The History of Epsilon Phi Chapter

Our Beginnings: Alpha Tau Delta

Alpha Tau Delta Fraternity was founded on February 18, 1965 at Louisiana State University for the expressed purpose of affiliation with Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Recognizing the reality that Alpha Tau Delta might become a vehicle for other Delt chapters, the local fraternity named itself the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Tau Delta. On April 2, 1966, Alpha Tau Delta realized its goal of being established as Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.

Thomas Simpson Sharp, Epsilon Kappa 1, an alumnus of Epsilon Kappa, came to Southeastern Louisiana College to form Beta Chapter of Alpha Tau Delta and be its first Chapter Advisor.

Following the same model as he used at Epsilon Kappa, Tom brought together a group of local men to begin the process of connecting with the national fraternity. Tom’s brother Michael Sharp, a Southeastern student, formed a “nucleus group” consisting of himself, Robert A. Pollock, John W. Gautier, Stephen C. Sledge and Lee Davis Simpson. Lee was stricken with cancer and passed away before the fraternity could become a full chapter of Delta Tau Delta. It s indeed fitting that the chapter should memorialize his memory with the annual presentation of the Lee Davis Simpson Memorial Award to the undergraduate member who best exemplifies the courageous attributes of our deceased brother.

These men set about building Beta Chapter of Alpha Tau Delta. After recruiting more like minded undergraduates the chapter was chartered on May 5, 1967, at Southeastern Louisiana College with Frank Bellavia, Ron Clark, Michael DuBois, David Bert Gray, John William Gautier, Robert Allen Pollock, William Quinn, Jack Strange Rome, Michael Raymond Sharp, and Stephen C. Sledge becoming founding fathers.
The Beta Chapter grew quickly and within a month Southeastern recognized this group as a fraternity on its campus. In that same semester the fraternity maintained the highest scholastic average among campus fraternities.

Throughout the next year the chapter continued to strengthen its programs and membership, and by the spring of 1968 a need for a house was apparent. Under the guidance of two local Delt alumni Henry Mentz and Wiley Sharp (brother of Tom and Mike), a house was acquired and extensively remodeled.

In the fall of 1968, the chapter was granted colony status by the Arch Chapter of Delta Tau Delta. With this new impetus, the colony grew bigger and by February of 1969 the necessary criteria had been met and approval for a charter was granted. On April 12, 1969, Epsilon Phi Chapter of Delta Tau Delta was established at Southeastern Louisiana University.

OUR REALIZATION: EPSILON PHI CHAPTER

Epsilon Phi became the third Delt chapter in Louisiana. The fall of 1969 was the chapter’s first formal rush period as a full chapter. The new chapter captured the IFC football championship, took first place honors in the Homecoming Parade and first in scholarship again. In the spring semester, the Delts were eager for more trophies. The chapter went on to take third place in track, second in basketball and third in baseball. That was more than enough to be awarded the campus All-Sports Trophy.

In the early 1970’s Epsilon Phi worked hard to bring together all facets of its chapter operations. The brothers had established a steady success rate in the areas of scholarship and athletics on the Southeastern campus. There was, however, the usual struggle with finances and rush.

The brothers had established a steady success rate in the areas of scholarship and athletics on the Southeastern campus.

In 1973, Paul LeBlanc, President of Epsilon Phi, set forth on a mission to have the chapter recognized as one of the finest in Delta Tau Delta. His mission was successful, as Epsilon Phi earned its first Hugh Shields Award for chapter Excellence at the Southern Division Conference the next spring.

Membership increased and a need for a larger meeting area became a priority. In 1974, a downstairs addition to the Shelter was made possible through alumni contributions and a loan from the fraternity. It provided the chapter with extra meeting space and a larger kitchen, allowing for weekly meals. At those weekly get-togethers, actives and pledges were able to spend more time with one another and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood.

The chapter worked steadily to keep its momentum, and as the end of the 1970’s approached, the chapter reviewed its accomplishments. Nine straight Delt Day trophies headed an impressive list of accomplishments. Delt Day was an annual day of competition among the then four Delt chapters in Louisiana.

Epsilon Phi found itself at the forefront of the Greek system at Southeastern. The hard work continued into the 1980’s. Another Hugh Shield award was bestowed upon the chapter in 1981. Epsilon Phi created the Charity Bowl, a football game between Greeks and non-Greeks to raise money for a local charity. Throughout the next few years Epsilon Phi increased its ever-present commitment to community service by raising thousands of dollars for various charities. In the late 1980’s Epsilon Phi implemented a new philanthropic endeavor, Adopt-a-School, whereby our members provided tutoring services for a local elementary school We were obviously not alone in or belief that this was a worthwhile cause because in the mid 1990’s the International Fraternity chose Adopt-a-School as its world-wide philanthropy.

During the 1980’s the chapter won campus-wide awards for academics, service and athletics. Our chapter won the award for Outstanding Student Organization and several of our members took home the award for Outstanding Male Greek and Outstanding Male Student. As the decade came to a close, it was obvious that the dedication and commitment of the members during the formative years of Epsilon Phi had created an incredible foundation for its newer members. By the end of the decade Epsilon Phi had won a total of ten Hugh Shields awards, allowing us to retire two flags (a flag is retired every time a chapter wins 5).

As the 1990’s were ushered in Epsilon Phi encountered a period of adjustment familiar to many in the Greek system here and around the nation. Because of several violations of conduct unbecoming a Delt, the chapter was placed under an Alumni Supervisory Committee review in 1993. The ASC placed several members on suspension. This resulted in all but a handful of the chapter brother resigning their membership.

Faced with its greatest challenge in its nearly twenty-five year history, the remaining members set out on a mission to rebuild the chapter from the ground floor up. The road was not easy. That fall, while other fraternities were pledging, moderate sized classes, Epsilon Phi took in only six new members. The following spring there were no new pledges. Many felt as though Epsilon Phi was doomed. Its members knew better however. With help from alumni and the International Fraternity the Chapter was saved and by the fall of 1994 Epsilon Phi was proving itself once more, with a new pledge class of seventeen men.

Several challenges hit the chapter during these times with the first being the resignation of long-time Chapter Advisor Thomas Simpson Sharp, who was hired by the national fraternity to work in its Central Office. Finding a replacement became a problem; however, after a couple of years Victor “Gene” Pregeant, Epsilon Phi 149 emerged to provide stability as advisor in a job in that had been described by the national fraternity as a tenuous situation.

During these critical years Epsilon Phi was also challenged with the responsibility of adapting to a different kind of Greek world. As the issues of risk management have arisen, the Greek community has had to address the need of increased social responsibility. Concerns about date rape, alcohol abuse and hazing have been at the forefront of Greek life for a number of years.

Despite the progress Epsilon Phi made during a long stretch of the 90’s, as that decade came to an end our chapter yet again found itself under the administration of an alumni committee. In 2001 another membership review took place with yet more suspensions.

Since that time, however, Epsilon Phi has rebounded strongly and is yet again, the gold standard bearer of fraternities on Southeaster’s campus. The move to a new Shelter in Greek Village, the elimination of hazing and the shift in focus from being a social club to a true brotherhood has allowed us develop an incredibly strong chapter grounded in our ritual.

The brotherhood was so strong that Epsilon Phi won the Outstanding Brotherhood Award at Southern Division four years in a row, from 2006-2009.

All of our hard work paid off in 2008 when Epsilon Phi was named a member of the Court of Honor, awarded to the top twenty chapters in the United States.

In 2009 Epsilon Phi brought home its first Hugh Shields flag in twenty years. Our chapter won the award again in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015, this resulted in the chapter retiring its 3rd flag.

The commitment of the men of Epsilon Phi to the mission and values of Delta Tau Delta continues as two more Hugh Shields flags were won 2016 and 2017.

Currently this chapter ranks 4th overall in the number of Hugh Shields awards won and it is a testament to the work of the chapter. Printed on the Hugh Shields flag is the word Optimoti which means “First among equals”. That describes Epsilon Phi’s existence on the Southeastern campus and in Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.