Embedded Files
Our History
Our History
The first practical idea for establishing a “band sorority” for college and university bandswomen came about during the spring semester of 1939. Wava Banes, along with two of her classmates (Emily SoRelle and Ruth La Nell Williams), took the idea to director D.O. Wiley of the Texas Technological College Band. The idea, patterned after Kappa Kappa Psi, began to come together the following semester and resulted in the campus organization Tau Beta Sigma. Much like the Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma’s purpose at Tech was to serve as an honorary service and leadership recognition society, but was designed especially to provide the important additional social, educational, and other positive experiences needed by women in the band. The fledgling organization petitioned for recognition as an official campus organization from Dean of Women Mary Doak in spring 1940.
During these initial meetings of 1939-40, the women elected officers and began work on sorority crests and jewelry. The first officers of the organization were: president, Wava Banes; vice-president, Emily SoRelle; secretary, Lillian Horner; treasurer, Nita Furr; reporter, Barbara Griggs; and faculty sponsor, Mrs. D. O. Wiley. Miss SoRelle provided all of the sketch work on the emblem and shield that were adopted as the official emblems of the sorority. However, two of the founding members, Wava and Emily, graduated at the end of the spring 1940 term. As band enrollment changed due to participation in World War II, the girls of the Tech Bands continued to develop the fledgling organization. By October 1941, TBS had begun communications with the National Executive Secretary of Kappa Kappa Psi for assistance in becoming a national organization.
In June 1943, the Tech women petitioned the Grand Council of Kappa Kappa Psi to become an auxiliary part of the National Fraternity as an active chapter. Accepting the group under these circumstances, however, would have entailed a complete revision of the Kappa Kappa Psi constitution. With World War II in progress, it was unsure as to when the National Chapter would hold their next convention where the issue could be brought to debate. Rather than postponing action on the women’s request indefinitely, the women at Texas Tech approached A. Frank Martin, Grand Executive Secretary of Kappa Kappa Psi, in January 1946 to provide assistance in forming their own national organization, just as the National Fraternity had done in 1919. Until a national convention of Kappa Kappa Psi could be held and the matter clarified, Tau Beta Sigma could be considered the “sister organization” of the Fraternity. The Grand Council of Kappa Kappa Psi agreed that Tau Beta Sigma could share in all fraternal publications.
Through the assistance of A. Frank Martin, the ritual and National Constitution were completed. Likewise, the Balfour Company completed designs for the sorority badge and pledge pin. When applying for a national charter, D.O. Wiley and the girls at Texas Tech again turned to A. Frank Martin and offered to turn over their work and the name Tau Beta Sigma to the women’s band sorority at Oklahoma A&M, known as Kappa Psi, to submit the articles of incorporation in Oklahoma. Through this act, the chapter at Oklahoma A&M would become the Alpha Chapter. As part of this agreement, the chapter at Texas Tech, Beta, would be known as the founding location of the Sorority and the members stipulated that Wava Banes would be known as the Founder, the agreement also specified that the 1st National President would be from the Beta Chapter.
Similar women’s organizations at Colorado University and the University of Oklahoma submitted petitions to join with the Texas Tech and O.A.M.C. chapter prior to the official charter being received. On March 26, 1946, a charter was granted by the Department of State for the State of Oklahoma legally establishing “Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority,” later amended to “Tau Beta Sigma.” On May 4 of 1946, the members of the Alpha Chapter traveled to Lubbock, Texas, to officially install the women of Texas Tech as the Beta Chapter of the National Sorority.
Since that time, Tau Beta Sigma has expanded to over 230 campuses across the Unites States.
Tau Beta Sigma founder, Wava Banes
Tau Beta Sigma founder, Wava Banes
Wava Banes Turner Henry was born in Cleveland, Oklahoma, on March 14, 1920, and grew up in the oil fields of Oklahoma and Texas. She attended schools in California, Oklahoma and Texas and graduated from Wink, Texas, High School in 1936. Her parents felt that she was too young to go to college, so she spent another year in high school playing in the band and participating in sports. In the summer of 1937, Wava entered Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech university). She graduated in the summer of 1940 with a Bachelor’s Degree and a major in Band Music. While attending Texas Tech, Wava succeeded in getting sorority status for Tau Beta Sigma in 1939.
Most universities were not allowing women in the band at that time, and there were no women Band Directors around. Finally, she got her first position in Avoca, Texas, in the fall of 1940. Wava’s teaching duties included vocal music in all grades, band in all grades, and coaching basketball and track. The following year she accepted a position in Andrews, Texas. In December 1941, Wava married H. Jack Turner, Jr., who was a charter member of Alpha Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. They lived in Lubbock, Texas, and she worked in a music store until Jack went into the Army Air Forces. In 1943, Wava became band director in Sundown, Texas.
After the war, Wava and Jack had a business in Lubbock, and Wava attended Texas Tech and received a Master’s Degree. After Jack’s death in 1958, she received her certification in math and counseling. She taught math in the Lubbock school for a year before she moved to Aspen, Colorado, in 1961 to teach in the Aspen Schools. Later, she became counselor and administrator until her retirement in 1981. Wava was involved in developing the Outdoor and Experiential Programs in the Aspen School District as well as serving as District Director of the programs. She was also coordinator of the school ski program for several years.
She became involved with Tau Beta Sigma
again when she attended the National Convention in 1971. And she has attended every National Convention since then. She is a Charter member of Beta Chapter; a Life member of the Sorority; an honorary member of Alpha Chapter; a life member of the Board of Trustees; a Life Member of the National Alumni Association; and an honorary member of Alpha Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Beta Chapter has set up a scholarship in her name at Texas Tech. Among her other awards are Beta’s 50th Anniversary for Outstanding Service award and the Kappa Kappa Psi Richard E. Tolley Service award.
Wava married Reese Henry in 1981.
The Alpha chapter was installed at Oklahoma State University on March 26, 1946. Kappa Kappa Psi National Executive Secretary A. Frank Martin served as the installing officer. Charter members include: Rosemary Wright, Mary Belle Reece, Frances Evelyn (Martin) Lumly, Bernice Lucille Friend, Maribeth Crist, Ebba Jensen, Margie Louise (Stauffer) Creager, Ella Jean Anderson, LaWanda Lear Chastain, Mary Ellen Faulk, Ruth Franklin, Donna Howard, Jean Marcoux, Donis Park, Andrew Franklin Martin
Page updated
Report abuse