book of records - Kansas State University

Book of Records 7.25
9. THE NEW WING AND THE POST-WAR ERA THROUGH THE 1950'S
(1948-1959)
With Delta Theta=s reorganization at the end of World War II, the chapter had a new Chapter House location.
It was an old stone country house before the campus moved out that far. The house was remodeled by the members, but
was too small to house the Taus ever-increasing numbers, as more and more men returned from the war.
The Alumni Association decided that something had to be done. They could either build a new house or add on
to the present one. They decided it would be best to build an addition to the present house.
Extensive planning and soliciting for funds were well underway by the school year of 1954-55. The program
was run very well and enthusiastically. Many alumni helped out in this very necessary drive, but it was J. B. Angle and
L. Allyn Laybourn who did most of the work to make the new wing a reality. Brother Angle traveled extensively,
personally soliciting funds and Brother Laybourn reorganized the alumni program and handled many of the details. Both
men contributed considerable time and money.
Two other men who did yeoman work to help organize and handle the campaign were Fred Klemp, former
Chief of Province XVIII and the President of the Alumni Association during the campaign; and Lloyd Riggs, President
of the Building Corporation.
At the ground breaking ceremony on February 26, 1955, Delta Theta had one of its biggest reunions. It was
not only the ground breaking for the $80,000 addition, but also marked the 35th Anniversary of the chapter.
Participating in the ceremonies, in addition to the brothers already mentioned, were Ralph E. Weaverling, Kansas and
Nebraska >11, who was Chief of Province III and Installing Officer when Delta Theta was chartered in 1920; Dr. W.
Clark Wescoe, Chief of Province XVIII at the time; and W. Bruce Wren, the Worthy Master. Also on hand were some
of the chapter=s charter member: J. B. Angle, Walter J. Rogers, Ray B. Watson, Carl Rodewald, Ernest Bebb, P. J.
Newman, Gabe Sellers and Ted Woodbury.
The reunion weekend provided several occasions for bull sessions and reminiscences. A coffee hour was held
at the Wareham Hotel and was followed by a business meeting of the alumni and actives to discuss the building project.
Saturday afternoon initiation was held for Herschel Staats while the alumni looked on, recalling the time when they first
met the mysteries of Alpha Tau Omega.
Saturday night was highlighted by a banquet where Kansas State University President James A. McCain spoke.
The weekend was brought to a close Sunday with a buffet dinner served at the house after the ground breaking
ceremonies.
Now the new wing was in the workman=s hands and they didn=t waste any time, as the addition was ready for
use by the fall semester of 1955. The dedication was on April 21, 1956.
With the addition completed, the chapter was finally able to have most of its members live in the Chapter
House, something that hadn=t been since World War II. The chapter once again had the physical plant to carry on the
fine traditions of Alpha Tau Omega.
The new wing was the major event of this era, but there were other important happenings at Delta Theta. The
year 1949 brought some recognition from Province XVIII to the chapter. Kenneth Bell, who came into the chapter after
the war, was named the Province XVIII Thomas Arkle Clark Award winner. Brother Bell was the first member of Delta
Theta to win the award, which was started in 1935. He was a man of activities at K-State and Worthy Master of the
chapter.