Alpha Gamma Rho - Alpha Upsilon

Alpha Upsilon History

 

Organization of a fraternity for all male students enrolled in the School of Agriculture at UT Martin became the main topic of discussion during the fall quarter of 1959.  Ed Perryman initiated an interest in a fraternity and introduced the idea to other agricultural students, who also became interested. 
 

During the winter quarter a group of men met in the basement of the men’s dormitory for the purpose of further discussion and action on the idea of forming an agricultural fraternity.  At this meeting plans were made for another meeting to be held the following week.  During this week a constitution was drawn up to be presented at the following gathering. 

 

The following week, January 14, 1960, marked the first formal meeting of interested individuals.  The meeting was held in the Agriculture-Biology-Library Building on campus.  Twenty men were present and each declared an interest in forming a fraternity.  These twenty men were the backbone in forming a colony.  They were:

           

	Ed Perryman	Frank Dodd	Jack Davidson	Larry Wade
	Bubba Hord	Dewey Bunch	Charlie Grooms	Bobby Duck
	Sammy McCoy	George Haynes	Pat Gray	Bill Towns
	Jimmy Gibson	Wayne Ivey	Albert Pledge	Paul Blount
	Gordon Crenshaw	Stanley Miller	Darron McNatt	William Carmack

Ed Perryman, one of the first to be interested in the birth of a colony, was elected president at the first formal meeting.  The officers were:
 

	Ed Perryman	………………….	President
	Jack Davidson	………………….	1st Vice President
	Stanley Miller	………………….	2nd Vice President
	G.G. Crenshaw	………………….	Treasurer
	Bubba Hord	………………….	Secretary
	George Haynes	………………….	Reporter
	Bill Townes	………………….	ASA Representative
	Albert “Bull” Pledge	………………….	Historian

At this time Brother Lewis Larson was asked to become our sponsor.  No one was more enthusiastic and helpful than Brother Larson.  He was truly an inspiration for the other men.

 

AGR was chosen by the men because they thought it had more to offer an agriculture student.  Each individual wanted to become an AGR.  Correspondence with Brother Maynard Coe not only insured their belief in AGR but it made each individual work harder for colony recognition.  Members were informed that upon acceptance of their constitution by the administration of the University of Tennessee, Martin Branch, colony affiliation would be granted.

 

Six members attended officers training school at Delta Chapter at Purdue University on April 23, 1960. May 16, 1960 marked the first visit of Brother Maynard Coe to Alpha Upsilon.  His main purpose was to discuss AGR with the club and with representatives of the university.  He also gave his views to securing a home for the future colony.  The Pink Rose Social was on April 29, 1960.  It was held in the Biltmore Hotel in Union City,Tennessee.

 

The All Student Association election was conducted and Brother Bobby Duck became the first member of the organization to hold a campus leadership position.  He was elected vice president and later advanced to the position of president when the elective president did not re-enter school.

 

The constitution was recognized by the administration during the summer of 1960.  That summer, our first Summer Social was held at Antioch Harbor Resort on Kentucky Lake at Paris Landing, Tennessee.

 

Colony Recognition was granted at the beginning of the fall quarter of 1960.  The name of the group thereafter was the AGR local fraternity.  On the roll of the local fraternity were 23 members and 2 sponsors.  Upon colony recognition, new officers were elected to serve during the fall and winter.  They were:

 

	Stanley Miller	………………….	Noble Ruler
	Billy Townes	………………….	Vice Noble Ruler
	Bill Branch	………………….	Secretary
	G.G. Crenshaw	………………….	Treasurer
	Ed Perryman	………………….	Pledge Trainer
	Bobby Duck	………………….	Reporter
	Wayne Ivey	………………….	Alumni Secretary
	Sammy McCoy	………………….	ASA Representative

 

The fall quarter marked the first pledge class to be conducted from this class, and two members were inititiated.

 

Possibilities for a house were explored.  Investigations were conducted on the availability of houses for sale.  They revealed that none were available, so the alternative of building a new house was investigated.  An Alumni Building Corporation was formed and a charter was filed.

 

We kicked off fall quarter 1960 with a rush party held in September.  It took place in the Rebel Room of the Student Activity Building and its purpose was the meeting of prospective pledges.  That quarter we co-sponsored a rotating trophy for the high scoring individual freshman in Agriculture, taking part in the Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contest.  Brother Bobby Duck was elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.  Homecoming, 1960-1961 featured a float entered by the Alpha Gamma Rho Colony, and it took third place.  A Beatnik Party, November 3, 1960, was held after a home football game in the National Guard Armory at Martin.

 

Winter quarter began with a rush party in January of 1961 and was held in the Rebel Room of the StudentActivity Building.  Winter Quarter Social was a dinner dance in March and was at the Town House Restaurant inTrenton, Tennessee.  Spring quarter was also initiated by a Rush Party in the Rebel Room on campus.  Pink Rose on April 22 was held at Park Terrace Restaurant in South Fulton.  The first Sweetheart of the colony was Miss Mary Nell Arnold. 

 

The fall quarter of 1961 found the men scanning every available means for the financing of a new house. Some seventy different loan companies, insurance companies, banks, and private individuals were contacted, all to no avail.  These disappointments did not cause the men to let up and they continued to be very active in campus activities.  A group of nine new members were initiated from the pledge class.  The election of new officers was held during Winter Quarter for the 1961-1962 year.  They were:

 

	Larry Wade	………………….	Noble Ruler
	Sammie McCoy	………………….	Vice Noble Ruler
	Kent Crenshaw	………………….	Secretary
	Jerry Lee	………………….	Treasurer
	Marlin Brandon	………………….	Reporter
	Johnny Townsend	………………….	Alumni Secretary
	Albert Pledge	………………….	ASA Representative

 

Proceeding Fall Quarter, 1961, the Summer Social was held in August at Antioch Resort, Paris Landing,Tennessee, at which time the initiation of the Spring Quarter pledges occurred.  Fall Quarter, 1961, was begun in September with a Rush Party held in the gym on campus featuring the Confederate Band.  In October of 1961, the colony co-sponsored the campus Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contest.  At Homecoming, 1961-1962, the colony entered a float in the parade and was awarded first place in the competition.  At about this same time two brothers, Marlin Brandon and Murphree Bullion were elected Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. The Fall Quarter Social was in November of 1961 and was held at the Townhouse Restaurant in Trenton.  The Winter Quarter opened with a Rush Party in January of 1962, and was held in the gym.  Mr. Maynard Coe visited on January 10, 1962 and presented more instructions on taking the steps toward obtaining a home.  At that time the men received word that a house in Martin was to be sold and that it would be an ideal home for the fraternity.  The possibility of purchasing the house existed, but another fraternity supposedly had an option to buy the house.  Mr. Coe approved the house during his visit as an adequate piece of property and stated that the National Fraternity would loan the colony $10,000 for the purchase of the house.  The house was priced at $25,000.  The remaining $15,000 had to be obtained by the colony. A Banker in the town, Mr. Hal Ramer, assured of us of $12,500 from an estate of which he was administrator. Another $2,500 was borrowed from the Martin bank to complete the $25,000 purchase price. Now that the money was available, the transaction was begun. The sale of the house was transacted through Chancery Court, because the owner, Mr. Frank Smith was very old and had been declared incompetent. The colony had the service of a very able lawyer, Mr. Harold Brundige, who conducted the transaction. In a short period of time the deeds had been recorded and the colony was the proud owner of a large colonial type white house, at 225 University Street.

 

Winter Quarter Social featured a dinner dance at the Townhouse Restaurant in Trenton. Officers were elected in March, and served for the 1963-1963 term. They were as follows:

 

	Marlin Brandon	………………….	Noble Ruler
	Jerry Davis	………………….	Vice Noble Ruler
	Hyatt Williams	………………….	Secretary
	Maurice Carroll	………………….	Treasurer
	Murphree Bullion	………………….	Pledge Trainer
	Bobby Austin	………………….	Alumni Secretary
	Jerry Lee	………………….	Reporter
	Ronnie Riley	………………….	ASA Representative
	Johnny Townsend	………………….	House Manager

 

The newly elected officers attended officers training school in Stillwater, Oklahoma at Pi Chapter in March, 1962. Our Rush Party was also in March and was held in the gym for Rushees and their dates. That year we participated in the first campus-wide All-Sing.

Spring Fever, April 6, 1962 was the first open social sponsored by the colony. It was held at the Strata Club in Martin. Soon thereafter, the colony co-sponsored the Spring Roundup. The event was aimed at better aquainting the students of the university with the phases of agriculture on our campus. The Pink Rose dance was held at the National Guard Armory in Union City on May 5, 1962. The highlight of the dance was the crowning of Mss Camille Sammons as Sweetheart. The campus election on May 5, 1962, saw the colony have a candidate elected for the third year in succession. Brother David Stroud was elected to serve as President of the All Students Association for the 62-63 year. The Interfraternity Council was held on May 15 and Brother Jerry Lee was elected to serve as President. Summer Social was held in August  of 1962 at Antioch Harbor, Paris Landing, Tennessee. Later that month Brothers Johnny Townsend, Bobby Austin, and Ned Crenshaw attended the national convention in Minneappolis, Minnesota, marking the first time any member of our colony had attended a national convention.

A contractor was employed and an estimated $4,800 was given as a remodeling estimate. The contractor was hired after a loan of $3,500 was obtained from the FHA. The contractor agreed to carry a note for the rest of the remodeling cost. The work was completed in the summer of 1962. In addition, several work weekends were planned and the men did many jobs that were not included in the contract. Many of the men feel these work weekends were a great aid to the strengthening of the brotherhood. From all indications everyone really enjoyed themselves—especially after a hard day’s work. Also during the summer several committees were organized. Among the more important ones were the furniture and kitchen appliance committees. The furniture was purchased and moved in one week before school started. Another important committee was the cook and housemother committee. Two colored cooks were hired, Clara and Carrie to feed a group of men with exceptional appetites. Mrs. Agnes Winston was hired as Housemother.

 

Official occupancy of the house began on Sunday, September 17, 1962. Our first meal, which consisted of hamburgers and trimmings, was served on Wednesday at noon, September 20, 1962. Each man filed by the back kitchen door and was handed a generous portion. Fall Rush Party was held on September 29, in the newly occupied  home at 225 University Street. On October 18, 1962, Brother Coe payed the colony a visit to observe progress and to help with any problems. He explained the requirements of the petition that had to be submitted before National Affiliation would be considered. Plans were made for work on the petition, and much work was done to compile the facts and data needed. It was completed and mailed at the beginning of the Winter Quarter of 1963. That Fall Quarter Brothers Maurice Carroll, David Stroud, and Muphree Bullion were elected to Who’s Who in American Collleges and Universities.  The local colony was victorious in the class elections. Billy Greene was elected Sophomore Class President, Maurice Carroll was Junior Class President, and Murphree Bullion was elected President of the Senior Class. At Homecoming 1962, for the second year in succession, the colony took first place honrs in the Homecoming Float Competition. The quarterly social was sponsored on October 21, 1962 at the Union City Country Club.On November 24, five brothers journeyed to Chicago for the International Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest as the university livestock judging team. Winter Quarter was inititated by a social, closely followed by the annual election of Fraternity Officers. The Following men were elected:

 

	Maurice Carroll	………………….	Noble Ruler
	Larry Davis	………………….	Vice Noble Ruler
	Malcolm Burchfield	………………….	Secretary
	Jerry Bomar	………………….	Treasurer
	Charles Howell	………………….	House Manager

These attended officers seminar at Omicron Chapter at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Brother Maynard Coe visited our colony on March 12, 1963. He discussed the dates for the installation of our colony into the National Fraternity.

On April 20, 1963, the Alpha Gamma Rho Colony became the Alpha Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho. The installation banquet was held at the Buford Ellington Assembly Hall at Reelfoot Lake in conjunction with the Pink Rose dance on April 29, 1963. Alpha Chapter was our installing chapter and Brother Maynard Coe and J. Holmes Martin were the attending National representatives. Several hundred guests attended the banquet including alumni graduates of the colony that returned to become a charter member of the Alpha Upsilon Chapter.

Soon after, Brother David Stroud was elected president of the ASA for the second year in succession. We participated in the annual All-Sing Contest and brought home the trophy for the Fraternity Division. Alpha Gamma Rho was presented a trophy for being the outstanding fraternity of the year 1962-1963 by the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. We co-sponsored the Annual Spring Roundup, It was an outstanding event in which faculty and students participated wholeheartedly. Brothers Mac Jones and Robert Counce were elected  Secretary and representative for the Interfraternity Council 1963-64. The Summer Social held in July of 1963 on Kentucky Lake at Antioch Harbor, Paris Landing, Tennessee.

Fall quarter began a week early when the brothers returned to work on the house. Larry Homesley was elected treasurer when Jerry Bomar transferred to Knoxville. Fall quarter campus election yielded several class officers. Freshman Class President was Ralph Barnett. The ASA representatives were John Argo, Jimmy Dyer, and Cecil Settle for the Freshman, Junior and Senior classes respectively. Alpha Gamma Rho placed second in the 1963 Homecoming parade, making two firsts and two seconds in the past four years. Fall Quarter Social was held in the Union City Armory in November 1963. The Fall Quarter ended with a Christmas Party.