THREE PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS
on LIFE at PA THETA

MY PHI DELTA THETA EXPERIENCE
by Augustus O. "Bud" Thomas '49 (Bond #476)

I entered the last regular [war-time] summer semester held at Penn State following graduation from John Harris High School in Harrisburg in 1945. I rented a room downtown when I began, but was soon rushed by Phi Delt Tom Smith [Thomas C. Smith '46, not Thomas L. Smith '54]. I presume my acceptable scholastic grades and the fact that I played football, basketball, and track had an influence.

A consultation with my father about the cost of joining a fraternity ensued, and since the expenses would not be a lot higher, I received permission to join, if that was what I really wanted to do. It was not very long until a class of six pledges was formed by the three brothers who returned and opened the house that summer, after the Navy V 12 program ended. [Editor's Note: All Penn State fraternities had been used during World War II to house U. S. Armed Forces trainees. Trainees going through the Navy's V-12 program were housed in the PA Theta chapter house.]

The pledge program was considerably different in 1945 than today. Our first project was to design a layout and paint it on our pledge paddle; I still have my paddle. It was 27 inches long by 3½ inches wide and 7/16 inches thick. The handle could be gripped by one or two hands for a full swing. It was used! We pledges also did chores of various kinds about the fraternity house and "got it" when we goofed.

Obviously, I did not join just to be hazed. However, after this first semester, it soon became apparent that living in a fraternity house was just right. It provided many very close, lasting friendships within the 45 brothers and pledges living in the house. I'm sure this would never have happened living in a room or apartment in town. Not only that, but the other students and class mates were available to answer questions and to study with for various classes. The esprit de corps within the fraternity was nothing less than wonderful.

My experience was somewhat unique. The ex-GI' s were returning by the multitude, having been enrolled at Penn State prior to entering the military service. Thus, I was a 17-year-old kid living among men who averaged about 25 years of age.

Thomas C. Smith '46, one of the bothers who reopened the house in 1945, suggested that I go out for lacrosse as it was a great sport and he was on the team. I asked him, "What is lacrosse?" as I had never heard of it. Well, it ended as my substitute for the rough and tumble of football. In fact, another lacrosse player and I went out for football in 1946. At least we made the attempt, but the doctor was never in for our physical, and then the equipment manager was never available for pads and uniform. By that time, the team had been practicing for three weeks and the idea became mute.

What do I remember? For one, I have a warm feeling every time I think of my best friend Jim "Healthy" Herzog; we were a Mutt and Jeff pair. And, I can't forget my special roommate, John McCleary, who also played lacrosse. We participated in each other's weddings. Then there was Steve Fritch, also an electrical engineer student, who was a Federal Communication Commission licensed amateur radio operator. He installed his radio equipment in the penthouse, and the antenna was strung from the roof. I was amazed watching him operate in code on the radio and carry on a conversation with me at the same time. I was really impressed by him, and eventually I became a licensed amateur (KC3Q) and to this day operate only by morse code.

I learned to play bridge during free periods from classes, when others like Danny Reese and Bruce Ross needed a fourth in the card room. I got to know some girls, because several of the brothers seemed to know hundreds of sorority members.

Intramural sports among the fraternities were fun. Phi Delta Theta was well represented, and usually among the top standing at the end of the season. I also remember getting a "numb bottom from sitting on the wooden bleachers at Rec Hall through a gymnastics match, a wrestling match, and finally a basketball game.

Drinking was not the problem it is today at colleges and universities. Binge drinking was not heard of. On the basis of an average age of male students being 3 to 5 years older that normal, and especially with life experiences far beyond their years, it was common to have a beer party on Saturday nights. These were held in the basement rec room; I don't remember and can't comment on drunkenness, mostly because I was usually in bed shortly after midnight and didn't hear any stories the next day. Other members in those years may be able to tell you more!

Several special dances were held at the Phi Delt house during the year with a sorority being an equal participant. I have lost the specific details over the few years since graduation in 1949.

House rules then were also greatly different from those of today. We had a house mother. And, females were never allowed above the first floor; my mother never viewed my room! If any sex was enjoyed, it must have been very discretely accomplished, but I don't personally know of such incidents taking place.

Phi Delt members represented the fraternity in about every campus organization (excluding all-female ones). Because of such representation, the Phi Delta Theta fraternity was well known and respected with a good reputation among the top fraternities, of which there were about 50 at Penn State.

At the beginning of each year, brothers chose their room by class seniority. A quiet atmosphere was required above the first floor during week nights, and excess noise brought the guilty member a monetary fine.

Was belonging to Phi Delta Theta fraternity a good move? Without a doubt! Are there any long lasting feelings associated with the fraternity? Yes, very fond memories of good friends resulted. What was the overall attitude of the members living in the house? It was a congenial and enthusiastic group of students living together for one to four years of college. Would I repeat the experience? Yes.

PENNSYLVANIA THETA REMEMBERED
by Edwin H. Seiling '56 (Bond #604)

As I look back (way back) on my four years at PSU from 1952 to 1956, there is no doubt in my mind that fraternity life was a positive influence for me and most of the others at Pennsylvania Theta. We were a diverse group that bonded during our years at PSU and all contributed to the success of the chapter as well as each other .

Most were just average in academics, but the best in intramural athletics; and maybe some of the trophies are still there.

WHO CAN FORGET:

The Chimes and Lineups — Reciting each brother's full name, fraternity facts, and waiting for the announcement that "The eagle has s--t" (the start of Hell Week).

Hell Week — All13 of us [pledges] sleeping (maybe an hour each night) on the top floor with a mattress on the floor. Painting the house and raiding the beer supply when the brothers were asleep (nobody kept track of the quart cases). Navy "boot camp" was easier.

Social Activities — Miami Triad, spaghetti dinners with sororities, the formal Christmas dance and the champagne run to Maryland, with the brutal hangover the next day. Friday and Saturday night parties with bands and piano entertainment by Bill Edgeworth. I think one of the bands was Dan Grove's group. Drinking "stubs" when the kegs had kicked, and no one wanted to go to bed.

Initiation — The ceremony when you became a brother, and your first time in the chapter room, and you could now use the front door of the house.

Meals — Sitting at the head of the table when you were a senior. Every time Hap Irvin sat at the head and we had soup, he found a hair in it and sent it back. I never found out, but I'll bet Marie dumped it back in the pot. Hoagies for dinner Sunday night, if you had the money.
Finances — House bills of $90 per month, including social dues. Cigarettes at 25 cents a pack in the machine (using slugs at the end of the month before next month's allowance). Mailing the laundry box home. Riding the bus to and from Pittsburgh.

Fraternity life in the 50s was a great experience at PSU, and I'm glad I had the chance to be a part of it. We were responsible students with a goal of getting a good education for the years ahead and broadening our social skills through membership in Phi Delta Theta.

THE HENRY FAMILY CONNECTION
and OTHER MEMORIES
by Richard G. Henry '68 (Bond #805)

My name is Rick Henry – Richard G. Henry, PSU '68, Bond #805, and a third generation Phi at PA Theta. My grandfather, John Thompson Henry, most often called by his initials ("JT") or his nickname ("Hi") was initiated on December 9, 1904 (Bond #27) and was a member of The Pennsylvania State College class of 1908. He had three sons who were all graduates of Penn State and also members of PA Theta: my father, (James) Beatty Henry '39 (Bond #368), and my two uncles, John C. Henry '42 (Bond #390) and Robert M. Henry '45 (Bond #420). In addition to those from the Henry family, another relative who was a PA Theta Phi was my grandmother's brother, Samuel H. Carothers '18 (Bond #112).

My grandfather owned a farm and other land nine miles west of State College, which began at the top of Bald Eagle Mountain – locally known as Sky Top mountain – and stretched across the Bald Eagle Valley toward Black Moshannon State Park and to the southwest to Port Matilda. [Editor's Note: For over 10 years following World War II, Hi Henry permitted the PA Theta members to cut hemlock boughs from the forested portions of his land to use as decorations for the chapter's annual Christmas dinner/dance. Each year, several – or more – truckloads of branches were needed to frame the inside and outside of the main entranceway plus completely cover all the wood trim surrounding the openings between all first-floor rooms.]

As a small child, I have vivid memories of his ritual that we all participated in during our visits to his home on Sundays. After a huge farm breakfast, we went to church in Port Matilda, then traveled to State College for lunch at Autoport, went the Penn State Creamery for ice cream cones, walked through the cow barns (at that time directly across Shortlidge Road from the Creamery) and then to the Phi Delt house "to say 'Hi' to the boys." Not a bad way to get a young lad interested in attending an institution of higher learning.

At PA Theta, our pledge class prank was stealing the dining room tables. They were badly in need of refinishing, and we took them to Barry Slagle's parents' home in State College and began to work on them. As one can imagine, between time spent on classes, sports team practices, and pledge duties, it took over a week to refurbish and return the tables. This also increased our pledge duties, as we were forced to became waiters serving the brothers' meals in the basement party room until the dining room tables were returned.

One spring Friday afternoon, the Phi Delt pledges from PA Epsilon (Dickinson College, Carlisle PA) "kidnaped" a brother of theirs, brought him to PA Theta, handcuffed him to a living room radiator and left. It just so happened to be Miami Triad weekend. We cut off his cuffs, got him dates for both the Friday night and Saturday afternoon Dixieland jam sessions, and also for the Saturday night formal, and our fellow Phi from Dickinson had the weekend of his life.
The biggest social events every year were the Bowery Ball and Miami Triad. It was wonderful that the Miami Triad houses – Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delt Theta, and Sigma Chi – were all in a row on Burrowes Road. I believe that the Sigma Chi house was torn down the summer of 1968. Also, the porches on both sides of the our house were removed the summer of 1967. They had provided endless enjoyment. They provided a shelter for ping pong after dinner, watching students traveling Burrowes Road, or watching the stars with your date on a party evening. The porch roofs also provided a vantage point for sunbathing, launching water balloon attacks, and playing pranks from the outside on unsuspecting brothers in other rooms.

I believe the Sigma Nu house was gutted by fire in 1966. Everyone got safely out of the house, but their house mother went back into the house to make sure or to retrieve something, was overcome by smoke, and was later found dead in the dining room.

In 1967, the University had a rule requiring a housemother in the house whenever University coeds were present. Mom (Arminta) Kerr was the full time housemother at PA Theta for years and lived in the house in a small studio apartment with an annoying Chihuahua dog named Pat. When the University abolished its rule mandating housemothers, the elimination of Mom Kerr's position became a cost-saving measure.

In the spring of my sophomore year, 1964-65, we had 50 brothers living in the house, and the house was at capacity the entire time I was there. But, we had a disproportionate number of varsity athletes in the house during those year, and I believe that both house management and our chapter participation in intra-fraternity and campus activities may have suffered due to the demands on their time.

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