The Founding of Kappa Phi
Kappa Phi Fraternity was founded on December 5, 1963, at the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. The founders—Gregory D. Bachman, Davis M. Conway, James C. Cowles, Jerry L. Fortner, William H. Harwell, John Herold, John Hoog, Stephen E. Krieger, Edward T. Lillie, Ronald Martin, Gerard Memdel, Stanley Ricks, Donald C. Scarpero, Phillip Schutty, David N. Smith, Ronald R. Smith, David A. Spencer, and Gary Woodward—met with Norman Fishel, field secretary of Phi Kappa Sigma.
Norman Fishel’s stated intention was to form a colony of Phi Kappa Sigma on the MSM campus. Since the founders were initially in favor of becoming a colony of Phi Kappa Sigma, they chose the letters Kappa Phi (the first two letters of Phi Kappa Sigma reversed) as their official name on December 9, 1963.
The Kappa Phi Coat of Arms
The Organization
Due to the long school vacations for Christmas and semester break, the next meeting of Kappa Phi after December 9 was held on February 4. At this meeting, the fraternity’s constitution was accepted. The constitution covered requirements for membership, administration, financial affiliation between the fraternity and its members, the conduct of meetings, and the procedure for amendment.
At the February 4 meeting, the fraternity’s faculty advisor, Kenneth G. Mayhan, was introduced to the founders. He spoke to them about his views on fraternity life and scholarship, the first of several occasions on which he influenced the fraternity’s course.
New Members and Officers
Since Davis M. Conway had been president of one of the groups that merged to form Kappa Phi, Norman Fishel suggested at the fraternity’s first meeting that Conway serve as leader until (1) Conway requested elections, (2) a majority of members requested elections, or (3) the first regular meeting of April 1964. Thus, on February 17, at Conway’s request, the first officers of Kappa Phi were elected.
Those elected were:
- Davis M. Conway, Alpha (President)
- Edward T. Lillie, Beta (Vice-President)
- William H. Harwell, Sigma (Secretary)
- Jerry L. Fortner, Pi (Scholastic Chairman)
- Gregory D. Bachman, Iota (Ritualist)
- Ronald Martin, Upsilon (Extracurricular Director)
- James C. Cowles, Psi (Social Chairman)
- Gary Woodard, Theta (Sergeant-at-Arms and House Manager)
- Stanley Ricks, Theta (Assistant)
On March 16, the founders established a policy for all non-founders who affiliated with the fraternity before September 1964. These men were to be known as tentative members and were allowed to attend fraternity functions until September 1964. If they met membership requirements and were accepted by the founders, they would become active members. Those who did not become active members by September 1964 would then become pledges.
On October 19, 1964, the fraternity created the new office of Steward, known as the Gamma, to relieve the Theta of some responsibilities, most of which involved maintaining the fraternity’s house. Ronald R. Smith was elected to this office.
Back Row: Byron Vermillion, Mike Hoff, John Janes, Leroy Kraske, Ken Hammann, Ben Stewart, Peter Dunkailo
Front Row: Dave Beardsley, Bob McDavid, Dale Ricks
Kappa Phi’s New House
At the meeting on March 2, a committee was appointed to secure a house for the fraternity. This committee consisted of David Spencer (chairman), Gary Woodard, Jerry Fortner, and Phillip Schutty.
The housing committee proceeded to establish a housing corporation and find a house suitable for the fraternity’s use.
The purchased house was located on eight acres of land along Vienna Road. The property, which included a pond, was situated 1.1 miles from the MSM Electrical Engineering Building. The brick house had two floors containing 2,500 square feet each and was for sale at $35,000. Necessary changes to the house and the initial furniture purchases raised the initial expense to about $50,000. The housing corporation secured a long-term loan for the house at 6.6% interest and oversaw the changes and furniture purchases.
Top: The front of the Shelter as it was in 1968.
Bottom: The back of Shelter as it was in 1964.
Delta Tau Delta
Although Kappa Phi was originally formed with the intention of eventually becoming a chapter of Phi Kappa Sigma, the founders soon became disenchanted with Phi Kappa Sigma’s lack of correspondence and support. They then began to consider other national fraternities.
In the fall of 1964, a graduate student who was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity became interested in Kappa Phi and arranged for a field secretary of that fraternity to visit. This visit led to the formation of the National Fraternity Selection Committee (NFSC), whose duty was to select several national fraternities, correspond with them, and recommend an affiliation to the chapter.
In addition to Phi Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Tau, the NFSC chose Phi Gamma Delta, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, and Delta Tau Delta as national fraternities to consider. On December 14, 1964, the NFSC recommended delaying a decision until three members of Kappa Phi could attend and report on the national convention of Phi Kappa Sigma.
In early February 1965, upon the NFSC’s recommendation, Kappa Phi decided to petition Delta Tau Delta Fraternity for colony status. A letter of intent was dispatched immediately, and on April 10, 1965, Delta Tau Delta recognized Kappa Phi as an official colony. On May 10, while visiting Kappa Phi, Bruce Jones, field secretary of Delta Tau Delta, announced that Whit Smith, stationed at nearby Fort Leonard Wood, would serve as Kappa Phi’s colony advisor to expedite its acceptance as a chapter of Delta Tau Delta.
Epsilon Nu of Delta Tau Delta
On December 10, 1966, Kappa Phi Fraternity was initiated into Delta Tau Delta Fraternity as the Epsilon Nu Chapter, the 96th chapter initiated into Delta Tau Delta. The initiation took place at the Delta Omicron Chapter at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.
Since its initiation, Epsilon Nu has consistently been among UMR’s academic leaders. It has distinguished itself in numerous organizations, most notably the St. Pat’s Board, on which it has had two St. Pat’s (presidents).
In the fall of 1986, Epsilon Nu celebrated its 20th anniversary with a banquet on Homecoming weekend. Many alumni returned for the joyous occasion. A mortgage-burning ceremony was also held to celebrate that the eight acres of land and the house that was Kappa Phi’s first home were paid for.
Achievements
While Epsilon Nu’s intramural record has not always been the strongest, a collection of trophies and plaques represents its triumphs against the odds. Epsilon Nu has received various awards from Delta Tau Delta (national) for its programs. Recent awards include excellence in website design, exceeding the All Men’s/All Fraternity Average GPA, excellent Honor Board practices, and an outstanding Undergraduate Manual.
Epsilon Nu’s brightest moments include 1991, when it received the Court of Honor award from the Arch Chapter for its overall performance in 1990. This award placed the Epsilon Nu Chapter among the top 24 of 124 Delta Tau Delta chapters in the United States and Canada at the time. This was the first time the chapter had received this award since the Court of Honor program began. Since then, the chapter has received it a total of five times.
Then, in 2000, 2004, and 2006, Epsilon Nu again received the highest award given to any chapter: the Hugh Shields Award for Chapter Excellence. This award is reserved only for “chapters of excellence,” with only ten given each year.