Tau Chapter

Tau Chapter (Founded 28 May 1936) is located at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. The Chapter was founded by Epsilon Chapter Alumnus Beecher Flanagan, and is a member of the Mid Atlantic Region.

Chapter History

History

The Tau Chapter of Phi Sigma Pi, national honorary education fraternity, has as its objective perpetuating the ideals of higher learning and promoting goodwill and fellowship among the men [and women] students on the campus of East Carolina...[University].

Even though membership in the fraternity is not open to all men [or women] students on the campus, they may become eligible by maintaining a high scholastic average and fostering brotherhood with their associates on the campus...

While a student is in college he [or she] derives greater benefits from campus life if there exists within him [or her] the conviction that he [or she] is among friends; that they stand ready to help him [or her] when the need arises. This holds true, too, after one is graduated from college. Phi Sigma Pi offers life membership to alumni, giving its members life-long association they would lose otherwise.

It is the desire of the fraternity to encourage men [and women] students on the campus to become eligible for membership, as Phi Sigma Pi feels that it has something to offer.

-Eugene Carson.

  Tau Chapter President, 1941

Early Years

Dr. Beecher Flanagan, Founder of Tau Chapter.

Tau Chapter, the first fraternal organization to be chartered at East Carolina University, was founded when Dr. Beecher Flanagan ( Epsilon 2, Tau 12) came to East Carolina University to teach in the Department of Social Sciences. Dr. Flanagan decided to start a chapter of Phi Sigma Pi. Under Dr. Flanagan’s direction, the local fraternity Tau Sigma Sigma, became Tau Chapter of Phi Sigma Pi. Eleven members were inducted on May 28, 1936. Dr. Flanagan served as faculty advisor for the newly started chapter and Wesley Bankston was elected Tau Chapter’s first president. Dr. Flanagan led the chapter for 14 years.

In 1950, Dr. Richard C. Todd ( Sigma 58, Tau 878) came to East Carolina University to teach. Flanagan invited Todd to a dinner meeting of the chapter. During the meeting, Flanagan suffered a fatal heart attack. Dr. Todd assumed Flanagan’s role as faculty advisor and served Tau Chapter for the next 27 years. Todd helped lead Tau Chapter, as well as the national fraternity, into greatness. During these years, Dr. Todd aided in the integration of women into the fraternity. Clauda Pennock Todd, wife of Richard Cecil Todd, was inducted into Tau Chapter on May 7, 1977. Nicknamed “Sweetheart,” Clauda Pennock Todd became an integral part of her husband’s service to the fraternity. Tau Chapter established an impressive record of service and scholarship during Dr. Todd’s years of guidance, evidenced by its receiving the Joseph Torchia Outstanding Chapter Award (the most prestigous award a chapter can receive) a total of 33 times in the 44 years the award has been given.

Dr. Richard C. Todd, Tau Faculty Advisor.

In 1977, Dr. Richard C. Todd retired from East Carolina University. He recruited Dr. Jack Thornton as the new faculty advisor to the chapter. Thornton continued the service exemplified by Todd and Flanagan to Tau Chapter. During this time, the Todd Scholarship for Leadership and the Thornton Scholarship for Outstanding Pledge were originated. Also, the Clauda Pennock Todd Fellowship Award and the Rick Creech Award were created. Over the years, these awards have flourished and grown. The Todd Scholarships are now given to all officers. Historically, the award was only awarded to the president. Furthermore, funding for both the Todd and the Thornton Scholarships have increased dramatically over the years.

In 1998, Dr. Jack Thornton retired from East Carolina University and the duties of faculty advisor were passed to David Batts. Tau has continued to be one of the most outstanding chapters of Phi Sigma Pi in the nation. Several Tau Chapter brothers have served the organization on the national level, including Beecher Flanagan, Richard C. Todd, Robert Zalimeni, Jack Thornton, Mike Hosey, Bob Landry, Mark Pabst, Linda Wilson, Lindsay Fernandez, Hope Harrell Turnbull, David Batts, Jamey Tisdale, Jonathan Wood and Brittany Bodart. Of the previously named brothers, five have served as National President, some serving more than one term.

Tau Chapter also led the way for development of alumni chapters. The first Alumni Chapter was chartered in Greenville, North Carolina on November 7, 1994. Richard Cecil and Clauda Pennock Todd also set up the Todd Tripod Scholarship. In 1993, the inaugural award was presented to David Batts. Since that time, Tau brothers Amanda Hines, Nicole Gray and Brittany Bodart have won this prestigious award.

The Active Chapter

The current chapter...

Initiate Advisors:

Loren Trull (2004-2005)
Nick Castillo (2005-2006)
Bernae Leah Miller (2006-2007)
Marina Booner (current)

Past Chapter Officers

1937 President - Wesley Bankston

1939 President - Fodie Hodges, Vice President - Harvey Deal, Secretary - Leo Burks, Assistant Secretary - Emmett Sawyer

1940 President - Vance Chadwick, Vice President - Howard Draper, Secretary - Emmett Sawyer, Treasurer - Alton Payne

1941 President - Eugene Carson, Vice President - Bill Merner, Secretary - John Carson, Treasurer - Artis Hardee, Sergeant-at-Arms - Orvil Morton

1942 President - John Carsen, Vice President - Robert Hollar, Secretary - Evan Griffen, Treasurer - Russell Beddard

1943 President - W.B. Harris

1944 President - William Johnson, Vice President - Beverly Cutler, Secretary - Robert Morgan, Assistant Secretary - Robert Morgan, Sergeant-at-Arms - Ellis Bedsworth, Faculty Sponser - Dr. Beecher Flanagan

1945 President - Ellis Bedsworth, Vice President - Delton Creech, Secretary - John Charlton, Treasurer - Sam Strickland, Faculty Advisor - Dr. Beecher Flanagan

1946 President - Jack Johnson, Vice President - Lil Hart, Secretary - John Charlton, Treasurer - Douglas Jones, Advisors - Mr. Hollar, Dr. Flanagan, Dr. Haynes

1947 President - Harry Jarvis

1948 President - John Thigpen, Secretary - Kenneth Frazelle, Treasurer - Gene Hedgepeth

1949 President - Lawrence Posey, Secretary - Herbert Taylor

1950 President - Gene Midyette, Vice President - Sam Byrd, Secretary - Hogan Gaskins, Treasurer - Paul Geer

1951 President - Robert Mayes, Vice President - Paul Trotman, Secretary - Roy Cuddihy, Treasurer - William Easterling

1952 President - Albert Harrington, Vice President - Robert Bass, Secretary - Alec Hurst, Treasurer - Arthur Johnson, Sergeant-at-Arms - Albert Auerbach, Dennis Smith, Chapter Advisor - Dr. Richard Todd

1953 President - Jerry Sandford, Vice President - Dennis Smith, Secretary - Don Cox, Corresponding Secretary - Billy Laughinghouse, Treasurer - Dwight Shoe, Historian - Lloyd Whitfield, Sergeant-at-Arms - Bill McDonald, Chapter Advisor - Dr. Richard Todd

1954 President - James Ellis, Vice President - Julian Vainwright, Secretary - Waylon Bass, Assistant Secretary - Percy Wilkins, Treasurer - Dwight Garrett

1955 President - Harold Colson, Vice President - Keith Goodson, Secretary - Daltan Mann, Assistant Secretary - Percy Wilkins, Treasurer - J.C. Thomas, Sergeant-at-Arms - Clarence Brown

1956 President - Joel Farrar. Vice President - Clarence Brown, Secretary - Mark Edmundson, Assistant Secretary - Phillip Averette, Treasurer - Bill Waters, Historian - Justus McKeel

1957 President - Horace Rose, Vice President - Mack Edmundson, Secretary - Lloyd Bray, Assistant Secretary - Eddie Dennis, Treasurer - Frankie Keaton, Historian - Ed Outland, Sergeant-at-Arms - Glenn Ross, Advisor - Dr. Richard Todd

1958 President - Eddie Dennis, Chapter Sponsor - Dr. Richard Todd

1959 President - Purvis Boyette, Vice President - Laverne Strickland, Secretary - James Laughinghouse, Assistant Secretary - Jeneal Teander, Treasurer - Tommy Nash, Seargant-at-Arms - Coleman Gentry, Historian - Charles Youman, Advisor - Dr. Richard Todd

1960 President - James Laughinghouse, Vice President - Tom Hopkins, Secretary - Ed Lancaster

1961 President - John Dobson, Vice President - Ed Lancaster, Secretary - Walker Allen, Treasurer - Jim Ballard

1962 President - John Knarr

1963 President - Glenn Williams, Vice President - Mack Worthington, Secretary - Cleveland Hawkins, Treasurer - William Godwin

1965 President - Raymond Fornes, Vice President - Herb Williams, Secretary - Garland Askew, Treasurer - il Crippen

1966 President - Jim Scarlett, Vice President - Garland Askew, Treasurer - Dennis Eagan, Advisor - Richard Todd

1967 President - Gary Leonard, Vice President - John Staley, Secretary - Ray Roberts, Treasurer - Jim Walker

(2004-2005) President - Angel Warren

(2005-2006) President - James Butner, Vice President - Emily Watkins, Secretary - Sara DeLuca, Treasurer - Amber Jones, Initiate Advisor - Nick Castillo, Historian - Caroline K, Parliamentarian - Alex Lawrence

(2006-2007) President - Dale Zagiba Jr, Vice President - Christina Andux, Secretary - Heather Blumenfeld, Treasurer - Mary Sink, Initiate Advisor - Bernae Leah Miller, Historian - Barbara Nicole Midgett, Parliamentarian - Ashley Yopp

(current) President - Ashley Yopp

Chapter Events & Activities

Founder's Weekend

Alpha celebrates the Chapter's founding...

Other Event or Activity

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Notable Alumni

• Name (Chapter year)

Founding Member

• Name (Chapter year)

DSK year

• Name (Chapter year)

Office Held (year-year)

Chapter Honors and Awards

National Awards

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University Awards

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Other Awards

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Further Resources

• Chapter Home Page