HISTORY
"From the very beginning, Sigma Tau Gamma prospered, both in membership and service. Its challenge to students to live well and
promote the spirit of brotherhood was continually being met by those who were seeking membership."
-Edward H. McCune, Founder and 4th National President
promote the spirit of brotherhood was continually being met by those who were seeking membership."
-Edward H. McCune, Founder and 4th National President
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Sigma Tau Gamma was founded on the historic morning of Monday, June 28, 1920 on the campus of what is now known as the University of Central Missouri, located in Warrensburg, Missouri.
On November 11th, 1918, World War One had finally come to end. After eighteen gruesome months of battle, Emmett Ellis, Leland Thornton Hoback, Edward George Grannert, and William Glenn Parsons were going home. These four brothers had been through thick and thin together, and decided to further their education together as well. They enrolled at the Central Missouri State Teachers College(University of Central Missouri). However, they wanted to get something more out of college than just their degree. They had seen death, and were determined to maximize their college experience. Sure enough, on the morning of June 28, 1920, seventeen men came together to form the eternal brotherhood of Sigma Tau Gamma. These founders established the six principles sacred to the fraternity: value, learning, leadership, excellence, benefit, and integrity. Each member of Sigma Tau Gamma is expected to uphold these six values in every aspect of his life. |
The original petition to form Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity, signed June 28, 1920
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Dr. Emmett EllisAfter serving in the Great War with an Army Ambulance Company alongside fellow students, 29 year old veteran Emmett Ellis returned to Warrensburg, Missouri to complete his bachelor's degree at Central Missouri State Teachers College . He wanted to rebuild the strong connections he made during his time in the war and as a result, became a founder and the first National President of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. Afterwards, he became a mathematics professor at Central Missouri and faculty advisor to the Alpha Chapter. In the mid 1960's, Dr. Ellis spearheaded the relocation of the fraternity national headquarters to its founding site where he had signed the petition with the seventeen other founders 40 years earlier. The largest residence hall at Central Missouri is named after Dr. Ellis, and today, Sigma Tau Gamma nationals gives a chapter scholarship award in his honor.
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PRESENT DAY
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There are over 140 chapters of Sigma Tau Gamma spread nationwide. The Epsilon Phi Chapter at the University of Alabama received their charter on October 20, 2013. In the Fall of 2018, the Epsilon Phi Chapter will be entering its sixth season of recruitment and marking its fourth year in one of the largest greek communities in the country.
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