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Today, we are asking every Alumni Brother to contribute $20 on a recurring monthly basis to our Association. This, along with our partnership with the undergrads paying rent each month, will allow us to effectively manage the chapter house and our association.
Now is the time for all of us to stand up and do our part - click https://bzcaa.wildapricot.org/Give
Beta Zeta Chapter Founding - May 10, 1959
The first colonization project of the 1958-59 school year was climaxed on May 10, 1959, when the Central State Colony was charted as Beta Zeta chapter.
Appropriately, Beta Zeta, as the 41st active chapter of Sigma Gamma, was installed thirty five years later to the day upon which Zeta chapter at Northeastern State College, Oklahoma, became the fifth chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma. The newest chapter forms a geographical triangle with Zeta at Northeastern and Mu at Southeastern State.
Old North Tower, the first college building at Central, was the setting for the formal initiation for the 28 charter members. The first chapter number was assigned to Daniel A. Boudreau, the first man to be pledged as a member of the colony.
A ritual team from Mu headed by James A. Claxton, chapter President, conducted the initiations, later installing the chapter officers and instructing both officers and members on the ritual of meeting.
Also present for the final degree were Ora D. McClellan, Past President of the Fraternity, Dr. Carl R. Thomas, Alpha ‘24, chairman of Central’s Social Studies Division and first Beta Zeta Graduate Advisor, Dr. Ernest A. Jones, former faculty sponsor of Zeta chapter, now faculty sponsor of Beta Zeta, and Roy S. Bennett, Jr., Chapter Service Secretary.
The installation banquet was held at Royce‘s Café in Edmond, beginning at 6:30 PM. The invocation was given by Beta Zeta Chaplain Mike Simpson. Following the dinner, Secretary Bennett introduced the honored administrative and Fraternity guests seated at the speakers table. Introduced were Dr. W. Max Chambers, President of the college; Dr. Joe C. Jackson, Dean of the college; Charles, H. Richmond, Dean of Men; Dr. Jones; and Dr. Thomas. Each of the faculty representatives expressed sincere words of welcome and congratulations to the new newest chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma.
Following the introduction of representatives of Mu chapter, Brother Claxton presented the traditional president’s gavel to Leonard K. Beason, president of Beta Zeta.
After brief remarks on the history and development of the Central State Colony, Brother Bennett extended a personal challenge to Beta Zeta to justify its chartering to its members and college, and that the chapter prove to be a focal point for continued expansion throughout the remainder of the Oklahoma colleges and universities.
Delivering the featured address of the evening was Past President, McClellan, who reminded those present that the only key to chapter success lies in sufficient chapter membership, which can adequately support a strong, scholastic, athletic, campus activity, social, and housing program.
At the conclusion of his address, Judge McClellan, as member of, and on behalf of the council, presented the Beta Zeta Charter to President Beason.
President Beason, in accepting the charter on behalf of the chapter members, expressed the sincere ambition of Beta Zeta members to prove worthy of the confidence and honor bestowed upon them by Sigma Tau Gamma.
Central State College, home of Beta Zeta chapter, is the oldest state educational institution in Oklahoma. It was established as the Territorial Normal School by the Territorial Legislature on December 24, 1890, and was located in Edmond.
The first classes began on November 8, 1891, the 23 students meeting in the Epworth League Room of the unfurnished building of the first Methodist Church.
Old North Tower, the first campus building, was begun in the summer of 1892 and was occupied January 3, 1893. The school was first opened as a normal school with two years of college work and a complete preparatory school. In 1897 the first class of graduates received their Normal School diplomas, and five men and women were graduated
On December 29, 1919, the State Board of Education passed a resolution raising the rank of Central to that of a four-year teacher’s college and authorized the conferring of the bachelor degrees.
Source: “The Saga of Sigma Tau Gamma”, December 1959, pages 5-6, 16.