About

The Founding of Tennessee Delta

In the 1960s, Tennessee Tech University did not recognize social fraternities on campus. Despite this rule, several local underground brotherhoods formed. Among those established was Sigma Tau Omega in 1966. On October 3, Mitchell D. Rabon, Mark Garrett, and Steve Willis decided to organize their own fraternity. They recruited seven other men and they became the founders of STO. While STO is not considered one of the original underground fraternities at Tennessee Tech, the fraternity saw exponential growth that the other groups did not in 1966.

In the fall of 1968, a special committee voted at Tennessee Tech to allow national fraternities to establish chapters on campus, STO became a colony of Phi Delta Theta. Within that school year, the colony exceeded all the goals required for initiation and for chapter installment. The Tennessee Delta Chapter was installed, and its members were initiated starting on May 9, 1969 and the festivities lasted for two days. They began when the Phi Delta Theta ritual was received by 36 undergraduates and five alumni at the First Methodist Church in Cookeville. Since then, Tennessee Delta has been a strong pillar of Greek life at Tennessee Tech.

Today

In over 50 years, more than 740 gentlemen have been initiated into the Tennessee Delta Chapter.  Tennessee Delta has a proud history and has fostered the growth of young collegiate men using the Three Cardinal Principles of Phi Delta Theta: Friendship, Sound Learning, and Rectitude.  At Tennessee Delta, Phi Delts are more than just acquaintances, we are Brothers in the Bond for Life!

Unfortunately, the Chapter’s active operations have been suspended for the time being. However, our Alumni network is alive and well!