250,000 Members and Counting
by Lynn Chipperfield • June 2006 • 6 Comments •
On April 28, 2006, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity reached another significant milestone when it initiated its 250,000th member.
A Father’s Perspective
Gene George (Texas A&M-Commerce 1972)
As a parent and alumnus, I was very proud to be present at my son’s initiation. I also was a little anxious, as I had not witnessed an initiation ritual in more than 30 years.
Originally, I was surprised when my strong-minded, intelligent, hardworking, ethical, thoughtful, and opinionated child expressed an interest in joining the same unique fraternity his father had joined.
But when I observed my son’s dedicated approach to the associate process, and watched him complete the same ritual initiation I went through, I found it very rewarding, thought-provoking, and even a bit overwhelming.
It was an honor to be able to witness the 250,000th member initiated, as well as the 1,400th for the chapter. I appreciated observing how well the members handled the ceremony and respected the associate members.
The reason my son selected this path and responsibility are centered in the foundations and creeds with which we are all familiar.
It is very clear to me that the Fraternity’s basic principles and ideals are alive and well. I know now that these ideals will be furthered and enhanced by the hard-working actives I met at the Alpha-Phi chapter, including my son, Taylor George (Alabama 2009), the 250,000th initiate.
In an evening ceremony conducted by the brothers of Alpha-Phi Zeta at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, eight associates were initiated, including Taylor George (Alabama 2009) who was designated as the 250,000th member. George’s father, Gene George (Texas A&M-Commerce 1972), attended the ceremony along with a number of alumni.
The General Fraternity’s Grand High Pi Lynn Chipperfield (Drury 1973) also attended the event to deliver the ritual’s exemplification narration, to recognize this important milestone, and to congratulate the new members.
Bobby Ray Hicks (Alabama 1959), former Grand High Alpha, attended the event as well. Significantly, Hicks had been in attendance for the initiation of the Fraternity’s 200,000th member while he was serving as Grand High Alpha in 1992.
Hicks presented George with a gold lapel pin bearing the Fraternity’s coat of arms –- a pin Hicks has cherished since his own initiation. Hicks promised those in attendance that he plans to attend the initiation of number 300,000 as well, which he is sure will be in the near future.
On November 2, 1909, Lambda Chi Alpha was little more than the dream of a single determined man named Warren A. Cole (Boston 1909). Through his own force of will, months and years of hard work, and a fertile imagination that brings reality to the expression “fake it ’til you make it,” Cole built the foundation for a brotherhood that would last far beyond his lifetime.
With inspirational help from early brothers like Jack Mason (Pennsylvania 1913), and administrative help from later brothers like Bruce H. McIntosh (DePauw 1916) and Duke Flad (Wittenberg 1940), Lambda Chi Alpha has grown and prospered through the years to become a true force in the Greek world.
Lambda Chi Alpha is not the largest Greek organization in terms of the total number of initiates, but then we are not the oldest either. Our 1909 founding reveals us to be a relative newcomer among those of our competition founded in the mid-nineteenth century.
Nevertheless, our records reflect that we have grown from zero members to 250,000 members faster than any of our tier-one competitors. That’s something Cole would find impressive, and it’s something we can all be proud of.
Ulysses Lee Says:
June 2nd, 2006 at 3:48 pmI’ve been working on making all the bros proud by developing the breakdance culture into a respectable business. Wish me leadership and a article in the months to come.
from love,
Ulysses Lee
phi epi 466
David DeVilllier Says:
June 2nd, 2006 at 9:21 pmCongrats to all. As for Bobby Ray, he will be here for the 500,000 initiation ceremony. Love you dear friend.
In ZAX,
David DeVillier
Upsilon 800 (and looking forward to my grandson being Upsilon 3000.)
Bobby Ray Hicks Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 5:48 pmYou blow my horn too much. I was just pleased to be there and witness such a signal moment in our history.
In ZAX
Bobby Ray Hicks
William A Tew,Jr Says:
June 12th, 2006 at 5:22 pmI searched in vain through this publication for any information about any of Gamma Theta Zeta’s who might have been mentioned as alumni from Duke University and found nothing. Did I not search correctly? I know that there is no longer a chapter at Duke, but doesn’t the National continue to publish info about those alumni?
Gamma Theta 581 Bill Tew
Tad Lichtenauer Says:
June 13th, 2006 at 3:21 pmDear Brother Tew:
Thanks for your comment. A chapter’s status has no bearing in regard to if alumni news and reports of death are published or not published in the Cross & Crescent. If you have any news about alumni from Gamma Theta Zeta, please submit it to us at editor@lambdachi.org) and we will most certainly consider it for publication in an upcoming issue.
As you know, we recently made the very difficult financial decision to publish the Cross & Crescent as a monthly, on-line publication only and within the past eight months since that time you are correct that there have not been any Chapter News entries for Duke.
Tad Lichtenauer
Asst. Editor, Cross & Crescent
gene george Says:
June 24th, 2006 at 10:30 pmAttending the 250,000th ceremony was an honor, a priviledge, and a re-education. It was impressive to hear the delivery by Lynn Chipperfield and in this context humbling to meet Bobby Ray Hicks (whose respectful gesture was heart felt and will not be soon forgotten by either of the George’s–and will be protected).
Thank you. Also, thank you for including my edited note along with your article.
**Please make or post one house keeping item for posterity (please update your records)—I was initiated into Lambda Chi Alpha during 68/69 era via the then Iota Kappa zeta of East Texas State University (aka Texas A&M-Commerce). That chapter has since closed but was at that time a very good stable and “progressive” chapter, made up of good young men preceded by strong alumni (a time and people I have not forgotten). However, I left ETSU/IK as a sophmore transferring to Southern Methodist University where I completed my undergraduate education with a BBA in 1972.
Gene George (IK222)