News

Published: September 25, 2013

Happy 105th Installation Anniversary to the undergraduate and alumni brothers of Delta Chapter at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Open and Active since September 25, 1908! Delta Chapter was the first chapter to receive its charter from the Grand Chapter.

 

In early 1907, a small group of men formed friendships at RPI and set a goal to petition a national fraternity, selecting a small national fraternity by the name of Theta Chi. One of the prominent members of this small group was Frederick W. Ladue, who transferred to Colgate University while the petition at RPI was being considered by Theta Chi's newly established Grand Chapter. After transferring to Colgate, Ladue would take the lead in establishing what would become the Iota Chapter of Theta Chi. Ladue would later serve as our National President and Executive Director!

Delta Chapter produced such Theta Chi stalwart leaders such as George V. Catuna (1913) and Earl D. "Dusty" Rhodes who both served as National President - with Rhodes serving as National President 3 different decades and also as President of the National Board of Trustees! Delta's F.W. Kurtz (1913) and C.C. Finch (1914) wrote and composed our Fraternity Anthem, "It is to Thee, Dear Old Theta Chi".

"Dusty" Rhodes would later serve as the President of the National Interfraternity Council (North-American Fraternity Conference) and received the NIC Gold Medal, the highest award in the interfraternity world, in 1971.

Congratulations to Delta Chapter at RPI!