Theta Chi Fraternity - Theta Eta Chapter

Sam Houston State University - Chapter History

Theta Eta Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity was chartered on May 13, 1989 – after only 2 years as a colony. The installation ceremony took place at the First Baptist Church in Huntsville. From humble beginnings, our chapter rose to become one of the strongest chapters in our region.

Back in 1986, a group of young men came together to form a social group. These young men were led by a member of a fraternity at the University of Houston that had transferred to Sam Houston State University. Their initial fraternity experience was as an interest group of Sigma Nu National Fraternity. In the fall of 1986, Sigma Nu National Fraternity sent a representative of their fraternity to the campus to meet this group. He told these 24 young men they needed to increase their numbers and sustain a total of 40 men. After this meeting, the group split into 2 groups - half wanted to continue on as an interest group of Sigma Nu. The other half wanted something different. That half became the foundation of Theta Eta Chapter.

Shortly after the split, Brian Hall, Tim English, and Steve Schorr made a trip to the Newton Gresham Library. They found a book called Greek Life, where they discovered a listing and brief history of many different fraternities. In this book, they discovered one fraternity - Theta Chi Fraternity – with its proud history, traditions, and ideals that seemed to match what these young men were looking for.

The next day, they wrote to Theta Chi Fraternity International Headquarters to inquire about the requirements to become a Colony. The Fraternity sent them back a personalized letter giving them the requirements and also inviting them to Arkansas Tech University for a Mid-Year Leadership Conference. Theta Chi Fraternity never set a required number or placed much emphasis on the amount of people you had to have to be a chapter. Their standard said, "You need to have a strong organization." They were so impressed with Theta Chi Fraternity, that upon returning from the conference, there was no doubt in their minds, THEY WERE GOING TO BE THETA CHI'S.

On April 22, 1987 the dream became a reality as the group of young men were granted a Colony of Theta Chi Fraternity. When the Spring semester ended that year , some of the young men went home for the summer, while some stayed in Huntsville to begin their journey to become brothers in Theta Chi Fraternity. The 12 brothers that would comprise the Alpha pledge class were required to travel to Texas A&M to receive their New Member Education from our Big Brother Chapter, which has since become and inactive chapter. The Alpha pledge class was initiated in the Summer of 1987.

In the Spring of 1989, with 42 initiated brothers, the colony received its charter and became the Theta Eta Chapter.

Alma Mater First and Theta Chi for Alma Mater