Beta Theta Pi - University of Oklahoma

Attention: This newsletter is intended for alumni and parents. If your son is attending the University of Oklahoma, he will receive a copy at the Chapter House. If he has graduated, please send us his permanent address to update our records. Thank you. Beta tHeta Pi CorPoratioN P.o. Box 721805 NormaN, oK 73070 Address Service Requested BQP WooGliN oN Chautauqua I n 1905 Oklahoma and Texas played the eighth meeting of the annual OU-Texas football game. Oklahoma had lost the first seven meetings. With time running out in the game, Texas had the ball and the score was 0-0. Oklahoma's Robert Severin, Roll #11, smashed through the line and tackled Texas' halfback behind the goal line for a safety. The safety was enough to win the game, 2-0. Those two points were the biggest two points in Oklahoma's young football history and resulted in the first victory over the University of Texas. In Norman, Brother Severin became a football hero. The Longhorns' quarterback in 1905 was William Francis, a member of the Beta Omicron chapter of Beta Theta Pi at Texas. Supposedly, the Texas loss made Francis so mad that he swore that "there would never be a Beta chapter in Oklahoma Territory." According to research by Brother Fred Patrick '64, in April 1906, Beta General Secretary Francis Sisson wrote that he believed, due to "active opposition by the Texas chapter," it was unlikely the Beta Convention delegates would grant Oklahoma a charter. So, Texas held up our Beta charter for an additional year. More reasons to hate Texas! Finally, in 1907, Gamma Phi was granted a charter and became a chapter of Beta Theta Pi. LOOK INSIDE New campaign goal and photos from our groundbreaking event BETA'S HISTORY BUILDS OUR FUTURE BETA AND PE-ET oldeSt hoNor SoCiety oN CamPuS filled With BetaS P e-et is the oldest honor society on campus. It was founded on April 10, 1910, by 10 members of the class of 1910 to recognize the highest ability in scholarship, leadership, and athletics. Membership is limited to "the ten best" who have exceptional all-round record of activities. Pe-et was made up of all men until 1980. Brother Arthur Kaye Dawson, Roll #40, was one of the founding members of Pe-et. Since the origin of Pe-et, we have identified at least 90 Betas who have been selected. The most recent was Beta President Nick Coffey '13 in 2013. Over the last 104 years, there have been fewer than 770 men selected to Pe-et. Betas make up more than 10 percent of this number and are the fraternity with the greatest representation in Pe-et. As part of the complete history of the OU Beta, we want to make sure we have all members of Pe-et identified. Amazingly, there are certain years that were not recorded by the Sooner Yearbook or the university. If you were a member of as Pe-et, or know of a Beta who was, in the years of 1948, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1982, or 1998, we would like to hear from you. Please make a note on the enclosed alumni update or e-mail the information to robert@rsbeall.com. Call for Beta hiStory - reliCS - artifaCtS D o you have Beta relics that help tell the story of the Gamma Phi Chapter? If so, we would like to possibly include them in the renovated and expanded 800 Chautauqua. Do you have: • Beta party favors from Barn Dance or other parties? • Pledge class lists, photos, items taken from the fraternity house? • Beta stuff in your attic or garage that you need to get rid of? If so, contact Hank Ryan '72 at hank@hgryan.com or call (405) 360-1655. Football Season Is Around the Corner Beta and Oklahoma's First Win over Texas www.oklahomabeta.org Facebook: Beta Theta Pi - University of Oklahoma Twitter: @Beta_Oklahoma Connect Online

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