Our Local History

This chapter's story begins on March 10, 1921, when 15 World War I veterans decided to form a fraternity. They named their fraternity Phi Delta Chi. At the time of Phi Delta Chi's founding there were three other fraternities on the Kansas State Teachers College Campus. One was a fraternity known for social events, one was known for its athletes, and one was known for its scholastic ability. Phi Delta Chi was designed to embody all three of those principles. Phi Delta Chi was a local fraternity, which meant that it was the only Phi Delta Chi chapter in the country. In 1946, Phi Delta Chi purchased their first chapter house on 1102 Commercial St.


How Phi Delta Chi became Sigma Phi Epsilon

In the summer of 1949, Brother Jasper J. French suggested to Brother Dale Hagan and a few Phi Delta Chi sponsors that Phi Delta Chi should join a national fraternity. With their blessing Brother French took a few copies of the SigEp Journal (our national magazine) down with him to the boys. Interest grew and on February 10, 1951, the Grand Chapter President of Sigma Phi Epsilon, President Smolenske came to install the 123 chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. This chapter became the fifth chapter in Kansas and was designated with the name Kansas Epsilon.




In 1961 the Kansas Epsilon chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon moved to a brand new fraternity house at 415 E. 12th St. in which Kansas Epsilon Resides today. In 1962, Kansas Epsilon initiated a very special member into the Fraternity family, Brother Boozer. Brother Boozer, a St. Bernard puppy, served as the mascot for the fraternity. The Boozer tradition has stayed alive over the years, including the ninth St. Bernard puppy named Boozer added in the Fall of 2002.





Also, in May of 1965 a man named Ed Hammond graduated from the Kansas Epsilon chapter. He went on to be the President of Fort Hays State University and later the Grand Chapter President of Sigma Phi Epsilon. In the Spring of 2001, the Balanced Man Project was enacted into the Chapter. To this day Kansas Epsilon has nearly 1060 initiated members and is continuing to grow.