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→The Early Years (Excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity: 1870-1976)
Gamma Phi Chapter began October 15, 1928, on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, when a group of three colonizers and 24 pledges became the local group, Gamma Kappa. The Dallas Alumnae Association was firmly behind the colony, and a number of its members assumed advisory board responsibilities.
Kappa Grand President Georgia Hayden Lloyd-Jones, Eta-Wisconsin, visited in January, 1929, and gave her approval. On April 15, word came from Clara O. Pierce, Beta Nu- Ohio State, "Charter granted, SMU. Congratulations."
Gamma Phi was installed May 17, 1929, by Clara Pierce, Beta Nu-Ohio State, assisted by Beta Xi, University of Texas, and the Dallas alumnae.
Southern Methodist University, which was opened to students in September, 1915, had been established by charter in April, 1911, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
At the time of the installation of the Kappa chapter there were 1,371 men students, 1,121 women students, and 152 faculty members. Thirteen fraternities had already been installed. The 11 buildings of 1929 had become 80 by 1973, and there were 8,000 students and 500 faculty.
The first 33 years of Gamma Phi were notable for student activities, honoraries, "overwhelmingly successful parties," and sweethearts and queens.
Ruth Pollock (McCloud) was Southern Methodist University Sweetheart at the 1933 Texas Roundup, and the chapter won athletic trophies in basketball, baseball, and swimming and diving. In 1937 Florence Allen (Roseborough) collaborated on the script for the Southern Methodist University Pontiac Varsity Show coast-to-coast broadcast. Anna Ruth Baker (McCall) was named one of the five "most exotic girls on campus" in an all-school election in 1939, and the chapter float in the Homecoming Parade was named "most beautiful." Peggy Wallace (Reinke) received an "M" Award during the 1940-41 school year for being the co-founder of COGS, (College Organization for General Service), a group that claimed more significance and interest than any other on campus. The chapter sponsored informal parties for cadets at Hensley Field in Dallas, in keeping with wartime activities.
During the decade of the 1940s, every outstanding organization at Southern Methodist seemed to have been headed by Kappas: Kirkos; COGS; YWCA; Zeta Phi Eta; the Rotunda (yearbook); and officers of the Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Classes. Jo Neal (Cleaver), chapter president and Mortar Board member, was chosen a Rotunda beauty by Cecil B. DeMille. Eleanor Maclay was one of the seven original members of the Southern Methodist chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
Gamma Phi was second highest on the campus in scholarship in 1950-51, but the most important event was the groundbreaking for a chapter house. Sororities had at last been given permission to erect houses, and all eleven built simultaneously in the university's Georgian-style architecture. In December, the chapter was spotlighted in The Key.
The year 1951-52 was the first in the new house, and the chapter achieved first in scholarship. The following year Gamma Phi was the installing chapter of Delta Psi, Texas Tech University, at Lubbock, and in 1954-55 members fostered the formation of Epsilon Alpha at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Members of Kappa and Sigma Alpha Epsilon were featured in a color picture on the fraternity-sorority title page of the yearbook. In 1958, the chapter won the Charlotte Barrell Ware Standard Cup at convention, and again was first in scholarship.
The years between 1962 and 1973 saw a re-examination of Greek life, and the future of the system looked rather grim. However, Gamma Phi members continue to achieve high scholarship, show interest in campus life and the community, and concern for each other. The chapter won the Standards Award again in 1970.
Gamma Phi has enjoyed a very friendly relationship with Dallas alumnae, who have always generously supported the active chapter with time and money.
Well-known Gamma Phi alumnae include: charter member Joel Estes Lichte Tate, wife of the chancellor of Southern Methodist University; Louise Little Barbeck, Kappa Fraternity president 1968-72; Gail Griffin Thomas, dean of the University of Dallas; and Mary Ellen Mitchell Jericho, voted the outstanding Kappa in the area at the Fraternity's Centennial year Founders Day banquet in Dallas.
==Highlights of 2012==
