Sigma Nu, Zeta Iota Chapter

Sigma Nu Fraternity is an international college honor fraternity headquartered in Lexington, Virginia, with over 275 chapters and more than 250,000 total initiates in the United States and Canada. Sigma Nu was founded on January 1st, 1869 at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) by three cadets: James Frank Hopkins, Greenfield Quarles and James McIlvaine Riley partly in opposition to the practice of hazing. Sigma Nu Fraternity is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Council (NIC) and one third of the Lexington Triad along with Kappa Alpha Order and Alpha Tau Omega

Among the programs developed by Sigma Nu Fraternity are the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc., the LEAD Program, The Delta publication and the FIPG risk management association. Sigma Nu is governed by a biennial national convention known as Grand Chapter, which elects the national officers and votes on legislation. The bylaws of Sigma Nu are compiled as The LAW of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc.

The mission of Sigma Nu Fraternity is to develop ethical leaders inspired by the principles of Love, Honor and Truth, to foster the development of each man’s mind, heart and character, and to perpetuate lifelong friendships and commitment to the Fraternity.

Introduction

Sigma Nu's past is a proud and colorful one. Founded by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in a period of civil strife known as the Reconstruction, Sigma Nu represented a radical departure from the times. The system of physical abuse and hazing of underclassmen at VMI led to James Frank Hopkins, Greenfield Quarles, and James McIlvaine Riley to form the "Legion of Honor" which soon became Sigma Nu Fraternity. So, amidst a backdrop of turmoil, North America's first "Honor" fraternity was established.

The Founders

The story of Sigma Nu began during the period following the Civil War, when a Confederate veteran from Arkansas enrolled at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington Virginia. That cadet was James Frank Hopkins, and it is to him and two of his classmates that Sigma Nu owes it's existence. When Hopkins enrolled at VMI, the south was in a state of turmoil and just beginning to recover from the devastating military defeat it had suffered. The Virginia Military Institute was highly recognized for its civil engineering program, and the South badly needed to repair its bridges and railroads. At the Institute cadets suffered, not only because of the ravages of war and a disrupted homelife, but because of the system of physical harassment imposed on lowerclassmen by their fellow students in the upper classes.

Hopkins had experienced military subservience during the war, and was willing to tolerate a reasonable amount of constraint intended to induce discipline. However, Hopkins was unwilling to accept any amount then being allowed at VMI. Not one ounce of hazing was he willing to suffer and he was doggedly adamant about eliminating it.

Hopkins soon was joined by two classmates and close friends who were also equally unhappy with the hazing situation. They were Greenfield Quarles, from Arkansas, a Kentuckian by birth, and James McIlvaine Riley from St. Louis, Missouri. These three men began a movement to completely abolish the hazing system at VMI. Their efforts climaxed on a moonlit October night in 1868, presumably following Bible study at the superintendent's home, when the three met at a limestone outcropping on the edge of the VMI parade ground. Hopkins, Quarles and Riley clasped hands on the Bible and gave their solemn pledge to form a brotherhood of a new society they called the Legion of Honor.

The vows taken by these three Founders bound them together to oppose hazing at VMI and encouraged the application of the Principle of Honor in all their relationships. That the founders should adopt Honor as a guiding principle was a natural move since a rigid code of Honor was already an established tradition of the VMI Corps and Cadets. The Honor system at VMI required each cadet to conform to the duty imposed by his conscience that each act be governed by a high sense of Honor.

Sigma Nu Announced

Although Sigma Nu Fraternity began in October 1868 as the Legion of Honor, its existence was kept secret until the founders publicly announced their new society on the first day of January 1869, the accepted birthdate of Sigma Nu. What a New Year's celebration it must have been for cadets who could not go home for the holidays! In those days the Institute did not close for "breaks" as we know them. It suspended classes only for the day on such occasions as Christmas and New Year's.

The Fraternity's spiritual birth, however, occurred in 1866, the year the Founders entered VMI, when Frank Hopkins first rebelled against hazing at the Institute. Still, the Founders did not create Sigma Nu with any feeling of animosity toward others; rather they were prompted by the impulses of sympathy and affection for all people which underlie abiding peace and contentment. They had experienced enough hate and destruction all during and after the War. They wanted to end all abuses, and they knew it would not come easily. It was never an issue of who won or lost the War. It was only an issue of winning the peace.

The Legion of Honor society in its first year assumed the outward aspects of a college Greek-letter organization. The organizaton kept its original name secret but was recognized publicly as Sigma Nu Fraternity. It was soon to win the respect of all.

The new Fraternity needed an identifying symbol, and the Founder Hopkins designed a Badge for the members to wear on their uniforms. That Badge was patterned after the White Cross of the French Legion of Honor, which was worn on the uniform of a favorite professor of Hopkins. The Badge was first introduced in the spring of 1869. Keeping with the Founders' decree, the Badge has remained unchanged ever since, except in size and the raised center. Even today, the collegiate Commander's Badge, and the Badge of the Grand Officers remain identical to Hopkins' original Badge. When the first slate of Officers was chosen, Riley, the most popular, was elected Commander and Hopkins the Lieutenant Commander. Typically, Hopkins, the epitome of humbleness, was delighted that "Mac" Riley was chosen leader. It gave Hopkins "the doer," thinker, planner, along with Quarles who had similar talent, more of an opportunity to concentrate on solidifying ol' Alpha before he graduated in 1870. By the 1869 commecement, the group had grown to fifty-one members.

Sigma Nu Expands

Expansion began for Sigma Nu in 1870 after the graduation of the Founders, when the mother chapter at VMI, then known as Chapter I, approved the establishment of a chapter at the University of Virginia. Later, a permanent numbering system established a Greek-letter designation for chapters. Thus, Chapter I became Alpha and the University of Virginia chapter became Beta.

Sigma Nu established a chapter at North Georgia Agricultural College in 1881.One of the men instrumental in the chartering of the North Georgia chapter was John Alexander Howard. He was blessed with rare intellect and considerable talent for writing. That talent led him naturally to newspaper work. Howard read widely and in his reading discovered Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. He read that book until he was familiar with all national fraternities. His study of other fraternities prompted him to examine shortcomings of his own fledgling Fraternity. At this time Sigma Nu was still using the Roman numeral designation for chapters. Howard felt that the Fraternity should adopt a Greek-letter designation according to the founding date of the chapter. Thus, his own chapter at North Georgia became Kappa. Howard's main contribution was the founding of The Delta for the magazine's title to symbolize the geographic relationship of the three existing chapters of the Fraternity at that time, Alpha, Lambda and Kappa. The first edition of The Delta was published in April 1883 and contained sixteen pages.

The First National Convention

The year following the publication of The Delta witnessed another important milestone for Sigma Nu. That event was the First National Convention,which met at the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, July 9-10, 1884. The person responsible for the First National Convention was Isaac P. Robinson (Lambda, Washington and Lee). Robinson felt that a meeting of alumni and collegiate representatives was imperative because of a need to update the constitution, revise procedures and coordinate efforts. The Sigma Nu convention later became known as Grand Chapter. It is held every two years and serves as the legislative body of the General Fraternity.

Another event in 1884 which had a major impact upon the Fraternity was the establishment of Nu Chapter at the University of Kansas. During the first fifteen years of its existence, Sigma Nu was primarily a southern fraternity, and the decision to establish Nu Chapter was to be the first step in a radical expansion program. Nu chapter was to be the first step for Sigma Nu. Eugene L. Alford of Lambda was instrumental in the founding of Nu Chapter.

Two charter initiates of Nu who became very influential in Sigma Nu in later years were Perlee Rawson Bennett and Grant Woodbury Harrington. Bennett served the Fraternity as Grand Recorder for many years and in 1890 was elected Regent. He presided over the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Grand Chapters.Harrington became editor of The Delta and Grand Recorder. For eight years (1886-1894) he had almost total responsibility for the administration of the Fraternity. Other early members of Nu Chapter were the Sears brothers, William H. Sears, Clarence H. Sears and Walter James Sears, who also became influential in Sigma Nu affairs. Their brother, Lorin Beecher Sears, attended Ohio State University where no chapter of Sigma Nu existed at the time. Walter was so interested in having Lorin initiated into the Fraternity that he entered Ohio State University, founded Beta Nu and became its first initiate; Lorin became its second. Walter Sears devoted much of his lifetime to Sigma Nu, but his name will be remembered best for his beautiful prose work, "The Creed of Sigma Nu."

The Move West

Leland Stanford University opened in 1891. Among its first students was Carl Lane Clemans, who had founded Chi Chapter at Cornell Chapter at Cornell College in Iowa. Clemens was determined to open a chapter on the West Coast, and he recruited enough men to charter Beta Chi Chapter at Stanford in November 1891. Beta Chi's fame soon spread to Berkeley, and Clemans went there to help organize Beta Psi in February 1892. Sigma Nu opened the Northwest to Greek letter organizations when Gamma Chi was chartered at the University of Washington in 1895, earning the Fraternity kudos throughout the Greek community for its "Northwest conquest." For almost four years Sigma Nu was the only college fraternity in the Northwest, having been the first to establish a chapter not only in the State of Washington, but also Montana and Oregon. Beta Iota at Mount Union was chartered by Walter James Sears in 1892. Three years later Beta Iota initiated Albert Hughes Wilson, to whom Sigma Nu owes a great debt. "Bert" Wilson served as Regent, but his most noteworthy achievement was in expansion. Wilson established more chapters than any other member of the Fraternity, thirty-two in all, and he is generally credited with helping develop Sigma Nu into a geographically representative organization. Brother Wilson was the exemplar of interfraternity spirit as well, being chiefly responsible for the founding of Alpha Sigma Phi men's fraternity. As an aside, it should be noted that Brother Wilson C. Morris (Beta Iota, Mt. Union) is given credit by Sigma Tau Gamma men's fraternity as being the driving force behind its founding while the collegiate Brothers of Delta Theta Chapter, Lombard (Knox) College assisted greatly with the founding of Alpha Xi Delta women's fraternity.

Headquarters Established

Having active chapters in each section of the country, Sigma Nu was now in every sense a national fraternity. Expansion proceeded at an orderly rate, and by 1915 there was a need for centrally located administrative offices with full-time officers. Heretofore, the various Sigma Nu officers maintained their files and records at their own homes or places of business. Fire had once destroyed many of the Fraternity's records, and there was a lack of coordination in general. Following the Denver Grand Chapter in 1915, the High Council approved the establishment of the central administrative system first proposed by Regent Francis V. Keesling (Beta Chi, Stanford). The plan, adapted by Walter J. Sears, converted the High Council into a board of directors elected by the Grand Chapter; all executive and administrative duties previously exercised by members of the High Council and committees were lodged in a single official - the General Secretary (now Executive Director) - appointed by the High Council and subordinate to its direction.

Indianapolis was selected as the location of the Fraternity's headquarters, and on November 1, 1915 the General Offices were opened there temporarily in the Lemcke Annex before moving into the main building. Bixby Willis (Lambda, Washington and Lee), a past Grand Treasurer of Sigma Nu, was employed as the first General Secretary. In 1926 the central office was moved to the Illinois Building in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis served as the Fraternity's headquarters for forty-two years, during which time fifty-five new chapters were added to the roster of the Legion of Honor.

Founders Join Chapter Eternal

Founder James Riley, who had served ten years (1869-79) as the Fraternity's first Regent, entered the Chapter Eternal on May 6, 1911, in St. Louis, Missouri. Members of the Fraternity carried his remains to a burial plot purchased in Bellefontaine Cemetery by the St. Louis Alumni Chapter in fraternal affection for the Founder. The life of James Frank Hopkins ended on December 15, 1913, and he was laid to rest in the village cemetery at Mablevale, Arkansas, beside his sweetheart from cadet days and devoted wife, a native Lexingtonian, Jennie Barclay Hopkins. In 1920 an impressive memorial was dedicated at the gravesite. Greenfield Quarles, the only Founder still living, offered a tribute to Alpha 1:

The love of our Brother for his fellow man was only excelled by his love of God. His example has instilled into the hearts of us all the principles which guide us now, and these principles will go down in future generations for all time. His life has been an inspiration to all youth. All that was mortal of Brother Hopkins lies buried here; but his immortal spirit will live forever.

Six months later, the last of the three Founders was taken from the living contact with the Fraternity. Judge Greenfield Quarles entered the Chapter Eternal at his home in Helena, Arkansas, January 14, 1921. He had lived a life of noble service.

Educational Foundation

In 1945, Brother William P. Yates (Beta Rho, Pennsylvania), inspired the formation of the "Sigma Nu Inc., Educational Foundation" with a handsome bequest. Its name was changed in recent times to the "Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc." The foundation has been instrumental in assisting collegiate members with financial aid supplements, and the General Fraternity in the development of the LEAD Program, (LEAD is an acronym for leadership, ethics, achievement, development). The Foundation continues to support the exclusively educational programs of the Fraternity.

Return to Lexington

Even before Sigma Nu's first central office was organized in Indianapolis, some dreamed of the day when the Fraternity would have an appropriate shrine at Sigma Nu's birthplace, but it took nearly four decades before the first step was taken. That step was the appointment of a Headquarters Committee in 1954. It compared rent with ownership and ultimately recommended the later in a college town where a Sigma Nu chapter thrived. Inevitably Sigma Nu history and tradition pointed to Lexington.

Regent James W. Bradley (Epsilon Epsilon, Oklahoma State) and his High Council took the historic step in 1957, purchasing without mortgage or lien a singularly appropriate property, a large, a large home ideally suited for conversion and development. The land, conveniently located on the highest hill in the corporate limits of Lexington, Virginia, and on a seven-and-one-half-acre tract overlooking VMI and Washington and Lee University, enjoys the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west. The land was originally owned by the son of General Frances H. Smith, the first superintendent of VMI, who inspired Hopkins in the founding of Sigma Nu; the house, built by the grandson of Superintendent Smith, came to Sigma Nu directly from the Smith family. Milton L. Grigg, a renowned Virginia architect and participant in the famous Williamsburg Restoration, was contracted to restore the building. The Headquarters facility was occupied in 1958 and officially dedicated June 9, 1960.

Sigma Nu Centennial

On January 1, 1969, Sigma Nu reached its one-hundred-year milestone. In the year that followed, it marked that event with a series of Centennial dinners at 36 locations throughout the country and with pilgrimages to the gravesites of the three Founders and the first editor of The Delta. Then on Sunday, June 15, a Centennial Convocation was held in Lexington. Two beautiful new wings of the Headquarters building were dedicated, one housing the Sigma Nu Museum and the other the Fraternity's Honor Library, the later to be dedicated in tribute to former Executive Secretary Richard R. Fletcher, who had long since earned the moniker "Mr. Sigma Nu." Sigma Nu in its 100th year had come a long way from its founding. At the century mark it had issued 164 charters of which 143 chapters were alive and flourishing. Of the nine other truly national fraternities older than Sigma Nu, only three had more initiates. Sigma Nu owned 110 chapter houses providing living accommodations for more than 3,500 students. All this had been accomplished solely through the appeal of its principles - without false claims or specious promises, without merger, without honorary members. Every chapter had earned its own way by applying integrity in both purpose and method.

Sigma Nu Celebrates Its 125th Year

Well into the Fraternity's second century, Sigma Nu continued its dramatic growth. Today, the number of initiates is nearly 200,000; the number of chapters approaching 250. Many of the Fraternity's chapters have initiated more than a 1,000 members, with a large number topping 1,500 and several exceeding 2,000.

Among the many significant achievements during the past decade has been the addition of adjacent properties in Lexington, Virginia, known as the Ethical Leadership Center, owned by the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc. Particularly noteworthy is Sigma Nu's interfraternity leadership in risk reduction and risk management matters followed by the introduction of its Particularly noteworthy is Sigma Nu's interfraternity leadership in risk reduction and risk management matters followed by the introduction of its unique LEAD Program, one of the most meaningful educational initiatives ever undertaken by a college fraternity. In addition, the transfer of ownership of the Fraternity's Headquarters property, known as the Sigma Nu Headquarters Shrine, to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc. has enabled alumni gifts to assist in its restoration and preservation, so as to relieve the burden of upkeep on future generations of collegians.

Finally, in celebration of the Fraternity's 125th anniversary, the Foundation undertook construction of a third wing to the Headquarters Shrine as well as a Pathway of Honor of engraved bricks, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the life of each Sigma Nu. The Pathway of Honor will meander throughout the Lexington properties. A special "Pilgrimage to the Rock" was one of the memorable highlights of the 56th Grand Chapter held in Washington, DC, in August 1994.

For a century and a quarter Sigma Nu chapters have shaped the man of integrity. Their challenge for the future is to focus efforts and energies anew to the fuller realization of the great mission set by our Founders - to build Men of Honor, ethical leaders for society based upon the concept of the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. Indeed, Sigma Nu may be on the threshold of the era of its greatest achievement as it enters the 21st Century. [1]

Performing Arts, Literature, and Media

Bob Barker (Epsilon Beta)

Emmy-winning host of "The Price is Right" game show since 1972; has served as emcee for Miss Universe and Rose Bowl parade

Joe Buck (Beta Eta)

Sportscaster on FOX television network

Paul Rudd (Nu)

Actor in films such as Anchorman, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Clueless, and The Shape of Things

William Daniels (Gamma Beta)

Emmy Award winning actor starred in St. Elsewhere and Boy Meets World, and was the voice of "KITT" in the television show Knight Rider.

Harrison Ford (Zeta Tau)

Starred in some of the most successful films ever made, including Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Apocalypse Now, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Blade Runner, Working Girl, Presumed Innocent, Witness, Regarding Henry, Patriot Games, The Fugitive, and Clear and Present Danger. Also the 1985 Oscar best actor nominee for Witness.

Brian Mistler (Delta Mu)

American philosopher and writer, Gestalt psychologist who studied with M. Pat Korb)

Zane Grey (Beta Rho)

Western novelist (Riders of the Purple Sage)

Dave Guard (Beta Chi)

Guitar player who helped form the Kingston Trio. The Kingston Trio won the 1959 Grammy for best folk performance.

William Inge (Nu)

Noted poet and playwright. Earned a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1953 for his play Picnic. Also won an Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay in 1961 for The Dark at the Top of the Stairs.

Tom Johnson (Mu)

President of CNN; has also served as President and CEO of the Los Angeles Times.

Al Michaels (Zeta Upsilon, Eta Kappa)

Play by play sportscaster for NBC's Sunday Night Football; formerly announced ABC's Monday Night Football from 1986 until it ended in 2005; one of only two men to have broadcasted for the championships of the four major American pro sports (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL)

Glenn Miller (Gamma Kappa)

Leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, in the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.

Tom Poston (Epsilon)

Won 1959 Emmy as best supporting actor in a comedy series for The Steve Allen Show. Featured in To Tell the Truth, Mork and Mindy, and Newhart. He received best supporting actor Emmy nominations in 1984, 1986, and 1987.

Josh Saviano (Beta Alpha)

Actor; played Paul Pfeiffer on the sitcom The Wonder Years

Shadoe Stevens (Epsilon Kappa)

Host of ABC radio's American Top 40; voice of Hollywood Squares.

Boyd Tinsley (Beta)

Violinist of Dave Matthews Band fame.

Kyle Chandler (Mu; pledged but never initiated)

Television actor; Saturn Award-winning star of Early Edition.

James Dean (Epsilon Pi; pledged but never initiated)

Hollywood film legend (Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden). Dropped out of college before being initiated.

Politics

Trent Lott (Epsilon Xi)

Former Senate Majority Leader (R — Mississippi).

Bob Graham (Epsilon Zeta)

Governor of Florida (1978–1986); U.S. Senator (1986–2005) (D — Florida).

George J. Mitchell (Delta Psi)

Former Senate Majority leader and current chairman of The Walt Disney Company

Lloyd Bentsen (Upsilon)

Former Senator from Texas, Vice Presidential candidate in 1988, and former Secretary of the Treasury.

Roger Wicker (Epsilon Xi)

Member of the House of Representatives (1995–present) (R — Mississippi)

Norm Dicks (Gamma Chi)

Member of the House of Representatives (1976–present) (D — Washington)

Jody Powell (Eta Gamma)

President Carter's Press secretary.

Clarence M. Kelley (Nu)

Director of the FBI from July 9, 1973 through February 23, 1978. Kelley, who was Kansas City police chief when he received the appointment, had been an FBI Agent from 1940 to 1961. Kelley also served in the United States Navy (22 July 1944 - 9 April 1946) having been granted military leave from the FBI.

Herman E. Talmadge (Mu)

Governor of Georgia (1949–1955); U.S. Senator (1957–1981) (D — Georgia).

Eugene Talmadge (Mu)

Governor of Georgia (1933–1937 and 1941–1943; elected in 1946 but did not serve)

Joe Trippi (Zeta Iota)

Campaign manager for Howard Dean in 2004; worked on other Democratic campaigns from the 1980s onward

Michael D. Antonovich (Eta Phi)

Mayor of Los Angeles County; Member of Board of Supervisors.

Robert L. Gernon (Nu)

Kansas Supreme Court Justice 2003-2005

Other Former United States Senators

Quentin N. Burdick (D — North Dakota) (Gamma Tau)
Alan Cranston (D — California) (Beta Chi)
Walter F. George (D — Georgia) (Eta)
Clifford P. Hansen (R — Wyoming) (Epsilon Delta)
James A. McClure (R — Idaho) (Delta Omicron)
Steve Symms(R — Idaho) (Delta Omicron)

Sports

Felix "Doc" Blanchard (Psi)

Three time All-American and 1945 Heisman trophy winner for Army (after joining Sigma Nu at UNC)

Paul "Bear" Bryant (Theta)

Coached several college football teams (most notably, his alma mater Alabama) for a career record of 323-85-17

Bobby Dodd (Epsilon Eta)

Coached Georgia Tech football team to 165-64-8 record; All-American quarterback for Tennessee; one of only two men in the College Football Hall of Fame as both a coach and a player

Walt Dropo (Epsilon Phi)

American League rookie of the year in 1950; played twelve seasons for the Red Sox

Dallas Green (Delta Kappa)

Major League baseball player; manager of Chicago Cubs and New York Mets; managed 1980 Philadelphia Phillies to first World Series title

Al Groh (Beta)

Former head coach of the New York Jets, current head coach of the University of Virginia football team.

John Hadl (Nu)

A professional American football player who is now an associate athletic director in the University of Kansas (Jayhawks) athletic department.

Dick Howser (Zeta Zeta)

American League Rookie of the Year in 1961; managed the Kansas City Royals to first World Series title

Lindy Infante (Epsilon Zeta)

Green Bay Packers head coach 1988–1991

Chet Jastremski (Beta Eta)

1964 Olympic Bronze Medalist; made the cover of Sports Illustrated; member of the swimming hall of fame

Hayes Alan Jenkins (Gamma Beta)

Olympic figure skating Gold Medalist, 1956

Norm Johnson (Epsilon Pi)

Ranks fifteenth all time in points scored in NFL history

Stan Jones (Delta Phi)

NFL Hall of Famer

Guy Lewis (Zeta Chi)

University of Houston Basketball coach with 27 straight winning seasons

Archie Manning (Epsilon XI)

Professional quarterback for the New Orleans Saints

Eli Manning (Epsilon Xi)

Professional quarterback for the New York Giants

Mike McCormack (Nu)

NFL Hall of Famer

Wayne Munn (Delta Eta)

World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion in 1925

Rick Neuheisel (Epsilon Pi)

Former college football head coach; current (as of 2006) quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens

Pat Riley (Gamma Iota)

NBA head coach for Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and currently the Miami Heat; served as head coach for five NBA championship teams, and as a player or assistant coach on two more

Bill Stanfill (Mu)

NFL All-Pro defensive end for Miami Dolphins; college football All-American and Outland Trophy winner for Georgia Bulldogs

Steve Stenstrom (Beta Chi)

Stanford quarterback and a Heisman trophy candidate

Greg Swindell (Upsilon)

MLB — Houston Astros; named to Baseball American's all time college all-star team

Tommy Vardell (Beta Chi)

Cleveland Browns running back

Bill Yoast (Eta)

Coach portrayed in Remember the Titans

Business

Charles R. Schwab (Beta Chi)

Founder, Chairman and CEO of Charles Schwab Corporation Retail Stock Brokerage

Col. James B. Beam (Gamma Iota)

4th Generation distiller from the Beam family; Distiller of Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

T. Jeremiah Beam Beam (Gamma Iota)

Fifth master distiller of Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Was son of the founder, James B. Beam.

Daniel Amos (Mu)

CEO of AFLAC Insurance

Chet Huber (Eta Mu)

Current President of Onstar

Military

General Paul Tibbets (Epsilon Zeta)

Pilot of the Enola Gay (the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb used in warfare on Hiroshima in 1945)

Ronald Evans (Nu)

NASA astronaut and Pathfinder to the Stars who piloted Apollo 17

Vance Brand (Gamma Kappa)

Astronaut — flew on ASTP, commander of STS-5 and STS-41B

Chapter	University	Year Founded
Alpha	Virginia Military Institute	1869
Beta	University of Virginia	1871
Gamma	Duke University	1871
Delta	University of South Carolina	1874
Epsilon	Bethany College	1883
Eta	Mercer University	1884
Theta	Universtiy of Alabama	1874
Iota	Samford University	1879
Kappa	North Georgia College	1881
Lambda	Washington and Lee Universtiy	1882
Mu	University of Georgia	1873
Nu	University of Kansas	1884
Xi	Emory University	1884
Pi	Lehigh University	1885
Rho	University of Missouri	1886
Sigma	Vanderbilt University	1886
Phi	Louisiana State University	1887
Psi	University of North Carolina	1888
Beta Alpha	Yale University	1889
Beta Beta	DePauw University	1890
Beta Gamma	Missouri Valley College	1891
Beta Epsilon	Coe College	1891
Beta Zeta	Purdue University	1891
Beta Eta	Indiana University	1892
Beta Theta	Auburn University	1890
Beta Iota	Mount Union College	1892
Beta Kappa	Kansas State University	1892
Beta Mu	University of Iowa	1893
Beta Xi	William Jewell College	1894
Beta Omicron	University of the South	1889
Beta Rho	University of Pennsylvania	1894
Beta Upsilon	Rose-Hulman Institute	1895
Beta Phi	University of California at Berkeley	1892
Beta Chi	Stanford University	1891
Gamma Alpha	Georgia Tech	1896
Gamma Beta	Northwestern University	1898
Gamma Gamma	Albion College	1895
Gamma Delta	Stevens Institute of Technology	1900
Gamma Zeta	University of Oregon	1900
Gamma Eta	Colorado School of Mines	1901
Gamma Theta	Cornell University	1901
Gamma Iota	University of Kentucky	1902
Gamma Kappa	University of Colorado	1902
Gamma Mu	University of Illinois	1902
Gamma Nu	University of Michigan	1902
Gamma Xi	University of Missouri/Rolla	1903
Gamma Pi	West Virginia University	1904
Gamma Sigma	Iowa State University	1904
Gamma Upsilon	University of Arkansas	1904
Gamma Phi	University of Montana	1905
Gamma Chi	University of Washington	1896
Gamma Psi	Syracuse University	1906
Delta Alpha	Case Western Reserve	1907
Delta Beta	Dartmouth College	1907
Delta Gamma	Columbia University	1908
Delta Delta	Pennsylvania State University	1909
Delta Epsilon	University of Oklahoma	1909
Delta Eta	University of Nebraska	1909
Delta Theta	Knox College	1891
Delta Iota	Washington State University	1910
Delta Kappa	University of Delaware	1911
Delta Mu	Stetson University	1913
Delta Nu	University of Maine	1913
Delta Xi	University of Nevada	1914
Delta Omicron	University of Idaho	1915
Delta Pi	George Washington University	1915
Delta Rho	Colorado State University	1915
Delta Sigma	Carnegie-Mellon University	1916
Delta Tau	Oregon State University	1917
Delta Phi	University of Maryland	1917
Delta Chi	Trinity College (Alumni)	1918
Epsilon Alpha	University of Arizona	1918
Epsilon Beta	Drury University	1919
Epsilon Delta	University of Wyoming	1920
Epsilon Epsilon	Oklahoma State University	1920
Epsilon Zeta	University of Florida	1920
Epsilon Eta	University of Tennessee	1921
Epsilon Theta	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	1922
Epsilon Iota	College of William and Mary	1922
Epsilon Kappa	University of North Dakota	1923
Epsilon Gamma	University of Utah	1924
Epsilon Mu	Butler University	1926
Epsilon Nu	Miami University of Ohio	1927
Epsilon Xi	University of Mississippi	1927
Epsilon Omicron	University of Southern California	1930
Epsilon Pi	University of California, Los Angeles	1930
Epsilon Rho	Michigan State University	1934
Epsilon Sigma	Rhodes College	1934
Epsilon Upsilon	Utah State University	1938
Epsilon Psi	Westminster College	1947
Zeta Alpha	Puget Sound	1948
Zeta Gamma	Kent State University	1949
Zeta Delta	University of Toronto	1949
Zeta Zeta	Florida State University	1950
Zeta Eta	Tufts University	1950
Zeta Theta	Presbyterian College	1951
Zeta Iota	San Jose State University	1951
Zeta Kappa	California State University at Fresno	1951
Zeta Lambda	University of Tulsa	1951
Zeta Nu	Montana State University	1952
Zeta Omicron	North Texas University	1953
Zeta Pi	Texas Tech University	1953
Zeta Rho	University of Rhode Island	1954
Zeta Sigma	Gettysburg College	1954
Zeta Upsilon	Arizona State University	1955
Zeta Phi	Bradley University	1955
Zeta Chi	University of Houston	1956
Zeta Psi	Lamar University	1957
Eta Beta	East Carolina University	1959
Eta Gamma	Georgia State University	1959
Eta Delta	West Texas A&M University	1959
Eta Epsilon	Kentucky Wesleyan College	1960
Eta Zeta	Louisiana Tech University	1961
Eta Theta	North Dakota State University	1962
Eta Iota	Northern Arizona University	1962
Eta Kappa	San Diego State University	1963
Eta Lambda	University of Cincinnati	1963
Eta Mu A	Kettering University	1963
Eta Mu B	Kettering University	1963
Eta Nu	University of Southwestern Louisiana	1963
Eta Xi	University of Arkansas at Little Rock	1963
Eta Omicron	Wofford College	1964
Eta Pi	Hampden-Sydney College	1965
Eta Rho	Western Kentucky University	1965
Eta Sigma	Eastern New Mexico University	1966
Eta Upsilon	Midwestern University	1966
Eta Phi	California State University at Los Angeles	1966
Eta Chi	Old Dominion University	1967
Theta Alpha	University of South Florida	1967
Theta Beta	University of South Dakota	1968
Theta Gamma	University of Southern Mississippi	1968
Theta Zeta	Clemson University	1970
Theta Eta	Northern Illinois University	1970
Theta Iota	Middle Tennessee State University	1970
Theta Kappa	Georgia Southern University	1970
Theta Lambda	Eastern Washington University	1970
Theta Nu	Ball State University	1971
Theta Xi	Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University	1971
Theta Pi	State University of West Georgia	1972
Theta Sigma	Southwest Missouri State University	1972
Theta Tau	Morehead State University	1973
Theta Phi	Lander College	1973
Theta Chi	East Tennessee State University	1973
Iota Alpha	Indiana University of Pennsylvania	1974
Iota Beta	Virginia Wesleyan University	1974
Iota Delta	James Madison University	1974
Iota Epsilon	Missouri Southern State College	1974
Iota Zeta	Vincennes University	1974
Iota Kappa	California State University at Chico	1975
Iota Nu	University of Southern Maine	1975
Iota Omicron	University of Texas at Arlington	1976
Iota Pi	Southern Polytechnic State University	1976
Iota Sigma	University of New Hampshire	1977
Iota Tau	Creighton University	1977
Iota Chi	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	1982
Iota Psi	Indiana State University	1982
Kappa Alpha	Western Illinois University	1982
Kappa Beta	Western Ontario	1982
Kappa Gamma	California State Polytechnic University at Pomona	1982
Kappa Delta	Duquesne University	1982
Kappa Epsilon	Appalachian State University	1983
Kappa Eta	University of California of Santa Barbara	1983
Kappa Iota	University of Dayton	1984
Kappa Kappa	Radford University	1984
Kappa Theta	Jacksonville University	1984
Kappa Lambda	University of Akron	1984
Kappa Nu	Central Missouri State University	1984
Kappa Xi	Winthrop University	1985
Kappa Pi	California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo	1985
Kappa Rho	University of California at San Diego	1985
Kappa Sigma	Texas A&M University	1985
Kappa Tau	SUNY/Binghamton	1985
Kappa Upsilon	University of North Carolina at eGreensboro	1985
Kappa Phi	Western Carolina University	1985
Kappa Chi	Furman University (Greenville)	1986
Lambda Alpha	Wake Forest University	1986
Lambda Beta	George Mason University	1986
Lambda Gamma	Eastern Illinois University	1986
Lambda Delta	Mankato State University	1986
Lambda Epsilon	Texas Christian University	1987
Lambda Zeta	SUNY/Geneseo	1987
Lambda Eta	University of Rochester	1987
Lambda Theta	Birmingham-Southern College	1987
Lambda Iota	Southern Utah University	1987
Lambda Kappa	Nicholls State University	1987
Lambda Mu	Wichita State University	1987
Lambda Nu	Western Michigan University	1988
Lambda Omicron	University of California at Irvine	1989
Lambda Pi	Eastern Michigan University	1989
Lambda Tau	Slippery Rock University	1989
Lambda Upsilon	Califonia State University at Fullerton	1989
Lambda Phi	University of Central Arkansas	1990
Lambda Chi	Cal. State/San Bernardino	1991
Mu Alpha	Baylor University	1991
Mu Beta	University of Alabama at Huntsville	1991
Mu Gamma	University of North Carolina at Wilmington	1992
Mu Epsilon	Coastal Carolina University	1992
Mu Zeta	Rochester Institute of Technology	1992
Mu Eta	University of North Carolina at Asheville	1993
Mu Theta	University of Texas at San Antonio	1993
Mu Iota	University of Hartford	1994
Mu Kappa	Southeast Missouri State University	1994
Mu Lambda	Southern Illinois University	1995
Mu Mu	Sam Houston State University	1996
Mu Nu	Valdosta State University	1996
Mu Xi	Columbus University (Georgia)	1996
Mu Omicron	Pepperdine University	1996
Mu Pi	Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science	1996
Mu Rho	Northwestern State University (La.)	1997
Mu Sigma	McKendree College	1999
Mu Tau	University of Central Oklahoma	2002
Mu Upsilon	Stephen F. Austin State University	2003
Mu Phi	Longwood College	2003
Mu Chi	Lynchburg College	2003
Colony	University of Central Florida	N/A
Colony	Louisiana State University in Shreveport	N/A

[1]	Sigma Nu Fraternity Inc. (1994). The Legion of Honor. Lexington, Virgninia: Sigma Nu Fraternity Inc.
[2]	Duncan, Matthew; Mu Tau Chapter (2005). The Complete History of Sigma Nu Fraternity. UNPUBLISHED.
[3]	Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. (2006). Sigma Nu Fraternity: Chapter Listing.
[4]	Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2006) Sigma Nu.

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