About Phi Kappa Tau

Known as "America's Fraternity", Phi Kappa Tau has a rich history both nationally and at the University Of Texas. Founded March 17, 1906 at Miami University in Ohio, Phi Tau has over eighty active chapters all over the nation.

Since our re-chartering in 2012, the brothers of Beta Alpha have been building a fraternity composed of men who believe in learning, leading, and serving. Becoming a brother of Beta Alpha is not only admittance to brotherhood, but also an opportunity to challenge yourself in ways many other organizations cannot provide.

We are constantly working to better our fraternity and establish a larger presence here at UT. Each and every brother has an impact on the growth of Beta Alpha. The experience one gains from developing an organization like Phi Kappa Tau from the ground up is like no other.

Our History

During the summer of 1942 Phi Theta Tau, a local fraternity was established at the University of Texas in order to petition Phi Kappa Tau for acceptance as a chapter. Phi Theta Tau was chosen as the name of the fraternity by James B. Arant, a brother of Alpha Psi chapter of Phi Kappa Tau at what was then Texas College of Mines at El Paso. The first meeting was held the evening of June 9, 1942, in the Wine Cellar of the "Old Seville", now El Toro Restaurant. James B. Arant, Glen P. Wilson, Joseph V. West, Redford D. Sears, Egon Powell, Frank Babcock, and Norman Weaver were present. James Arant and Norman Weaver were elected acting president and secretary respectively until permanent officers could be elected at a later meeting. By June 17, the local fraternity was accepted as a colony of Phl Kappa Tau. On the 17th, a second meeting was held at "Old Seville", the traditional meeting place.

Several meetings later, on July 15, the first chapter house at 2306 Sabine was obtained. A committee to write a ritual for Phi Theta Tau was appointed and the chapter began to participate in Sing-Song and intramural sports. Rush was run in the fall of 1942 from the 2306 Sabine address where 18 brothers and pledges lived. By November of 1942, the only requirement the colony did not meet in order to receive a charter was a membership of 35. Rau Sponberg was elected president of the first pledge class and Kimy Canarela was elected secretary. In December, social events were started with the Zeta Tau Alphas and the Phi Mus. On February 6, 1943, Phi Theta Tau, as a colony of Phi Kappa Tau, met the requirements for initiation into Phi Kappa Tau. National President Roland Maxwell, National Secretary Richard Young, and an initiation team from Alpha Chi Chapter at Mississippi State and Alpha Psi Chapter at Texas Western College formally initiated 29 members and faculty advisers of the local- fraternity into the brotherhood of The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.

Although there were several members on the campus in early 1945, there was no organized fraternity program and the chapter, though not officially inactive, was for all practical purposes dormant. With the return of two charter members to the campus in the fall- of 1945, the chapter began slowly its reactivation. By the 1946 spring semester, the vast majorly of the original group had returned and active operation began with the election of Harral A. Bigham as president. There was no fraternity house at this time. Meetings were held at the Student Union and at various places around the campus. At the end of the spring of 1946, Bigham resigned as president, and Francis C. Broaddus of El Paso, a transfer from Alpha Psi chapter, was elected to lead the fraternity.

In the fall of 1948, William M. Biddison of Houston was named president. Although rushing activities were fairly successful, it was becoming apparent that the physical facilities of the chapter were a detriment to pledging. Although the active members were interested in improving the facilities and there were many ideas as to the solution, no alumni support existed at this time since there were no alumni. In January, 1949, and again in spring, 1949, Charles E. Trimble was elected president. By the summer a small brick colonial home, suitable for fraternity activities and for the housing of 18 men, was located at 2100 Rlo Grande. The move to the new quarters was made in June of 1949 and by the end of the summer the house had been completely redecorated.

John Eliason was elected president in January, 1951. Under Eliason’s administration, the chapter made considerable strides in developing its internal strength, resolving several situations which had troubled the chapter since the days of World War II. The rushing and pledge training program was improved and integrated into chapter activities. Succeeding Eliason as president of the chapter in April., 1951, was Norman E. (Gene) St. Clair of Dallas. Under his leadership, the chapter constructed a patio and game-room adjacent to the fraternity house and improved the social standing of the chapter. It was during this period that the pledges of the chapter began to measure up to what the group had been striving toward and the tone of the chapter was changed. Financially, the group was not too strong, but with the administration of Kent I. Broyhill, who served as president in 1952, finances were put on an even keel.

The pledge program, with the assistance of the national fraternity, was at its zenith. Under the direction of John Eliason, the fraternity entered--and won--the Aggie Sign contest, the biggest outdoor display at the University. This later became a tradition for the chapter. Intramural sports were a strong chapter activity during the year.James K. Jaynes was elected president for 1953. Jaynes continued to keep the chapter on an even operation, beginning a program of enlisting alumni support for the chapter (because of the distance between alumni and the chapter, there had been no organized support). Due to his enthusiasm in this endeavor and preparatory work, the original alumni corporation, formed to secure the chapter house, was reorganized in 1954. Host to the first meeting of the group was Harry A. Nass, president of the chapter in the spring of 1954.

In the fall of 1954, rush week procured excellent Phi Tau pledges, but the quantity was small. The chapter again won "Aggie Sign" that fall, receiving a trophy for the most unique sign. Division finals in basketball were reached in addition to receiving honorable mention in Varsity Carnival for the Phi Tau Pie Throwing contest. The chapter continued to work to advise alumni of the fraternity and sorority house situation on the university of Texas campus. The 1955 year saw progress in financial operations and internal organization under the direction of President James Raper. During Franklin D. Bollman's administration in 1956, the pledge class entry in the Orange and White Parade, an Aggie in a cage drawn by an old car painted orange and white, placed first. In 1957 Leon Whitney was elected president of the chapter as well as student assemblyman from the School of Architecture. During Whitney's administration, the chapter purchased a new house at 1910 Rio Grande, formerly the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.

The smallst pledge class ever taken by Beta Alpha was the result of work during the administration of J. B. McCarty in 1958. The size of the pledge class was the result of the efforts of Ben Pinnell, alumnus of Alpha Psi., who was serving the national fraternity as field secretary. Serving as Pinnell's "Man Friday" was our present national field secretary, Charles H. Borup. Forty pledges were taken. Beta Alpha continued its tradition of winning "Aggie Sign" that fall. The president during the spring of 1959 was Ray Robinson. In the fall of 1959, Donald A. Maxwell served as president. The Phi Tau tradition of winning “Aggie Sign" was continued by the receiving of the award for the Best All-Around Aggie Sign, "Bevo’s Laundry"

During Lewis H. Steves administration in 1960, the chapter's entry in "Aggie Sign", Bevo's Pub, again took top honors. During William C. Harrison's administration in 1963, Charles Finnell was re-elected to the student assembly from the College of Arts and Sciences. Serving as president during 1964 was Charles C. Wenck. At the end of May the chapter moved into the new house at 2804 Rio Grande that had been designed by alumnus Kent K. Broyhill. The house was built by the Phi Kappa Tau Club of Texas, the Beta Alpha Housing Corporation. During this time, the chapter was represented in the Interfraternity Council by Gary Bushell, who was serving as president of the IFC. The fraternity also entered Sing-Song and received a trophy for placing second in the Fraternity Division. Pat Willson served as president of the chapter during the first 1965 semester, and Ron Blake served during the second. The chapter again entered Sing-Song and placed first in the Fraternity Song Division.

Ray Martin was elected president for the 1967 term and the chapter's intramural program was improved under the leadership of Bill Becker. The chapter received the Nelson Puett Improvement Award, given for the most improvement in the intramural program. John McDuff was elected president in 1968, and the chapter received the Roland Maxwell Outstanding Chapter Award from the national fraternity for the most outstanding chapter in Beta Alpha's category. That spring the chapter is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary on, March 16 and is again entering several campus activities.

The efforts to re-establish Phi Kappa Tau at the University of Texas-Austin began with an invitation by the Interfraternity Council to join the Greek community in the Spring of 1979. Many factors indicated that the fraternity could be successful in developing a chapter, including strong local alumni support, a strong and supportive IFC, interest in Greek life from the student body, a strong Phi Tau chapter at Southwest Texas State in nearby San Marcos and a strong national commitment to expansion. National representatives visited the campus, met with the fraternity advisor and other University officials and set goals and guidelines for the new colony to follow. Recruitment efforts began with advertisements calling for students to take the challenge of starting their own fraternity on campus. By the summer of 1979, a core of approximately 12 men made up the colony. During that summer, three members attended the National Convention in Knoxville, Tennessee, learning a great deal about recruitment techniques and chapter management. Recruiting activities took place in various cities in the state later that summer, most hosted by Beta Alpha alumni.

The following fall semester found many men joining who had been contacted late in the preceding spring. At this time, most of the recruiting for the colony was done through acquaintances of the members. In that semester, the colony became much better organized and specific goals were re-emphasized by the National Headquarters. The IFC and National representatives instructed the colony on how to conduct rush and helped with recruiting techniques. It took until the next spring to incorporate these valuable ideas into the program. The spring of 1980 saw great progress in recruiting results, and, in turn, the highest number of initiates up to that time. Great strides were made in alumni relations as the Board of Governors became more active and talk of new housing surfaced. Morale was high as the brothers began to see positive results due to their efforts and progress was made in the pursuit of a charter. Invaluable aid in recruiting was provided by the brothers of Gamma Psi chapter, as they provided manpower and set a good example on how to have fun and rush at the same time.

The summer of 1980 was occupied mainly with a search for suitable housing and recruitment of incoming freshmen. The "pre-rush" activities consisted of parties and personal letters. By the end of the summer, a lease had been signed for a house and preparations made for participation in formal rush. The fall semester began with a week of formal rush which all fraternities participate in. The expectations of the colony for a small group of associate members were not realized. Therefore, the goals of the group had to be re- established and open rush took on added importance. In that time, the original members of the colony were initiated. The colony was beginning to look and act like a fraternity and spirits were high, looking forward to the spring. Although membership was close to chartering requirements, some major organizational refinements still had to be made. The summer was filled with program writing, calendar planning and house renovation. By the end of 1981 the colony was notified that the requirements for chartering had been met, and the National Council had approved Beta Alpha's re chartering. This pumped new enthusiasm into the brothers as the strong, growing colony could finally look forward to that for which they had all so diligently sought.

On February 6, 1982, the Beta Alpha charter was signed, exactly 39 years after the first UT charter was signed. Looking back on that eventful weekend, the brothers still remember the excitement and spirit of brotherhood. It may have taken them a little longer than expected, but it was well worth the time. The chapter is enthusiastic in everything they do, from budgeting to community service. If all present associate members are initiated, the chapter will have tripled in size within one year. New housing arrangements are being pursued with an active alumni involvement. The brothers of Beta Alpha would like to thank everyone involved throughout the colonization and chartering efforts. After returning to campus, the Beta Alpha chapter grew immensely and by 1982, they had 46 members.