CHARTERING OHIO GAMMA OF SIGMA ALPHA EPISLON
THE 
INSPIRATION
Meeting John O. Moseley
In late 1951 or early 1952, we had our first visitation from
the director of the national organization, John O. Moseley, Eminent Supreme
Recorder (ESR). Dr. Moseley was famous
in fraternity circles, not just within . Having retired as President of Oklahoma University, he was perhaps the
leading authority on ancient Greek mythology and was a past Eminent Supreme
Archon (ESA) of the national . He
founded the Leadership School for actives, which has become a continuing
institution. John Baugh, our future
chapter field rep, accompanied him. This edition of The Record of honored him in 2000 but the photo was
taken many years before we were privileged to know him.
The purpose of the visit was to look us over to see if maybe
we ought to be invited to join the national and to acquaint us with . After looking over the house and meeting
with the executive committee and others in the afternoon, the two agreed to
stay for dinner in the boarding club and meet the rest of the brothers. It was packed. After dinner, John Bowen addressed some of our questions before
turning over the floor to Dr. Moseley.
When Moseley stood, he turned to his younger friend and said, "John, should I give 'em both barrels?" Bowen answered, "Yeah, I
think we really like these guys!"
That was the queue for the ESR to deliver what was apparently his
landmark speech, "MINERVA'S ROAD".
At the time, it was the most inspirational talk I had ever heard. He talked about following The Goddess of Wisdom's path to enlightenment and the trail to become a true brotherhood. He spoke of friends and ideals and True Gentleman. As he talked, there was none of the usual clatter of flatware on dishes and before long one could have heard a pin drop between sentences. Soon, the door and hall filled with the kitchen crew and others who had not dined, straining to catch every syllable. When he was finished, almost in a whisper, there were many watery eyes among those hardened buddies. For a moment, we seemed not to know how to react to what had morphed into an obvious invitation to petition Sigma Alpha Epsilon. When we finally cheered, it was completely clear that we would accept the challenge.
Over the next year and a half, we were fortunate to become very close to John Moseley with many letters, phone calls and meetings as he led us through a difficult process. He became our patron saint and began to refer to us as, "My Boys!"
We formally petitioned on May 5, 1952
NEXT SEE: THE PETITION