Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau Fraternity is the only chapter of a national honorary engineering fraternity at Kansas State College. Other honorary organizations in the School of Engineering and Architecture are: Eta Kappa Nu, Pi Tau Sigma, and Phi Lambda Upsilon. A local honorary for all engineers, Steel Ring, is present. In addition, there are student branches of the appropriate professional societies. Sigma Tau is by far the largest of these organizations and occupies the most prominent position.

Membership in this chapter serves as an incentive to do better work on the part of the students. However, there is some indifference to such organizations by students who do not realize the importance of at least better than average grades.

Epsilon chapter annually has awarded medals to the three sophomore engineers who hold the highest grade average for their freshman year. These awards are made at the annual Spring Initiation banquet.

Chapter meetings are always held in accordance with the ritual. All of the business of the chapter and the fraternity is transacted in these meetings. They are held in a large recitation room in the Engineering Building. Members are notified several days in advance of each meeting by a printed meeting notice sent to them through the college post office. The general Policy for meetings is every other Tuesday afternoon throughout the year. Habitual absentees are brought before the officers to show reason why they should not be dropped from the organization. Three consecutive unexcused absences are considered cause for this action. There is little absenteeism that is not excused.

Practicability is fostered through active participation in the Engineers' Annual Open House, maintenance of Chapter projects such as recognition structures on the campus, and preparation for the Engineer’s Ball, Saint Pat’s Prom.

Sociability is encouraged at the smokers held each semester to meet upperclassmen in the higher-grade brackets.

At present Epsilon Chapter feels that the grade average of its members does not warrant a planned scholarship program.

Epsilon Chapter annually presents one of the outstanding formal dances of the year as a climax of the Engineer’s Open House. This dance, Saint Pat's Prom, is preceded by spirited campaigning for department nominees for election as Saint Pat and Saint Patricia, who reign over the Ball.

Approximately forty percent of the eligible men of our school are members of Sigma Tau. Candidates for membership are met at a smoker held each semester for this purpose. Election to membership is by secret ballot after open discussion of the candidate’s accomplishments in scholarship, practical experience, and general campus life. Although there is no quota set on the number of men to be taken from each department, the pledge class is usually a representative group.

Epsilon has no problems which need to be discussed on a national level.

To the best of our knowledge, Epsilon's records are complete and in good order.

Epsilon's assets consist of $541.48 cash. Epsilon has no liabilities. Revenue consists of profits from Saint Pat's Prom and membership dues. Epsilon has no loan fund, as this function is adequately maintained by the college. Bills are paid by checks signed by the chapter treasurer.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF CHAPTER 

AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Believing that active projects on or near the campus are the best stimuli to active participation in chapter activities, Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau has in the past undertaken several outstanding projects in addition to annual and traditional affairs. Most notable among these are:

• A stone Pyramid and Rail Section conspicuously located on the campus,

• The construction of a large concrete “KS" located on a prominent bluff and visible for many miles,

• The acquisition later of the deed to the land occupied by the “KS” and the presentation of it to the College by members of Sigma Tau.

Each year Epsilon Chapter initiates two pledge classes, sponsors the traditional Saint Pat's Prom after the Engineer's Open House, recognizes scholarship by an award to the outstanding freshmen engineers and aids materially in the presentation of the various phases of the Engineer's Open House.

Individual members of Sigma Tau are active in nearly all campus organizations, such as Pi Tau Sigma, Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Lambda, Upsilon, The Architecture Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Steel Ring (a local Engineering fraternity), various social fraternities, A.S.M.E., A.I.Ch.E., A.I.E.E., A.S.C.E., I.R.E., A.S.A.E., and Scabbard and Blade.

Six out of thirteen members of Blue Key are members of Sigma Tau. The Engineering association, composed of all engineering students at the college is governed by an Engineering Council with Sigma Tau holding the principle offices. Two out of nine members of the Student Council are also members of Sigma Tau. Our members are active in all branches of student government.

• Walter Albert Buck, E.E. '13, President of Radiomarine Corp. New York, N.Y.

• James Haupt, M.E. '33, Chief Design Engineer Cardwell Manufacturing Company, Wichita, Kansas.

• Stanley A. Smith, A.E. '13, Head of the Department of Architectural Engineering, State College of Washington.

• Lester H. Means, E.E. '23, Assistant to the Vice President, Employee Relations, General Electric.

• R. G. Kloeffler, Hon. Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Kansas State College.

• A. A. Potter, Hon. Dean of Engineering, Purdue University.

• Avid A. Anderson, M.E. '14, Manager of the Department of Highway and Municipal Bureau, Portland Cement Association.

• Martin K. Eby, C.E. '29, President of Martin K. Eby Construction Company.

• James L. Potter, E.E. '29, Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Rutgers University.

• W. Shaver, A.E. ’14, Five times he has been President of the Kansas Chapter of the Americal Institute of Architects.

• Gordon Hamilton, M.E. '19, Manager of the Kansas City branch of Westinghouse.

• Carman Carl Tate, E.E. '26, General Superintendent of Phillips Refinery in Okmulgee, Okla.

• Robert F. Blanks, C.E. '24, In charge of Engineering and Geological Control and Research Division, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado.

• Merrill A. Durland, E.E. '18, Asst. Dean of School of Engineering, Kansas State College.

• Earl V. Farrar, M.E. '26, Engineering Manager, Gas Turbine Division, Wright Aeronautical Corporation.

• Ernest F. Miller, M.E. '25, Advisory Engineer in the Steam Engineering Division Westinghouse.

• R. A. Seaton, Hon. Dean of the Engineering School, Kansas State College.

Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau Fraternity is the only chapter of a national honorary engineering fraternity at Kansas State College. Other honorary organizations in the School of Engineering and Architecture are: Eta Kappa Mu, Pi Tau Sigma, Phi Lambda Upsilon, Tau Sigma Delta, and Steel Ring, local honorary for all engineers. In addition, there are student branches of the appropriate professional societies. Sigma Tau occupies the most prominent position among these organizations due to its outstanding members and the help and advice of the chapter advisor, Prof. L. V. White.

Epsilon Chapter sponsors several activities at Kansas State. One of the outstanding formal dances of the year is presented by this chapter as a climax to Engineer’s Open House. This dance, St. Pat’s Prom, is. preceded by spirited campaigning for department nominee’s for election as St. Pat and St. Patricia, who reign over the Prom.

The plot of ground and the letters on “KS” Hill are maintained by Epsilon Chapter. These letters, which are over 80 feet high, are cleaned and painted each year. Present plans include the construction of a “C” to complete the college letters "KSC”.

Epsilon Chapter awards medals to the three sophomore engineers who hold the highest average for their freshman year. These awards are made at the Spring Initiation Banquet.

The members of Epsilon Chapter participate actively in all of the events of the college. The following, a partial list for the current semester, will give an adequate picture of the activity of our membership:

• Jack Webb, President of Sigma Tau, Secretary of A.S.C.E.

• Stanley Wood, Vice-President of Sigma Tau, President of Engineering Council, Business Manager of Kansas State Engineer, Vice-President of Blue Key.

• Dale Wilson, Treasurer of Sigma Tau, Student Council.

• Paul Swan, Student Council, Treasurer of Engineering Council.

• Russell Jones, President of Steel Ring.

• Ken Harkness, Historian of Sigma Tau, Vice-president of Engi­neering Council, Editor of Kansas State Engineer, and Corresponding Secretary of Blue Key.

• Dick Palmer, President of A.S.M.E., President of Pi Tau Sigma.

• Hal Faulconer, President of A.S.C.E., President of Mid-Central Section of the A.S.C.E.

• Clayton Ferguson, Engineer’s Open House Chairman.

• Richard Hanson, President of UNESCO, Treasurer of Steel Ring. 

• Donald Kelley, President of A.S.A.E.

• Paul Jones, President of A.I.E.E., Secretary of Steel Ring.

• Dewey Peterson, President of A.I.Ch.E.

• Robert Lawton, President of Eta Kappa Nu.

• Waldean Grauerholz, Vice-president of Mid-Central Section of the A.S.A.E.

We of Epsilon Chapter believe that membership in Sigma Tau is a distinct incentive to members to do finer work in every respect, scholastically and in student activities. This belief is strengthened by the listing of activities and offices which our members have received after their initiation into Sigma Tau. Freshmen and Sophomore engi­neers look forward to possible membership in Sigma Tau and work hard to achieve this goal.

Chapter meetings are held, in accordance with the ritual, every other Tuesday during the school year. They are held in a large recitation room in the Engineering Building. Members are notified in advance of each meeting by a printed meeting card sent by mail and notices are posted on department bulletin boards. Habitual absentees are brought before the officers to show reason why they should not be dropped from the organization. There is little absenteeism that is unexcused.

To develop members along the lines of practicality, Epsilon Chapter encourages participation of its members in Engineer’s Open House and the maintenance of “KS” Hill.

To develop members along the lines of sociability, Epsilon Chapter sponsors the St. Pat’s Prom, an initiation banquet each semester, and a smoker for each pledge class.

At present, Epsilon Chapter feels that the grade average of its members does not warrant a planned scholarship program.

Following is a list of honors and advancements for some of the alumni members of our Chapter:

• Walter Albert Buck, E.E. ’13, President of Radiomarine Corp., New York, New York.

• James Haupt, M.E. ’33, Chief Design Engineer Cardwell Manu­facturing Company, Wichita, Kansas.

• Stanley A. Smith, A.E. '13, Head of the Department of Architec­tural Engineering, State College of Washington.

• Lester H. Means, E.E. ’23, Assistant to the Vice President, Employee Relations, General Electric.

• R. G. Kloeffler, Hon. Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Kansas State College.

• A. A. Potter, Hon. Dean of Engineering, Purdue University.

• Avid A. Anderson, M.E. "14, Manager of the Department of Highway and Municipal Bureau, Portland Cement Association.

• Martin K. Eby, C.E. ’29, President of Martin K. Eby Construction Company.

• James L. Potter, E.E. '29, Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Rutgers University.

• Charles W. Shaver, A.E. '214, Five times he has been President of the Kansas Chapter of the Americal Institute of Architects.

• Carman Carl Tate, E.E. ’26, General Superintendent of Phillips Refinery in Okmulgee, Okla.

• Robert E. Blanks, C.E. ’’24, In Charge of Engineering and Geological Control and Research Division, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado.

• Merrill A. Durland, E.E. '18, Dean of School of Engineering, Kansas State College.

• Earl V. Farrar, M.E. "26, Engineering Manager, Gas Turbine Division, Wright Aeronoutical Corporation.

• Ernest F. Miller, M.E. "25, Advisory Engineer in the Steam Engineering Division, Westinghouse.

• R. A. Seaton, Hon. Dean Emeritus of the Engineering School, Kansas State College.

Approximately forty percent of the eligible men of our school are members of Sigma Tau. Candidates for membership in Epsilon Chapter are met at a smoker held each semester for this purpose. Election to membership is by secret ballot after open discussion of the candidates accomplishments in scholarship, practical experience, and general campus life. No effort is made to prorate the proportion of members from the various departments. The pledge class is usually a representative group. There is no interdepartmental politics played in Epsilon Chapter and so there is no need for proportional provisions.

Epsilon has no problems which need to be discussed on a national level.

To the best of our knowledge, Epsilon's records are complete and in good order.

Jack L. Webb,

President.

Sigma Tau is highly regarded by the faculty at Kansas State. Most of the faculty are mem­bers of Sigma Tau. Some were initiated while in school, and a few others have been granted alumni membership. Therefore, their interest in Sigma Tau is partly a personal one and partly recognition of a good engineering fra­ternity.

The biggest contribution rendered by Sigma Tau to the community of Manhattan was cleaning up an approach to the city and planting approximately fifty shrubs and trees after the flood of 1951,

During April 1952, Mr. J. E. Schaefer, Vice-President, General Manager of the Wichita Division of Boeing Airplane Com­pany, was initiated as an alumni member of Sigma Tau.

Sigma Tau annually sponsors St. Pat's Prom, a semi-formal all-school dance following Engineers’ Open House.

At the present time. Sigma Tau is under­taking the repair of the large cement letters. KS, on K-hill. These are the letters of the college appearing on a hill Southeast of Manhattan which are plainly visible to anyone coming to Manhattan whether by train or car.

Future membership in Sigma Tau does not, to any appreciable extent, serve as an incen­tive to do better work on the part of freshmen and sophomores at Kansas State. Probably the reason is that they are not fully aware of what Sigma Tau is, and the requirements for membership.

To my knowledge, Epsilon Chapter has done nothing in the last two years to remedy the situation described above.

Chapter meetings are held in a particular lecture room of the Engineering Hall. Business of the chapter is the only thing taken up in the regular meetings. Special meetings are called for initiations. The members are notified of meetings by a postal card sent through the college mail two or three days prior to the meeting.

Practicality and socialbility are developed by working on various committees and holding office in the chapter. Socialbility is also developed by means of frequent picnics in the early Fall and Spring, and initiation banquets and smokers.

To my knowledge, nothing has been done to develop scholarship among the members.

Approximately 30% of the upper third of the juniors and seniors are members of Sigma Tau at Kansas State. No rating scale is used when considering a man for membership. Each man is considered according to his own merits. Therefore, no method of determining the number of M.E.'s, E.E.'s etc., to be taken, is used.

General problems for consideration are: (a) Ways to make aware of Sigma Tau, and so entice them to work harder for a chance to be a member; (b) Methods to get nearly all active members to every meeting; (c) Ways to develop members along the lines of practicality, sociability and scholarship; (d) Things Sigma Tau might undertake for the school and/or community.

The records are complete and in good order. All the affairs of the fraternity are recorded. A detailed report is written and filed away upon the completion of every major function of the fraternity. This report is then used in the following years to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again.

Robert P. Bertrand, 

President

During the past year Epsilon chapter initiated the outstanding men in the college. Twenty-eight new members were initiated during the Fall semester and an additional group of eight were made members of Sigma Tau during the past Spring. As a preliminary to both of these events, the chapter held a get-together smoker for prospective members, and the traditional initiation banquet followed each initiation.

The members enjoyed two picnics during the past year. One was arranged in September, and the other toward the mid-term of the second semester of the school year. During Engineer’s Open House, members of Sigma Tau were active and most helpful in working on individual projects, and as a group.

The chapter sponsored a marathon for engineering students, from the Engineering building on the campus to the hill outside of Manhattan, on which Epsilon Chapter maintains the huge letters “KS.” The chapter annually sponsors the selection of St. Pat and St. Patricia, who reign over the entire Open House festivities and are crowned at an elaborate ceremony which serves as a fitting climax to Open House and St. Pat's Prom.

The members of Epsilon chapter feel they had a very eventful year and are looking forward to these events and activities for the coming year.

John R. Belden,

Corresponding Secretary

Editors Note: The KS letters are 60-1/2 feet by 80-1/2 feet, located on a precipitous slope of Mt. Prospect, southeast of Manhattan. The chapter became the owners of the tract of land upon which the letters are built by contracting to make certain surveys and land sub-divisions for the owner. The land was deeded to Epsilon chapter upon fulfillment of this contractual agreement, and in 1948 the land acquired was turned over to the Kansas State College and accepted by President Eisenhower for the College. Thus, Epsilon chapter has had the distinction of being the only landowning chapter of Sigma Tau.

RICHARD HORTON

Richard Horton, a junior in mechanical engineering at Kansas State College, has been announced as winner of a $100 Sigma Tau Foundation grant-in-aid provided by L. F. Kepley, vice president of the Inland Construction Company of Omaha, Nebr. Horton was selected over applicants from K-State, Nebraska University, and Kansas University. He is an honor student, is active in the student branch chap­ter of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers, and is the newly elected president of the Engineering Association, He is shown receiving a check from Doctor Reed F. Morse, chapter advisor.

BRYCE B. MILLER

Bryce Miller, retiring president of Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau, has distinguished himself as a student at Kansas State College. Coming to K-State from Wichita, Kansas with a Bachelor of Science degree from McPherson College, Bryce has maintained a high schol­astic record in Industrial Engineering and was awarded a scholarship in his freshman year.

Besides working part-time for the college, he has devoted much time and effort to making the annual Open House a success and was Co-Chairman of the K-Hill Project. He was also instrumental in founding a local chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Man­agement.

He is also a member of Steel Ring, Phi Kappa Phi, S.A.M., Alpha Psi Omega (National Drama), an associate member of the Kansas Engineering Society and served on the Engineering Council at K-State.

When he isn’t spending his leisure time with his wife, Bryce can be found playing championship volleyball and golf.

ROBERT G. TOINTON JR.

Robert Tointon, a civil engineer from Almena, Kansas, has left a lasting impression on the campus of Kansas State College which will long be remembered after his graduation this August. It is a rare occasion to find a student possessing such outstanding qualities as Bob in the 4-S’s of college life—Scholarship, Sports, Student politics and Social activities.

From his freshman year he has amazed both faculty and fellow students by his continued display of academic excellence while maintaining a more than full schedule of extra-curricular activities. Freshman recognition, freshman award, sophomore honors and a Boeing scholarship were climaxed by being chosen as a Senior Leader of the graduating class and as Senior Class President.

Bob is a member of Blue Key, Phi Kappa Phi, A.S.C.E. and of course, Sigma Tau. Unlike many students who find added activities too demanding and eventually drift into a passive inactive membership, Bob has kept himself above this and was active on every oc­casion and at each of the meetings held.

This constant association with his fellow students led him to become familiar with student-campus problems, and eventually led him to form a new political party in his junior year. This organiza­tion, the Integrity Party, virtually swept all other candidates aside in the last campus election. Needless to say, Bob, as president, was instrumental in this landslide. He has also helped the student cause 

as a member of the Student Council, Faculty Council on Student Affairs, Engineering Association president, Independent Student Association president, and Rocky Mountain Region of the Independent Student Association president.

His leadership was also recognized in other diversified activities which resulted in his being elected Editor of the KANSAS STATE ENGINEER, president of House of Williams, Intermural manager and appointed a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force ROTC. Besides being busy with these activities and keeping a 2.6 out of a possible 3.0 grade point average, Bob found time to carry out a list of less impressive, but none-the-less important campus service and community projects. All of this did not interfere with his lighter social life, since he was proud to announce his recent engagement.

Bob is a quiet, unassuming chap with an engaging personality; the last person to talk about his achievements. Truly an outstanding Sigma Tau.

VIRGIL E. CARRIER

As retiring Vice President of Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Tau and a graduating senior, Virgil Carrier was recently cited for his achievements in making the 31st Annual Open House at K-State a tremendous success. As manager for this event, Virgil toured the state with a small group of students to present radio and TV shows promoting the Open House. As a result, over 21,000 people attended the two-day affair—the largest in its his­tory.

His research and paper on Thermoelectric Generators, pre­sented at the A.S.M.E. student conference held at the Univer­sity of Oklahoma this spring, netted him a first-place award and college recognition.

Besides being a member of Sigma Tau, Virgil was active in Pi Tau Sigma, A.S.M.E., Kansas State Engineering Council, and served as Co-Chairman of the K-Hill Project.

He is married and a Korean veteran. Working part-time on Campus Planning for the College Maintenance Department, Virgil has gained some practical experience for his future as a Consulting Engineer for E. E. Hysom Associates, Consulting Engineers of Wichita, Kansas.

The committee responsible for the selection of the outstanding member of Epsilon Chapter at Kansas State College could not narrow their selection to one man so picked three men this year as being equally deserving of the citation. The three men selected are Glen R. Horton, Donald H. Lenhert and Gary B. Rogers.

Glen R. Horton graduated with honors in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of the ASME, served as vice-president of Sigma Tau, was secretary of Pi Tau Sigma, member of Phi Kappa Phi, and president of the Engineering Council. He was selected as an outstanding student in AFROTC and was a member oi Arnold Air Society. He received a $100.00 Kepley Sigma Tau Foundation scholarship and was the first to receive the newly established $500.00 Mechanical Engineering departmental scholarship. He also won the sectional ASME paper contest and will enter the national contest with the paper “Film Cooling of Turbine Blades.”

Gary B. Rogers is in the Chemical Engineering where he graduated with high honors. He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Steel Ring, Sigma Tau, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Phi Lambda Upsilon and Phi Kappa Phi. He has also participated in the band and in the Student Council. He was named one of the 12 outstanding military students in the country and has won a national science contest. He plans to do graduate work in his chosen field of chemical engineering.

Donald H. Lenhert graduated with honors in the Electrical Enneering Department. He has been an officer in Alpha Phi Omega, Eta Kappa Nu, Sigma Tau, AIEE, IRE and Phi Kappa Phi. He was a member of both the Engineering Council and the Student Council. He was an honor AFROTC military student, a member of the Arnold Air Society, and an officer in Pershing Rifles. He has received a $500.00 scholarship from Boeing and a $750.00 scholarship from the Magnolia Oil Company.

Epsilon Chapter at Kansas State College has selected the following officers for the school year 1958-59:

President.........................Dale G. Kaufman

Vice-President.................Delmer Hayes

Secretary..........................Ralph D. Cozine

Treasurer..........................Matthew White

Chapter Advisor...............Prof. E. C. Lindly

The activities of Epsilon Chapter for the school year 1958-59 and a brief explanation of each activity's purpose follows:

Fall Smoker, October 7, 1958. For the purpose of acquainting students (eligible to pledge Sigma Tau) with the active members of Epsilon Chapter, and for the purpose of selecting the pledge class from the eligible students.

Fall Pledge Work Week, October 20-25, 1958. For the purpose of allowing the pledges to demonstrate their desire to work for the organization. The week was climaxed by the cleaning and painting of the KS letters on K-Hill.

Fall Initiation Banquet, November 13, 1958. For the purpose of initiating and honoring pledges who completed the requirements for membership into the fraternity.

Tea for St. Patricia Candidates and Smoker for St. Pat Candidates, February 22, 1959. For the purpose of selecting the final candidates to be presented for election at St. Patricia and St. Pat.

Final Elections of St. Patricia and St. Pat, March 5-6, 1959. For the purpose of the election of St. Patricia and St. Pat by the students in the engineering school.

Opening ceremony for Engineers' Open House, March 13, 1959. For the purpose of sponsoring the official ribbon cutting and the opening of the annual Engineers' Open House.

Marathon Race and St. Pat's Prom, March 14, 1959. For the purpose of presenting activities in conjunction with and climaxing the Engineers' Open House.

Spring Smoker, April 7, 1959. For the same purpose as the Fall Smoker.

Spring Pledge Work Week, April 20-25, 1959. For the same purpose as the Fall Pledge Work Week.

Spring Initiation Banquet, May 5, 1959. For the same purpose as the Fall Initiation Banquet.

Election of Officers, May 14, 1959. For the purpose of electing new officers for the next school year. The following officers were elected to serve during 1959-60:

President.....................................Roy L. Harder

Vice-President.............................Terry L. Parsons

Treasurer.....................................John C. Counter

Recording Secretary....................William D. Kastner

Corresponding Secretary............Karl K. Stevens

Historian......................................Duane E. Walker

Roy L. Harder,

President