Epsilon Zeta History

Legacy of the Esquires and the EZ Chapter of Delta Tau Delta

Legacy is the name of the Sam Houston State University alumni magazine. When reading any issue, one is struck with what an incredible debt of gratitude we owe those individuals who formed a college in Huntsville in 1879 and named it after the hero of San Jacinto. In reflecting on that notion of legacy, I was struck with two more instances that made it possible for each person reading this piece to be in a band of brothers.

In 1858, twenty-one years before the Austin College building became Sam Houston Normal Institute, at another small college in faraway Bethany, West Virginia, eight students decided to right a wrong and formed a new group they called Delta Tau Delta. They talked about honor and justice but in the end they wanted to make their alma mater a better place for themselves and for future students. Some 80 years later in 1938 in Huntsville, Texas, another group of young students formed the first men’s social club to promote school spirit at Sam Houston State Teachers College. They called themselves the Esquires and soon established traditions of service, fun, and camaraderie that were prized by generations of Sam Houston students.

Twenty years later, the Dean of Men, Dr. W.E. Lowry, wanted the Esquires to become members of his national fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha. He even sent a group of Esquires to Washington, D.C. to the Pike convention. But other national fraternities wanted the Esquires, too. And on a fateful night before the vote was to be taken, Colorado Delt Eldredge C. Thompson drove up from Houston to make another presentation on behalf of Delta Tau Delta. The rest is history: the legacies of those men from Bethany to Boulder to Huntsville were left to those of us initiated after the Esquire Club became the Epsilon Zeta Chapter on January 9, 1960.

Now it’s our turn to continue the legacy of the Esquires and leave a modern-day Delt Shelter at our beloved alma mater for today’s young brothers and those of all the tomorrows to come. Someday those to whom we bequeath this legacy will tell the stories of their youth and enjoy the reverie of the moment like the one I heard about Esquire Larry Storrs whose rendition of “White Sport Coat” sung to the ladies of Belvin Hall is considered a classic! That one and hundreds more over the almost half century of Deltism at Sam Houston are priceless. They speak to brotherhood – that most unique bond between men of different generations, different colleges, even different regions of the country – that gives us something in common we value and want to continue for those who follow us.

One of our Epsilon Zeta founders, Brother Ron Mafrige, has made us especially proud to be Delts at Sam Houston. His generosity in paying off the debt on the former Delt House allowed us to sell it and purchase the prize, 1.8-acre tract at 287 Bearkat Boulevard we own. In return for making that $60,000 gift to us, Ron only asked that we name the new shelter after his former roommate, the late Joe M. “Butch” MacKenzie. And so we shall. Other founders who have joined the Chapter Eternal way too soon will also be recognized.  So give and give generously to complete this capital campaign to build the next Delt House and continue the legacy.

Fraternally, Bob Roush, EZ ‘64

Past International President

Last Updated Wednesday, April 08 2009 @ 04:39 PM CDT|794 Hits