On December 4, 1922, nine students at the University of Nevada organized a Fraternity called Phi Gamma with the ideals of character, fraternity and scholarship. They wrote that they "seek men who are active and who are good fellows." After some successful years as a local fraternity, the men decided to petition a national organization, and ultimately Phi Gamma became the Iota Chapter of Beta Kappa Fraternity on May 9, 1925.
When Beta Kappa Fraternity made the decision to merge with Theta Chi, their Iota Chapter became our Beta Phi Chapter, installed on October 31, 1942. In total, 16 Beta Kappa chapters were installed as Theta Chi chapters between May 8 and Dec. 12, 1942. At that time, the merger made Theta Chi the 11th largest fraternity among the 59 members of the [North-American Interfraternity Conference]. Beta Phi Chapter initiated more than 350 members during its run of nearly three decades before it became inactive in January 1971.
Forty years later, two juniors at the University of Nevada, Reno, Kyle Fleury and Kyle Yamauchi, set out to reestablish Theta Chi’s Beta Phi Chapter at the campus. Inspired by the stories from Kyle’s father (Theodore Fleury, Delta Pi/Indiana State 1980) about his involvement with Theta Chi, the two decided to contact International Headquarters about forming an interest group in October 2011.
On Oct. 20, 2012, Theta Chi welcomed 21 pledges to the Beta Phi Colony. As a colony, the members participated in the Adopt-a-Park program at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park and worked to assure that the park grounds and facilities are clean for community use. They also held a “Hugs and Kisses with Theta Chi” event to raise money for the Reno Women’s Shelter, and invited speakers to campus to educate students on topics related to the Sacred Purpose Initiative.
The members were also active in campus and Greek Life activities such as Delta Gamma’s “Anchor Splash,” Tri Delta’s “Frats at Bat,” and Delta Sigma Pi’s “Mr. GQ,” and Greek Week and the University of Nevada’s “Wolf Trot.”
On May 18, 2014, 33 men were initiated into the Beta Phi Chapter in a ceremony held at the Harry Reid Engineering Building. National President, Dick Elder presided.
In attendance were National Vice President Bill Palmer and International Headquarters staff members Joe Macko, Assistant Director of Recruitment and Expansion and Tyrone Brooks, Recruitment and Expansion Specialist.
The original Beta Phi Chapter was also represented. Bruce Krater, Beta Phi/Nevada 1952, was initiated on February 26, 1950. Brother Krater had previously met the new undergraduate members: Members of the colony had celebrated his 84th birthday in April and presented him with a gift and an invitation to the reinstallation of Beta Phi.
Undergraduate and Alumni brothers of Beta Phi. Bruce Krater, Beta Phi/Nevada 1952, is pictured at center.
Chief Peter J. Mulvihill, Epsilon/WPI 1978, a Nevada State Fire Marshal, was also in attendance. Chief Mulvihill is currently serving as Beta Phi's Health and Safety Adviser.
Theta Chi fathers Theodore Fleury and Wayne Hauptman Jr., Eta Omega/Chico State 1990, were on hand to pin their sons Kyle Fleury and Lucas Hauptman.
“I am extremely gratified and relieved that Beta Phi finally received its charter,” said Chapter President, Kyle Sproul. “The brothers of this chapter have worked extremely hard to reach this point and everyone's collective efforts are a good sign for the chapter moving forward. None of this could have been a possibility without the love and support Brother Tyrone Brooks showed towards Beta Phi, and it was a true pleasure to have our very own National President preside our initiation,” he said.
“I have great pride in seeing Beta Phi reestablished at UNR,” said Kyle Fleury, former Colony President. “It was a dream of mine since I was a freshman to start Theta Chi on campus. But more than that I have tremendous gratitude towards all the brothers who made it a reality, who gave their time and money and stayed with it even when times were rough, and accomplished more than I could've ever imagined was possible,” he continued.
In a luncheon that followed, guest speakers Wayne Hauptman, Theodore Fluery, Kyle Fleury, Kyle Sproul, Tyrone Brooks, Bill Palmer and Dick Elder took to the podium.
Looking forward, Beta Phi Chapter President Kyle Sproul had this to say.
“Moving forward Beta Phi hopes to bring a positive new influence to campus,” said Sproul. “Beta Phi takes pride in Sacred Purpose and hopes to cause such an impact that other organizations on campus move towards adoption of the Health and Safety initiative. Plans to promote awareness events each month are on the agenda for Beta Phi. Hopes of a home for the chapter are becoming more of a reality, as the chapter adamantly is seeking a permanent residence for the fraternity.”
Kyle Fleury has similar hopes for the chapter.
“I hope to return in 20, 30, even 50 years and see Beta Phi thriving as the top house on campus with great men, a strong influence in the community, and know that we left a legacy of brotherhood and an assisting hand on campus that is bigger than any of us individually,” said Fleury. “My short term hope for the chapter is a to continue growing and move in to a real chapter house within a few years. No matter what, the group has already made me extremely proud by regaining the charter,” he said.
The University of Nevada, Reno was founded in 1874 as the State University of Nevada in Elko, Nev., about 300 miles northeast of the present-day campus. The location proved to be impractical because half of the state's residents lived in the Reno-Carson City area. In 1885, the move of the University from Elko to Reno was approved. Today the university has a student population of more than 18,277 and a Greek population consisting of 15 fraternities and 10 sororities.