“We remembered a time that was, and that never will be again, and how each of us had –collectively – influenced the others to excel.”
– JIM HAMPTON, ΔE ’59, MIAMI HERALD EDITOR
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DELTA TAU DELTA AT UK
FOUNDING
Local fraternity Tau Delta Alpha, Delta Epsilon’s predecessor, was organized in the fall of 1919, the result of a close friendship between several Masons on campus.
In 1921, the group decided to petition Delta Tau Delta for membership. It was assisted in its efforts by the “patron saint of Delta Epsilon,” UK Dean of Men C.R. Melcher, Φ Prime 1885, and George C. Buccheit, Κ 1919/ ΒΥ 1920, the Kentucky basketball and track coach.
On March 9, 1924, the Arch Chapter granted a charter and Delta Epsilon came into existence.
Tau Delta Alpha became the Delta Epsilon chapter of social fraternity Delta Tau Delta on May 10, 1924. Thirty-four members and alumni of the local fraternity were initiated as Delts. Installation exercises were held at the old Phoenix Hotel in Lexington and continued throughout the day. Clarence “Dad” Pumphrey, Η 1874, father of the Cincinnati Delt chapter, performed the initiation ceremony. A banquet followed the installation and was attended by approximately 80 Delts from across the region.
Among the most important early Kentucky Delts was James Shropshire, ΔΕ ‘29, who was a mentor to many Kentucky Delt undergraduates and alumni, and a vocal advocate for the fraternity.
Since Delta Epsilon’s founding, nearly 3,000 young men have pledged and been initiated into Delta Tau Delta at the University of Kentucky.
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C.R. Melcher, UK Dean of Men, Φ Prime 1885
Charter members of Delta Epsilon with Clarence “Dad” Pumphrey, Η 1874
James Shropshire, ΔΕ '29
THE KENTUCKY DELT SHELTER
A four-story building of Georgia Colonial architecture, the Kentucky Delt shelter is the oldest fraternity house in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the first modern fraternity house constructed at UK.
Built for $30,000 in 1931, it has stood for more than 90 years through depressions, recessions, social upheaval, and global wars. The house was designed by well-known architect John V. Moore, a principal with the Lexington firm Gratz and Moore. It was built by W.E. Davis, Φ 1899, who personally supervised every detail of its construction.
The Delt house is located at 1410 Audubon Avenue in the Forest Park neighborhood and was renovated extensively in 2004-2005 by Lexington builder Mike Warner, ΔΕ ‘77. It remains a source of great pride for Delta Epsilon members and the UK and Lexington communities.
The shelter is unique in that it is owned and managed by the Delta Tau Delta House Corporation of Kentucky, Inc., not the University of Kentucky.
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Early images of the interior of 1410 Audubon Avenue
W.E. Davis, Φ 1899
WORLD WAR II
Delta Tau Delta at the University of Kentucky has never lost its charter. It was inactive during World War II because most of its members had entered military service.
Members of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority lived in the Delt shelter for some of that time.
At its Founder’s Day event in 1946, the Delta Epsilon chapter remembered the seven active or alumni members killed in action during the war:
Lt. Robert J. Ammons, ΔΕ ‘43
Pvt. Lewis F. Cantrell, ΔΕ ‘46
Lt. Glen W. Carl, ΔΕ ‘40
Lt. William W. Hopewell, ΔΕ ‘40
Lt. John Randall (Scotty) Hudson, ΔΕ ‘43
Lt. Cecil Kittinger, ΔΕ ‘41
Capt. Oscar (Bosco) Wisner, ΔΕ ‘38
NATIONAL LEADER
The Delta Epsilon chapter is a leader within the Delta Tau Delta national organization.
The chapter has won the Hugh Shields Award for Chapter Excellence seven times: 1965, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, and 2004.
The award, named for the late Hugh Shields, recognizes overall excellence in a chapter and is presented to the top 10 chapters in the national fraternity.
In addition, Delta Epsilon has won the Court of Honor Award, which is presented to the top 20 chapters in the fraternity, three times: 1983, 1996, and 2014.
Delta Epsilon served as the host for Karnea, the biennial Delt convention, in Lexington in 1986.
The gathering, billed as “A Bluegrass Event,” was based at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Lexington and attended by 810 participants. The Lexington Karnea Committee was chaired by restaurateur and Delta Epsilon benefactor E.S. “Angel” Levas, ΔΕ ‘54.
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Paul. E. Nuckols, Jr., ΔΕ '51, served in the Army in both France and Germany during World War II, planting explosives under key bridges.
EXCELLENCE ON CAMPUS
The Kentucky Delt chapter has long been recognized as a top fraternity on UK’s campus. Delta Epsilon members have filled the ranks of other student organizations, including honorary societies, student government, the Kentucky Kernel student newspaper, and the Interfraternity Council.
The chapter has also excelled in intramural athletics, the All-Campus and Greek Sing competitions, and other campus-wide events, including Homecoming. Young men and women sponsored by the chapter have won Homecoming Queen and King several times.
Delt Sweetheart
Many University of Kentucky student athletes have been Delts, including football players Ralph Kercheval, ΔΕ ‘34, Emery Clark, ΔΕ ‘52, Bob Hardy, ΔΕ ‘56, Matt Ruffolo, ΔE ‘21, and Beau Allen, ΔΕ ‘24; basketball players Adolph “Herky” Rupp, Jr., ΔΕ ‘62, Jim Andrews, ΔΕ ‘73, Rick Robey, ΔΕ ‘78, and Mike Phillips, ΔΕ ‘78; as well as numerous other UK lettermen. Kercheval went on to play seven seasons in the NFL for the Brooklyn Dodgers; Robey played in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, and Phoenix Suns, winning an NBA Championship with the Celtics in 1981.
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Delts defeat SAE for the UK intramural basketball championship, 2019.
Bob Hardy, ΔΕ '56 Matt Ruffolo, ΔΕ '21
Jim Andrews, ΔΕ '73
Rick Robey, ΔΕ '78, and Mike Phillips, ΔΕ '78
Bobby Pope, ΔΕ '98, wins UK Homecoming King, 1997.
Maggie Davis wins UK Homecoming Queen, 2019.
Rick Robey, ΔΕ '78
KENTUCKY DELT ALUMNI NETWORK
The UK Delt alumni network is one of the most robust in the country. Many of Kentucky’s most important endeavors over the last 100 years have been shaped by Kentucky Delts.
BUSINESS
UK Delt alumni have achieved great success in the business world.
Jim Host, ΔΕ ‘59, founded Host Communications, which implemented the first collegiate corporate marketing program and helped shape the explosive growth of college sports. Host also played a leading role in the development of Rupp Arena, the Kentucky Horse Park, and the KFC Yum! Center.
James F. McDonald, ΔΕ ‘62, served as CEO and president of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. and holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever to have been CEO of two Fortune 500 companies.
Other business giants include legendary Lexington civic leader Penrose Ecton, ΔΕ ‘29, Robert T. McCowan, ΔΕ ‘51, of Ashland
Oil, Bill Usher, ΔΕ ‘51, of Usher Transport, Houston business icon Mike Garver, ΔΕ ‘59, influential patent attorney Ralph King, ΔΕ ‘59, entrepreneur Doug Von Allmen, ΔΕ ‘65, Louisville attorney Ed Glasscock, ΔΕ ‘65, Arthur Walker, Jr., ΔΕ ‘67, of The Walker Company, Arch Coal CEO John Eaves, ΔΕ ‘81, several members of Lexington’s well-known Hillenmeyer family, and many, many others.
KENTUCKY’S SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES
Delts have excelled in the industries that put Kentucky on the map.
Three UK Delts have won Triple Crown races. Horse breeder Lee Eaton, ΔΕ ‘55, won the Kentucky Derby in 1976 with Bold Forbes. Trainer John T. Ward, Jr., ΔΕ ‘68, won the Derby in 2001 with Monarchos. And owner Mike Lauffer, ΔΕ ‘77, won the Preakness Stakes in 2011 with Shackleford.
Tom Gentry, ΔΕ ‘59, was a legendary (and colorful) horseman known as the “the showman of the Bluegrass.” David Switzer, ΔΕ ‘67, was the longtime executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/ Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders.
And Preston Van Winkle, ΔΕ ‘01, is a fourth-generation maker of the world’s best bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle.
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Mike Lauffer, ΔΕ '77, wins the Preakness Stakes with Shackleford in 2011.
James F. McDonald, ΔΕ '62
Mike Garver, ΔΕ '59
Jim Host, ΔΕ '59
POLITICS
Kentucky Delts have consistently led in the political arena.
Among Delta Epsilon’s ranks are two Kentucky governors who served back-toback from 2003-2015: Gov. Ernie Fletcher, ΔΕ ‘74 (2003-07), and Gov. Steve Beshear, ΔΕ ‘66 (2007-15).
The chapter has produced three U.S. Representatives, including Fletcher (KY-06, 1999-2003), Rep. Ed Whitfield, ΔΕ ‘65 (KY-01, 1995-2016), and Rep. Harley Rouda, ΔΕ ‘84 (CA48, 2019-21).
Robert F. Stephens, ΔΕ ‘49, who first initiated at ΒΑ (Indiana) before affiliating with Delta Epsilon during law school at UK, was Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice (1982-1998).
Beshear also served as Kentucky Lieutenant Governor (1983-87) and Kentucky Attorney General (1979-1983). Stephens served as Kentucky Attorney General as well, preceding Beshear in that office (1976-79).
Other Kentucky constitutional officers include State Auditor Adam Edelen, ΔΕ ‘97 (2012-2016), and State Treasurer Todd Hollenbach, ΔΕ ‘82 (2007-16).
Many other Kentucky Delts have served in public office at the state and local level in Kentucky and beyond.
EDUCATION, LETTERS, AND THE ARTS
From universities and the newsroom to Hollywood, Delts from Kentucky have impacted our national culture.
William English “Brit” Kirwan, ΔΕ ‘60, is one the nation’s most respected higher education leaders; he served as president of the University of Maryland, College Park, president of The Ohio State University, and chancellor of the University System of Maryland.
Jim Hampton, ΔΕ ‘59, was the celebrated editor-in-chief of the Miami Herald ; under his direction the newspaper won the Pulitzer Prize twice.
And screenwriter Stephen Gaghan, ΔΕ ‘87, won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie “Traffic” at the Academy Awards in 2001.
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President George W. Bush and Gov. Ernie Fletcher, ΔΕ '74
Gov. Steve Beshear, ΔΕ '66
Stephen Gaghan, ΔΕ '87, wins an Oscar, 2001.
