History

Chapter History The Mississippi State Colony was established in the spring of 1991. Initial interest in establishing a colony at Mississippi State University resulted from a visit by Dana Baith and James Sipes, Chapter Service Managers from National Headquarters. The first organizational meeting, attended by 20 men, was held in the Ballew Animal Science Building, on the Mississippi State University campus. This meeting brought men interested in agriculture at Mississippi State University together to discuss the formation of a fraternity to develop a cohesive group with genuine brotherhood. A second introductory meeting was held at the Western Sizzlin' (currently LaHacienda) in Starkville. The meeting was attended by several members of the former Mississippi State Colony, which disbanded in 1984, alumni from other chapters and many prospective new members. The Mississippi State Colony was formed with 21 brothers in the Fall of 1991. The initiation ceremony was performed by brothers from the Xi Chapter at Auburn University. The chapter soon obtained a small house on campus and purchased a larger house on Fraternity Row in the Spring of 1993. The old house was located on University Drive where the Hunter Henry Center is presently located. The chapter was initiated as the Beta Tau chapter on October 31, 1992. The Alpha Gamma Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho from the University of Florida performed the ceremony and is therefore our "Big Brother" chapter. Shane Kitchens was the first man initiated into the chapter and also served as Beta Tau's first Noble Ruler.

National Fraternity History Alpha Gamma Rho – The First 100 Years The history of Alpha Gamma Rho reflects the character of the organization today – friends coming together across varied walks of life, finding common interests and a common cause, and pursuing a passion for bettering themselves and the industry that they love. It's a great story. More than a century ago a group of seven college friends at what is now The Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio, decided to "bind together their cords of friendship" and organize a fraternity. Plans developed slowly, and on the first Sunday in October, 1904, Alpha Gamma Rho was born. While the agricultural group at The Ohio State University was developing a fraternity, a similar vision was taking shape at the University of Illinois. During the fall of 1905, the students at Illinois discussed forming an agricultural club. By the spring of 1906 the idea had sprouted and Delta Rho Sigma came into being. Interactions between these two fraternities first occurred at the International Livestock Show in Chicago during the fall of 1906. Men from each university serving on their respective livestock judging teams met and discovered they had a common bond. A correspondence ensued, and in April 1907 the Illinois fraternity invited two delegates from Ohio to visit. Over time, the relationship strengthened, and on April 4, 1908, they formally united the two groups in a ceremony at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis. Records show that the University of Illinois took the name of the Ohio State organization, Alpha Gamma Rho. In turn for giving up their namesake, the Illinois men received the distinction of Alpha Chapter. Brother A. B. Sawyer was initiated by Delta Rho Sigma in 1906 and participated in the joining of Alpha Gamma Rho and Delta Rho Sigma. Fortunately, he kept the minutes of the first meeting. This important record documents the time and place of the first convention, as well as the names of the first National officers. According to Brother Sawyer, the minutes were written on two paper place mats bearing the name of the Hofbrau, Chicago. The first page was written by H. E. Allen, Beta, temporary secretary, and the second page by Brother Sawyer, after he had been elected Grand Secretary. At this first National Convention on November 30, 1908, Brother Sawyer recorded the rest of the first official officers as: Grand President, Brother Charles A. Stewart, Alpha; Grand Vice President, Brother S. S. Hart, Beta; Grand Secretary and Treasurer, Brother A. B. Sawyer, Alpha and General Registrar, Brother C. P. Trotter, Alpha. And thus, the journey began. We invite you to come along and help us write the story of our next 100 years.