For ATO National History Click Here HISTORY I. Period of Infancy
The thought of establishing a Fraternity in a Florida school was first conceived by Brother W.D. Barnes, Jr. He had previously been a student of Auburn College in Alabama and had moved to Tallahassee on the election of his father to the office of State Comptroller. He was assisted in carrying out his desire by the able Brother W.H. Milton, who had also attended Auburn and resided in the same town with Brother Barnes. At this time the school bore the name of the West Florida Seminary, being one of a number of such institutions established by the state and named for the portion of the state in which it was located. Upon becoming so industriously intent upon plans to establish Alpha Tau Omega in this school, Brother Barnes and Brother Milton secured the aid of Brothers W.M. McIntosh, a Baptist Minister, and Chandler Smith in furthering their purpose. These Brothers were so successful in their endeavors that in 1884 the first Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega was located in Florida. Their efforts had not been entirely upon gaining the Charter, but also upon the task of gaining and making sure of a group of men worthy of naming themselves among the Taus. Along this line they were very successful as is well shown by the past, present and future standing of the little group they gathered together. These men were especially fortunate in their selection of a faculty member. Brother Fekel was an asset of great value to the Chapter as he was very prominent for his knowledge and ability. The first meeting of the newly organized Chapter was held in a small room in the "Seminary Building" as the main building of the campus was called. This condition was soon remedied however, as a new initiate offered a room in the basement of his father’s home as a meeting place. His mother had the place nicely furnished and made it very agreeable for the members who met there. At the first election of officers Brother W.H. Carter was elected W.M., and filled that place successfully until he left school, some time later. As this was the only Greek letter Fraternity on the campus at the time there was nothing to hinder its growth. One Phi Delta Theta, and one Sigma Alpha Epsilon comprised all of the Stray Greeks and in each case they were very favorable impressed by the members of the newly established Fraternity. There was nothing clandestine about the group of young men as can be seen by the positions they held. The stood excellently as students and ranked socially in the community as a group of nice clean young men. All of them had sweethearts in town and it was not long before many young ladies flaunted A.T.O. badges. An unfortunate thing happened to the Chapter in this year. One of the members apparently became too much influenced by outside affairs and became slack in his interest in the workings of the Chapter. His actions seemed to warrant it so he was dismissed from the membership roll. On further consideration of the circumstances, the Chapter has become as regretful of this matter as the expelled member. In 1885 the West Florida Seminary was discontinued by the state, so the Chapter, although in a flourishing condition, had to discontinue also. In 1886 however, Brothers B.C. Whitfield and H.N. Felkel combined their efforts with those of Brother S.B. Thompson of Lake City to transfer the Charter from the defunct West Florida Seminary to the new state college that had been established at Lake City. Brother Thompson, being a prominent resident storekeeper of Lake City, knew whom he wished to approach among the students as worthy members of Alpha Tau Omega. His first choice was Hon. Brother J. D. Baker, then a boy of seventeen. The proposition met so much with Brother Baker’s approval that he immediately accepted the invitation and helped secure other prospects. These prospects had all passed in review before Brother Thompson during their time in school since his store was the "Chief Hang-Out" of the college boys, as the town furnished scarcely nothing in the form of amusements. The matter of selecting men and arranging all preliminaries was secretly done in a barn on the old Thompson place near his store. There was no other means of light available than that of candles, so several meetings were held here in partial darkness until all data was composed and authority granted by regular means to establish the Chapter. After all was completed the proper authorities came to Lake City to install the Chapter. The meeting was held in the hall over a prominent store, which was the usual place for all entertainments to be staged. This was truly a night of amusement as well as seriousness for the initiates as well as for the initiators. The candidates were blindfolded and carried through maneuvers so weird that the new men were terribly frightened, especially as they had no previous conception as to what it should be like. After the initiations, when things began to run on a sound basis, the meetings were held at a regular time each week. The meetings continued and there was much discussion concerning fitting up private rooms for the Chapter’s use, but this was never carried out. The members of the new Chapter had been chosen for their character and other personal qualities as at that time there was no form of athletics instituted in the school. When military was instituted in 1887 at the Florida Agricultural College, as this newly founded institution as called, the A.T.O.’s were not lacking when the time came to receive offices in the battalion. Brother Baker was made a Lieut., and Brother Canard Adjt. Besides these, Brother Getzen and others were officers, which indicates the standing of the men, to be thus chosen first from the student body. The gay side of Fraternity life was not overlooked and the amusements of the day were enjoyed very much. These social functions consisted mainly of picnics out to the nearby lakes and moonlight straw rides. Many interesting stories hang upon the result of these pleasant forms of entertainment the Chapter members indulged in. In 1890 this flourishing Chapter died down again, due to most of the active Brothers leaving for other schools and to the establishment of other state educational institutions. The Chapter slept until 1904, during which time the Charter rested in the hands of Brother J.C. Getzen of Lake City. At this time the same men who were so active in the past in organizing and keeping A.T.O. moving, again came forward and started their task anew, already twice completed with such promising outlook. As before the best men in school were approached and to all appearances successfully. The President of the school, a Kappa Alpha, had been interviewed for his consent and willingly gave it. He, however, unknown to anyone else called in another member of the faculty of his same fraternity and made known to him the intention of the A.T.O. Petitioners. They immediately set secretly to work upon the same plan and approached practically every man the petitioners had approached or would likely approach, and in some instances influenced them to assist in organizing a K.A. Chapter in competition to the A.T.O. Chapter. When the time came to reinstall the A.T.O. Chapter none of the men who had signified any intention of joining went K.A., but many good men were later lost in that manner. The class of material gained may well be shown by the fact that the Capt. of Co.A, a Lieut., Adjt., two recognized orators, Capt. of the football team as well as baseball and track, and several men on each team were among those numbered in the ranks of Alpha Tau. The scholarship standard was also upheld by having as members some of the most brilliant students in school. The offices on the campus were virtually filled by A.T.O.’s. The opening of the following year showed the standing of the Chapter, for all invitations extended to new students were accepted in preference to membership in another Fraternity. In 1905 this school again died down, as the state again changed its educational system and moved the University to Gainesville. The Charter was then transferred from Lake City to its present home. The men taken at that time were the most prominent in school, winning honors in every line of activity. They were not quartered in a Fraternity house but lived very pleasantly together in a private rooming house. Their character is well shown by the fact that there were ten of the fourteen members of the year ‘05 and ‘06 who volunteered in some branch of service and in most cases held high commissions. The year ‘06-'07 was a very successful one for the Chapter. Eight men were taken in and, in most cases, remained until graduation, doing much good during their course in school. The ‘07-’08 brought into the folds of A.T.O. eight more men who did their bit toward raising the standard. During this year scholarship was highly represented as well as all forms of athletics. Several men won oratorical honors and many offices were filled by Alpha Tau. The following year but six men were initiated but there were strong in those qualities which upbuild fraternities. One of these Brothers held as many offices of honor as one man could possibly bear and do the class of work which won him membership into the honorary Fraternity. The other men were not slackers but made themselves very prominent in every form of college activity. In 1909 six new men were initiated, two of whom made the football team and the other four men won many honors in scholarship. Two of these were elected into Phi Kappa Phi four years later, upon graduation. In this year Florida Alpha Omega furnished one Capt., and a First Lieut., in the military organization. It was also at this time that the plans were made towards erecting a permanent Chapter House as the suite downtown, although pleasant, was not satisfactory. In this year six of nine medals offered by the University were won by A.T.O.’s. These medals were offered for scholarship in Engineering, oratory, essay writing and marksmanship. An Alpha Tau was also Editor-In-Chief of the Pennant, a college publication. In military we had a Major and a Sergt. Major. Two of our men were on the football team, one of whom was Capt., and the other, President of the Athletic Association. This was the first year that the "Seminole", the college annual was published and Alpha Omega furnished its Editor-in-Chief and Athletic Editor. In 1910-11 nine initiates were taken in. These nine men proved to be the most valuable group of pledges that had been taken in for some time. The Chapter, as in the past, held the majority of all honors shared upon the campus. In this year was begun the payment on a lot with a Chapter House in view. 1911-12 was a very fortunate yet unfortunate year. It was fortunate for, in that year, it secured for Alpha Omega fourteen of the best men ever grouped on the Florida campus. It was unfortunate in that Fraternity rivalry became so prominent, and also because we lost one of our most beloved Brothers during this term. He had been a member of the football team three years and died from the effects of a blow which injured his heart. He was so well beloved that the whole battalion escorted his body to the train long after midnight. His death threw a gloom over the entire school as he was the most universally loved man who ever attended the University. Then Fraternity troubles arose with the Kappa Alphas who pledged men contrary to the conference and came very near securing some men Alpha Omega had in view. They withdrew from the conference for some time but were later reinstated. Some of the honors won by the members of the ‘11-’12 were the marksmanship medal, leadership of the Prom, President of Senior Law Class, and three men on the baseball team. Alpha Omega organized the first mandolin and dramatic clubs. In ‘12-’13 nine new men were initiated. The Chapter had been left in fine condition from the past year and had every chance to grow as it did. There were five Alpha Taus on the football team, including the Captain. The "Alligator", a school publication, was edited by a member of the Chapter and three men were elected to Phi Kappa Phi. The year 1913-’14, opened as usual, by A.T.O. securing every man she went after. Nine good men were initiated and a very prosperous year ensued. During this year the Conclave was held in Gainesville. At this time Alpha Tau Omega was urgently petitioned by the Phi Beta Psi Club at Stetson University. The Chapter was at first favorably impressed by the petitioners but later refused to pass upon their application. 1914-’15 furnished the Chapter with eleven new men of excellent promise. Most of them lived in the beautiful Chapter House, rented since 1912, and were thus brought closer together by the home life they enjoyed. On the football team we were represented by five men, one of whom was an all Southern player. Two Apha Taus were stars on the basketball team and one was on the baseball team. A.T.O.’s were successful in five oratorical contests and secured, besides, the Presidency of the Glee Club, Secy. of the combined Senior Classes, President of Theta Ribbon Society, John Marshall debating society, Secy., Cooley Club, Business Mgr. of Seminole, Treas. Farr Literary Society, President of Junior Law and Secy. of Sophomore class. One man made Phi Kappa Phi. In October of this year was held an all state A.T.O. banquet at Jacksonville. 1915-16 began by Alpha Omega landing every bid she placed. She made an excellent showing in every line. The President of absolutely every class was an A.T.O. and the football team had five members on it, two of whom were all Southern players. The baseball team had two Alpha Taus, both being stars and the basketball team had three places held down by our men. The editor of the "Alligator" and "Seminole", President of John Marshall Debating Society, Adjt., Capt., and a Lieut. were all of our Chapter. Two men made Phi Kappa Phi. At the beginning of the year, 1916-17, Alpha Omega bid fourteen men of whom she landed twelve, all of whom had opportunities to accept bids from other fraternities. The rented house was now given up and rooms taken downtown until the Chapter House, then under construction, could be completed. The house, when completed, cost $4,000.00 and contains room for eighteen to live comfortably. It is a great asset to the Chapter and has done much to lift it above the standing of the other Fraternities. We were represented this year by four men on the football team and two on the baseball team. The President of the Freshman, Junior and Senior Classes were A.T.O.’s, and four men were elected into the Serpent Ribbon Society and four into the Theta. We had two men on the basketball team, one on the track team and three in the band. We also had an Adjt., Capt., and two Lieuts. in military. The beginning of the scholastic year 1917-1918 was a period of grave anxiety and uncertainty, as the old men who returned to assume the duties of the Chapter did not feel capable of maintaining the excellent record that Florida Alpha Omega had enjoyed for so many years. None of the men returning to the Chapter had been in attendance upon the University for a longer period than two years, but though lacking in experience, there was no absence, among these brothers, of a high resolve to maintain the standards of Florida Alpha Omega, to the utmost of their ability, in spite of the many threatening dangers. To the following eight Brothers is to be credited the preservation of the Chapter’s identity during this very trying period: E. Brannon Casler, Jr., Paul G. Franklin, Dan P. Smith, Jr., Samuel L. Cheatham, M.G. Gibbons, Jr., Dickson H. Carter, Leo H. Wilson and Charles A. Stockton. Notwithstanding the absence of the usual amount of good fraternity material upon the University campus, by reason of the enlistment of so many men of college age in the military forces of our country, the returning members of the Chapter during the entire scholastic year initiated nine men worthy in every respect to wear the Maltese Cross and to shape their lives in accordance with the ideals which it exemplifies. It was not necessary to urge or force these new brothers to put their shoulders to the wheel to maintain the Chapter’s prestige, for they fully realized the gravity of the situation. Appreciating also the great honor conferred upon them by election to membership in our brotherhood, these initiates entered into the work of the Fraternity with a vim and determination to win for Florida Alpha Omega a place of the highest honor. Officers and honors in the student body during the year 1917-1918 were shared by the members of the Chapter as follows: Manager of the Football team, W.E. Stone; Manager of Basketball, W.M. Madison; Member of Board of Directors of University Athletic Council, Secretary-Treasurer of the Sophomore Class and Assistant Manager of Football team, E.B. Casler, Jr.; Members of the Inter-Fraternity Council, L.H. Wilson and D.H. Carter; Cooley Club, Local Legal Honorary Fraternity, D.H. Carter, M.G. Gibbons, Jr., and Lloyd Z. Morgan; Honorary Fraternity of Phi Kappa Phi, M.G. Gibbons, Jr., Honorary Local Agricultural Fraternity of Phi Alpha Kappa, W.E. Stone; Drum Major of University Battalion Band, L.H. Wilson; President of Inter-Society Debating Council, W.E. Stone; Member of Inter-Collegiate Debating Team, D.H. Carter; Assistant Business Manager of the Alligator, Student Weekly Publication, Lloyd A. Morgan; Athletic Editor of the Alligator, W.E. Stone; Member of Student Y.M.C.A. Cabinet, W.M. Madison and W.E. Stone. Before the end of the scholastic year, E.B. Casler, Jr., and C.A. Stockton left the University to enter the military service, and during the summer of 1918, S.L. Cheatham, M.G. Gibbons, Jr., D.H. Carter, W.E. Stone, J.R. Tatum and Leo H. Wilson, entered the ranks of our country’s defenders on the land and on the sea. On the second day of February, 1918, the Chapter was overcome with grief through the loss by death of our dear and beloved brother, Dan P. Smith, which occurred suddenly at New Smyrna, Florida. To attest the place of honor and esteem which our departed brother occupied in our hearts, the entire Chapter attended his funeral. Throughout the year Florida Alpha Omega occupied and carried on its activities in our Chapter House on Masonic Street which we occupied for the first time in the spring of 1917. The scholastic year of 1918-1919 of the University of Florida was ushered in while the world war clouds were hovering near. Military atmosphere reigned supreme and the students could almost hear the echo of the guns upon the battlefields of France appealing fro help. They were eager to take up arms besides the students of the previous year who had volunteered their services. In this trying time men were prompted by different reasons for entering the University of Florida than under normal conditions, and upon the brothers, whom the Fraternity had returned, was cast the grave responsibility of selecting Alpha Taus from this body that seemed wanting in fraternity material. Nineteen men were pledged during the year and they were indeed a good bunch, proving their value without an exception in a comparatively short time and showing their worthiness to wear our Maltese Cross. Before the establishment of the Students Army Training Corps, an influenza epidemic swept the town and the University. More than fifty percent of the students were confined to their beds at one time. Several of the brothers were included among the unfortunate. After the S.A.T.C. was established the Fraternity House was patriotically offered to and accepted by the Government to be used for the accommodation of a Naval unit. The brothers then taking up their abode in the dormitories which had been transformed into army barracks. During the war fraternal activities were suspended by order of the Government and as a consequence the social side of school was abandoned. They were resumed immediately upon the return after Christmas. The climax of the social season was reached by the A.T.O. Valentine dance, which was conceded by the other fraternities to have been the outstanding feature of the social year. The Chapter was twice stricken during the year with grief, by the death of two of our dear and beloved brothers, Ralph M. Thrasher, who died October 25, 1918, and Chas. A. Stockton whose death occurred early in November, 1918. Though these brothers are gone, they are not forgotten. Several old brothers who had enlisted in other branches of the service returned to the University upon their discharge from the army to resume their studies. The offices and honors of the student body and other organizations closely connected with the college were shared by the members as follows: Manager football team, E.B. Casler, Jr., Assistant, L.Z. Morgan; ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, L.H. Wilson, President, W.M. Madison, Vice-President, Student Member, L.Z. Morgan; JUNIOR CLASS, L.H. Wilson, Honor Representative, L.Z. Morgan, Reporter and Historian; JOHN MARSHALL DEBATING SOCIETY, L.Z. Morgan, President, S.W. Getzen, Vice-President; AGRICULTURAL CLUB, L.H. Wilson, Secy & Treas.; Y.M.C.A. COUNCIL, W.M. Madison, Vice-President, J.W. Bryce, Secretary & Treasurer; DEBATING COUNCIL, W.M. Madison, Secty. & Treas., J.W. Bryce, representative from Sophomore Class. We were also represented in athletics. Sewell, Madison, Morgan and Dodd were among the wearers of the S.A.T.C. "F" and Madison, Richbourg and Wilson the baseball "F". Considering the adverse conditions under which the Chapter was subjected during the year and especially during the first semester, it is to be congratulated for the fine showing it made during that scholastic year. The year 1919-’20 opened as one of the most promising in the history of Alpha Omega. The Chapter not only returned fourteen men from the past year, but in addition returned nine bothers who had been in the service of our country for a year or more. Then at the beginning of the second semester three more Alpha Taus rejoined us. There was an abundance of fraternity material on the campus and during the year twenty-one new men were initiated and one was pledged but not taken in. In contrast to this we were extremely sorry to lose six members during the year due to graduation and other causes. This year proved to be probably the most successful ever experienced by Florida Alpha Omega in athletics. It has been our honor to have both Captain, Manager and Assistant Manager of football, Manager of basketball and the Captain and Asst., Coach of baseball. In football three of our men were awarded the "F" and three the "F.A.A." In basketball five of our eight men on the squad were Alpha Taus and four of these received the "F". When baseball season ended six of our men received the "F". In college activities Alpha Omega was very successful. First, in scholarship, three Alpha Taus held first, second and third places for the highest averages in the University. This year also two of our men made Phi Kappa Phi and four made Phi Delta Phi. The following offices were held by Alpha Taus; President and Secretary of the Sophomore Class; Vice-President of the Junior Class; Vice-President of the Senior Class; Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Honor Representatives; President of the Pan-Hellenic Council; President and Vice-President of the John Marshall Debating Society; Assistant Managing editor and Athletic Editor of the "Seminole"; Chairman of the Junior Prom; a member of the Florida debating team; a member of John Marshall debating team. Besides these numerous Alpha Taus held offices in the various County Clubs on the campus. The premier comedian in the Florida Greater Minstrels was also an A.T.O. In this year we gave, probably, the greatest annual Valentine ball in our history. Papers commented on it as being "beautiful and brilliant" in every respect. Besides this the usual minor social functions of the year were given. One of these, which stands out particularly, was the smoker given in honor of Province Chief Julian J. Jones. At this smoker the Chapter was presented with the Inter-fraternity scholarship cup for having the highest average the preceding year. In this very successful year Alpha Omega made her first venture in the field of literature in the form of "Gator Grunts". Plans were also laid for a state wide reunion of Alpha Taus to be held in Tampa next year at which we hoped to clear off the bonded indebtedness on our house. All this was accomplished by the largest Chapter in the history of Alpha Omega. Crack! And Florida Alpha Omega was off with an ideal start on the 1920-’21 track. Rushing season passed, found us with nine excellent pledges displaying with pride the crescent and three stars in white and gold. Thirty of the previous year’s line-up reported "all present" and disclosed their intention of perpetuating A.T.O. and putting the real spirit in the pledges. One accomplishment makes this year stand out above all, except those in the extreme "babyhood" of this Chapter, when Alpha Omega squared her back to the wall and fought like a tiger for her life. We held a meeting in Tampa, November 6th, on the date of the Florida-Tulane football game, and besides organizing a state alumni association, managed to clear up $2,000.00 in bonds on our house, leaving us with a $700.00 house debt to carry, which we were able to obliterate by the time the closing bell had rung out the scholastic year. We held our share of honors scholastically and athletically. On the educational side of college life, we had three men elected to Phi Kappa Phi, three to Phi Delta Phi, and two to Phi Alpha Kappa, honorary agricultural fraternity. Brother H.G. Ford, our W.M., received the Biennial Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. Brothers Jim Franklin and Bill Madison, seniors of the law school, won the honor of having the highest scholastic averages ever given at this University. Along other lines, but still in honors, we had the Presidents of the Student Body, Senior Class and Freshman Class. Three Alpha Taus held places on the football team. We had Captain, Manager and four other men on the Varsity basketball team and Captain and three others on the baseball team. We had three brothers in "Scabbard and Blade", honorary military fraternity. Alpha Omega also furnished men for the berths of Editor-in-Chief of the "Alligator", and Assistant Manager of the "Seminole". Our annual Valentine ball was, as usual, the crowning feature of the social part of the term. We have set and maintained an unbeatable social standard by a big dance at this date each year. At that time we entertained many visiting alumni in our Fraternity Home. We were honored by a visit from Brother Julian J. Jones, our Province Chief, in whose honor we held a smoker and a banquet. We always enjoy visits from Brother Jones, because no matter how proud we are of our Fraternity, he always makes us feel a little prouder of being privileged to wear the "Maltese Cross". The brightness of the period was dimmed by the regrettable fact that we found it necessary to expel one of our members, who did not seem to possess the qualities required of an Alpha Tau Omega. The year closed with the organization of correspondence committees, who were to help keep the brothers throughout the state in touch with each other and to post them in regard to "prospects" for the succeeding year. The whole of the active chapter was present several days before the official opening of the University. By the time the hour of registration came, which marked the opening of the 1921-’22 pledging season, the house was ready for guests and all plans for our rushing campaign were mapped out. It was a typical "rushing season" and the smoke clearing away disclosed us with thirteen new aspirants of the "Maltese Cross". This year’s opening found us better fixed financially that ever before, since the last of the house debt had been cleared away the preceding year. We put before us an objective for this year, a complete refurnishing and remodeling of the house. Our plans have carried thru very well and we are very proud of the exterior and interior of our Home. Among the honors we held were President of Junior Law Class, Secty. & Treas. of Junior Class, and Vice-President of Freshman Class. Among the honorary fraternities we had one man in Phi Kappa Phi, four in Phi Delta Phi, two in Phi Alpha Kappa, two in "Scabbard and Balde" and one each in Alpha Phi Epsilon and Gamma Sigma Epsilon. We furnished Captain, Manager and two men for the basketball team; Coach, Captain, Manager and two men for baseball; A Captain and three Lieuts. for the R.O.T.C. Unit; Editor-in-Chief of the "Alligator"; and the Junior Representative and Secty. & Treas. of the Honor Committee. The twenty-first of April was "Governor’s Day" at the University and also "Father’s Day" in our Chapter. We gave an entertainment in honor of Governor Hardee and his Staff on the afternoon of the twenty-first. Brother Julian J. Jones, our Province Chief, was our welcome guest for the weekend. The night of the twenty-second was given over for a banquet in honor of our "Dads" and Brother Jones. Now, at the close of this year, we are getting our Alumni, of the different cities and towns of the state, organized and are going to put the summer’s rushing on a new and systematic basis.
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