“A Century of Brotherhood”
Presented by the Brothers of the Tau Tau Chapter - December 15, 2004

The Founding

Forty eight years after the founding of the first chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, the Tau Tau chapter was founded at Washington University in St. Louis. The official founding date is May 4, 1903, and the installing chapter was the Kappa Kappa chapter at the University of Illinois. A group of nine undergraduates at Washington University, who at the time were members of an organization known as the Egyptian Club, are the chapter’s founding fathers. These men include Fred Armstrong, Jr., Alva C. Trueblood, Winans Horner, Tom P. Moore, William Hall, James S. Martin, Norman Rehm, Erle Birkner, and Herbert Schroeder. Ironically, the founders originally petitioned for a charter from Delta Kappa Epsilon, the fraternity from which the seven Founders of Sigma Chi broke away from. However, as the legend goes, William Hall “set them straight” and persuaded them to apply for the Sigma Chi charter.

The Early 20th Century

While we don’t know much about the earliest years of Tau Tau’s existence, we do know that the foresight, dedication, and hard work of the founders carried on long after their graduation. For example, by the twentieth anniversary of the chapter’s founding (1923), membership had tripled. By 1928, the chapter had grown to forty four active members. Also, in 1926, plans to construct the chapter house were created. At the current time, the house was one floor, but contained plans to build-up the house to what we see today. These additions were completed roughly thirty years later, in 1955. The additions celebrated the 100th year anniversary of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, which was founded on June 28, 1855. One brother whose legend has lived on to the present day on account of the building of the chapter house is Sherman Senne, class of 1925. While known for many other accomplishments, including his induction into the Order of Constantine (discussed later), Senne is most noted by Tau Tau brothers for signing both fifty-year leases for the chapter house. These signings represented the beginnings of what we now know as the House Corporation, the organization that owned and maintained the house until it was sold to the University at the turn of the twenty first century.

One of the greatest accomplishments of the Tau Tau chapter came in 1930. During this year, the national Fraternity established the Balfour Award. This is an honor awarded to the Fraternity’s most outstanding undergraduate. Candidates from all chapters around the nation compete on four key criteria, which includes: 1) Chapter involvement, 2) Academic and non-academic awards and honors, 3) Campus and community involvement, and 4) A personal statement. In 1930, the first Balfour Award was presented to Paul Hageman, class of 1934 at Washington University and brother in the Tau Tau chapter of Sigma Chi.

Another distinguished brother from the 1930’s includes George P. Wallis, class of 1939. As of 2002, Mr. Wallis was still Chairman of the Wallis Printing Company and President of Cancer Society. He exudes his passion for tennis as co-founder of the Coosa Valley Tennis Association and has had a tennis center named for him. Mr. Wallis is also the co-founder of the National Creative Society, a nonprofit corporation that administers and funds activities fostering creative expression by young people. The organization’s mission is “…to enhance, support and recognize the ability of young people to communicate through pictures, poetry, prose, performance, and thus stimulate a feeling of self-worth.”1

1940 – 1990

Like most fraternities during the beginning of this era, the Tau Tau chapter faced tough times as ever increasing numbers of undergraduates entered the military service during World War II. In 1940, total membership in the chapter totaled fifty one. By 1943, this number had diminished to nineteen. Although the chapter was depleted in membership, it maintained its high standards for initiation into the chapter. The brothers were committed to only accepting the best undergraduates, so much so that they preferred a chapter with a small number of brothers who were committed to the Fraternity’s ideals to a larger chapter with members who didn’t meet the requirements of initiatives set forth by the national Fraternity. In fact, the brothers of the chapter issued a statement regarding this issue in the 1944 Washington University yearbook. The brothers wrote, “We realize fraternities are taking a beating in this war, but we assure ourselves that the need for good fraternities is so great that we will and are redoubling our efforts to make our existence worthwhile. We look to the future with confidence and to the past with satisfaction.”

Even during these rough times, the chapter thrived in various aspects of campus life. For example, during the 1944 academic year, the chapter’s football, basketball and baseball intramural teams all went undefeated. Also, the chapter continued to provide philanthropic services, as it hosted its annual “Orphan’s Party”, which benefited a local orphanage.

By the early 1950’s, the effects of the war on chapter membership were over and the chapter had grown substantially. Membership was boosted greatly in 1956, when the chapter welcomed in a large pledge class. The result was a chapter of seventy two brothers in 1957. Coupled with a strong pledge class in 1956 was the chapter’s first mascot, a bulldog named Pat. The chapter separated itself from the other fraternities, as it was the only one with a mascot. The 1950’s was a great decade for Tau Tau, as members of the chapter truly exemplified the ideals of Sigma Chi as they excelled academically and in extra-curricular activities. During 1953, brothers were heavily active in varsity sports, including football, basketball and baseball. Other activities in which brothers participated included Bearskin Follies, the Quad Show, Student Senate, Student Advertising Bureau, Tau Beta Pi, Thurtene, and Lock and Chain. In 1959, the chapter acquired a few first place awards in campus wide competitions. Included in these first place finishes were the overall Thurtene carnival winner, with teammate Delta Gamma, and the Homecoming Float Competition. Pride was also brought to the chapter in 1959 as both the President of Student Senate and the President of Tau Beta Pi were members of the chapter.

The 1960’s and 1970’s were a time of change for society, and Tau Tau was not untouched by the dynamic environment. Issues such as diversity, the Vietnam War, drugs, and political activism were at the forefront of discussion both within the chapter and amongst the student body in general. The issue of diversity was extremely prominent amongst the brothers, as the chapter heavily debated whether or not African Americans should be allowed to be brothers. Eventually, in the mid 1970’s, the chapter accepted its first African American brother. Brother Paul Faust, who was chapter advisor at the time, recalls a strong push towards diversity from the chapter’s current undergraduates, even though this path widely deviated from that of the National Fraternity’s. Faust recounts a time when he took an African American brother of the Tau Tau chapter to Grand Chapter in Indianapolis in 1975.

“Indianapolis was the home of a famous Sigma Chi named Harry Wade. Harry Wade who had died a few years before was huge in Indianapolis, his home. Harry Wade’s position was there will never be a black Sigma Chi. [Laughter] And I walk into Grand Chapter with Clyde, and I don’t have a clue. Oh my God. [More Laughter] And I get alumni pulling me aside, saying “do you know what you’re doing Paul?” What do you mean what am I doing? And then they tell me this Harry Wade story and Indianapolis is the hot one of requiring a picture. For a long time we required a picture to, before headquarters would accept you as a member. If in the picture, there was some people they didn’t accept as a member. It was called the white clause if you will. Well anyway, the white clause had been gone for years when this had occurred, but geez I had no idea what I was doing, what was happening and so on. Clyde and I and my wife had the best time ever. We did. Well the guys, you should have seen it, from Mississippi and all down South. I don’t know what they thought. They gathered around Clyde, they gave him eighty seven questions. I mean in the nicest way, nothing bad about it at all. I think they were really curious. Holy crap. Maybe, we been discriminating all this time for nothing. I mean here’s a nice guy who’s a brother. Now what are you going to say? But oh, I had no idea. For years, I got chided from alumni from Indianapolis, oh my god what is St. Louis going to bring us next time.”2

This mid 1900’s also produced a number of successful Tau Tau alumni. Harold W. Neusitz Jr., class of 1948, is now the owner of Allied Builders Corp., an architectural and general contracting company. He is a member of the Masons and the Vice President of the Algonquin Golf Club. John Robinson, class of 1959, recently retired from ABB (Westinghouse) in 2001 and is now a member of the boards of the Triangle United Way and Triangle Red Cross. From the class of 1964 is Chester G. Moore III, who is now an attorney at Low, Ball & Lynch. He is a member of the San Carlos Planning Commission and San Carlos Children’s Theater Board of Directors. Mr. Moore helped found the Zeta Kappa Chapter of Sigma Chi at the University of California-Santa Barbara in 1962 and served as its second Consul (President). Mr. Moore is also a Life Loyal Sig. From 1965 is Philip D. Robers, who just retired from his position as Global Director of supply chain for Cap Gemini Ernst & Young.

Arguably the most successful Tau Tau alumnus, with regard to accomplishment within and service to the Sigma Chi Fraternity is Paul Faust, class of 1964. Brother Faust served as chapter advisor for fifteen years, from 1975-1980, attending approximately ten leadership conferences and workshops during the same time period. He also was the President of the St. Louis Alumni Chapter from 1975-1992, serving as the Chapter Delegate at four Grand Chapters. From 1980-1985, Brother Faust served on the Fraternity’s Executive Council as Grand Praetor. For all his service, Brother Faust has earned numerous awards, both on the national level and at the undergraduate chapter level. Included in these awards are two LeClergs Chapter Advisor Awards (1980 & 1981), two Grand Consul Citations (Swede, 1981 & Beauchamp, 2003), two Don Ward Community Service Awards (1980 & 1981) and the Alumni Distinguished Service Award 1990. However, Faust received his most significant tribute when he was inducted into the Order of Constantine in 2004, the highest award a brother in the Sigma Chi Fraternity can receive.

The Order of Constantine was created in 1948 to recognize members who had performed exemplary service to the Fraternity. The Order is similar to the Fraternity’s Significant Sig award, which recognizes brothers who have achieved outstanding distinction within their professional lives. However, the Order of Constantine focuses solely on a brother’s service within the Fraternity. The Order normally considers brothers who have been graduated for twenty years, and inducts a maximum of fourteen brothers each year. It is a great honor for the Tau Tau chapter to have four alumni inducted into this prestigious Order, they are:

1. Sherman Senne ‘25

2. John (Jack) Chapin Jr. ’55 also a Significant Sig and son of John Chapin ‘23

3. William Robinson ’59 also a Significant Sig

4. Paul Faust ’64

The Significant Sig Award is given to members for their outstanding accomplishments outside the Fraternity. In addition to the above mentioned brothers, the following have received this award:

1. Harry Cheshire ‘42/’47

2. Mike Peters ’65, Pulitzer prize winning cartoonist, who went on to create the legendary stories of Mother Goose & Grim.

The Tau Tau chapter experienced a great deal during the fifty year span between 1940 and 1990. During this time, the chapter survived the effects of WWII, broke down racial barriers, dealt with alcohol and drug issues, and continued to engage in a wide range of campus activities. For an unknown reason, chapter membership had declined by 1970. In the early 1970’s, membership hovered around forty five active brothers. However, by 1987, the number of brothers had increased again to fifty eight. While adapting to varying levels of membership and societal changes, Tau Tau continued to strive for the ideals of the Fraternity and had become an integral part of the University’s campus life.

1990 – Present

The chapter began the 1990’s on a good note by winning the Peterson Award in 1991. This is one of eight Peterson Awards the chapter has won. The Peterson Award is the highest award an undergraduate chapter can receive. The award recognizes excellent performance by chapters in all major aspects of chapter operation and programming. Undergraduate chapters are evaluated on criteria such as financial stability, recruitment, community service, grade point average, and ritual and initiation performance. During the decade, the chapter continued to support the Fraternity’s national charity, the Children’s Miracle Network, through its annual Derby Days celebration. This event was one week long and included a wide range of the student body in various forms of fundraising for the Children’s Miracle Network. The chapter also participated heavily in the University’s Thurtene Carnival, varsity sports, and student clubs and organizations.

In 2001, the chapter experienced some difficult times as it ran into trouble with University administration. However, members continued to strive for the Fraternity’s ideals and continued to try to improve the chapter. In 2003, Tau Tau celebrated its 100th year anniversary grandly. The chapter hosted a weekend celebration in which alumni flew in from all over the country. Also in attendance was Grand Consul Lee Beauchamp, who awarded Active Alex Lovshin and Alumnus Paul Faust with Consul Citations for their work on the anniversary celebration. Also during 2003, the chapter participated in several philanthropic events, including Relay For Life, the Thurtene Carnival Road Race, and multiple fraternity and sorority events. After some more trouble with the University and the National Fraternity in the beginning of 2004, the Tau Tau chapter began the 2004-2005 school year with more vigor and determination than ever to regain the chapter’s reputation and prestige. Tau Tau’s most successful event in 2004 was its participation in a Memory Walk, a philanthropic event which benefited people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The Tau Tau chapter has had a long and lustrous life at Washington University, but not without a few blemishes. The chapter has produced several very successful Alumni, in regard to both professional excellence and Fraternity service. Through community service, philanthropic, social and athletic events, the chapter has made an overall positive impact on undergraduate life at Washington University over the past one hundreds years. Tau Tau now faces a challenge to regain a reputation for excellence and to make decisions which will allow the chapter to prosper for another one hundred years. The chapter is proud of its history and accomplishments and looks forward to its opportunities to succeed in the future.