Tau Kappa Epsilon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Motto | Not for Wealth, Rank, or Honor, but for Personal Worth and Character |
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| Colors | Cherry (crimson lake) and Gray (pure silver) |
| Symbol | Equilateral Triangle |
| Flower | Red Carnation |
| Founded | January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University |
| Fraternity type | Social |
| Scope | International |
| Headquarters | 8645 Founders Road Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Chapters | 274 |
| Homepage | http://www.tke.org/ |
Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE, pronounced T-K-E or "Teke", as in teak wood) is a college fraternity with chapters in the USA, Germany, and Canada, and was founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. With 274 active collegiate chapters and colonies throughout the United States and Canada, TKE has been the largest social fraternity in the world by number of chapters since 1961. The Five founders of TKE are Charles Roy Atkinson, Clarence Arthur Mayer, James Carson McNutt, Joseph Lorenzo Settles, and Owen Ison Truitt.
Tau Kappa Epsilon was originally named the Knights of Classic Lore with the goal of establishing a fraternity where membership is based on personal worth and character rather than wealth, rank, or honor.
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[edit] Symbols and traditions
The TKE Coat-of-Arms is a shield of a Norman form, upon which has a bend with five equilateral triangles, surmounting a scroll bearing five Greek letter, and surrmounted by a skull, or death's head, three-quarters profile. This assemblage is done on the official colors, cherry red and battleship grey, properly mantled. The Coat-of-Arms may be used only by official members of the Fraternity on stationary, jewelry, and other personal effects. It is used by the Fraternity upon its official stationary, membership certificates, and other documents. Modified slightly several times during the early years of Tau Kappa Epsilon, the present Coat-of-Arms, adopted in 1926, was designed by Dr. Carlton B. Pierce and Ms. Emily Butterfield.
| Prytanis: | President | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Epiprytanis: | Vice-President | ||
| Grammateus: | Secretary | ||
| Crysophylos: | Treasurer | ||
| Histor: | Historian | ||
| Hypophetes: | Chaplain (Academics) | ||
| Pylortes: | Sgt. at Arms (Risk Management) | ||
| Hegemon: | New Member Education | ||
The red carnation is the flower of the fraternity. From this flower the color for our coat-of-arms, flag, and other symbols. Red carnations are also worn during initiations and at TKE banquets. The Red Carnation Ball is a dance that many chapters celebrate, and is named after the flower.
The patron is Apollo, and is one of the most important Olympian divinities. The Grecian god of music, culture, and the ideals toward which all Tekes must constantly be striving. Typifying the finest development of manhood, the selection of Apollo is most appropriate.
The official membership badge, made of either white or Roman gold and adorned with three white pearls, is by far the most important item of TKE insignia in general use. Only this badge may be worn by undergraduate members. Jeweled badges, crown set with pearls, diamonds, rubies or emeralds, according to choice, may be worn by alumni members. Frequently the standard membership badge is used as a token of engagement. Miniature badges are also available for mothers, sisters, or for engagement purposes. The TKE 'badge of gold', unique in its design and distinctiveness, has never been changed since its adoption.
The present design of the TKE flag, as adopted at the 1961 Conclave, features five voided triangles, in cherry red, on a gray bend surmounting a red field. Due to its patterning after the shield of the fraternity Coat-of-Arms, the flag is readily associated with Tau Kappa Epsilon. Individual chapters may also purchase and use pennants and wall banners of various designs. These usually employ the name or Greek letters of the fraternity and chapter, and may incorporate the basic TKE insignia. TKE insignia must be purchased from the Offices of the Grand Chapter.
[edit] The Horse Shoe
- In April of 1921 members of the Fraternity at The Ohio State University made their way to the Conclave in Madison, Wisconsin. At the conclusion of the vote granting their charter as Omicron Chapter, one of the members pulled from his pants pocket a rusty horseshoe which the fraters had picked up along the way. Believing that the horseshoe had granted the chapter good luck, the tradition began to pass the horseshoe down to each chapter. The original horseshoe was lost during WWII at the Alpha-Chi Chapter, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (it was replaced with a new horseshoe to continue the tradition). - - In mid-1995, the original horseshoe was discovered by Past Grand Prytanis Rodney Williams among some artifacts belonging to Alpha-Chi Chapter, which had been held for years by a charter member of the chapter. At the 49th Biennial Conclave, the original TKE horseshoe from Omicron Chapter was displayed, and the story behind its loss explained.
[edit] International officers
Grand Officers
- Grand Prytanis (president): Mark A. Fite, CFC
- Grand Epiprytanis (vice-president): Robert I. McMurry
- Grand Grammateus (secretary): Mark K. Johnson
- Grand Crysophylos (treasurer): Julius J. Edelmann, Jr., CFC
- Grand Histor (historian): Charles J. Trabold, CFC
- Grand Hypophetes (academics): Brian C.M. Barrett
- Grand Pylortes (Sgt. at Arms): Dr. Herbert L. Songer
- Grand Hegemon (new member education): Rodney G. Talbot
- Chief Executive Officer: Kevin Mayeux, CAE
The eight Grand Officers along with the CEO act as members of the executive board of the fraternity. Their titles are derived from the titles given to the officers of undergraduate chapters. With the exception of the Grand Prytanis (president) the honorific titles do not necessarily reflect the duties of these officers. The CEO handles day-to-day operation, finances and the administration of the international organization. The CEO also supervises the fraternity's professional and volunteer staff.
Additional Headquarters Staff
- General Manager / Vice President: Brian Ferber, CAE
- Director of Chapter Services: Paul Lawson, CAE
- Director of Programs: Justin Kirk
- Executive Assistant to the CEO: Christopher D.M. Walsh
- Regional Director (Northeast): Todd Farmer
- Regional Director (South): Louie Correa
- Regional Director (Midwest): Kevin Smith
- Regional Director (Plains & West): Eric Chamberlain
- Communications Coordinator: Tom McAninch
- Business Manager: Rob Taflinger
- Standards Coordinator: Ethan Stubbs
- Standards Coordinator: Jason Clagg
- Recruitment Coordinator: Bryston Cutter
- Colony Coordinator: Jack Pasco
- Expansion Consultant: Jon Hackler
- Expansion Consultant: Joshua Yeager
- Director of Chapter Development: Dennis "Buckwheat" Perry
- Director of Membership: Shirley Mills
- Executive Secretary: Joyce-Ann Anderson
- Systems Administrator: Jill Konija
- Services Adminstrator: Regina Taylor
- Production Manager/Teke Magazine Supervisor/Archivist: Katie Sayre
- Director of Finance: Ernestine Mann, CPA
- Network Administrator: Erik Couch
- Foundation President: Gary A. Reed
- Foundation Director of Alumni Relations: Eric Richards
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] Government
- Ronald W. Reagan - 40th President of the United States
- Charles E. Whittaker - U.S. Supreme Court Justice
- Roger W. Jepsen - U.S. Senator (Iowa)
- Robert C. Byrd - U.S. Senator (West Virginia)
- Robert L. "Bob" Barr, Jr. - U.S. Congressman (Georgia)
- Earl Pomeroy - U.S. Congressman (North Dakota)
- Carl D. Pursell - U.S. Congressman
- James H. Quillen - U.S. Congressman (Tennessee)
- Wes Watkins - U.S. Congressman (Oklahoma)
- Bill Brewster - U.S. Congressman
- Ryan C. Crocker - U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Lebanon, Kuwait and Syria
- Richard B. Stone - U.S Ambassador to Denmark
- Albert Rosellini - Governor of Washington
- Robert A. Butterworth, Jr. - Florida Attorney General
- Charles Foti, Jr. - Louisiana Attorney General
- Greg Pyle - Chief of the Choctaw Nation
- Gary Doer - Premier of Manitoba
- William Hagan - Political writer and Communications Director for Congressman Mac Collins
[edit] Business and industry
- Raymond G. Chambers - Co-Owner of the New Jersey Nets
- Roger J. Dow - VP of Marketing for Marriott Hotels
- Edward C. Droste - Co-Founder of Hooters
- Conrad M. Hilton - Founder of Hilton Hotels
- James P. Evans - CEO of Jenny Craig
- James M. Kilts - Chairman and CEO of The Gillette Company
- Paul R. Oreffice - CEO of Dow Chemical
- Howard D. Schultz - Principal Owner of Starbucks
- Robert L. Nardelli - Chairman, President and CEO of The Home Depot
- W. Alan McCollough - Former Chairman, President and CEO of Circuit City
- Charles R. Walgreen, Jr - Chairman of Walgreens Drugs
- Paul Mobley - President of Noble Romans Pizza
- Scott "Skeeter" Albea- Preisdent of Atlas Van Lines
[edit] Education
- Gregory L. Geoffroy - President of Iowa State University
- Dr. William V. Muse - Chancellor of East Carolina University
- Joseph J. Sisco - President of American University
- Hoke L. Smith - President of Towson University
- Brian Wansink - Cornell University Professor and Food Psychologist
[edit] Athletics
- Terry Bradshaw - NFL Star and TV Analyst
- Lou Carnesecca - St. John's Basketball Coach
- George S. Halas - Founder of the NFL, owner of the Chicago Bears
- Marv Levy - Former Head Football Coach Buffalo Bills
- Richard F. "Digger" Phelps - Notre Dame Basketball Coach and TV Analyst
- Phil Simms - NFL Star and TV Commentator
- Paul Wight Jr. - Professional Wrestler also known as his in ring name The Big Show
- Rich Dozer - President, Arizona Diamondbacks & former President, Phoenix Suns
- John L. Smith - Head Coach, Michigan State Football
[edit] Entertainment
- Elvis Presley - Rock 'n' Roll singer and actor (honorary member)
- Eric Bloom - Lead singer of Blue Öyster Cult
- The Everly Brothers - Vocal group
- Fred Dryer - TV's "Hunter"
- Merv Griffin - Entertainer and TV personality
- Andy Lauer - Actor
- Ty Martin - Blues and jazz guitarist
- Willie Nelson - Country music Songwriter and singer (honorary member)
- Les Paul - Inventor of the electric guitar
- George Sunga - Television producer
- Danny Thomas - Entertainer and TV personality
- Robert Wuhl - Actor
[edit] Military and NASA
- Andrew Allen — NASA astronaut
- Earl E. Anderson — youngest 4-star general in the United States Marine Corps
- Gerald P. Carr — NASA astronaut, Commander U.S. Skylab IV
- John Fisher — Rear Admiral, United States Navy, President of The Navy League
- Roy K. Flint — Dean, U.S. Military Academy at West Point
- Terrell T. Reddick — Brigadier General, United States Army
- Jere Brower — General United States Army Europe Commander
[edit] Philanthropic, literary, and religious
- William A. Fowler - Nobel Prize for Physics, Nuclear Astrophysics, Professor
- Eugene Frank - Methodist Bishop
- Bruce Gordon - President, NAACP
- David R. Jones - Editor, New York Times
- Ralph Keyes - President, Kiwanis Foundation
[edit] Chapters and colonies
See List of chapters and colonies of Tau Kappa Epsilon for links and information
Tau Kappa Epsilon is also affiliated with the German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent(WSC). The WSC includes the Corps Franconia zu Darmstadt, Corps Vitruvia Munich, Corps Montania Clausthal and other fraternities.
