Theta-Eta Zeta (Millsaps College) has had an interesting history, from starting out as a local fraternity (Alpha Theta Chi) to later merging with Theta Kappa Nu and finally Lambda Chi Alpha.
Since the opening of the doors of Millsaps College in 1890, there have been fraternities on campus. On February 17, 1921, a local fraternity named Alpha Theta Chi was founded. The two men responsible for its founding were Warren Addkinson (Theta-Eta 1) and M. M. McGowan.
During its first years on campus, Alpha Theta Chi successfully took part “in all campus activities” (P&W, January 23, 1925). But these men had the dream of becoming part of a national fraternity, and so followed a period of several years of anxious waiting and petitioning. In 1922, they petitioned Lambda Chi Alpha; then in 1923 and 1924, they petitioned Sigma Alpha Epsilon. They were rejected, mostly due to the size of the college.
While Alpha Theta Chi was searching for a national fraternity with which to affiliate, another group of men at Drury College created a national fraternity, which became known as Theta Kappa Nu, founded on June 9, 1924. The members of Alpha Theta Chi, seeing the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new national organization, decided to affiliate with Theta Kappa Nu. Under the guidance of the chapter president W. P. Wooley, they were admitted to Theta Kappa Nu in December 1924. The installation ceremony took place on Saturday evening, December 20, 1924, and was held in the Kappa Sigma house. The Province Archon for the area, Mr. Turner Jordan, and Mr. Paul Barnett of Birmingham, Alabama, were the men who installed the Mississippi Alpha Chapter of Theta Kappa Nu.
During the next fifteen years, Theta Kappa Nu grew and prospered, picking up such men as T. H. Naylor and William H. Parker (whose three sons are also initiates of this chapter). In 1938, Mississippi Alpha Chapter established a colony at Mississippi State University. This chapter merged with the Lambda Chi Alpha Chapter that was already there.
Theta Kappa Nu approached Lambda Chi Alpha with a proposal to merge the two organizations. Thus, in 1939, the largest merger in the history of the Greek Letter World took place between Lambda Chi Alpha and Theta Kappa Nu. This is what formed our chapter: Theta-Eta Zeta!
At the time of the merger, the chapter had a membership of 37 actives and pledges. Jack Bain was the first High Alpha. He was also president of the senior class and was later killed in WWII. In its first year as Theta-Eta Zeta, the chapter pledged 30 men, more than any of the other four fraternities (at this time Sigma Rho Chi was a local fraternity, which died out after some years on campus. Also, during the late forties and early fifties, there was a Sigma Alpha Epsilon colony that floundered).
In 1948, the old chapter house was destroyed by fire. Plans for a new house, to be built on property given by the College, were begun. At this time, however, members were especially concentrating on “the enlargement of the active chapter, intending to become one of the strongest chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha.”
Bill Brown, one of the alumni, began drawing plans for the new house, and in June of 1950, ground was broken. The new house was finished that fall, and on October 21, 1950, 24 men moved into the house at 434 Marshall Street. The First Open House was held on November 5, 1950, with special guest Grand High Alpha Houston T. Karnes present.
Over the years, Theta-Eta Zeta continued to grow. In 1964, High Kappa Joel Levi and his pledge class obtained the “treasure of Lambda Chi Alpha,” the Purple Bathtub, for a roaring Twenties Party, and it is still being used by a lucky few. In the fall of 1966, the chapter made the final payment on the house and, in the following spring, received a $20,000 loan to update the house.
In 1969, Theta-Eta Zeta was awarded the National Scholarship Trophy, for having the highest scholastic average of all chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha. Also, in 1969, Theta-Eta Zeta became one of the first chapters of Lambda Chi Alpha to adopt the Associate Member program and cast out the inferior concept of pledgeship.
In 1977, Theta-Eta Zeta hosted the regional conclave. At this time, the chapter was the largest on campus with 76 men. That spring a large number of men graduated and the chapter had a few hard years after 1977. However, things were beginning to turn around. Over the next few years, rush went much better; and, in 1984, our chapter picked up 25 men in formal rush. As a result, Theta-Eta Zeta received the Phoenix Award for being the most improved chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha, under the guidance of High Alpha Ralph A. Kaiser (Theta-Eta 808). In 1985, under the leadership of High Alpha Stephen C. Bush (Theta-Eta 809) and High Delta David Loper (Theta-Eta 831), the chapter associated 38 men and in 1986, the chapter picked up 27 men.
In 1987, Theta-Eta Zeta associated over 40 men, under administration of High Alpha Thad Pratt (Theta-Eta 828) and High Delta Joe Hunter (Theta-Eta 871); in 1988 the chapter reached an all-time high membership of 108 men – by far the largest fraternity on campus after acquiring 25 men in formal rush. After five consecutive years of associating twenty of more men, Theta-Eta Zeta picked up 33 more men, with the guidance of High Alpha John Blackwell (Theta-Eta 960) and High Delta Whit Middlecoff (Theta-Eta 978). The chapter reached a milestone in February 1991 by initiating its 1000th member, Neville Webb.
In 1989, a powerful blow struck Theta-Eta Zeta; for the first time since October 1, 1950, the Lambda Chi Alpha house was empty as a result. While this instance could tear apart a fraternity, the brotherhood of the chapter only grew stronger. Due to this bonding of brothers, the goals of the men of 1948 were realized; Theta-Eta Zeta received the highest honor achievable by any Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha – the Grand High Alpha Award.
The 1990’s have brought about many changes and advances in chapter life. Among these were the completion of the renovations to the house in 1996 and addition of the new house in 1997, which were products of High Rho Lee Davis (Theta-Eta 1077) and of generous donations of chapter alumni like Dan Wright as well as the generous donations of Vaughn McRae. The renovations and additions included a new Chapter Room, new rooms for 11 people, a new patio, and the brick wall.
Click the picture below for more Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity history!
