1951 - 1960

The $10,000 mortgage from 1929 was satisfied on June 23, 1951.

Marie Hartigan was hired as cook to replace "Mike" Morgan, a lady of some significant size and even more significant temperament. [Note: Marie's meals were considered to be a great improvement over Mike Morgan's, and Marie cooked for PA Theta for over 10 years.] An avid bingo player at the American Legion in Huntingdon, Marie routinely won turkeys and hams and then cooked them for Sunday noon dinners at PA Theta. She resided in the private apartment over the kitchen and, with the lone exception of Sunday evening meal, she prepared breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week. Marie's Sunday dinners at noon were often attended and appreciated by girl friends and parents of the brothers.

In response to the Soviet Union's blockade of Berlin, Brothers John Daugherty '51 (Bond #527), Daniel Grove '52 (Bond #542), Gordon "Skip" Harrington '52 (Bond #545), and James Stevens '53 (Bond #560) were called to active duty with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 112th Air Warning and Control Squadron.

Phikeia chores included cleaning all common-areas of the house (first floor, hallways, bathrooms) and their own rooms (shared with two or more brothers), bed making for one or more assigned brothers, painting, caring for the lawn and shrubbery in the fall and spring, and shoveling snow in the winter. Window cleaning was always performed with Glass Wax, the favorite cleaning agent of House Manager John Berry '52 (Bond #548).

Pledge duties also included waking up brothers and making sure they were awake and stayed awake. Affiliate brother John Banks '51was considered by the Phikeias to be the worst wake-up assignment, as the only way to be reasonably sure John was awake was to get him to a sitting position with a lit cigarette in his mouth. However, even then an important secondary responsibility was to make sure he didn't fall back onto his mattress with the burning cigarette.

PA Theta won the 1950-51 Intramural Sports Trophy. William Aiken '51 (Bond #526), and Jack Pickett '52 (Bond #543), the defending horseshoes champions, reached the final match before being eliminated and were potent, as usual, when they paired together on the badminton court. A strong track team clinched second place with Edward Gage '53 (Bond #555), Ernest "Bud" Coleman '53 (Bond #559), Vincent O'Bara '51, Donald "Mike" Reynolds '51 (Bond #530), John Reese '51 (Bond #525), and William Hickey '50 (Bond #518).

The swimming team was led by affiliate Malcolm Skove '52, with Bud Coleman '53, and class of '54 Phikeias Joseph Garrity (Bond #575), Ronald Miller (Bond #578), Peter Huey (Bond #567), and Thomas Smith (Bond #564). Phikeia Joseph Garrity also sparked the basketball team along with John Millen '54 (Bond #572). Earl Hower '53 (Bond #561), winner of the heavyweight crown, led a boxing team including class of '54 Phikeias William Selvig (Bond #570), Peter Huey, and Douglas Cassel (Bond #568).

The IM trophy was proudly displayed on top of the brand new Motorola Radio-Phonograph, a gift from the senior classes of 1950 and 1951.

Phikeias were required to obtain dates for major social events, except those who had a "steady" girlfriend back home or at another college.

On December 10, 1951, Thomas L. Smith was initiated (Bond #564).

Raymond Fortunato '47 negotiated an arrangement for the Penn State football team to be housed and fed at the PA Theta chapter house during pre-season practice time. Marie Hartigan cooked all their meals – which they admittedly enjoyed very much – and the income helped support the chapter.

Penn State coeds were not allowed above the first floor of the chapter house and, except for some wine at a formal dinner, consummation of alcoholic beverages was strictly consigned to the Memorial Room.

In 1952, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Fred M. Vinson, was a Phi. At the end of Hell Week in the spring of 1952, Phikeia Donald Herbein Peirce '54 (Bond #574) – the most politically involved member of his class – was instructed to get the Chief Justice's autograph.

Early Saturday morning, Don arrived at the Supreme Court Building in Washington DC. The building was closed, but a guard told him where Mr. Vinson lived. Upon arriving at the Chief Justice's apartment and knocking on his door, Don asked to see the Chief Justice, and a few minutes later he indeed did appear. After Don explained why he was there – because Mr. Vinson was a Phi and Don was a Phikeia who was on a Hell Week assignment – Mr. Vinson picked up one of his business cards, signed his name, and handed the card to Don. The card's only printed words were "The Chief Justice." He then smiled, shook Don's hand and wished him good luck.

Arthur Betts '52 was elected co-captain of the Penn State football team. The Associated Press All Pennsylvania Small Football Team included Edward Hoover '52, who accompanied Nittany Lion football coach Rib Engle to the annual Blue-Gray game. Harry Carrol Chapman '52 (Bond #536) led the Blue Band as drum major. Phikeia Clifford Holgate '54 (Bond #569) served as team manager for the soccer team and Phikeia Roderick Snyder '54 (Bond #563) was on the freshman team. Daniel Grove '52 was a lacrosse letterman and Robert Bowers '53 (Bond #556) captained the golf team. Phikeia H. R. "Hap" Irvin '54 (Bond #565) traveled to Iran with Coach Bill Jeffrey's soccer team to play some international goodwill matches, and Phikeia Robert "Red" Hollen '54 (Bond #571) finished among the first four in every cross county meet. Phikeias Peter Huey '54 and Douglas Cassel '54 were strong contenders for the Penn State wrestling team.

Charles Ridenour '43 was named head wrestling coach at Penn, and James Gehrdes '51 (Bond #519) was appointed assistant track coach at the U. S. Naval Academy.

In 1951, house treasurer Charles Schutte '52 (Bond #534) reported that PA Theta was finally able to pull itself out of debt, with a bank balance of $400 [$2800 in 2004 dollars] and no accounts payable. However, it was necessary to increase the monthly house bill by $1 [$6.84 in 2004 dollars], raising it to $79 [$540 in 2004 dollars].

Donald Herbein '54 was elected president of the sophomore class, by a margin of 25 votes.

In November 1952, Wayne Davis, Assistant Secretary of the General Fraternity, visited PA Theta and made several suggestions to Chapter Advisor Robert Koser '48 (Bond #399) concerning collection of house bills and including some community service projects in PA Theta's pledge training program. He also recommended that the PA Theta alumni corporation "start investigating the possibility of building a new chapter house."

PA Theta won the Intramural Sports Trophy for the second straight year, with strong finishes in many team sports, especially the championship volleyball team, and the second-place soccer team – led by Phikeia Galen Robbins '55 (Bond #583). The strong swimming team – led by captain Joe Garrity '54 (back-stroke and relay) – included Tom Smith '54 and Bud Coleman '53 (free-style and relay) and Ronald Miller '54 (diving), but they lost a close 20-21 match in the semi-finals. The football and basketball teams reached the quarter-finals. Edward Hoover '52 took the handball singles championship, and then teamed with Arthur Betts '52 to capture the doubles title. Phikeia Thayer "Tad" Potter '55 (Bond #592) advanced to the final round of his tennis flight before losing a close match.

Football players William Leonard '53 and Theodore Kemmerer '53 (Bond #558) were the "Toe and Foot" respectively for Rip Engle's 7-2-1 football team. Halfback Bill Leonard kicked 18 consecutive extra points (with the old-fashioned, straight-on kicking style) for a record 21 out of 23 and added two field goals for a total of 27 points to become the team's leading scorer. Ted "Baxter" Kemmerer handled the punting chores with a 36.6 yard average. His greatest kicks were 61 yards – in a Nittany Lion rout of Pitt – and a tremendous 80 yard punt over Penn's safety man to set up Penn State's winning touchdown.

Dean of the School of Mineral Industries, Edward Steidle '11, retired from Penn State and was honored with a testimonial dinner at the chapter house on April 20. As reported by Jack Diehl '54 (Bond #566) in The Sword and Shield, "The chapter had difficulty in obtaining a speaker that would be suitable for the occasion, so in lieu of a guest speaker Dean Steidle himself talked on 'What Phi Delta Theta has meant to me and my family.' He also presented to the Chapter library a book which he recently completed, Mineral Forecast 2000 A.D."

Chapter treasurer Robert "Red" Hollen '54 reported that the monthly house bill would remain at $79 [$540 in 2004 dollars].

The chapter's first television set was donated by Thayer "Tad" Potter '55. The most popular show was the Pabst Blue-Ribbon Friday Night Fights.

In 1953, The Pennsylvania State College became The Pennsylvania State University under the administration of President Milton S. Eisenhower, younger brother of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In a parallel action and in reaction to President Milton Eisenhower's insistence on having a postal address other than State College, borough residents voted down a proposed name change for the town. Following that, Penn State's application to postal authorities for a campus post office was approved in unusually quick time – less than two months – conceivably because of swift and effective communications that passed between President Eisenhower in Old Main and President Eisenhower in the oval office.

PA Theta again was awarded the IFC outstanding Fraternity trophy in the spring of 1953, but was forced to share it with Beta Theta Pi. The two houses, having tied with the same number of points, planned to keep the trophy for one semester each. Retiring IFC President Art Rosfeld '53 (Bond #554) presented the trophy to chapter president Robert Bowers '53.

Succeeding Robert Koser '42, Henry Yeagley '44 (Bond #414) was appointed as Chapter Advisor in the spring of 1954. Hank had played varsity soccer and tennis while enrolled at Penn State, although his studies were interrupted by serving three years in the U. S. Air Force during World War II. Hank's current employment was with Penn State as Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Department of Physical Plant.

Bruce Schroeder '54 (Bond #576) was appointed photography editor of both Froth (campus humor magazine) and La Vie (year book).

Spring "Panty Raids" were outlawed by Penn State administrators in 1954 under threat of expulsion for any participants.

On May 10, 1954, a banquet commemorating the 50th anniversary of installation as a chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity was held at the chapter house. The oldest attending PA Theta alumnus was John T. "Hi" Henry '08 (Bond #27).

As the first nationally televised congressional inquiry, the "gavel to gavel" broadcasts of the Army-McCarthy hearings on the ABC and DuMont networks from late April to June 1954 preempted many day-time study hours, including during finals week.

Social chairman, Gordon "Skip" Harrington '52 – delayed to '54 because of military service during the Berlin Wall crisis – reported that the recent Bowery Ball had been quite successful. The chapter wasn't on social probation, nobody had been lost in all the sawdust, and 80 pounds of shrimp had been devoured, "mostly with shells still intact."

Treasurer William Kutz '56 (Bond #598) reported that, while the kitchen operations were in the black, the other house affairs might cause the chapter to "run a little into the red." His justification for this included the fact that the house was becoming older and many repairs were needed. Also, too many members were living outside the house.

Effective September 1, 1954, Penn State mandated that fraternities, other than "dry" houses, must employ a part-time or full-time housemother to be present whenever female students were being entertained. Mrs. Edwin Grove, mother of Daniel Grove '52 and Edwin Grove, Jr. '56 (Bond #594), was hired as a part-time housemother. At the same time, Penn State changed its attitude on drinking from one of prohibiting the use of alcoholic beverages to one of disapproval and, instead of relying on IFC for enforcement, declared it would hold the officers of each chapter responsible for compliance with the new rules.

Several community service projects of PA Theta included redecorating the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bellefonte, exterior and grounds improvements at the Tussey Ridge Girl Scout Camp, and renovation of an abandoned school building for Skills, Inc., a rehabilitative school and center for crippled and disabled residents of Bellefonte and the surrounding area.

On Penn State's homecoming weekend of October 15, 16, and 17, 1954, PA Theta celebrated its golden anniversary. Scheduled activities included a golf tournament, campus tours, luncheons, dinners, and attendance at a variety of Penn State events, including football and soccer games, cross country match, Thespian show, and the traditional Penn State homecoming luncheon and cider party. Over 250 PA Theta alumni returned to the house to join in the celebration and ceremonies, which included the initiation of David Schofield '56 (Bond #607).

Participating in the anniversary banquet program were The Reverend William C. Bowie '29 (Bond #241) for the invocation), Edwin T. Eggers '28 (Bond #223) as toastmaster), H. L. "Pete" Stuart '20 as a Member of General Council, Robert Piper '55 (Bond #479) as president of the chapter, and Henry L. Yeagley '44 as chapter advisor. Brother William R Bayes (Ohio Beta '01), the 1934-36 General Council President, gave an address titled "One Hundred and Six Years of Phi Delta Theta." John C. Cosgrove, Sr. '07, one of the surviving PA Theta charter members, attended the function. On Sunday morning, many members attended services at the State College Presbyterian Church, the church of Irving L. Foster, the "Father of Pennsylvania Theta."

The undergraduate chapter members constructed a fifteen-foot high, multi-tiered "50th Birthday Cake" on the front lawn. It was quite impressive, until the remnants of Hurricane Hazel came through on Friday night and turned the paper napkins – at least, the ones that hadn't blown away – into a soggy mess.

The name "University Park" was first used in February 1955 as the name of the campus and the new campus Post Office – a substation of the State College Post Office. Originally intended by President Milton Eisenhower to end confusion about Penn State's new status as a university and no longer a college, the new postal address – also used as date lines for press releases – continued to befuddle persons not familiar with the area and ignorant of the fact that Penn State was not a municipality of its own and its University Park Campus was actually in the Borough of State College and several adjacent townships.

PA Theta began sponsoring Christmas parties in conjunction with a sorority for underprivileged children. In 1956, Community Service Day was instituted by the national fraternity. Dean of Men, A. R. Warnock estimated that 80 to 90 percent of the campus leaders were Greeks.

PA Theta again won the IFC Intramural Sports Trophy for the 1955-56 academic year.

In 1956, Mrs. Arminta Kerr was hired as full-time "live-in" housemother. "Mom Kerr" was a welcome addition to the house, and represented the trend of live in "caretakers" being established in the fraternity system. A small first-floor apartment had been constructed for her between the kitchen wing and the "new" 1928 wing.
[Note: Again, the structural integrity of the house was compromised when lintels over two basement windows in the kitchen wing were removed, allowing the entire exterior brick wall above them to sag severely over the next 40-plus years.]

Milton Plum '57 (Bond #631) was Penn State's first-string quarterback on Rip Engle's football team.
[Note: Milt later had a successful pro career with the Detroit Lions.]

The house bill was $90 [$609 in 2004 dollars], but it still included social dues.

On February 18, 1957, Edward R. Hintz, Jr. '59 was initiated (Bond #647).

In 1958, H. L. "Pete " Stuart '20, was elected General Council President of Phi Delta Theta after serving terms in other offices of the General Council, two as its secretary.
[Note: Elected at the biennial convention in Asheville, NC. Pete Stuart has been the only member of PA Theta to have served on General Council or hold an office in Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.]

PA Theta presented a plaque to "Pete" Stuart with the following inscription:
To Brother H. L. "Pete" Stuart –
In appreciation of his outstanding service to
Phi Delta Theta and lasting devotion to his Chapter – Presented October 11, 1958 –
By the PA Theta Chapter of F?T.

Wagner Building was constructed in 1958 at the eastern end of campus and became headquarters for the Penn State ROTC programs, taking the place of the historic Armory. It was posthumously dedicated to PA Theta Phi, H. Edward Wagner '41 (see 1931-1940).

Killed in action in World War II, Eddie Wagner had graduated in 3½ years with top academic grades and then enlisted and volunteered for paratrooper training in 1942. Attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, he parachuted into France at 2:30 a.m. on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He survived D-Day with only a few superficial wounds, but was killed later in 1944.

On November 17, 1959, Carson W. "Pete" Culp, Jr. '61, grandson of PA Theta charter member Clyde Emanuel Culp, Sr. and son of Carson W. Culp '34, was initiated into PA Theta (Bond #678).

In the fall of 1960, Richard J. "Richie" Lucas '60 (Bond #664) was presented the Grantland Rice Memorial Trophy, which recognized Phi Delta Theta's "Athlete of the Year." As a single-platoon quarterback, running back, pass receiver, defensive back, punt returner, kick returner, punter, and place-kicker, "Riverboat Richie" had played under Rip Engle's single-wing brand of football, and his coach called Richie "the greatest player I have ever seen." He had been drafted by the Buffalo Bills, and the award was presented by H. L. "Pete" Stuart '20, and 1940 Heisman Trophy winner Brother Phi Tom Harmon [whose name would later be added to the award] during half-time of the Buffalo Bills Los Angeles Chargers game in Buffalo.

[Note: Brother Harmon had been a two-year All-American halfback for Michigan in1938 and1940 and was later voted one of the top 100 football players ever. Brother Stuart, a long-time PIAA football official, had been a consistent contributor to The Scroll, providing numerous in depth articles on PA Theta football players.]

In 1957, Vance Packard '36 wrote his first major book, The Hidden Persuaders, followed by The Status Seekers (1959), and The Waste Makers (1960).
[Note: Vance later authored many popular books.]

The chapter acquired new leather furniture, along with a new 24" television set which allowed them to watch every brother's heartthrob, "Arlene," on American Bandstand.

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