Tau Kappa Epsilon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Motto | Not for Wealth, Rank, or Honor, but for Personal Worth and Character |
|---|---|
| Colors | Cherry (Crimson Lake) and Gray (Pure Silver) |
| Symbol | Equilateral Triangle |
| Flower | Red Carnation |
| Founded | January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University |
| Type | Social |
| Scope | International |
| Headquarters | 8645 Founders Road Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Chapters | 274 |
| Homepage | http://www.tke.org/ |
Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE, pronounced T-K-E or IPA [ˈtɪ:k], as in teak wood) is a college fraternity with chapters in the USA, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent (WSC). Tau Kappa Epsilon was founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. With 274 active collegiate chapters and colonies throughout the United States and Canada, TKE has been the largest social fraternity in the world by number of chapters since 1961.[citation needed] The Five founders of TKE are Charles Roy Atkinson, Clarence Arthur Mayer, James Carson McNutt, Joseph Lorenzo Settles, and Owen Ison Truitt.
Tau Kappa Epsilon was originally named the Knights of Classic Lore with the goal of establishing a fraternity where membership is based on personal worth and character rather than wealth, rank, or honor.
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[edit] Symbols and traditions
The TKE Coat-of-Arms is a shield of a Norman form, upon which has a bend with five equilateral triangles, surmounting a scroll bearing five Greek letters, and surmounted by a skull, or death's head, three-quarters profile. This assemblage is done on the official colors, cherry red and battleship grey, properly mantled. The Coat-of-Arms may be used only by official members of the Fraternity on stationary, jewelry, and other personal effects. It is used by the Fraternity upon its official stationary, membership certificates, and other documents. Modified slightly several times during the early years of Tau Kappa Epsilon, the present Coat-of-Arms, adopted in 1926, was designed by Dr. Carlton B. Pierce and Ms. Emily Butterfield.
| Prytanis: | President | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Epiprytanis: | Vice-President | ||
| Grammateus: | Secretary | ||
| Crysophylos: | Treasurer | ||
| Histor: | Historian | ||
| Hypophetes: | Chaplain (Academics) | ||
| Pylortes: | Sgt. at Arms (Risk Management) | ||
| Hegemon: | Educator | ||
The red carnation is the flower of the fraternity. From this flower the color for the coat-of-arms, flag, and other symbols. Red carnations are also worn during initiations and at TKE banquets. The Red Carnation Ball is a dance that many chapters celebrate, and is named after the flower.
The patron is Apollo, and is one of the most important Olympian divinities. The Grecian god of music, culture, and the ideals toward which all Tekes must constantly be striving. Typifying the finest development of manhood, the selection of Apollo is most appropriate.
The official membership badge, made of either white or Roman gold and adorned with three white pearls, is by far the most important item of TKE insignia in general use. Only this badge may be worn by undergraduate members. Jeweled badges, crown set with pearls, diamonds, rubies or emeralds, according to choice, may be worn by alumni members. Frequently the standard membership badge is used as a token of engagement. Miniature badges are also available for mothers, sisters, or for engagement purposes. The TKE 'badge of gold', unique in its design and distinctiveness, has never been changed since its adoption.
The present design of the TKE flag, as adopted at the 1961 Conclave, features five voided triangles, in cherry red, on a gray bend surmounting a red field. Due to its patterning after the shield of the fraternity Coat-of-Arms, the flag is readily associated with Tau Kappa Epsilon. Individual chapters may also purchase and use pennants and wall banners of various designs. These usually employ the name or Greek letters of the fraternity and chapter, and may incorporate the basic TKE insignia. TKE insignia must be purchased from the Offices of the Grand Chapter.
[edit] The Horse Shoe
In April 1921, members of the Fraternity at The Ohio State University made their way to the Conclave in Madison, Wisconsin. At the conclusion of the vote granting their charter as Omicron Chapter, one of the members pulled from his pants pocket a rusty horseshoe which the fraters had picked up along the way. Believing that the horseshoe had granted the chapter good luck, the tradition began to pass the horseshoe down to each chapter. The original horseshoe was lost during WWII at the Alpha-Chi Chapter, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (it was replaced with a new horseshoe to continue the tradition).
In mid-1995, the original horseshoe was discovered by Past Grand Prytanis Rodney Williams among some artifacts belonging to Alpha-Chi Chapter, which had been held for years by a charter member of the chapter. At the 49th Biennial Conclave, the original TKE horseshoe from Omicron Chapter was displayed, and the story behind its loss explained.
[edit] International officers
Grand Officers
- Grand Prytanis (president): Mark A. Fite, CFC
- Grand Epiprytanis (vice-president): Robert I. McMurry
- Grand Grammateus (secretary): Mark K. Johnson
- Grand Crysophylos (treasurer): Julius J. Edelmann, Jr., CFC
- Grand Histor (historian): Charles J. Trabold, CFC
- Grand Hypophetes (academics): Brian C.M. Barrett
- Grand Pylortes (Sgt. at Arms): Dr. Herbert L. Songer
- Grand Hegemon (new member education): Rodney G. Talbot
- Chief Executive Officer: Kevin Mayeux, CAE
The eight Grand Officers along with the CEO act as members of the executive board of the fraternity. Their titles are derived from the titles given to the officers of undergraduate chapters. With the exception of the Grand Prytanis (president) the honorific titles do not necessarily reflect the duties of these officers. The CEO handles day-to-day operation, finances and the administration of the international organization. The CEO also supervises the fraternity's professional and volunteer staff.
Additional Headquarters Staff
- General Manager / Vice President: Brian Ferber, CAE
- Director of Chapter Services: Paul Lawson, CAE
- Director of Programs: Justin Kirk
- Executive Assistant to the CEO: Christopher D.M. Walsh
- Regional Director (Northeast): Todd Farmer
- Regional Director (South): Louie Correa
- Regional Director (Midwest): Kevin Smith
- Regional Director (Plains & West): Eric Chamberlain
- Communications Coordinator: Tom McAninch
- Business Manager: Rob Taflinger
- Standards Coordinator: Ethan Stubbs
- Standards Coordinator: Jason Clagg
- Recruitment Coordinator: Bryston Cutter
- Expansion Consultant: Jon Hackler
- Expansion Consultant: Joshua Yeager
- Director of Chapter Development: Dennis "Buckwheat" Perry
- Director of Membership: Shirley Mills
- Executive Secretary: Joyce-Ann Anderson
- Systems Administrator: Jill Konija
- Services Administrator: Regina Taylor
- Production Manager/Archivist: Katie Sayre
- Director of Finance: Ernestine Mann, CPA
- Network Administrator: Erik Couch
- Foundation President: Gary A. Reed
Other Key Officials
- Foundation Board Chairman: Gregory P. Woodson
- Judiciary Committee Chairman: Robert A. Jarred, Esq.
- Collegiate Advisory Committee Chairman: Colt Wilde (UNC Wilmington)
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] Government
- Robert L. "Bob" Barr, Jr. - U.S. Congressman (Georgia)
- Bill Brewster - U.S. Congressman (Oklahoma)
- Robert A. Butterworth, Jr. - Florida Attorney General
- Robert C. Byrd - U.S. Senator (West Virginia)
- Ryan C. Crocker - U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Lebanon, Kuwait and Syria
- Neil K. Derry - City Councilman (San Bernardino, CA)
- Gary Doer - Premier of Manitoba
- Charles Foti, Jr. - Louisiana Attorney General
- William Hagan - Political writer and Communications Director for Congressman Mac Collins
- Mike Huckabee - former Governor of Arkansas & 2008 Presidential Candidate
- Roger W. Jepsen - U.S. Senator (Iowa)
- Earl Pomeroy - U.S. Congressman (North Dakota)
- Carl D. Pursell - U.S. Congressman
- Greg Pyle - Chief of the Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma
- James H. Quillen - U.S. Congressman (Tennessee)
- Ronald W. Reagan - 40th President of the United States
- Albert Rosellini - Governor of Washington
- John G. Rowland - Governor of Connecticut
- Richard B. Stone - U.S Ambassador to Denmark
- Wesley W. Watkins - U.S. Congressman (Oklahoma)
- Charles E. Whittaker - U.S. Supreme Court Justice
[edit] Business and Industry
- Scott "Skeeter" Albea - President of Atlas Van Lines
- Raymond G. Chambers - Co-Owner of the New Jersey Nets
- Roger J. Dow - VP of Marketing for Marriott Hotels
- Edward C. Droste - Co-Founder of Hooters
- Dr. James Goodnight- CEO of the SAS institute.
- Conrad M. Hilton - Founder of Hilton Hotels
- James P. Evans - CEO of Jenny Craig
- Richard T. Gadomski - Founder & former CEO of PSI Group of Companies, now Lurgi PSI
- James M. Kilts - Chairman and CEO of The Gillette Company
- W. Alan McCollough - Former Chairman, President and CEO of Circuit City
- Paul Mobley - President of Noble Romans Pizza
- Robert L. Nardelli - Former Chairman, President and CEO of The Home Depot
- Paul R. Oreffice - CEO of Dow Chemical
- Howard D. Schultz - Principal Owner of Starbucks
- Charles Rudolph Walgreen, Jr - Chairman of Walgreens
- Gregory P. Woodson - President Global Home Care Colgate Palmolive Company
[edit] Education
- Gregory L. Geoffroy - President of Iowa State University
- Dr. Robert M. McKenzie - East Stroudsburg University Professor and author of Comparing Media from Around the World (Honorary Member)
- Dr. William V. Muse - Chancellor of East Carolina University
- Dr. David Shi - President of Furman University
- Joseph J. Sisco - President of American University
- Hoke L. Smith - President of Towson University
- Brian Wansink - Cornell University Professor and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think
[edit] Athletics
- Terry Bradshaw - NFL Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl MVP and TV Analyst
- Lou Carnesecca - Former St. John's Basketball Coach
- Rich Dozer - President, Arizona Diamondbacks & former President, Phoenix Suns
- George S. Halas - Founder of the NFL, owner & coach of the Chicago Bears
- Duane Kuiper - Former MLB second baseman and Baseball Commentator
- Marv Levy - Former Head Football Coach Buffalo Bills
- Richard F. "Digger" Phelps - Notre Dame Basketball Coach and TV Analyst
- Phil Simms - New York Giants Super Bowl MVP and TV Commentator
- John L. Smith - Former head football coach, University of Louisville & Michigan State University
- Paul Wight Jr. - Professional Wrestler also known as his in ring name The Big Show
[edit] Entertainment
- Jim Back - Legendary radio newsman
- Eric Bloom - Lead singer of Blue Öyster Cult
- The Everly Brothers - Vocal group
- Fred Dryer - TV's "Hunter" & NFL player
- Arthur Ferrante and Louis Teicher - Musicians
- Merv Griffin - Entertainer and TV personality
- DeWayne Jessie - Actor
- Andy Lauer - Actor
- Ty Martin - Blues and jazz guitarist
- Willie Nelson - Country music Songwriter and singer (honorary member)
- Les Paul - Guitarist and pioneering electric guitar inventor, best known for assocation with the Gibson Les Paul
- Elvis Presley - Rock 'n' Roll singer and actor (honorary member)
- George Sunga - Television producer
- Danny Thomas - Entertainer and TV personality
- Lawrence Welk - Musician
- Robert Wuhl - Actor
[edit] Military and NASA
- Andrew M. Allen — NASA astronaut
- Earl E. Anderson — Youngest 4-star general in the United States Marine Corps
- Jere Brower — General United States Army Europe Commander
- Gerald P. Carr — NASA astronaut, Commander U.S. Skylab IV
- John Fisher — Rear Admiral, United States Navy, President of The Navy League
- Roy K. Flint — Dean, U.S. Military Academy at West Point
- Joseph Ralston - Supreme Commander of NATO
- Terrell T. Reddick — Brigadier General, United States Army
[edit] Philanthropic, literary, and religious
- William A. Fowler - Nobel Prize for Physics, Nuclear Astrophysics, Professor
- Eugene Frank - Methodist Bishop
- Bruce Gordon - President, NAACP
- David R. Jones - Editor, New York Times
- Ralph Keyes - President, Kiwanis Foundation
- Gary A. LaBranche - President/CEO, Chicagoland Forum of Association Executives
- Colin Rorrie - President, Meeting Professionals International
[edit] Chapters and colonies
See List of chapters and colonies of Tau Kappa Epsilon for links and information
To find a TKE chapter, use the TKE Locator
Tau Kappa Epsilon is also affiliated with the German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent(WSC). The WSC includes the Corps Franconia zu Darmstadt, Corps Vitruvia Munich, Corps Montania Clausthal and other fraternities.
[edit] External links
- Tau Kappa Epsilon
- Google Map of TKE Chapters in the United States
- Tau Kappa Epsilon Resource Site
- Top Sites List for TKE Websites
