The Oracle: Phi Mu Delta's Membership Manual

Pierce is considered the father of Phi Mu Delta. He
Brother
a delegate at the 1917 convention of the National
was
of the Commons Clubs at which the proposal to
Federation
to a Greek-letter fraternity was discussed and he led
convert
way for the founding of Phi Mu Delta at the 1918
the
Brother Pierce wrote the ritual we still use
convention.
“Dex” as he was known, enlisted in the military as a
today.
at the outbreak of WWI. He then transferred to the
medic
was recognized for his natural leadership, and
infantry,
a commission as a second lieutenant before the
received
ended. He returned to UVM and graduated with his
war
receiving a Ph.B. in 1918, and a M.D. in 1923. He
class,
he by the people of Batavia, that the Medical Library in
was
Genessee Memorial Hospital bears his name.
the
Bird was a delegate at the 1918 convention and an avid supporter of the formation
Brother
a Greek-letter fraternity. He was elected Extension Secretary of the new fraternity.
of
the University of Massachusetts. In 1925, he became a landscaping foreman for Bristol
now
in Bristol, Connecticut. He received several promotions over the years and, in
Nurseries
Garland was one of the delegates from New Hampshire Agricultural (now UNH) to
Brother
1918 convention. After graduation, he served in the Army and in 1919, he became a high
the
principle in Massachusetts. In 1933, Brother Garland was appointed Clerk of
school
(NH) Municipal Court, and in 1964, he was named special justice of the same
Hampton
THE SIX FOUNDERS
Clarence Dexter Pierce, Nu Gamma, 1918.
medicine in Connecticut and New York,
practiced
settling in Batavia, New York, in 1957. So beloved
eventually
Arthur Conrad Bird, Nu Alpha, 1919.
Bird was active in athletics and ROTC while in college and, after graduation,
Brother
for several florists and received his graduate education in agriculture from what is
worked
he bought the company. Under Bird’s leadership, Bristol Nurseries became worldfamous
1949,
for its chrysanthemums.
Otis Raymond Garland, Nu Beta, 1918.
court. Brother Garland remained a loyal supporter of Phi Mu Delta all of his life.
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