CHARTERING OHIO GAMMA OF SIGMA ALPHA EPISLON
OHIO GAMMA CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS
The anniversary of the
installation of the Ohio University 
Chapter was celebrated over the weekend
of April 25 in Marietta, Ohio at the historic Lafayette Hotel, located on the
banks of the Ohio River. The college
town of Athens had been booked full so far in advance that the reunion could
not be held there. Fifteen of the first
initiates met to share memories, old pictures, original documents and personal
histories. Many wives accompanied their
husbands; several had been Sweethearts when the Chapter was initiated. They were all serenaded with Violets, sung
by entertainers and the long time brothers.
Chuck Pickering and Bob
Nicholas are local residents and arranged the events. They had been instrumental in the addition to the chapter house
more than a decade after its first occupancy in 1952. The banquet program was emceed by Patt Wardlaw, past president of
the local Gamma Gamma Gamma during the petitioning process and installation
chairman for April 17, 1953. Bill Coon,
first EA, Dave Heinrich who succeeded him, Bill Cook who ran the first Boarding
Club and other founders highlighted specific events in their own
experiences. Fifty year certificates were presented by Ed Meador, who had worked with Chuck setting up
the reunion, arranged with National to award them and mail the remainder to the
other living members with known addresses.
Sunday afternoon, a
contingency drove the 45 miles to Ohio University in Athens to share history at
the weekly meeting of the, now 50 year old, active chapter. It is still occupies the best fraternity
house on campus with extensive additions to the original Georgian Mansion. At the meeting, Patt told actives about the
most important elements of their origins.
The Gamma name had carried into with the chapter honoring
distinguished Dolph Ginter who attended the initiation. Emphasized was the close relationship with
John O. Moseley. Dr. Moseley, past ESA,
was then ESR, had been instrumental in the local’s decision to affiliate with and personally conducted the installation.
He was essential to the petitioning process and when the first Ohio
Gamma officers were officially installed on April 18, presented his own large
ESA badge to be worn in perpetuity by the local EA. “John-O”, as we lovingly referred to him, called us, “My Boys”.