Marietta Delts to celebrate Chapter’s 50th anniversary at Homecoming 2018
Marietta Delts will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the installation of the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity during Marietta College’s Homecoming 2018, Oct. 11-14.
The four-day 50th anniversary celebration is sponsored by the Marietta Delt Alumni Association in cooperation with the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter.
The beginning of Epsilon Upsilon
The Epsilon Upsilon Chapter’s history began in 1966 when Marietta College Dean of Men Walter Hobba decided that the College could support what would be then a seventh fraternity chapter.
Hobba then created a local fraternity, called Beta Delta Epsilon, with the intention of it affiliating with a national social fraternity within a few years.
After three national fraternities that Hobba had pre-selected turned down Beta Delta Epsilon, the men in the local fraternity contacted Delta Tau Delta, which was interested in the Marietta fraternity.
In 1967, BDE became a Crescent Colony of Delta Tau Delta and began working toward being granted status as a chapter.
During the 1968 Karnea, the application of the Marietta Crescent Colony to become a chapter was approved.
The 27 Undergraduate men of the Marietta Crescent Colony, along with Marietta College Professor of History R.L. Jones ’27, were initiated into Delta Tau Delta on Nov. 23, 1968, during a special ceremony to install the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter, which at the time was Delta Tau Delta’s 101st chapter.
In addition to Jones, initiating as Delts were Tom Robinson ’69, William Havens ’69, David Dessen ’69, Joseph Cohn ’69, Bruce Miller ’70, Gregory Maloof ’67, Stephen Newton ’66, Peter Rosenberger (Ross) ’67, William Warner ’68, Kenneth Kavula ’69, Franklin Hirsch ’69, Roger Coffman ’69, Mark Schickler ’69, Edward Ives ’70, Joseph Kirby ’70, Marc Nevas ’70, Stephen Fox ’71, Robert Bayer ’71, John Devito ’71, Robert Exten ’71, Rob Weidenfeld ’70, Lance Koved ’71, Thomas Lindvall ’71, Stephen Shaffer ’71, Deppen Smith ’71, Murray Talasnik ’71 and Donald Wolfe ’71.
Delta Tau Delta International President Robert Hartford attended the installation ceremony and initiation rituals, which were carried out by Undergraduate Delts from Ohio University (Beta Chapter), Ohio State University (Beta Phi), University of Cincinnati (Gamma Xi), West Virginia University (Gamma Delta) and Case Western Reserve (Zeta).
Among the members of the installation team from the University of Cincinnati was Marietta local Robert Ferguson ’71, who would become Chapter Advisor in 1975 — a position he still holds today.
The installation ceremony and initiations took place in the domed second-floor faculty lounge of the Irvine Administration Building. Afterward, a formal banquet was held at the Continental Club on Front Street, with a dance at the Knights of Columbus.
President Hartford presented Epsilon Upsilon’s Charter to Chapter President Tom Robinson ’69 during the banquet. The Charter is displayed today in a case above the fireplace mantle the front room of the Shelter.
The Marietta Delts who initiated Nov. 23, 1968, are known as “Chartering Delts.” The Delts who were involved with BDE, the Crescent Colony and then initiated into Delta Tau Delta are known as “Founding Delts.”
Homecoming 2018
The Epsilon Upsilon Chapter has been marking the anniversary of the 1968 installation in five-year increments with special celebrations for the Alumni. For the 50th, the celebration will be overseen for the first time by the Marietta Delt Alumni Association, which was created after the 45th anniversary celebration as a revitalization of, and successor to, the organization known to Alumni as “House Corp.”
This year’s quinquennial celebration begins on Thursday, Oct. 11, with an informal reception at the Town House on Front Street, a favorite watering hole for decades of Marietta Delts.
On Friday, Oct. 12, the Undergrads are holding an open house throughout the day. Returning Alumni are encouraged to visit the current Shelter at 219 Fourth St. to pick up their registration packets, enjoy some refreshments, meet the Undergrads, take a tour of the Shelter and to generally relax and visit with other Alumni and guests.
In the evening, the Undergraduate Delts will perform the Rite of Iris, which is Delta Tau Delta’s public ritual. This will be followed by a reception for the Alumni with a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres in the Great Room of Andrews Hall.
On Saturday, Oct. 13, a team of Undergrads and Alumni will perform the Ritual of Delta Tau Delta in the morning. This will immediately be followed by the Annual Meeting of the Marietta Delt Alumni Association.
There are no formal plans for lunch. This gives Alumni an opportunity to organize meals among themselves by decade or grouping.
Saturday evening begins with a dinner and ends with a dance.
The Epsilon Upsilon 50th Anniversary Dinner & Dance will take place the Shrine Club, near the Washington County Fairgrounds, off of Third Street.
Ken Kavula ’69, Dean of the Chartering Delts, will be the emcee for the dinner. Historian David Broome ’88 will give an A/V presentation on the Chapter’s history. Chapter Advisor Robert Ferguson ’71, Marietta Delt Alumni Association President Jon Hartshorn ’89 and Marietta Delt Educational Foundation Chairman Greg Maloof ’67 will also speak.
After the formal program, group photos will be taken, including Founding and Chartering Delts, Delts by decade, former Chapter presidents and all Delts together.
After a slight rearrangement of tables and removal of the lectern, the lights will go off and DJ Mark Murphy ’92 (Delta Upsilon) will entertain with music from the late 1960s through today.
The dance party will end at midnight, which will give attendees a chance to hit their favorite spots downtown for a nightcap.
On Sunday there will be a brunch followed the traditional Alumni-Undergrad football game on Delt Field.
A tour of 507 Putnam St., which was home to Epsilon Upsilon from 1966 until 1984, is in the works. It will take place either Friday evening before the Rite of Iris, or Saturday afternoon.
To register for the Epsilon Upsilon 50th Anniversary Celebration, click here.