Beta Beta Chapter of Distinction

The story of the Beta Beta chapter at the University of Louisville is one of dedicated and hardworking men. Since its inception, generations of men have joined the Beta Beta chapter of Phi Kappa Tau and took upon themselves the words of founder, Morton Walker, Kentucky ’30 : “Without work, there is no real success.”

Founded in the Spring of 1947, Beta Beta was the first new chapter established following the end of World War II. The newly appointed Dean of Students at Louisville and Phi Tau National Councilor, Morton Walker, fulfilled a lifelong goal of founding a new chapter of our fraternity. Walker utilized his former position as an educator at a nearby high school and his current position to develop a list of men and student leaders to gather in a meeting. There he offered them a chance to enter on this journey with him; twenty-seven men accepted, and three faculty members signed on as advisors. Since this first group of men, the motto of the Beta Beta chapter has been passed down and instilled into each member that joins.

A couple decades later another distinguished brother and leader of men, Bill Brasch, PE, Louisville ’67, made it his personal mission to carry on the greatness of the Beta Beta chapter. Not only a leader among his own chapter but within our fraternity, former National President Brasch has spearheaded the planning of both the 50th and 75th anniversary of the chapter, speaks to each new class of associate members, maintains the chapters contact list, and holds monthly lunches and a monthly alumni breakfast club. Much like Walker, Brasch instills a message within each young man that joins the chapter, and it’s to make this a better fraternity. Setting an example for every new undergraduate, Brasch’s com-

mitment to his chapter and fraternity is an admirable achievement.

At present, another group of undergraduates have taken up the mantle of their predecessors and are ushering in an unprecedented display of student leadership. Brothers are holding positions as the SGA President of the College of Education, Vice President of the College of Business, Vice President on the Engineering School Council, and a variety of Senators of their respective schools. If that wasn’t impressive enough, the chapter also uniquely boasts the Student Body President, Dorian Brown, Louisville ’19, and IFC President, Cammeron Durham, Louisville ’19. Under the leadership of Chapter President, Keegan Tingle, Louisville ’22, the group succeeds in far more than just campus leadership. They recruited the largest associate class on campus and initiated 32 new members in the Fall. Intramural success has come in the form of recent basketball, golf, and cornhole victories. Notable awards from this past year include the 2022 Outstanding Alumni Engagement Award from the university, the Recruitment Pace Setter Award from Phi Kappa Tau, and most cherished among the brothers, an award for the service to the University of Louisville’s PEACC Center. This campus program works to end power-based personal violence, and the brothers of Beta Beta are committed to supporting them as much as possible.

To date, this chapter has won three Maxwell Awards and two achievement contests (the outstanding chapter award prior to the Maxwell). It’s home to seven Shideler Award winners and has been open for 75 continuous years. With this longstanding success, it’s clear why Beta Beta is our current Chapter of Distinction.