Alumni Association for the TKE Alpha-Tau Chapter at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. Celebrating over 75 years and more than 2,000 alumni Fraters T. E. P. H.
The Alpha-Tau Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity at Drexel University is located at 3421 Powelton Ave, in Philadelphia. Before we became the Tau Kappa Epsilon Alpha-Tau Chapter, we were a local fraternity called Phi Kappa Beta (ΦΚΒ) which was founded in 1919 by nine men of kindred friendships, interests and ideals, including E. White, R. Sidwell, J. Hully, W. Bleming, H. S. Bostwick, C. Parke
r, David Yost, William Toboldt and George Creighton. ΦΚΒ’s first chapter house was established in 1935 and located at 3357 Arch Street. Nationalization had been considered since 1935, and in 1938 TKE was selected as being the National Fraternity which exemplified the ideals and organization with which ΦΚΒ desired to become affiliation. After primary inspection in December, 1938, an unconditional dispensation by and petition to Tau Kappa Epsilon was given in January 1939. At a regular meeting of ΦΚΒ on January 24th, 1939, a unanimous vote of the members favored taking advantage of this dispensation, and ΦΚΒ officially petitioned TKE for installation as an Undergraduate Chapter in April, 1939, and on May 18th, 1939, Grand Prytanis C. Smith appointed an installation team consisting of Chief Officer Carl E. Marquardt, Walter H. Halas, Harry Donnelly, Charles Browning, and H. Flint. The first formal meeting of Alpha-Tau Chapter was held Monday, May 29th, 1939, when officers were elected:
Prytanis W. Pierce Ellis
Epi-Prytanis T. Harmer Selter, Jr. Crysophylos David W. Campbell
Hegemon Jay R. Brown
Grammateus William A. Glover
The chapter has always been desirous of purchasing a house and by December 1942, savings for that purpose had grown to $3,000, but it was decided to postpone buying a house until after World War II ended. With more and more members going into the Armed forces, it became impractical to operate the Chapter House, so on June 1, 1943, the chapter held what was to be the last regular meeting until after the War. At this meeting it was decided to drop the lease on the house and store all chapter belongings. The first regular meeting after World War II was held on January 28th, 1946, with Frater Wilson Landis presiding. With the return of the fraters from service – Alpha-Tau boasted 135 members in the armed forces in the early ‘40s – it was decided to purchase a house with the funds saved. With the generous and able help of Harold Budd, Professor of Law at Drexel, arrangements were made for the purchase of Alpha Tau’s first chapter house located at 210 N. 34th Street, (now the Pi Kappa Alpha house). TKE bought the present chapter house from Dr. & Mrs. Fife for $24,000. Mr. Harold Budd also helped us purchased the present chapter house at 3421 Powelton Avenue. Upon purchase of the house, $7,000 in repairs and renovations were made. In fact, Mrs. Fife had two buyers for the house: TKE and an old age home. TKE’s bid was much lower than the old age home. Ray recalls Mrs. Fife stating why our fore Fraters were sold the house. In her words, “It would be a shame for this house to become a place where people go, in order to wait to die. My husband and I threw such great parties here. I do not want to see that tradition end. I want it to continue”. There is a plaque dedicated to the wife of Charles Fife in the library on the first floor. It reads as follows:
THE FRATERS OF
TAU KAPPA EPSILON
DEDICATE THIS LIBRARY
TO THEIR ESTEEMED FRIEND,
MARY FEBIGER FIFE;
OCTOBER 25, 1953
There were two stipulations made when we bought the house. The first was that a formal garden be kept in the back of the house as long as a member of the Fife family lived. The second was that the house be registered with the Philadelphia Historic Society. The Alpha-Tau Chapter House is the only Georgian style manor in Philadelphia and for this reason it cannot be condemned. Construction of the house was begun in 1898 and was completed in 1901 at a cost of $100,000. There are no fires allowed in the house for safety reasons and because of Philadelphia fire laws. During Spring Weekend of 1960, the mortgage for the Alpha Tau House was burned as proof to show that the house had been totally paid for. It was burned by the Fraters with the highest and lowest scroll numbers in the house; Charlie Bryden and Joe Lescavage. Also in 1960 we “sold” our house to Drexel University for tax purposes. The house can be bought back for the price of $1.00 at any time. After 40 years of use the House started to need some repair. In the early 1990’s alumni of the Alpha Tau Chapter raised $500,000 during a three year span from 1990 to 1993. The efforts were led by Frater Robert L. Byers and his efforts are a reminder of our commitment to the fraternity. On June 13, 1992, the brotherhood dedicated the West Living Room to Frater Byers. The Plaque in the living room reads:
THE FRATERS OF
TAU KAPPA EPSILON
DEDICATE THIS ROOM TO
ROBERT. L BYERS, A.T. 541
FOR HIS OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTION AND COMMITMENT
TO ALPHA TAU CHAPTER
JUNE 13, 1992
During that same time period, in 1992, at the behest of Bob Byers AT 541, Ray Daikeler became President of the Alumni Association. Ray played an integral part in raising money for the repairs made in 1992 and thereafter. The Alumni Association is responsible for the annual membership mailings, major fund raising and oversees the Board of Advisors. They also hold an annual breakfast to discuss the state of the chapter. Without his involvement, the chapter would clearly be a much different place than it is today. Ray Daikeler was born on October 1st, 1932. He came to Drexel in 1950, after being Valedictorian in his high school. His father encouraged him to join a fraternity in order to round out his college experience. In the winter of his Sophomore Ray pledged TKE; that spring he was initiated as Alpha-Tau scroll 366. Ray’s initial TKE home was located at 210 North 34 Street. Shortly after his initiation, we bought 3421 from Mary Febiger Fife. In the fall of 1952, he remembers fondly carting his belongings from 210 N 34th to 3421 Powelton as one of the first brothers to live in our home. He also speaks highly of a kind elderly woman, Mary Febiger Fife, with whom he had the pleasure of meeting several times. He chose to live in the room which is currently called the Barn and finished out his college career in the Swamp, he liked it so much here he decided to live there another year, post his 1954 graduation. While an undergrad Ray was active in IFC Athletics as well as serving as Hegemon. Ray was also active in Drexel Athletics as the first male cheerleader at DU. His involvement with Drexel continues today, as the Master of Ceremony for Drexel’s “Sports Fans of the 50’s”. To commemorate Frater Raymond C. Daikeler’s work as the President of Alpha Tau’s Alumni Board and as the President of Alpha Tau’s Alumni Association, during the 2005 Alumni Cocktail members of Alpha Tau past and present gathered to dedicate the East Living room to Frater Daikeler. The plaque in the living room reads:
THE FRATERS OF
TAU KAPPA EPSILON
DEDICATE THIS ROOM TO
RAYMOND C. DAIKELER, A.T. 366
FOR HIS OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTION AND COMMITMENT
TO ALPHA TAU CHAPTER
JANUARY 22, 2005
During the summer of 2004, the Alpha-Tau Chapter house underwent major renovations. With a loan from Drexel University, the old loft systems in the rooms were removed and the rooms were gutted to allow the installation of a fire sprinkler system. Included among the renovations was the purchase of new furniture for each room allowing each brother to have a lofted bed, a dresser, and desk. During the summer of 2005, the room known as the Coves was further renovated with the installation of a bathroom to accommodate for the newly installed Resident Director. This marks a huge step forward for Alpha Tau. Alpha Tau Teke is the only Chapter to win the “Top Teke” award in consecutive years four times, 1957 & 1958 and 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 & 1967 and 1980 & 1981 and 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008. We are also the only Chapter to win this award 19 times (1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008). We were also named the “Most Improved” Chapter for the 1974-1975 school year. The Chapter Charter hangs in the Dining Room. Alpha Tau 1 is Charles Morris Hobson, Jr. The first Prytanis was Wilbur Pierce Ellis, Jr. As you can see, the Alpha Tau Chapter is one of the leading Chapters in Tau Kappa Epsilon. We have a history that we take pride in but we are not content to rest on past laurels. It takes effort from all of the members to become a consistent Top Teke Chapter. The present membership is willing to work for this goal; we hope you will join us.
05/02/2017
Congratulations to current Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel Chapter Crysophylos Nick Ciccariello (AT 1968) & past-Prytanis Gary Brotz (AT 1921) for being TKE Educational Foundation scholarship recipients for the '16-17 academic year!
Nick is the recipient of the Charles R. Walgreen Memorial Scholarship. Gary is the recipient of the John A. Cousron Top Scholarship Award.
Both of these scholarships are two of the top individual awards given out by TKE HQ each year - and both went to Alpha-Tau TKEs!
Great to see the leadership of Alpha-Tau be recognized across all of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Congrats Nick & Gary - keep up the great work!
Alumni and active members of Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel had a great time at Saturday's 2nd Annual Prytanis Dinner!
Thanks to the Alumni who attended, showed their appreciation to outgoing Prytanis Gary Brotz, and provided words of wisdom and advice for incoming Prytanis Taylor Valentine.
It was an extra special event with Frater George Krall's attendance. George - Drexel University Trustee Emeritus, who is a friend & classmate of Frater Gary Brotz Sr (Gary's grandfather) - wrote Gary a recommendation letter when he was applying to Drexel in 2013.
While George has made so many wonderful contributions to both Drexel and TKE over the years, little did he know the positive impact to TKE he would be making in that recommendation!
Our best wishes to Chapter Prytanis Taylor Valentine, and thanks to all Alumni for your continued support and engagement!
04/18/2017
Thanks to Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity for the great article in The TEKE Magazine about Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel's 2,000th Initiation event on January 28th.
It's an excellent piece that captures how important both Active and Alumni Alpha-Tau Fraters are in the continued success of the Chapter.
Alpha-Tau's best days are still ahead - Epsilon & Omicron better not get too comfortable in the top spots!
Last Friday, Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel celebrated its Spring Bid Acceptance Dinner, extending an invite to 17 potential new members to begin their pledge period, led by Frater Paul Macri as Hegemon.
At the event, Frater Shayan Arshad (AT 1830) gave a powerful and moving speech about the true meaning of TKE Brotherhood.
Shayan's older brother, Frater Kamran Arshad (AT 1667), was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer during Shayan's Junior year, in October 2012.
It was during the time of Kamran's diagnosis, the treatment that followed, and after his passing in May 2013, that Shayan felt the truest and deepest bond of TKE.
The love and support of the TKE Brotherhood helped Shayan, and his family, get through that terrible time, and has stood by their side since, permanently.
The Chapter was honored to also have Mr. & Mrs. Arshad in attendance, and presented them with a framed photo of their sons at a place they both love dearly - TKE.
YITB
03/16/2017
Congratulations to TKE-AT Alumni Fraters Vlad & Marat Mamedov of Boardroom Spirits for being featured in the Drexel University Magazine's prestigious 40 Under 40, in 2017.
While the article doesn't explicitly mention TKE, we all know exactly the kind of Drexel Alumni they're referring to here (hint: Tekes!):
"Fellow Drexel alumni help with accounting, legal and facility services. Drexel friends have participated in focus groups and helped spread the word about the brand."
A number of Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel Fraters have been featured in the 40 Under 40 Awards over the years, including:
- Anthony Bracali, 2013
- Steve Ward, 2013
- Adam Green, 2015
Congrats & cheers to Marat Mamedov & Vladimir Mamedov!
YITB
03/04/2017
Sneak peak at a photo from the photo booth at the Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel AT2000 Initiation Celebration.
Great pic of Frater Ray Daikeler, TKE-AT Alumni Association President Emeritus, with a number of active and recently initiated Alpha-Tau Fraters.
Full album being uploaded - check back shortly.
Thanks to Frater Joseph Gorgol for providing the photo booth services! Check out http://www.josephgorgol.com/ for his great photography work, and services provided.
YITB
02/06/2017
Sneak peak of a photo that will be used in an upcoming article in the Drexel University Alumni Association magazine, highlighting the milestone of Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel's 2,000th Initiation Celebration, which occurred on January 28th.
In this photo (left to right) the 2,000th initiated Frater Kacper Chris Warchol (AT2000), is with the 1,000th initiate Frater Joe Facenda (AT1000), Drexel Trustee Emeritus Frater Ray Westphal (AT451) & George Krall (AT470).
Also featured in the photo is the Alpha-Tau Chapter's scroll, held by Frater Facenda, which is signed by every initiated Alpha-Tau member going back to scroll #1, Charles Hobson, who signed his name in 1932.
It's amazing to think of the history embedded within the photo - the impact that Fraters Krall & Westphal have made on both TKE and Drexel University, the memory of Frater Facenda receiving his scroll #1000 in February of 1976, and the great achievement of Frater Warchol receiving the Chapter's 2,000th scroll just the other week.
More importantly, we're excited for the contribution and impact that the current members and recently initiated pledge class will make for themselves, the Chapter, University, and Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity in the years to come.
YITB
02/04/2017
At last Saturday's AT2000 Celebration, we were fortunate enough to have Drexel University President John Fry speak to the TKE Alumni, Actives, Parents and Guests.
President Fry gave an outstanding speech that spoke to the deep history and heritage Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel has enjoyed over the past 75 plus years.
A few excerpts:
~~~~
"How wonderful to see so many generations of “bold, bad” TKEs come together today, along with your families, to reconnect … share memories …and show support for the newest Fraters to join this extraordinary community.
You’ve achieved a milestone for the chapter and for Drexel University. TKE is the only fraternity on campus, and the third within TKE International, to reach two-thousand members.
And that’s just one of the ways you’ve set yourselves apart.
You’re also the only fraternity at Drexel that’s independently run and self-managed…and… most notably … the only one that’s never been kicked off campus.
That last fact makes TKE a legend among Drexel Greeks, and is a testament to the strength of your alumni network, which stands by the chapter through good times and bad."
~~~~
"In 1938, members of the fraternity decided it was time to nationalize. They selected Tau Kappa Epsilon as the national fraternity that exemplified their ideals. The first formal meeting of the Alpha-Tau Chapter was held on May 29, 1939.
On this foundation generation after generation of Fraters have built upon the values of “love, charity, and esteem”…enshrined in TKE’s Declaration of Principles…to foster each other’s intellectual, moral and social development, and to make TKE Alpha-Tau one of Drexel’s most prestigious campus organizations."
~~~~
"It’s this kind of dedication that has made Alpha Tau one of the leading chapters in Tau Kappa Epsilon, the only one to win the “Top TKE” award 19 times, and in consecutive years four times.
To be sure, TKE Fraters have a lot of fun. At the same time, you also do a lot of good from raising money for the Special Olympics, and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, to embracing leadership roles on campus, to holding each other to the highest academic standards.
By nurturing lifelong friendships and cultivating passionate servant-leaders, TKE’s rich history and traditions
has made important contributions to Drexel’s own evolution as a comprehensive urban university.
Today as you welcome your two-thousandth member I hope you feel great pride in TKE’s past, and look forward to its future with even greater excitement."
~~~~
Thank you President Fry for your attendance and support at our 2,000th Initiation Celebration, and for you great leadership of Drexel University.
YITB
01/31/2017
A special thank you to Boardroom Spirits for crafting a commemorative AT2000 edition of their Boardroom Vodka, specially labelled for the initiation of Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel's 2,000th member initiation this past Saturday.
The AT2000 commemorative Boardroom Vodka bottle states:
"This vodka celebrates a milestone met by few others. It commemorates over 75 years of brotherhood, friendship, and the development of mental, moral, and social skills of future leaders, our members. With each sip, savor the history, heritage, and contribution of the past and toast to a bright future"
Thanks to Fraters Vladimir Mamedov & Marat Mamedov for their continued support of TKE Alpha-Tau.
There are still bottles available for purchase, with proceed going to the TKE-AT Restoration Fund. $30 per bottle.
Please contact [email protected] for ordering instructions of the AT2000 commemorative vodka.
YITB
01/30/2017
On Saturday, January 28th, TKE Alpha-Tau celebrated the addition of thirteen new Fraters into our bond.
This class included the initiation of our 2,000th member - an achievement only reached twice before across Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, and never before at Drexel University.
Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel was fortunate enough to host TKE CEO, Frater Donnie Aldrich, at the Chapter house prior to the widely attended celebration and initiation event.
Frater Donnie congratulated the Chapter on their success and achievements in recent years, and stressed the importance of continued progress, saying that the effort to maintain success is often times more difficult than achieving it in the first place.
Similar to Dr. Sahu's (Drexel Dean of Students) last week, Donnie asked the men of Alpha-Tau to be leaders across not just Drexel's campus, but across all of TKE Nation.
Thank you Frater Donnie for your attendance and support of Alpha-Tau, and all you do for the TKE Fraternity! All TKE Fraters should be proud of his leadership of our beloved Fraternity.
The AT2000 event and initiation was a truly special and remarkable occasion - we look forward to sharing more details, photos, videos and highlights over the coming days & weeks.
YITB
01/23/2017
This past Thursday, Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel hosted the Dean of Drexel University Student Life, Dr. Subir Sahu, along with members of the Fraternity & Sorority Life team.
In attendance were the Chapter's Executive Council, Board of Alumni (from the 50s, 60s, 80s, 90s & 00s decades), Drexel Administrators, Parents, and TKE HQ Volunteers.
Dr. Sahu was very complimentary of both the Chapter, and the engagement and dedication of TKE Alpha-Tau Alumni. He asked the membership to increase their engagement with the Drexel community, and said that TKE can be a "beacon of leadership" within Drexel, given Alpha-Tau's heritage, and high standards and expectations of membership.
Many thanks to Dr. Sahu for his visit, and support of TKE Alpha-Tau -- we look forward to making this an annual event!
01/06/2017
Lots of Tau Kappa Epsilon Drexel members on this list - vote for Tekes!
Congrats on the nomination: Brian Diener, Stas' Kotula, Jeff Iannarino & Jeff Spano!
Men's Lacrosse 75th Anniversary Team Voting
To commemorate the Drexel Men's Lacrosse team's 75th season of play, the team has opened voting for the 75th Anniversary Team based on nominations collected from the Drexel Men's Lacrosse community. Fans, alumni and friends of the program, here is your opportunity to vote for up to 10 player...
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