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Zeta Beta History - The Charter
The year was 1934, and an interest in founding a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega was sparked on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Unfortunately, the country was firmly in the grip of the Great Depression. The students were unable to afford the finances required, and the attempt was abandoned.
During the following six years, Professor Marion Buford Blair, the District Scout Commissioner and the Director of Physical Education at V.P.I., kept interest alive. In 1940, he sent a letter to the national office in order to express interest in petitioning. By 1941, 25 men had already signed applications, and the chapter seemed well on its way. But once again our founding brothers met with misfortune as the outbreak of WWII halted their efforts.
Professor Blair remained undaunted. In the Fall of 1947, he began working with Richard Snedegar on the third (and ultimately successful) attempt at founding our chapter. On January 20, 1948, Brother Snedegar sent letters out to the scouts on campus, inviting them to a January 23 meeting with the purpose of forming a petitioning group. Once agreeing that joining Alpha Phi Omega was a worthy cause, the founding brothers voted to select three Honorary charter brothers. These were Paul N. Derring, Secretary of the YMCA, Mr. Joe Gutheridge, Advisor to the civilian students, and Dr. Walter S. Newman, President of Virginia Tech and a founder of FFA. Future meetings of the petitioning group were scheduled for Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 until 5:15.
On February 14th, 1948, the petitioning group elected its first officers, with Richard Snedegar as President. The following week, Brother Snedegar wrote a letter to Dr. R. E. Bates, Director of Student Affairs, explaining the purpose of the fraternity and requesting the endorsement of the administration. On March 2, Dr. Bates replied, "I believe that you have a real opportunity to contribute to the enrichment of student life on the V.P.I. campus." He wrote that the student life committee had approved the groups' request for endorsement.
It is obvious that Brother Snedegar attended the meeting, as he sent the application for charter to the National office on February 25, 1948, before the official announcement had been made.
In March, Brother Snedegar graduated and Brother Culpepper stood in as President of the petitioning group until the end of the quarter. At this time, new elections were held, and he was officially elected President.
On April 5, 1948, the group received a brief telegram informing them that their chapter name was to be Zeta Beta. National Secretary Sidney B. North congratulated them for their achievement of establishing the largest new chapter in Alpha Phi Omega history.
Zeta Beta's installation ceremony was held on May 30, 1948 in the William Preston Hotel, and was presided over by Frank D. Wood, Alpha Phi Omega's National Treasurer. During the banquet, Mr. Wood installed the Chapter's officers and presented the charter. The eighty-two pledges and three Honoraries of the petitioning group were initiated by four representatives from our sponsor chapter, Alpha Iota from Ohio State University.
In a special Ceremony, the guest of honor, Richard Snedegar, was retroactively installed as Zeta Beta's first President.
During the following six years, Professor Marion Buford Blair, the District Scout Commissioner and the Director of Physical Education at V.P.I., kept interest alive. In 1940, he sent a letter to the national office in order to express interest in petitioning. By 1941, 25 men had already signed applications, and the chapter seemed well on its way. But once again our founding brothers met with misfortune as the outbreak of WWII halted their efforts.
Professor Blair remained undaunted. In the Fall of 1947, he began working with Richard Snedegar on the third (and ultimately successful) attempt at founding our chapter. On January 20, 1948, Brother Snedegar sent letters out to the scouts on campus, inviting them to a January 23 meeting with the purpose of forming a petitioning group. Once agreeing that joining Alpha Phi Omega was a worthy cause, the founding brothers voted to select three Honorary charter brothers. These were Paul N. Derring, Secretary of the YMCA, Mr. Joe Gutheridge, Advisor to the civilian students, and Dr. Walter S. Newman, President of Virginia Tech and a founder of FFA. Future meetings of the petitioning group were scheduled for Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 until 5:15.
On February 14th, 1948, the petitioning group elected its first officers, with Richard Snedegar as President. The following week, Brother Snedegar wrote a letter to Dr. R. E. Bates, Director of Student Affairs, explaining the purpose of the fraternity and requesting the endorsement of the administration. On March 2, Dr. Bates replied, "I believe that you have a real opportunity to contribute to the enrichment of student life on the V.P.I. campus." He wrote that the student life committee had approved the groups' request for endorsement.
It is obvious that Brother Snedegar attended the meeting, as he sent the application for charter to the National office on February 25, 1948, before the official announcement had been made.
In March, Brother Snedegar graduated and Brother Culpepper stood in as President of the petitioning group until the end of the quarter. At this time, new elections were held, and he was officially elected President.
On April 5, 1948, the group received a brief telegram informing them that their chapter name was to be Zeta Beta. National Secretary Sidney B. North congratulated them for their achievement of establishing the largest new chapter in Alpha Phi Omega history.
Zeta Beta's installation ceremony was held on May 30, 1948 in the William Preston Hotel, and was presided over by Frank D. Wood, Alpha Phi Omega's National Treasurer. During the banquet, Mr. Wood installed the Chapter's officers and presented the charter. The eighty-two pledges and three Honoraries of the petitioning group were initiated by four representatives from our sponsor chapter, Alpha Iota from Ohio State University.
In a special Ceremony, the guest of honor, Richard Snedegar, was retroactively installed as Zeta Beta's first President.