May 1932 Omegaphone
Welcome Folks
As the brisk March winds drive away winter’s snow clouds and the first signs of spring appear, we find Omega looking forward with great pleasure to the celebration of Mother’s Day. On this memorable occasion our one objective lies in the entertainment of those who mean so much to us. Mothers, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends, we solicit your presence and entreat you to spend a delightful week-end at Penn State. So come on folks; our house is yours.
President’s Message
With sincere congratulations to the retiring officers from the newly installed officers and the greatest pleasure on my part, I make my bed as author of the president’s message of our chapter letter. In trying to fulfill our duties we only hope that we can approach the enviable record of our most recent predecessors. This, we know, is a lofty aim but we have pledged ourselves to do all in our power to fulfill these ideals. We ask, and know that we will receive, the most early cooperation of the active as well as of the alumni chapter.
Our principal physical objective this spring is the improvement of the lawn. With this aim in view we have already started work on the completion of the landscape plan designed for us in the original organization of the house. A second objective is addition to the already numerous volumes of our library. To the alumni we say that when our shelves are filled we will be more than willing to construct new ones to care for any books they send us.
Since the Omegaphone is primarily intended for the alumni of our chapter we wish that they would advise us more often concerning their activities. In addition, we would be pleased - even happy - to have them return and spend a few days with us. We will, as in the past, endeavor to make the visit attractive and well worth while.
One more request to the alumni, and I will surrender my place to more fluent writers. Let us hear from you by means of the final page of this issue of the Omegaphone. Due to the large number of men graduating this year, and due to the possibility that some of the underclassmen may not be able to return we are going got need several men to fill the house next year. We ask your cooperation in the matter of selecting men worthy of the honor of becoming members of our fraternity. We will be grateful for the names and additional information of any prospective material for Theta Chi.
A final reminder - do not forget the Seventy-sixth Annual Convention of Theta Chi to be held at the hotel Commodore in New York city on September the eight, with and tenth!! A majority of the members of the active chapter are planning to attend, and we are anticipating with pleasure meeting just as many of the alumni there.
Fraternally,
Robert H. Young
Omega Elections
Retiring Officers - Incoming Officer
C. Edgar Newcomer - President - Robert H. Young
John L. Carson - Vice President - John Q. Rodgers
Benjamin J. Conard - Secretary - S. Dale Kaufman
John Q. Rodgers - Treasurer - William M. Dunlap
Kenneth L. Page - Marshall - Ernest D. Wilby
R. Paul Fugate - Chaplin - Walter Coates
Harry D. Greiner - Librarian - Joseph S. Alexander
George Decker - Historian - Robert Grun
William M. Dunlap - Asst. Treasurer - Chester V. Harbison
Robert H. Young - First Guard - George Decker
Ernest D. Wilby - Second Guard - Calvin Saunders
Seniors Graduating
John Carson, St. Davids, Pennsylvania
Benjamin Conard, Oak Lane, Pennsylvania
Robert Faries, St. Davids, Pennsylvania
Paul Fugate, Germantown, Pennsylvania
Albert Gilmer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Charles Hammond, St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania
Walter Keene, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Roy Maize, Uniontown, Pennsylvania
William Mearns, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Edgar newcomer, Steelton, Pennsylvania
Kenneth Page, Erie, Pennsylvania
Charles Schwenk, Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
Samuel Sinclair, Kennet Square, Pennsylvania
Edward White, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Sherwood Booth, Bangor, Pennsylvania, was graduated in February, 1932
In June, 1932, Penn State will graduate fourteen Theta Chis these men have spent four years in pursuit of their studies and have emerged victorious in the momentous struggle with “old man Education.” But to Omega it does not mean merely fourteen more State graduates. To Omega it means the passing of fourteen loyal supporters whose efforts have always been devoted to the welfare of our chapter, and we will be hard to fill. Brother Seniors, Omega is proud of you and wishes you luck as you cross the threshold into a new life. Au revoir!
Alumni News
We have just received a note from “Hap” Clouser ’25, informing us of the arrival of a bouncing baby boy. Greeting, John Williams, here’s luck for you!
Floyd Foster ’31 of New Kensington, came up several weeks ago fro the Inter-Fraternity Ball. He apparently enjoyed the affair to his fullest capacity.
Puss Miller ’31 has announced his reengagement to Muss Marie McMahon.
Norm Horner, it is rumored, is moving into a new house shorty.
Gordon S. Altman ’27 will be married to Miss Alive Travis on May 9. Congratulations and good luck, Gordon!
Founder's Day Banquet
On April 10, Omega held their Founder’s Day banquet and was well pleased to see many of their own chapter founder present. Among the visiting alumni were Pete Smith, our first president; John Irwin, treasurer of the alumni association; Norm Horner, secretary of the association; George Chapman, president of the association; Brothers Cassel, Doan, Nesbitt, Hofford, and a few others. Most of the alumni back were members of the old Phi Tau Alpha local fraternity which because the Omega Chapter of Theta Chi in 1919. The banquet was concluded by speeches from George Chapman, Norm Horner, Johnny Irwin, Pete Smith, and out president, Newcomer.
The History
George Chapman, president of our alumni association, has presented the Grand Chapter with a complete history of Omega Chapter (click here to download a copy), from its inception as the Northeast Club of Philadelphia back in 1914, down to its present-day status. The Grand Chapter, upon complimenting Brother Chapman, said the recited was the clearest piece of work they had ever seen, in this respect. Actives of the fraternity were presented with a copy of the original on Founder;s Day. It certainly is an excellent account, the fruit of eight months of Brother Chapman's space time. We all owe his a vote of thanks, and the entire chapter appreciates his efforts in this work.
The Planting of the Tree
With much ceremony and appropriate rites a tree, in commemoration of Washington's Birthday, was planted in the lawn of Omega Chapter. Speeches by Ben Conard and Eddie Newcomer graced the occasion while fitting music was supplied by Norm Deitrick’s fiddle. An overcast sky and a slight rain did not dampen the spirits of the celebrators as the turf was turned and the foundations for a mighty evergreen were laid. The tree at present is only three feet high but watch it grow, folks, watch it grow!
Intra-Mural Sports
Although we have not, as yet, succeeded in winning a championship Theta Chi is still competing in all the tournaments.
Our contract bridge team, composed of Newcomer and Wilby, advanced to the semi-finals of the bridge tournament by beating Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Pi, and Theta Upsilon Omega. We were finally eliminated though, by Pi Kappa Alpha, in a close contest.
In soccer, our last year’s champions unfortunately lost their first game to Sigma Phi Alpha. A new ruling, barring neural men from competing, hurt our chances considerably. Nevertheless Sinclair, Hammond, Schwenk, Dunlap, and Hann put up a hard battle.
The Pi K A’s were again our downfall in tennis. They defeated our team of Newcomer, Wilby, Kaufman and Asplund in rather easy fashion.
Fay and Decker advanced to the second round in the house shoe affair but unfortunately lot to a better team.
Musical has not begun yet, but candidates are practicing every evening on the lost across the street. Johnny Schwenk will, no doubt, pick a team soon to represent us in the tournament. We also hope to enter the track meet next week as several men in the house are possible point winners for us in this sport.
Retiring President’s Message
As we, the retiring officers, look back over our four years in college and four years in Theta Chi, we feel confident in saying that this year has been out most enjoyable and successful one. We have tried to the best of our ability to keep our standards on a higher level. We hd many vital questions com up before us, all of which we tired to handle in a perfect manner. To the active chapter we own our gratitude and appreciation for what they have done in making our tasks very pleasant ones.
Before we depart may we leave on thought - we, who will be gradated in June, wish the best of luck and success to al Theta Chi’s who are to follow. May your work be pleasant and enjoyable as ours has been, and maybe you have success in everything you desire to do!
Edgar Newcomer
Thank you to all those brothers that shared their news.
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