Theta Chi Salutes - George Chapman - Rattle Summer 1968
As Revised from an Article by the Late George Starr Lasher
If George W. Chapman needed another title, it might rightly be Mr. Theta Chi . . . as he has served as Executive Director for the past twenty years and has supervised the fraternity's growth from 75 chapters in 1947 to the present 144 active chapters and 5 colonies.
Mr. Chapman began his life-long interest in fraternities at Penn State where he was president of Phi Tau Alpha which in 1919 became Omega Chapter of Theta Chi, and he was one of the original initiates.
Graduating from Penn State College (now University) in 1920 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, George Chapman possessed a journalism urge in his undergraduate days that led to such campus posts as associate editor of Froth, humor magazine; assistant editor of "Penn State Engineer," and editor-in-chief of El Dorado, literary magazine. As a result he became a member of Pi Delta Epsilon, Journalism fraternity. He was on his class teams in soccer, baseball, and lacrosse and a member of the varsity soccer and lacrosse squad.
After graduation he was in the steel equipment business as a salesman and sales manager for 19 years. In 1939 he became a producer's representative in the commercial motion picture industry. From 1941 to 1947 he wrote, directed, and produced institutional, advertising, and training motion pictures. During the war years he wrote and directed many pictures for the U.S. Office of Education, the United States Army and the United States Navy Department from which he received a Citation for his work. In 1951 he received the graduate degree of Industrial Engineer from Pennsylvania State University.
The Philadelphia Council Boy Scouts of America claim George Chapman as a member for over 55 years. He is a member of the National Council, Boy Scouts of America and of the National Committee of the Order of the Arrow; he is a charter member and the first chief of the first lodge of this organization. He has been awarded the Silver Beaver of the Boy Scouts and the Distinguished Service Awards of the Order of the Arrow and the Philadelphia Council of B.S.A. He is a member of Alpha Phi Omega.
He is presently a reserve officer in the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve, Ret. He served with the U.S. Naval Reserve during WW I and the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve during WW II.
George Chapman never ceased to participate actively in Theta Chi. Following service as alumnus ad-visor of the Penn State chapter, he became one of the first appointed counselors in 1935 in the new regional program adopted by the fraternity; of which he served as chairman of the organizing committee. In 1937 he was named National Marshal and in 1941 he became National Treasurer, serving on the Grand Chapter a total of 9 years. In 1939 he instituted, programmed, and con-ducted the first School of Fraternity Practices which has been an important part of every Convention since then. He then produced the Handbook of Theta Chi Fraternity in two volumes, one for undergraduate reference, the other for alumni. He later produced and edited the Manual of Theta Chi. Both these publications have proved helpful to many other national fraternities in producing their own publications.
All of Theta Chi's awards and recognitions were originated and designed by George Chapman. Unique in these recognitions is the Appreciation Award which honors and recognizes women who have aided the Fraternity Movement. Theta Chi is perhaps the only fraternity which has an award for women.
George Chapman has been accorded honors of Theta Chi . . . he holds the Distinguished Service Award, Alumni Awards presented by his chapter and by the Grand Chapter, and the Golden Guard Certificate. He has been made an honorary member of more than 80 chapters. His wife, Mary, appropriately wears the Appreciation Award.
Governors of many states have conferred upon him their state's honor; he is Goodwill Ambassador for North Carolina, has been commissioned Lt. Col. by the Governor of Florida, appointed an Admiral in the navy of the state of Nebraska, and is a Lt. Col. in the Alabama State Militia.
He is married to the young girl whom he romanced during college, Mary E. Craley. They have three children (2 Theta Chi sons and a Kappa Kappa Gamma daughter), and seven grandchildren. The Chapmans presently reside in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Philadelphia. They are members of the Society of Friends.
Over the years he has won the respect of the fraternity leaders who make up the National Interfraternity Conference ,Executive Committee through the authority that comes from experience mixed with diplomatic presentation of his ideas. He has been willing to give of his time and energy "beyond the call of duty" because he is so thoroughly dedicated to the fraternity philosophy. George Chapman served as an energizing force in making the College Fraternity Secretaries' Association a more positive agency in interfraternity affairs. He has served in every major office of the organization. As chairman of the publications committee, he originated and directed the annual publication of the C.F.S.A. Directory, Dean's Directory, and the College and University Calendar which have great value to fraternity administrators. For 9 years he represented the Secretaries on the N.I.C. Executive Committee.
With a background of practical experience of 50 years of service for his fraternity as layman and pro-fessional, George Chapman can truly be called Mr. Theta Chi. Knowing that his fraternity is only as strong as the system of which it is a part, he is a strong believer in sharing ideas and procedures with other fraternities and believes in doing everything he can to help further the Fraternity movement. And, George W. Chapman is a person who practices his beliefs.
