About Theta Chi
Theta Chi Fraternity at Drake University is committed to fostering an environment of brotherhood, service, and leadership among our members. Our fraternity is built on the principles of loyalty, charity, and personal growth. Here, we create lasting friendships and memorable experiences while engaging in community service and promoting academic excellence. Join us as we uphold our rich traditions and strive to make a positive impact both on campus and beyond.
Foundations and Installation (1947–1949)
Theta Chi’s journey at Drake University began in the spring of 1947, sparked by a connection between brothers. Dale Ratliff, a member of the Alpha Mu chapter at Iowa State, learned his brother Doyle would be attending Drake. Recognizing an opportunity to expand, Alpha Mu members teamed up with John Williams (an Indiana University Theta Chi transfer) to recruit 15 founding men.
Operating under the local name Chi Alpha, the group held its very first meeting on October 18, 1947, in the basement of historic Lochroft Hall. After earning official university recognition and rapidly growing its membership, the colony officially chartered as the Gamma Tau Chapter of Theta Chi on April 23, 1949, initiating 25 founding members.
The Gritty Decades: The Ultimate Underdog Story
(1950s–1970s)
The 1950s and 60s tested Gamma Tau’s resilience. The chapter battled constant housing instabilities, financial pressures, and severe recruitment slumps—at one point shrinking to just nine men. In late 1954, facing a closure warning from the National Headquarters, the remaining members narrowly voted against disbanding, choosing instead to dig in and rebuild.
Their persistence paid off. Guided by traveling national secretaries and dedicated alumni, the chapter repeatedly bounced back, earning the prestigious Sidney Ann Gilpin Lewis Memorial Trophy for chapter improvement in both 1952 and 1973. Despite the "fraternity depression" of the Vietnam War era, the brotherhood secured a permanent foothold on campus in 1975 when they moved into the chapter house at 1320 34th Street.
Growth, Leadership, and the Modern Era
(1980s–Present)
By the late 1970s, Gamma Tau had completely transformed. By the fall of 1983, Theta Chi had become the undisputed underdog success story of Drake University, boasting 93 members—the largest fraternity on campus—and capturing five consecutive IFC scholarship awards.
In 2015, recognizing that their beloved 34th Street home needed a fresh start, a massive alumni-driven fundraising campaign successfully raised the capital to demolish the old property and rebuild. In 2016, a brand-new, modern chapter house was unveiled, complete with a fully furnished basement, dedicated chapter room, and space for nearly 30 live-in members.
Today, despite shifting attitudes toward Greek life nationwide, Gamma Tau remains a premier force at Drake. Maintaining a strong, stable brotherhood of around 60 undergraduates, the chapter consistently excels in campus leadership, academics, intramurals, and philanthropy.