Theta Xi

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ΘΞ - Theta Xi

Motto	Juncti Juvant "United they Serve"
Colors	Azure Blue and Matte Silver
Symbol	Unicorn
Flower	Blue Iris
Founded	April 29, 1864 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
Fraternity type	Social fraternity
Scope	National
Headquarters	P.O. Box 411134 St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Chapters	More than 50 in the United States
Patron saint	Benjamin Franklin
Homepage	http://www.thetaxi.org/

Theta Xi (ΘΞ) is a fraternity founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York on 29 April 1864. Theta Xi is the only fraternity to be established during the American Civil War.

Contents 1 History 2 Chapters and colonies 3 Notable alumni 3.1 Arts and entertainment 3.2 Business 3.3 Government, military and politics 3.4 Science and technology 3.5 Sports 4 External links

[edit] History

In 1864, Rensselaer was trying to rebuild. The Civil War threatened the future existence of the institution. The collar factories, for which Troy was famous, nearly all closed down.

All of the Theta Xi founders, Peter Henry Fox, Ralph Gooding Packard, Christopher Champlin Waite, George Bradford Brainerd, Samuel Buel Jr., Henry Harrison Farnum, Thomas Cole Raymond, and Nathaniel Henry Starbuck, were members of Sigma Delta, a local fraternity.

Debates formed a regular part of the fraternity meetings, with topics such as “Genius is more necessary in the pursuits of science than in the pursuit of art,” “The use of tobacco is injurious,” and “The rum barrel is more potent then the gun barrel.” Dissension in the ranks of Sigma Delta led to the Theta Xi founding fathers forming their own secret society.

In 1962, after talks between representatives of Kappa Sigma Kappa and Theta Xi, it was concluded that a merger would prove beneficial for both organizations. On August 20, 1962, 21 chapters of Kappa Sigma Kappa were merged into Theta Xi.

[edit] Chapters and colonies

Theta Xi has 55 active chapters with 5 colonies.

Alpha - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Gamma - Stevens Institute of Technology Delta - Massachusetts Institute of Technology Eta - Lehigh University Theta - Purdue University Iota - Washington University in St. Louis Kappa - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Mu - Iowa State University Nu - University of California, Berkeley Omicron - University of Pennsylvania Pi - Carnegie Mellon University Rho - University of Texas - Austin Sigma - University of Michigan Tau - Stanford University Upsilon - University of Washington Chi - Ohio State University Omega - Washington State University Alpha Alpha - Louisiana State University Alpha Beta - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Alpha Epsilon - University of Nebraska Alpha Eta - University of Colorado at Boulder Alpha Iota - Kansas State University Alpha Nu - University of Southern California Alpha Omicron Colony - University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alpha Sigma - Bradley University Alpha Psi - University of Missouri–Rolla Beta Alpha - Georgia Institute of Technology Beta Delta - Southern Illinois University Beta Epsilon - University of California, Davis Beta Pi Colony - Southeastern Louisiana University

Beta Xi - University of New Orleans Beta Sigma - California University of Pennsylvania Beta Upsilon - Slippery Rock University Beta Omega - Virginia Tech Gamma Alpha - Shepherd University Gamma Beta - Florida Institute of Technology Gamma Epsilon - Southeast Missouri State University Gamma Eta - Nicholls State University Gamma Theta - Lake Superior State University Gamma Iota - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Gamma Kappa - University of Illinois at Chicago Gamma Lambda - Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Gamma Mu - Montclair State University Gamma Nu - University of Delaware Gamma Xi - Monmouth University Gamma Pi - University of North Carolina, Pembroke Gamma Sigma - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Gamma Tau - Texas Tech Gamma Upsilon - Greensboro College Kappa Gamma - Fairmont State University Kappa Iota - Henderson State University Kappa Kappa - Ball State University Theta Colony - Western Illinois University Kappa Omicron - Lenoir-Rhyne College Kappa Sigma - Kettering University Kappa Tau - West Virginia Wesleyan College Kappa Phi - Western Carolina University Kappa Chi Colony - Lawrence Technological University Arizona State Colony - Arizona State University

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Arts and entertainment

• Jim Davis (Kappa Kappa 159), creator of Garfield comic strip
• Bruce Davison, Golden Globe-winning actor
• Buddy De Sylva, Oscar-nominated composer, producer, and executive
• Henderson Forsythe, Tony award-winning actor and one of the actors who has played Colonel Sanders for KFC
• Robert LaHendro (Bob), director 1968-79, All in the Family; 1974-75 Good Times; 1974-75 That’s My Mama; 1975-79 Welcome Back Kotter; 1979 Detective School; 1980, Flo; 1984-90 Santa Barbara
• Charles Lederer, film screenwriter, Tony award double winner, producer
• Jack Lindquist, former president of Disneyland (1990-1994)
• Dudley Nichols, Oscar-winning screenwriter
• Charles Pratt, Jr., TV executive & co-executive producer for Melrose Place
• Carl Ragsdale, Oscar-winning director/producer & pioneer in TV commercials and underwater filming
• Loren Sitomer, (Alpha Zeta 1404), former child actor
• Rick Telles (Alpha Zeta 804), producer of MTV’s The Real World, Road Rules, Making the Band, Fear; WB’s The Surreal Life'. His filmography includes: 1983-1985 Loving; 1989 Ghettoblaster; 1987 Fatal Beauty; 1995-1997 The City; 2005 The Shar Jackson Show

[edit] Business

• Robert J. Gordon (Eta 607), business author

[edit] Government, military and politics

• Major William H. Wiley (Alpha 11, 1st President of the Grand Lodge), Major in the Union Army during the Civil War and United States Representative from New Jersey

[edit] Science and technology

• Charles Hayden (Delta 24), MIT's Charles Hayden Memorial Library and the Boston Museum of Science's Charles Hayden Planetarium are named after him
• Edwin Armstrong, inventor and the Father of FM Radio
• Allen B. DuMont (Alpha 349), American scientist and inventor
• Frederick Winslow Taylor (Gamma), Father of Scientific Management
• James S. Voss (Beta Zeta 312), Astronaut

[edit] Sports

• Al Brosky (Alpha Beta 563), Illinois safety and member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Tom Dickens Yale college football player, All-American first-team selection in both 1920 and 1921.
• Stan Sczurek (Theta 706), offensive lineman at Purdue and a professional linebacker was The Boilermakers’ team captain in 1961, he was an All-Big 10 first-teamer and received All-American mention. He played in the East-West Shrine Game and Hula Bowl before becoming a fourth-round draft choice for the Cleveland Browns. Purdue LB—Cleveland Browns, 1963-1965; New York Giants, 1966; Akron Vulcans, 1967
• Jerry Tagge (Alpha Epsilon 916), American and Canadian football quarterback
• Bobby Thomas (Alpha Epsilon 891), an All-Big 8 selection in 1975 and 1976, who played in the Fiesta and Bluebonnet Bowls.
• Len Wilson (Theta 692), is remembered yearly by the Purdue football program, which awards a trophy in his honor to the most unselfish and dedicated player. He won the team’s 1957 award as its best defensive back, led it in kickoff returns in 1958 and played in the Blue-Gray Game. Wilson was drafted by the Steelers and played for Saskatchewan in the CFL in 1960. Purdue DB—Saskatchewan Roughriders, 1960
• Steve Wright (football) (Alpha Lambda 430), played on Sugar Bowl and Peach Bowl teams, Green Bay first-round pick in 1964.

[edit] External links

• Theta Xi National Headquarters

North-American Interfraternity Conference

Acacia  • Alpha Chi Rho  • Alpha Delta Gamma  • Alpha Delta Phi  • Alpha Epsilon Pi  • Alpha Gamma Rho  • Alpha Gamma Sigma  • Alpha Kappa Lambda  • Alpha Phi Alpha  • Alpha Phi Delta  • Alpha Sigma Phi  • Alpha Tau Omega  • Beta Chi Theta  • Beta Sigma Psi  • Beta Theta Pi  • Chi Phi  • Chi Psi  • Delta Chi  • Delta Kappa Epsilon  • Delta Phi  • Delta Psi  • Delta Sigma Phi  • Delta Tau Delta  • Delta Upsilon  • FarmHouse  • Iota Phi Theta  • Kappa Alpha Order  • Kappa Alpha Psi  • Kappa Alpha Society  • Kappa Delta Phi  • Kappa Delta Rho  • Lambda Chi Alpha  • Lambda Phi Epsilon  • Lambda Sigma Upsilon  • Lambda Theta Phi  • Order of Omega  • Phi Gamma Delta  • Phi Iota Alpha  • Phi Kappa Psi  • Phi Kappa Sigma  • Phi Kappa Tau  • Phi Kappa Theta  • Phi Lambda Chi  • Phi Mu Delta  • Phi Sigma Kappa  • Phi Sigma Phi  • Pi Kappa Alpha  • Pi Kappa Phi  • Pi Lambda Phi  • Psi Upsilon  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon  • Sigma Alpha Mu  • Sigma Chi  • Sigma Lambda Beta  • Sigma Nu  • Sigma Phi Delta  • Sigma Phi Epsilon  • Sigma Phi Society  • Sigma Pi  • Sigma Tau Gamma  • Tau Delta Phi  • Tau Epsilon Phi  • Tau Kappa Epsilon  • Theta Chi  • Theta Delta Chi  • Theta Xi  • Triangle  • Zeta Beta Tau  • Zeta Psi