Chapter History

Although not the first fraternity on Millsaps Campus, upon its creation Lambda Chi Alpha greatly affected not only the way Greek life was perceived on Millsaps campus but changed the campus as a whole by showing the community what a true fraternity of brothers are capable of. On February 17, 1921, a local fraternity named Alpha Theta Chi was founded by two men, Warren Adkinson (Theta-Eta I) and M.M. McGowan.

During the first few years Alpha Theta Chi worked hard and 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, so followed a period of several years of anxious waiting and petitioning. In 1922 they petitioned Lambda Chi Alpha. They also petitioned Sigma Alpha Epsilon, but were rejected once more 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 Theta Kappa Nu, a national fraternity, founded on June 9, 1924. Seeing this as an opportunity for Alpha Theta Chi to become part of a national fraternity they petitioned to become a chapter of Theta Kappa Nu, and under the guidance of chapter president W.P. Wooley, they were admitted to Theta Kappa Nu in December 1924.

During the next fifteen years, Theta Kappa Nu grew and prospered, greatly expanding its number of chapters. In 1938, Missisippi Alpha Chapter established a colony at Mississippi State University. This chapter later merged with the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter that already existed there.

While Theta Kappa Nu did grow, it was not strong, and turned to Lambda Chi Alpha for help. 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 of Theta Eta Zeta.

At the time of the merge, 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 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.

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 finishesdd 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 and prosper. 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 fraternity on campus with 76 men. A large number of men graduated that spring, and a disagreement in the chapter caused a few men to quit. The chapter size dropped to 25 men.

The following years were rather rough for the chapter. Membership dropped as low as 17 men. In 1981 only 3 men picked up. However, Lambda Chi Alpha had a strong core, one that did not break easily. In 1984, 25 men picked up in formal rush. As a result, Theta-Eta Zeta received the Phoenix Award for being the most improved chapter nationally. For the next few years Theta-Eta Zeta continued to prosper becoming the largest fraternity on campus.

In 1989, during a post-initiation party, a newly initiated brother became so intoxicated that an ambulance had to be called. As a result, the house was empty for one semester; however, the brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha came back stronger rather than falling apart. The chapter would soon receive the highest honor achievable by any Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha – The Grand High Alpha Award.

In the 1990s the Theta-Eta Zeta house went through various renovations and the fraternity would also see one of its greatest philanthropic achievements, the North American Food Drive. Started here, by Theta-Eta Zeta the event would become adopted by the National Fraternity. It would come to raise 2,500,000 pounds of food in 1999. The food drive is still one of Theta Eta Zeta’s highest priorities every fall semester.

Since then many new philanthropic endeavors were completed, including “PUSH” which would be featured by the local WLBT new station. A strong core of leaders continued to take Theta-Eta Zeta to new levels of both brotherhood and philanthropy. The fraternity fought off debt and wn the Order of Omega Award for Academic Excellence in 2005, as well as the comprehensive Fraternity of Excellence Award.

To this day the fraternity continues to have the highest on campus GPA and philanthropy hours, because behind each brother are seven core values that keep the bond unbreakable.