Beta Theta Pi
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| Motto | __kai__ |
|---|---|
| Colors | Delicate shades of Pink and Blue |
| Symbol | The Dragon |
| Flower | Deep pink Queen of the Prairie or June Rose |
| Founded | August 8, 1839 at Miami University |
| Type | Social Fraternity |
| Scope | international |
| Headquarters | 5134 Bonham Road Oxford, Ohio, USA |
| Chapters | over 120 chapters and colonies |
| Homepage | http://www.betathetapi.org |
Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) is a college social fraternity founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad. Beta, as it is nicknamed, was the first college fraternity to be founded west of the Allegheny Mountains and has over 120 chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada. More than 175,000 members have been initiated world-wide. Beta Theta Pi has more than 6,500 undergraduate members and 118,000 living initiates. Beta's Administrative Office is located at 5134 Bonham Road, Oxford, Ohio. In 2006, the driveway up to the administrative office was renamed "Lugar-Bates Drive" in appreciation for the work that Senator Richard Lugar and brother Bert Bates Missouri '56 performed in the $20 million "Upon These Principles" capital campaign.
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[edit] Founders
At 9 o'clock in the evening of the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 1839, eight earnest young men, all students at Miami University, held the first meeting of Beta Theta Pi in the Hall of the Union Literary Society, an upper room in the old college building known as "Old Main." The eight founders in the order in which their names appear in the minutes were:
".....of ever honored memory"
- John Reily Knox 1839
- Samuel Taylor Marshall 1840
- David Linton 1839
- James George Smith 1840
- Charles Henry Hardin 1841
- John Holt Duncan 1840
- Michael Clarkson Ryan 1839
- Thomas Boston Gordon 1840
—"Founders' Paragraph" summarizing the first regular meeting
[edit] Purpose
In 1879, Beta Theta Pi was the first college fraternity to publish its constitution. While the organization continues to guard certain secrets reserved for members, it does publicly offer wide knowledge of objects and aspirations.
The Code of Beta Theta Pi - Article 1, Section 2.
Name and Objects:
It shall be constituted as hereinafter provided and shall have for its objects the promotion of the moral and social culture of its members, the establishment of confidence and friendly relations among the universities and colleges of the United States and Canada, in securing unity of action and sympathy in matters of common interest among them, and the building up of a fraternity that recognizes mutual assistance in the honorable labors and aspirations of life, devotion to the cultivation of the intellect, unsullied friendship and unfaltering fidelity, as objects worthy of the highest aim and purpose of associated effort.[1]
[edit] Famous Betas
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[edit] Academia
- Thomas Bartlett Willamette 1951 (Rhodes Scholar/Chancellor, Univ. of Alabama System)
- Stanley Coulter Hanover 1870 (Dean, Purdue University)
- Andrew Dousa Hepburn Washington and Jefferson 1852 (President, Miami University)
- Daniel Kirkwood Indiana University (astronomer and professor)
- Deane W. Malott Kansas, 1921 (Chancellor, University of Kansas; President, Cornell University)
- Franklin David Murphy Kansas, 1936 (Chancellor, University of Kansas; Chancellor, UCLA)
- Russell E. Palmer Michigan State 1956 (Dean, Wharton School of Business)
- Frank Hugh Sparks DePauw 1936 (President, Wabash College)
- David Stanton Tappan Miami University 1864 (President, Miami University)
- Byron K. Trippett Wabash 1932 (President, Wabash College)
- Fredrick W. Ness Dickinson 1933 (President, Fresno State)
- David T. McLaughlin Dartmouth 1954 (President, Dartmouth College)
- John P. Crecine Carnegie Mellon 1961 (President, Georgia Tech)
- David Alexander Wallace Miami University 1846 (President, Muskingum and Monmouth Colleges)
- Samuel Weese West Virginia 1957 (President, American College)
- Steven Sample Illinois 1958 (President, University of Southern California)
[edit] Community Organizations
- Ernest Coulter Ohio State 1892 (Founder, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America)
[edit] Government and politics
- Joe Allbaugh Oklahoma State 1974 (Former Director of F.E.M.A.)
- Ozro J. Dodds Miami University 1861 (US House of Representatives 1872-74)
- William O. Douglas Whitman College 1920 (United States Supreme Court Justice)
- W. Mark Felt Idaho 1935 (Exposed the Nixon administrations' corruption as "Deep Throat")
- David R. Francis Washington St. Louis 1870 (Mayor of St. Louis, Governor of Missouri, Secretary of the Interior, Ambassador to Russia, President of Louisiana Purchase Exposition)
- Richard Gephardt Northwestern 1962 (Former United States House Minority Leader)
- John Brown Gordon Georgia 1854 (Major General in CSA, U.S. Senator, and Governor of Georgia)
- Peter B. Halbin Ohio Wesleyan 1953 (Social worker, newspaper columnist and Cleveland politician)
- H. R. Haldeman UCLA 1948 (President Nixon’s Chief of Staff)
- Michael Harcourt UBC 1963 (Premier of British Columbia)
- Charles Henry Hardin Miami (OH) 1841 (Former Governor of Missouri)
- Mark O. Hatfield Willamette 1943 (Former United States Senator and Governor of Oregon)
- David Karnes Nebraska 1971 (Former United States Senator)
- Horace Lurton Cumberland 1867 (United States Supreme Court Justice)
- Richard Lugar Denison 1954 (United States Senator)
- Ray Mabus Mississippi 1969 (Former Governor of Mississippi)
- James G. Martin Davidson 1957 (House of Representatives and Governor of North Carolina)
- Arch A. Moore, Jr. West Virginia 1951 (Former Governor of West Virginia)
- Oliver P. Morton Miami 1847 (Civil War Governor of Indiana, and instigator of the DePauw, Indiana and Wabash Chapters)
- Bill Nelson Yale 1965 (United States Senator)
- Don Nickles Oklahoma State 1971 (Former United States Senator)
- William Perry Stanford 1949 (Former Secretary of Defense)
- David Peterson UWO 1966 (Premier of Ontario)
- John J. Rhodes Kansas State 1938 (Former House Minority Leader)
- Charlie Rose Davidson 1961 (congress)
- Mike Synar Oklahoma 1972 (U.S. House of Representatives)
- John Turner UBC 1952 (Former Prime Minister of Canada)
- Willis Van Devanter DePauw 1881 (United States Supreme Court Justice)
- John Warner Washington & Lee 1950 (United States Senator)
- Kenneth S. Wherry Nebraska 1914 (Former United States Senator and Minority Leader)
- Durbin Ward Miami University 1843 (Civil War General and United States Attorney)
- Wendell Willkie Indiana 1916 (Presidential Candidate)
[edit] Arts, entertainment, and media
- William Anderson Whitman 1951 (aka. Adam West) (actor, Batman)
- James Arness Beloit 1946 (aka. Marshall Matt Dillon) (actor, Gunsmoke)
- James Batton Davidson 1957 (Former President, Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- George Bellows Ohio State 1905 (artist)
- Thom Brennaman Ohio 1986 (Sports Broadcaster)
- Jay Chandrasekhar Colgate 1990 (actor/director, Super Troopers, Arrested Development)
- Neil Everett Oregon 1984 (ESPN Anchor)
- Howard Fineman Colgate 1970 (journalist)
- Chet Forte Columbia 1957 (Former TV Director ABC Monday Night Football)
- Kevin Heffernan Colgate (Actor, Super Troopers)
- David Hirshey Dickinson 1971 (Vice President and Executive Editor at HarperCollins publishers)
- Jeffrey Jones Lawrence 1968 (actor, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Amadeus)
- Richard Karn Washington 1978 (actor, Home Improvement)
- Ken Kesey Oregon 1957 (author, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest)
- Steve Lemme Colgate (actor, Super Troopers)
- George Peppard Purdue 1952 (actor, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Carpetbaggers, The A-Team)
- Robert Reed Northwestern 1954 (actor, The Brady Bunch)
- Doug Russell University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh 1995 (talk show host, Sporting News Radio)
- Stephen Sondheim Williams 1950 (composer, West Side Story)
- Paul Soter Colgate (actor, Super Troopers)
- Erik Stolhanske Colgate (actor, Super Troopers)
- Kermit H. Hunter Ohio 1931 (author, Encyclopedia Britannica)
- Elias Soriano Florida Atlantic University 1999 (Musician, [Nonpoint] http://www.nicindy.org/entertainment.html)
- David Samuel MIT 1994 (founder and president of Grouper Networks)
- Andrew E. Spey Washington and Lee University 2003 (satire/humorist writer and radio personality)
[edit] Sports
- Frankie Baumholtz Ohio 1941 (Professional basketball and Major League baseball player)
- Earl "Red" Blaik Miami University 1918 (head football coach, Army)
- Matt Borland GMI-EMI 1994 (NASCAR Crew Chief for Ryan Newman, Dale Jarrett)
- Mike Brown Dartmouth 1957 (President & GM, Cincinnati Bengals)
- Guy Chamberlin Nebraska 1916 (College and Pro Football Hall of Famer)
- Eddie Collins Columbia 1907 (Baseball Hall of Famer)
- Donald D. Coryell Washington 1947 (Retired San Diego Chargers Coach)
- DeLoss Dodds Kansas State 1959 (Athletic Director of The University of Texas at Austin)
- Bobby Douglass Kansas 1969 (Quarterback, Chicago Bears)
- Gene L. (Red) Estes Oregon 1959 (Head Track & Field Coach, Fresno State)
- Max Falkenstien Kansas 1947 (Legendary Kansas Jayhawks Radio Personality)
- Jay Fiedler Dartmouth 1994 (Football)
- Dow Finsterwald Ohio 1952 (Professional Golfer)
- Ken Forsch Oregon State 1969 (Baseball)
- Gail Goodrich UCLA 1965 (Basketball)
- Dan Guerrero UCLA 1974 (UCLA Athletic Director)
- William Koch MIT 1962 (Skipper and Champion America’s Cup)
- Jerry Lucas Ohio State 1962 (Basketball)
- Leland (Larry) MacPhail Beloit 1910 (Brooklyn Dodgers Owner/GM; Hall of Fame/Introduced night games)
- Scott McCarron UCLA 1989 (Professional Golfer)
- Jamey Rootes Clemson 1988 (Former GM Columbus Crew Major League Soccer and current Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing for Houston Texans)
- Ed Roski Jr USC 1968 (Owner Los Angeles Kings Hockey Team/Realtor)
- Mike Schmidt Ohio 1971 (Baseball Hall of Famer)
- Eran Horodniceanu George Washington 1998 (GW Women's Basketball Coach)
- Stan Smith Southern California 1969 (Professional Tennis)
- Bill Veeck Kenyon 1936 (Major League Baseball franchise owner)
- John Wooden Purdue 1932 (Legendary UCLA Basketball Coach)
- Brian White Dartmouth 1995 (New England Patriots)
- Richard R. Volk Michigan 1967 (Miami Dolphins)
[edit] Military
- John Coburn Wabash 1846, Civil War General and founder of the Wabash College Chapter
- John Brown Gordon Georgia 1854, Major General in CSA, U.S. Senator, and Governor of Georgia
- Thomas McGuire Georgia Tech 1944, Major in US Army Air Corps, Fighter Pilot and World War II Ace, Medal of Honor recipient
[edit] Business
- John Edward Anderson UCLA 1940, Founder of Topa Equities, Ltd., namesake of UCLA Anderson School of Management
- Bill Bowerman (William J. Bowerman) Oregon 1933, Founder of Nike, Inc.
- Justin Dart Northwestern 1929, Founder of Dart Industries
- Joel Hyatt Dartmouth 1972, Founder Hyatt Legal Services
- Samuel Laws Miami University 1848 Inventor of the ticker tape machine
- Kenneth Lee Lay University of Missouri 1967, former chairman and CEO of Enron
- John H. Patterson Miami University 1867, founder National Cash Register
- J. C. Nichols Kansas 1902, Real Estate
- Marvin Pierce Miami University 1916, president McCall Corporation and father of Barbara Bush
- Jeffrey Skilling Southern Methodist University 1975, former CEO of Enron
- Warren Staley Kansas State 1965, Chairman and CEO of Cargill
- John Opel Westminster 1948, Former President of IBM
- Frank Schrontz Idaho 1954, Past Chairman and CEO of The Boeing Company
- Ken Thompson North Carolina, President and CEO of Wachovia
- Sam Walton Missouri 1940, Founder of Wal-Mart
- Fred Wilson MIT 1983, venture capitalist and prominent blogger
- Dan Irwin Ohio State University 1983 Part Owner Buffalo Bills
[edit] Other Prominent Betas
- Joseph P. Allen DePauw 1959 (Astronaut/Space Flight Executive)
- Kenneth D. Cameron MIT 1971 (Space Shuttle Flight Commander)
- Paul J. Weitz Penn State 1954 (Former astronaut/Space Center Director)
[edit] Chapters
The Fraternity has 133 chapters in all, which includes its international chapters and sixteen colonies. An additional 18 have been suspended or are in the process of reorganization, with an additional 76 chapters having gone dormant over the course of the Fraternity's existence.
[edit] Active
[edit] External links
[edit] Source
- Brown, James T., ed., Catalogue of Beta Theta Pi, New York: 1917.
