers being tapped into the various honorary societies on the Rose campus, the I.F.C. Scholarship Trophy awarded to the fraternity with the highest average, was awarded to Phi Gamma Delta.
MEMBERSHIP
Jerry Andrews
George Butkovich
Bob Entrekin
Gary Gladish
Gary Groff
Tom Hendrickson
Tom Jackson
Jerry Loo
Roger Martindell
Greg Montgomery
Jay O'Sullivan
Ken Rasner
Jay Sensibaugh
Sid Stoffer
Cecil Whitaker
Dale Zeleznick
Bruce Brown
Loren Doyle
Don Faris
Steve Goble
Greg Harbin
Bill Henry
Burt Jones
Jim Lowes
Bob Meyer
Dick Newman
Kevin O'Sullivan
Joel Sanders
Rod Smith
John Walter
Steve Whitesell
Tom Dehne
Ed Dye
Fred Franzwa
Jim Graham
Bob Harrison
John Hodsden
Miki Joy
Mark Marinko
Don Morris
Rick Pace
Bob Pacini
John Smith
Ted Smith
Al Wernz
Bruce Williams
