Alpha Chi Chapter History

  1. Samuel G. Crawford started process toward petition in the fall of 1890
  2. The petition and petitioners
    1. At the Washington convention the following petitioned for a new chapter in Sigma Chi:
      1. Samuel G. Crawford
      2. Francis John Pond
      3. John Foster
      4. Frederick Dale
      5. Payne Pettiborne Sturdevant
    2. The petition was referred to the Grand Consul
    3. Later two additional petitioners were added:
      1. M. Claude Thompson
      2. William Banks
  3. In early February 1891, Grand Preator McPherson, of the first province, investigated the petitioners and made his report in the March Bulletin.
  4. The Alpha Chi Chapter of Sigma Chi was founded April 22, 1891.
  5. Alpha Chi was installed May 27, 1891 at the Bush House in Bellefonte, Pa. The ceremonies were performed by McPherson with the assistance of the Kappa Chapter, Bucknell.
  6. ΑΧ was Sigma Chi’s 65th chapter and 10th in Pennsylvania.
  7. Houses
    1. The first house was on South Allen Street (1891-1905)
    2. In 1905 a third floor fire destryoed the chapter house
    3. In 1906, the construction of the second house was completed on the corner of Pollock and Burroughs (occupied 1906-1972
  8. M. Lawrence Shields
    1. Consul of ΑΧ in 1919
    2. Captain of the PSU varsity track team in 1920
    3. 1920 Olympic track participant
      1. Won the bronze in the Metric Mile
      2. Won the Gold in the 3000 meter team race
  9. 1920's
    1. Founders Day
    2. Christmas Initiation Banquet
    3. Founder's Day Banquet
    4. The house on the corner of Prospect and Garner built in 1928
  10. 1935 - $7,000 mortgage on second house paid off
  11. 1950's
    1. ΑΧ's participated in Varsity Football and Wrestling
    2. Wrestlers:
      1. Joe Lemyre - 1952 Eastern Champion 167lbs
      2. Dick Lemyre - 1952-1954 Eastern Champion 130lbs (PSU's first three time champ)
    3. 1955 ΑΧ successfully kidnapped Navy's Mascot (a Billy Goat)
    4. ΑΧ sponsored the Marine Corps band in Rec Hall
    5. The first Derby Days was held and is now the longest running philanthropy
  12. 1972 - ΑΧ moved into third house after second house was condemned
  13. 1979 - The first Derby Dash was held
  14. 1984
    1. A second floor room aws gutted by a fire, April 14th
      1. Extensive smoke damage and safety problems resulted in a new back fire stairwell to be constructed
      2. ΑΧ wins Greek Week April 15
      3. Mark Polinski elected first Homecoming King in the history of PSU
  15. 1986
    1. Marc Silverbush was elected Homecoming King
    2. Sigma Chi wins the overall Homecoming trophy
  16. 1987 - Doug Farber elected Homecoming King
  17. 1988 - ΑΧ wins first place in Greek Games
  18. 1989
    1. James Hinze earns Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ)
    2. Harvey Lee is the Penn State Mic-Man
  19. 1994 - Bursted pipes over winter break cause extensive damage throughout the house
  20. 1996 - Gerardo Jimenez elected Homecoming King
  21. 1997 - Won Spring Week with Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ)
  22. 1999
    1. Mike Ling elected IFC President
    2. Won Omega Epsilon (ΩΕ) Trophy
  23. 2000 - Won Spring Week with Alpha Phi (ΑΦ)
  24. 1998-2000 - Won Peterson Award
  25. 2001 - 110 Anniversary at Penn State