About UsThe Epsilon Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi was founded at the University of Central Arkansas on February 17, 1967. Our charter members are Homer Brown, Dennis Bonge, Frank Birdwell, Donald Halverson, John Knight, Richard Knox, Dallas Lafleur, Gerald Senn, Dennis Wilf and Gail Robbins. Our Chapter Sponsor is Dr. Ricky Brooks. Our Chapter Mascot is Prybo. The Epsilon Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi has been through considerable
growth in membership, three name changes for the school, three change
of band directors, but its basic purpose remains the same . . . service
to the band. Preparations for bring the Fraternity of Conway actually
began in 1966. On March 3, 1966, members of the Kappa Kappa Psi colony
at Arkansas State Teachers College met with the school officials to
make plans to establish the group as a recognized Greek organization
on campus. A colony is a group that has petitioned the National Chapter
of Kappa Kappa Psi for recognition as a Chapter. One requirement was
that the group conducts a service project. The Kappa Kappa Psi colony
elected to perform a musical act at ASTC’s annual student Christian
Student Association Carnival, along with their sisters in the Tau Beta
Sigma colony. For a fund raising project, the group sold band sweatshirts
during the weekend of the football game with ASU, and sponsored a car
wash. The same day the Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma Chapters were officially organized, Chapters were also founded at UALR. One of the highlights of the Chapter’s first year was the dedication of the music department’s new home, the Fine Arts Center, which was named after Silas D. Snow, a past President of the University. The dedication of the new building was held on February 25, 1968. By this time the school was known as State College of Arkansas. The dedication ceremony featured performances of three musical sections written especially for the occasion: “Masque,” a band composition by Dr. Francis MacBeth of Ouachita Baptist University, preformed by the SCA band; “Festival Overture,” a composition for orchestra by Walter Kaufmannod of Indiana University, performed by the SCA Little Symphony; and “Triptych,” a choral work by Lloyd Pfautsch of Southern Methodist University, Performed by the SCA College Choir. Epsilon Beta had already initiated its first membership education class after the Chapter’s founding. This class had four members and was initiated October 6,1967. The next class was initiated May 10,1968 and had twelve members. Over the next few years, the Chapter’s growth continued. As of January 1985, the Chapter has initiated fifteen honoraries, all of the faculty members. Some of them have been instructors of choral or orchestral music in addition to band literature, reflecting Kappa Kappa Psi’s concern for all types of music. |