Founded at the University of Minnesota in 1904, Theta Tau is the largest (as well as the oldest) professional fraternity in the field of engineering. Over 28,000 have been initiated over the years. With emphasis on quality and a strong fraternal bond, the Fraternity has chapters only at ABET accredited schools, and limits to fifty the number of student members in any one of its chapters across the nation.

Theta Tau follows carefully a program in the selection and development of its members that stresses the importance of high professional ethics and exemplary practices. Within each chapter, the Fraternity stimulates professional activity and social compatibility; provides a framework for group participation in campus, community, engineering, and fraternity affairs; and promotes lasting friendships - a lifetime of brotherhood in an engineering environment.

The Fraternity presents awards for outstanding personal and chapter achievements. Through visitation from national officers and other alumni, the stability of each chapter can be maintained. Guidance and publications are provided by the Central Office to help manage the chapter in a professional manner. Financial assistance is available through loans for chapter housing and loans for senior students.

Through national conferences and conventions, there is an annual opportunity to associate with fraternity brothers (students and alumni) from chapters across the nation.

Compiled from the Winter 1989-90 and Fall 1991 copies of The Gear of Theta Tau

In the fall of 1988, students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Southern Methodist University received a flyer in the mail from Theta Tau Central Office in St. Louis. The group that responded met with Michael T. Abraham, EB ’90, when he came to Dallas a few weeks later. The fourteen member group soon established itself as Alpha Delta Tau.

In the spring of 1989, Alpha Delta Tau was involved in several activities that helped to prove to the school, and to Theta Tau, that the group was serious about becoming a chapter. The first successful rush brought to the group a pledge class of fourteen members. The group held social events, including mixers, a picnic, and the spring banquet. After completing the pledge period, the entire pledge class, including five women, was initiated, doubling the number of active members.

On May 3, 1989, Alpha Delta Tau was officially certified as a Colony of Theta Tau. A banquet was held at the Colony Parke Hotel for National Officers, colony members, and alumni from the area. On May 4, 1990, on the Southern Methodist Campus, Tau Beta Chapter was installed into Theta Tau Fraternity. The event marked the final installation ceremony conducted by then Grand Regent Randall J. Scheetz, O ’79.

Theta Tau History as written by Shannon Dill, XX!! TB ’96

FALL 1993
I pledged in the Fall of 1993. There were 9 pledges and 12 actives. These actives were the ones that showed up to most events and meetings. There were others that were on our roster as active members, but we never saw them. The officers this semester were:
Regent: Michelle Harris
Vice-Regent: Scott Noble
Scribe: Terry Smith
Treasurer: Evan Kastner
Pledge Trainer: Dirk Sylveter

This pledge class was a close knit group. Our first major outing as a pledge class was to attend Fall Regionals at Zeta Chapter. There were a couple of actives with us, but it was mostly just the pledges. We had a scavenger hunt and a gear project, in which we had to build a gear to specifications to put on our paddle. Our paddles were an outside project to be finished on our own time. We worked often as a class. They had to be signed by all actives and pledges. We also created the “Legend of Gunthar, the elephant”. Kevin, a pledge brother obtained a ceramic elephant that we painted in Theta Tau colors and named Gunthar. He survived until one day he was broken in 1994. Some members, both active and pledges went to Upsilon for their Halloween party. The chapter also helped build the Engineering School Homecoming Float. 8 pledges were initiated as a class on January 28, 1994 with the fall pledge class of Upsilon Chapter at their Chapter house. The remaining pledge had his pledgeship extended to the next semester.

SPRING 1994
This semester we pledged 13 students. We still had a dwindling number of actives showing up to events and meetings. The officers were:
Regent: Michelle Harris
Vice-Regent: Scott Noble
Scribe: Terry Smith
Corresponding Secretary: Shannon Dill
Treasurer: Jorge Garcia
Pledge Trainer: Jennifer Hooper

Events: Pledge Retreat with Psi Beta Pledges weekend of Feb 18. Camping Trip April 8 & 9, 1994. Intiation: April 29, 1994. Regionals. Road Trips: Several Trips to Austin and a trip to Arkansas. Outstanding Student Member for 1993: Michelle Harris.

FALL 1994
Pledges: 6 pledges, 22 actives
Officers:
Regent: Kevin Carpenter
Vice-Regent: Shannon Dill
Scribe: Shawn Prestridge
Treasurer: Jorge Garcia
Corresponding Secretary: Tina Parrish
Pledge Trainer: Lisa Whalen

Events: christmas party, gear night, scavenger hunt, Lumberjack Party with Omega Alumni in Arlington. Regionals: Hosted by Tau Beta. Road Trips: OK/AK. Housing was looked into this semester with no houses available but we could get a floor in a dorm. We had a T-shirt/Jersey day. Several members who were still on the roll, were graduated or transferred to another chapter.

SPRING 1995
Pledges: 2 pledges and 15 actives
Officers:
Regent: Kevin Carpenter
Vice-Regent: Shannon Dill
Scribe: Shawn Prestridge
Treasurer: Jorge Garcia
Corresponding Secretary: Tina Parrish
Pledge Trainer: Lisa Whalen

Events: 5th Anniversary party, pledge retreat April 21-23. Road Trips: Cinchbuckle party at Omega Chapter. Spring Break Trip to South Padre. Stayed in Brownsville with active. Initiation: May 4, 1995. Outstanding Student member for 1994: Kevin Carpenter.

FALL 1995
Officers:
Regent: Miguel Rodriguez
Vice-Regent: Shannon Dill
Scribe: Trisha Salvador
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Beth Oppenheim
Treasurer: Jorge Garcia
Pledge Trainer: Kevin Carpenter, Rocky Bramlett
Events: BBQ with Psi Beta over Texas/OU Weekend for Founders Day. Initiation: December 1, 1995. There were severe problems this semester and the chapter was almost inactivated. Several members were granted premature alumnus status and the 6 remaining members went on to help rebuild the chapter. One member graduated in May.

SPRING 1996
Pledges: 2 pledges were initated
Officers:
Regent: Shannon Dill

Events: Formal with Kappa Beta Chapter in New Orleans. Mike Abraham visited the chapter to help rebuild the chapter. Super Bowl Party. Initiation: April 3, 1996