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Traditions - Banquet
Following the tradition of the installation banquet in 1948, Zeta Beta has continued to hold annual and semi-annual banquets during the years. Brothers and alumni gather each year to celebrate the initiation of the new brothers, the accomplishments of the school year, and the continued success of Alpha Phi Omega on the Virginia Tech campus.
Banquet Locations and Highlights
1950 William Preston Hotel
1951 Faculty dining hall, Mr. Carl Hildebrand, Assistant Scout Executive from Roanoke, was the speaker.
1952 Squires Hall
1953 Professor E. C. Marsh spoke
1957 Radford , Banquet honored Paul N. Derring, one of three Charter Honoraries. The speaker was William Blair.
1958 National President William Roth was present at the to install the newly elected officers.
1969 Dr. Walter S. Newman was guest of honor, and gave a talk on "The Value of a service Fraternity to VPI".
1960 Collier House, Mr. Edward Andrews, Scout Executive from Altavista and active Alpha Phi Omega alumnus,
was the speaker.
1961 Grant's Tavern in Christiansburg
1963 15th anniversary, ZB extended Honorary membership to Tech's new President, Dr. T. Marshall Hahn, Jr.
The Torch & Trefoil carried an article on this banquet in its May, 1963 issue.
1965 Brigadier General M. W. Shewe was the banquet speaker. Shewe had been inducted as an Honorary that quarter;
he was Commandant of Cadets at VPI. Speaker was Robert L. Bashore, ZB Scouting Advisor.
1967 Governor Tyler Hotel, Banquet held in honor of the retirement of Prof. Blair. Speaker for the banquet was
Dr. M. P. Lacy, Tech's Dean of Admissions and Records.
1968 20th Anniversary, Tinker Mountain Inn. Prof. E.C. Marsh was the speaker, and the program honored
Preston P. Dunavant, the spring pledge class namesake. Dr. James W. Dean as a Member of the
National Executive Board of the Fraternity, presented the Twentieth Anniversary Certificate.
1969 Lendy's, guest speaker for this banquet was Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr
1970 Lendy's, Speaker was Tech President Dr. T. Marshall Hahn, Jr.
1971 Lendy's, Dr. Rhodes B. Holliman, Professor of Biology and new Honorary member, was the speaker.
Dr. Holliman, recently elected by the brothers of Zeta Beta, was installed as the new Chair of the
Advisory Committee.
1972 Holiday Inn Banquet Room, Mrs. Margaret Blair was the speaker. She was honored at the conclusion of the
banquet by being named Zeta Beta Sweetheart, and was presented with a Sweetheart Pin.
1973-78 Quarterly banquets were held at the Marriott, the Sheraton Red Lion, the Governor Tyler Motel, and the
Donaldson Brown Center. Spring 1977, and 1978 banquets included both parents and alumni. Speakers
included: Rev. Al Payne, Dr. Leon Arp, and Dr. V. Ray Hancock.
1978 30th Anniversary banquet, at the Marriott, Alpha Phi Omega National Vice President Lorin A. Jurvis was
the special guest speaker.
1979-82 Various locations, including The Governor Tyler Hotel in Radford, Holiday Inn and Sheraton Red Lion Inn.
Occasionally, spaghetti or 'Potluck' dinners were substituted for banquet. The guest speakers have included
well known campus figures such as Dr. James Dean, Corps Commandant General Lane, Dr. Robertson,
Dr. Haney and Mrs. Haney.
1983-84 Blacksburg Marriott.
1985 Sheraton Red Lion, Dr. Sandra Sullivan, Dean of Admissions, was the guest speaker.
1986 Sheraton Red Lion. Alpha Phi Omega National President, Earl Herbert was the guest speaker. Mr. Herbert
presented Dr. James Dean with the National Certificate of Appreciation at this banquet.
1987 Sheraton Red Lion, Dr. Stanley A. Huffman, original charter member and ZB Advisor was the guest speaker.
1988 40th Anniversary Banquet, Huckleberry Inn.
1989 Huckleberry Inn, Lorin Jurvis, past National President was the speaker.
1990 Tom Terrific's in Radford, Gerry Schroeder, National Vice-President, was the keynote speaker. Will Wheeler,
the Vice-President of Friendship, had written Gerry Schroeder a year in advance requesting his presence at the
banquet. The attention flattered him, and he obliged the request.
1991 Tom Terrific's, Dr. James Dean spoke. Dr. Martha Roane was presented with the Distinguished Service Key.
1992 Red Lion Inn, Dr. Stanley Huffman received a Distinguished Service Key.
1993 45th Anniversary banquet, Owens Banquet Room. Lee Correll, the newly elected Region III director, gave a
brief message.
1994-97 Owens Banquet Room.
1998 50th Anniversary Celebration, Squires Commonwealth Ballroom.
1999 51st Anniversary Banquet, Owens Banquet Hall.
2000 Terrifics
2001 Custom Catering
2002 Custom Catering
2003 The Farmhouse
2004 Custom Catering. Ray Hancock spoke to the Brothers, Alumni and guests
2005 Custom Catering. Malcolm Lee spoke to the Brothers, Alumni and guests
2006 Holiday Inn on Prices Fork Road. Melissa Stricker, Alumni Brother and current Pledge Class Namesake
gave the speech.
2007 Custom Catering. Jay Whitehead spoke to the Brothers, Alumni and guests
2008 60th Anniversary Banquet, Custom Catering, Maggie Katz, the National APO President, and the
Spring 2008 pledgeclass namesake, Jamie Conover Stewart, spoke to Brothers, Alumni, and guests.
2009 Custom Catering, Paul Louie and Roy Brennen spoke to Brothers, Alumni, and guests
2010 Holiday Inn on Price’s Fork, Masquerade theme. Jennifer Rackley and various Brothers Spoke
2011 Holiday Inn on Price’s Fork, Black and White Attitire Theme, Jen Cease spoke.
2012 Holiday Inn on Price’s Fork, Viva Las Vegas theme, Spring 2012 Pledge Class namesake Will Wheeler
and Vice President of Friendship Annie Klein spoke.
2013 65th Anniversary Banquet. Around the world theme. Guest speakers include Spring 2013 Pledge Class
Namesake Karthik Subramanian and Zeta Beta Alumni Paul Louie.
2014 Holiday Inn on Price's Fork, Roaring 20s Theme. Guest speakers included Spring 2014 Pledge Class Namesake Ed Kist and distinguished alumni Dr. Hancock.