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→The Early Years (Excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity: 1870-1976)
Formal pledging of the quota of 21 girls included three Kappa daughters and one Kappa sister, and took place February 7, 1955. Cynthia Farris (Malloy), pledge president, became Epsilon Alpha's first president at the formal installation April 12. Seven years later, married and living in Florida, she helped to colonize Epsilon Zeta at Florida State.
Dr. Willis Tate, president of Southern Methodist University, himself a Kappa son and husband, was the speaker at the installation banquet April 13. A new chapter had been born, a new world was opening.
The first sorority badge to make its appearance on campus was the key of Kappa Kappa Gamma. The badges of seven other groups were introduced throughout the week. Tow others, which could not colonize so quickly, were admitted two years later.
University officials honored all sororities April 17 in a unique installation program of its own. It had been stressed over and over that all groups were to have an equal start, with none able to say it was the first on campus, because none was officially on campus until this recognition.
From this beginning Epsilon Alpha has worked to attain distinction through individual and group achievement. Joan Copenhaver (Cox), Epsilon- Illinois Wesleyan, graduate counselor, and Eleanore Goodridge Campbell, Beta Mu- Colorado, director of membership, who early visited the new chapter, inspired Epsilon Alpha to become strong and stable, and to strive for good public relations with faculty and deans, fraternities and sororities.
Year after year the chapter has produced sweethearts, beauties, queens, class favorites, scholars, dramatists, journalists, cheerleaders, band majorettes, campus office holders, activists, debutantes, Student Council and Supreme Court members. There have been Best Dressed Coeds, Angel Flighters, Cordettes, Alpha Chis (honorary), Who's Who, Bryson Clubbers, Morta Boards and dozens on the Dean's List. Epsilon Alpha was first to win first place in Song Fest, and with Phi Delta Theta was May Day winner five times in succession. Epsilon Alphas have been Cotton Bowl and Texas A & M Queens, Tyler Rose Festival Duchesses, even a Miss Fort Worth who became a Miss Texas, who became third runner-up Miss America, 1961. She was Linda Loftis (Tobias), chosen most talented and most photogenic.
A vacillating scholarship was a sobering influence. Self-evaluation and discipline, plus determination, were the remedies. Excellence in scholarship in the face of campus and sorority demands is a constant goal. Award cups and keys encourage performance. These include an opal jewelled key bestowed by the mother of the first president, a turquoise jewelled key for best active from the first graduate counselor, and cups given by the chapter as scholarship incentives.
A memorial gift, a handsome engraved silver punch bowl and tray, was given the chapter by the parents of charter member Sonya Boyt, who died in 1957. Since then, other charter members have given silver cups. In 1958 a past president gave a pair of branched candelabra and a silver tray as well as a sapphire Epsilon Alpha guard pin for the president's use.
The 1966 Convention awarded second place to Epsilon Alpha for Best Chapter-Advisory Board Relations.
The chapter raised $700 for charities in 1972. It supports a Korean boy through the Christian Children's Fund. Chapter members train and supervise a Campfire group of underprivileged girls.
The chapter shares a fall dance with Pi Beta Phi, a valentine party with Chi Omega, a spring formal with Delta Delta Delta. Epsilon Alpha's Kappa Pickers are in demand as entertainers.
The university provides housing facilities for ten sororities and eight fraternities. Chapter housing at first was a matter of scattered meeting rooms, assigned by lot- no permanency, no air conditioning. There were separate dormitories in 1958, and Kappa had a third story corner section, shared by three other groups. A Greek complex was ready for lot drawing in 1964. The site, a former golf course, is rolling, green, beautiful, and open. Fraternities are on one side of the circular driveway, sororities on the other, with a cafeteria building at the end. At present 83 Kappas share a house which has 34 bedrooms. The actives enjoy gracious living and possess fine silver, lovely accessories, unabridged dictionary, a large Bible, as well as comfortable furnishings. Life is enriched by these better living facilities, but the hope persists that the university will some day allow independent ownership.
Treats and snacks are provided by alumnae and mothers for rush week and exam time, and in return the actives share their living rooms for meetings and provide entertainment for alumnae and Mothers' Club affairs.
When a sudden acute problem struck in 1960, four alumnae spearheaded a movement to establish an emergency fund to enable needy chapter members to keep dues current and remain in school until graduation. Again, in feeling a special need, a generous alumna offered her large lake home for yearly work retreats and social events- ten times around. The faculty sponsor, distinguished Lorraine Sherley, Beta Xi- Texas, has offered her garden for many formal pledgings. Fort Worth alumnae and Epsilon Alpha chapter have brightened the lives of orphaned or hospitalized children in the city with Easter eggs, and candied apples and popcorn balls at other seasons. Parents and alumnae hosted six "hoedowns" during the early years, and young alumnae called on the chapter to usher for a city symphony. There is a continuous interchange of services, and this interaction is cherished.
Presently the top chapter goals are: unity within; improvement in big and little sister program; scholarship; involvement in sorority, campus, and community affairs.
Outstanding Epsilon Alpha members, besides those already named, include such people as Pat Penrose (Shieffer), appointed goodwill ambassador to Mexico by the Johnson administration; Gayle Hunnicut (Hemmings), television, movie, and British Broadcasting Corporation actress; Susan McEvoy, outstanding horsewoman; Marcia Yearsely (Polan), artists and decorator; Martha Whitaker, English professor at Texas Christian; and Betty Jack Cooper (Rains) and Jane Humphrey (Henegar), both graduate counselors. Betty is now with a dancing school and Jane is a journalist. These are only a few of the more than 500 Epsilon Alphas who have been part of this fine chapter.
== Highlights of 2012==