book of records - Kansas State University

7.08 Book of Records
Men who were pledged during the three years of existence as Alpha Theta Chi are the following:
1917-18: Herbert V. Mering, Lorin G. Moore, John
F. Novak, Wesley Stevens, Walter R.
Horlacher, N. Dale Lund, Caroll L. Lund,
J. Farr Brown, Carl F. Mershon, Nat P.
Woods and W. H. Jaeger
1918-19: Robert R. Fuller, Ralph Murray, Paul
Kovar, Leroy M. Leiter, Durland J. Hilts,
Norman W. Hein, Martin E. Konold, Elmer
D. McCollum, Charles C. McPherson and
A. Wilber Wilcox
1919-20: Ernest L. Bebb, Otto R. Coburn, Millard
R. Getty, Robert S. Love, C. Morton Rust,
Laurens H. Reyburn, Ray B. Watson,
Philip Woodbury, Thomas W. Lee, Morton
J. Stigers, Walter T. Rolfe, Charles R.
Smith and Jerry J. Hershey
Members of the fraternity who graduated from K. S. A. C. during this same period were: 1918, Hobard M.
Birks and Carl J. Rodewald; 1919, James B. Angle and Levi J. Horlacher (Master of Science); 1920, A. Wilcox Foster,
Walter R. Horlacher, Walter W. Rodewald and A. Wilber Wilcox. Men of this group who were elected to Phi Kappa Phi
are Hobart M. Birks >18 and Walter R. Horlacher >20.
The scholarship record of Alpha Theta Chi is one of which any fraternity might well be proud. During four of
the six semesters of the existence of the local, it was at the top of the list of men=s social fraternities, one semester it was
second and one it was third. It was this excellent scholarship record that helped to obtain recognition by the college and
by other fraternities. Also, this scholarship record was used to advantage in the petitioning of Alpha Tau Omega.
The period during which Alpha Theta Chi was in existence was a stormy one for all fraternities on account of
World War I. A letter from Province Chief Drake informed the local that it was not the policy of Alpha Tau Omega to
consider petitions during the period of war and thus the local chapter was left to weather the storm as best it could. More
than once the uphill battle became so difficult that the brothers were almost persuaded to give it up, and the only thing
that made them determined to continue the chapter at all costs was the fact that they were backed by a group of local and
enthusiastic alumni. In one way or another the breakers were all safely passed over and after the cessation of hostilities
life was begun anew with a determination to obtain a chapter of Alpha Tau Omega, with which the chapter had kept in
touch throughout the period, as soon as possible.
The few men who remained in school after the S. A. T. C. was disbanded returned to the house and began the
reorganization of the chapter. The biggest blow that fell to the chapter at this time was the graduation of James B.
(Tubby) Angle at the end of the first semester of 1918-19. Tubby had been the natural leader of the bunch for so long
that his going left the fellows somewhat in the condition of a flock of sheep which has lost its shepherd. It had been a
case of one man taking upon himself a large amount of the work and responsibility of the organization because his heart
and soul were in the organization, thereby taking from the members the work and responsibility which they needed to
develop themselves into useful members of the group. However, the men pulled themselves together and began to cast
about for new members. It was during this period that a number of men, whose names are given heretofore, who were to
become the strongest men in the chapter, were pledged.