Gamma Mu Chapter History: 1905-2000
The origins of the Gamma Mu Chapter of Delta Tau Delta began around 1905 and centered on an agreement made by three members of the 1905 graduation class of Seattle High School. These three seniors pledged to organize a local fraternity upon entering the University of Washington in case all three were not bid by the same fraternity.
They were not, and so Delta Delta was established in January of 1907. Due to acquaintances with A.J. Craven (an alumnus of Beta Rho of Delta Tau Delta - Stanford), H.H. Barter (an alumnus of Beta Upsilon - Illinois '04), and Robert Grass (a transfer from Beta Rho '07) the name Delta Delta was decided upon. The reason for this name as well as the wording of its constitution provided "that the purpose of Delta Delta shall be to become absorbed by Delta Tau Delta." Approaches by several other prominent national fraternities were not even considered. Their motto was "Delta Tau Delta or nothing!" On the house name plate, stationary, etc., a space was left between the words Delta and Delta for the missing TAU.
H.H. Barter - Illinois 04' & Robert Grass - Stanford 07'.In 1908, Delta Delta's dream was realized when their petition was accepted.
In 1916, Mr. R.M. Dyer, father of a member, started work on the Shelter and the same year Gamma Mu moved into its new home. The Shelter was the first house at the University of Washington to be built as a fraternity house, and the Delts were the envy of all the Greek houses.
World War I broke out in 1914 and by 1917 most of the Delts went into service. During the period of 1917-1919, Alpha Xi Delta, then a new sorority on campus, leased the Shelter. According to legend, they went so far as to plant geraniums in the urinals.
At the turn of the 1930's, Delta Tau Delta startled the University Campus by introducing the first fraternity house mother on the campus. The Delts ignored the sharp criticism leveled by the other fraternities concerning the new idea. All of the other houses, however, soon followed suit. Ironically, Delta Tau Delta was also the first fraternity to abandon the post. As campus attitudes changed, the house mother became an unnecessary encumbrance. At the turn of the 1950's, then chapter president Bob Mucklestone ushered Gamma Mu's last housemother out the door.
During World War II, the U.S. Navy used the shelter as barracks for Navy reservists. However, all of the Delts in the V-12 program were billeted in it.
The 1950's and 1960's say the house to grow to a membership of 130 men. In 1963, an annex was added. It doubled the capacity of the shelter and made it the largest house on campus in terms of both capacity and floor space. During this period, the chapter was universally acclaimed as the top chapter on campus. The 1960's also saw the house receive three Hugh Shields Awards for Chapter Excellence (1964-65, 1966-67, 1967-68.) The Hugh Shields Awards are awarded for being one of the Top 10 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
The turmoil on college campuses in the early 1970's caused Gamma Mu to suffer severely. Membership dropped from 130 in 1968 to a low of 15 in 1973. It was only through the diligent efforts of certain devoted actives and alumni that the chapter stayed alive at all. Eleven other fraternities on campus folded during this period. In 1974, the campus climate was changing and the alumni saw an opportunity to turn things around. They recruited a young alumnus, John P. Luidema '72 to lead the recruitment efforts of that summer. He was extremely successful, pledging 25 men of a caliber beyond anyone's wildest expectations.
However, during the early to mid 1980's, the chapter experienced a decline in membership. "Live-in" membership dropped to 42 in 1986. Yet, with the enthusiastic "Gamma Mu Renaissance Campaign" (1987) headed by alumnus George Bray '66, the chapter was revitalized with the induction of 29 quality men. During the same year the Gamma Mu Delt's nationally recognized Miss Greek Pageant, benefiting the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, was initiated. Although suffering a financial loss during its first year, first year chairman Christopher Chan began a philanthropy, which has raised over a quarter of million dollars in the last six years alone.
During the next three years, with selective pledge classes of at least 28 each year, Gammu Mu again became one of the leaders both nationally and locally (Delta Tau Delta International Court of Honor during those three years) winning Homecoming and placing in every other Greek event during 1989-93. After two decades, the Shelter was once again filled over capacity for the second consecutive year with over 80 members.
Highlighting the 1991-92 and 1992-93 years were the presentations of the fourth and fifth Hugh Shields Awards to the chapter. Gamma Mu still retains the flag for five Hugh Shields Awards as a symbol of excellence. The chapter had come along way and even now is only a step away from winning its sixth Hugh Shields for being among the top ten chapters of Delta Tau Delta.
With the arrival of the 1997-98 year, the University of Washington Greek System has encountered decreasing membership numbers. Delta Tau Delta has survived because of its enthusiastic and relentless membership. The Gamma Mu Delts' have overwhelmingly led Greek philanthropic efforts through the Miss Greek Pageant. The Pageant has raised an enormous amount of money ($60,000 1996, $64,000 1997, and $68,000 1998) for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center based in Seattle. The 1999 Ms. Greek efforts are on track to match, if not better, all previous years.
The undergraduate members of Gamma Mu take great pride in and responsibility for the fact that the money donated to Fred Hutchinson funds the research of two scientists and without which the work done by these two scientists would not be possible.
1998-99 has been a year full of promise. With a resurgence in alumni support and participation through the efforts of our undergraduate members and alumni such as Denny Brawford, Greg Ashihara, Mike Nelson, and numerous others, Founder's Day was a huge success. Founders Day (May 1999) looks to be another huge success. Gamma Mu Chapter also continues to shine in various other aspects. During the summer several delegates ventured to Karnea 98 in Kansas City, Missouri. Two weeks later the chapter accepted its first award for Internet/Web Site programming with the Arch Chapter's August 1998 Website of the Month. Just recently, the 1999 Western Pacific Division Conference was held in the Bellevue Hilton with Gamma Mu as the host chapter. The conference was a huge success with International President Tom Huddleston, 2nd V.P. Steve Chandler, and several other Arch Chapter members in attendance. Another success at the conference saw Gamma Mu's Ritual Crew led by Patrick Lindblom and Jeremy Wilson perform the Ritual to perfection. The conference also saw the awarding of a several more awards to the chapter for Best Financial Management and another Arch Chapter award for the best chapter website in the Division. With successful recruitment efforts already underway during the winter quarter of 1999 and the resounding success of the 1999 Divisional Conference, the Gamma Mu Chapter is looking to cross that last bridge towards the awarding of another Hugh Shields Award in 2000.
With the size of the facility, the quality of membership, and the recent resurgence in alumni support through this year's Founders' Day festivities, the Gamma Mu Chapter of Delta Tau Delta has once again tasted the unlimited potential for both growth and excellence. We have a great heritage and our future greatness will not be denied.
Delt Alumni, If you have any suggestions, additions, questions, and or comments about this page, then please let us know.
Written by Jeremy Wilson (May 21, 1998.) Last revised April 27, 2000.
Extra special thanks to Steve Zehrung and Rashid Sykes (1997-98 Pledge Educators) who amended this brief history of the chapter.
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