"Highest in Brotherhood, Greatest Ever Known"
Phi Kappa National Fraternity
The Golden Era
James McInnis, editor of the Herald, called these days the Golden Era of Phi Kappa; and SO it was. National officers worked for Phi Kappa. Chapters earnestly cooperated. The fraternity turned again to Memphis for a fete. Amidst many parties, the 1957 session worked overtime, skipped luncheons, and started meetings early as six in order to approve a new constitution, work on the ritual, and try to evolve practical and realistic expansion and rush programs. Charles Fontaine, vice president, was elected Outstanding Phi Kappa of the Year and Beta received the Efficiency Trophy.
Theta Chapter was host to the 1958 Conclave which was held at
the Forest Hotel. Among
the notable activities was a dance at the Community Center
with the Red Tops of Vicksburg furnishing the music.
In 1958, the General Assembly gathered in Biloxi for the 58th Convention. From the production of a film of this convention emerged a new department of the fraternity, the Audio -Visual Department. Brother Donald J. McArthur, National Photographer, was responsible for producing both the 1958 and 1960 Convention films. 1958 also witnessed the production of Phi Kappa's first pledge manual, the Nelson Dream, under the Exalted Grand Master and future Phi Kappa Hall of Famer Jerome V. Reel (left).
February, 1959, saw the General Assembly convene in Laurel, where Guy D. Campbell made an inspiring address. The 1958-59 year proved fruitful in the field of expansion, admitting two new chapters. The first, Delta Chi, was reinstalled on October 26, 1958 and Iota was officially installed at Conclave in Laurel. Delta Chi immediately dug in and with the support of old Meridian alumni established itself as a leading chapter from the beginning. Iota, at Wiggins, Mississippi, did not enjoy the same fate and in June of 1960 the Charter was revoked.
The Founding
(1900-1916)
The Early Years
(1916-1922)
Vital Expansion
(1922-1941)
The War Years
(1942-1946)
More Battles
(1947-1957)
The Golden Era
(1957-1960)
The Sixties
(1961-1969)
The Prosperous
Years
(1970-1974)
The Diamond
Anniversary
(1975-1979)
The Decade of
Determination
(1980-1989)
The Nineties
(1990-1997)
Covington and After
(1998-2002)
A New Attitude
(2003-the future)
The History
of Phi Kappa National Fraternity
By: Robert L. Pugh &
Frank Liddell (1900-1970)
Patrick D. Thrash (1970-1985)
William Kyle Ingle (1985-1993)
Gerald Everett and Brent McCarty (1993-2004)