About Texas Beta

A revolutionary “sea change” occurred in American higher education at the end of World War II, with the advent of the G.I. Bill of Rights, and the tremendously expanded opportunities of returning veterans for unique possibilities for transition to civilian life and empowering career enhancement.

Then North Texas State College, now growth-expanded to become the University of North Texas, participated significantly in that national educational transformation. The increasing presence of a more mature veteran group had its effect on the general undergraduate population’s expectations and college life in general. The Panhellenic experience was not immune to these changes.

Unimpressed by the prevailing images of fraternity life, O.L. Davis Jr. and a group of veterans sought out to establish an “anti-fraternity fraternity” that could embrace the brotherhood and bonding fraternal aspects of social organization without the perceived more negative aspects of the ordinary fraternal order.

Thus, Phi Alpha Tau fraternity was created on St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, 1949 amid a large number of local fraternities. The business functions of the organization were established under the bank-official name of “Patrick Foundation”, to accommodate members’ rent and other necessary functions.

Quickly, the need became manifest for a “house” to accommodate member residency, a meeting space, and collateral social functions. The University maintained several two-and three-story frame residences on Ave. A and on Maple Streets; one on Maple was available for Phi Tau to rent for $600 per month, which the fraternity quickly accepted. This house became the Phi Tau home.

Phi Tau quickly established itself, with recruiting and rushing its first and second classes of pledges/rushes, with outstanding recognized scholars and campus leaders in almost every field of campus endeavor. Claiming almost every award for academic achievement award, Phi Tau held onto this distinction until the award was retired.

Almost immediately Phi Tau was recruited by a number of national fraternities in the early fifties. With encouragement by then Dean of Students, Dr. Imogene Bentley, the nationalization process was begun on campus. Among other fraternities, Sigma Phi Epsilon invited a number of Phi Taus to their national convention being held in San Antonio in 1952. The experience was well received by Phi Tau. Soon after returning to Denton, the chapter voted to assume Sig Ep identity as Texas Beta. Phi Tau became the first North Texas local fraternity to become a national affiliate.

A long-range plan for the fraternity’s development required its own space and its own house. Led by Phi Tau President Curtis Ramsey and Texas Alpha alum Frank Martino, a piece of vacant property was selected that was bound to Highland, Maple, and Avenue C. This location on Avenue C would be more ideal than expected after the dean approved the plan.

The University soon changed its mind because of a need for a Maple Street space for campus expansion from Highland, Ave. A and along Maple. The University agreed to sell this Maple St. house for $600 to the fraternity and move this house to the southernmost portion of the Avenue C property for an additional $600.

A major financial effort and campaign led by Frank Martino made this move possible, along with the subsequent building of a new fraternity house on Avenue C. Sig Ep brothers lived in and enjoyed this facility for many years. After the University discovered its major long-range planning error, the need to move aggressively to acquire enormous amounts of property to the west and south of Highland became a huge priority. Sig Ep sat on the most desired property on Ave. C, which was to become the gateway entrance to the campus.

Another Sig Ep move was necessitated by events far beyond its control in 1999. However, our strategic location at Ave. C became a major leverage point, and the University, in an attempt to create a stable “fraternity row”, allowed Sigma Phi Epsilon to become the pivotal, prestige builder of a new fraternity house and to choose the most prime of locations at the intersection of Maple and Welch streets. In 2005, the new 20,000 square foot Sig Ep House opened its doors to a very grateful and excited Sig Ep brotherhood. Welch St. was now and remains a prime entryway to the campus.

Three successive houses now have housed hundreds of Phi Tau/Sig Ep brothers as home. Only time and history can say where the lofty ideals and goals of the founders remain and can remain in a unique “anti-fraternity” fraternity of brotherhood.

– Curtis Paul Ramsey (Phi Alpha Tau)