The Hype

A Bit of History: A passage from Acacia history

by Jacob Sloan

Tal Gribbins, Director of Communications at Acacia's International Headquarters, recently passed along this historical document to our chapter. The following is from "Acacia Fraternity: The First Half Century" by Dr. William S. Dye, Jr.

The year 1947 ended with the reactivation of the Texas Chapter.  Although it was without a house and had to exist merely as a club for a while, 21 student members were initiated on December 14, and the Chapter started operations.

The Texas Chapter had had a prosperous existence from the time of its installation in 1916 until the late 1920s.  Then lack of competent leadership, coupled with difficulties resulting from the strict membership requirements, rendered it easy prey for the depression years.  As a result, the Chapter gave up the ghost in the spring of 1934.

An attempt was made in 1940 to reactivate the Chapter, but the war intervened and the attempt failed.  In May 1947, George Croyle, Traveling Secretary, came to Austin and enlisted the aid of Louis Baethe, and together they succeeded in getting the nucleus of a chapter started.

Therefore, on that pleasant Sunday afternoon in 1947, 21 new members were initiated into Acacia under the auspices of a group of 29 men from the two neighboring chapters at Oklahoma and Oklahoma A&M.  Quarters were secured for the Chapter through the influence and efforts of the local alumni, particularly Frank Holloway, a most energetic and successful business man of Austin, who was also an alumnus member of the Chapter, and who later was to be chosen National Treasurer of the Fraternity.

The Texas Chapter is proud to be able to celebrate this history--especially after experiencing our most recent re-founding here on the Texas campus. If any of you have any more historical documents, please feel free to pass them along to our Alumni Relations Chairman, Venerable Dean or our Chapter Advisor Rob Mickam.