My friends are my estate. Emily Dickinson

Your recollections might be better than mine. Let me know of errors and omissions. Thanks, PK15

1985

The Journey to Fraternity
by John Pastino, PK 002

At a time when the fraternities on campus seemed to be all about high dues and hazing, there were no satisfying prospects for the serious ROTC cadet, John Pastino. "There did not seem to be anything for me," recalls John Pastino. So when John and Ellery Bradley talked they came up with the idea of starting something different. This triggered a chain of events which would eventually lead to the Rho-Kappa Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon.

I really did not care what fraternity I joined, I just did not like any of those we saw at the time. I knew my grandfather was a SAE, so I called them, but soon found out they had completed their last chartering... in 1946, so I did not think that we would have a chance to bring a new charter to Longwood College. My father was a TKE at Shippensburg College. So it all started on October 10th, 1985 when I called... the operator. I wanted to get a phone number for the TKE's at any of the local colleges in hopes they could provide me some information on TKE's and a phone number for the national folks.

Shortly thereafter I received a TKE packet in the mail, beginning the long and tedious journey. If we only knew what we would be going through...would we do it again? "Yes."

First we needed permission from Longwood College to start the journey towards fraternity.. We submitted letters of intent to both Sue Saunders, Assistant Dean of Students, and Phyllis Mable, Vice President for Student Affairs, for their approval. This in it self was not easy. The college basically had to decide if they wanted another fraternity on campus. I was a little worried about this phase but we were allowed to pursue our endeavor.

Second we needed to petition the other fraternities through IFC. Would they allow the competition? They did.

We had to then decide who we wanted to be Teke's with us. We came up with a list of questions and talked with the guys we wanted to maybe be part of our fraternity. We held many interest meetings. We had to convince a few guys out there that this was great and it would not be like the other fraternities on campus. We would be different. We had many fights and arguments. People even quit at this point. The first officers were elected.

November 2, 1985, Doug Knapp visited us from the TKE Nationals to explain what would be expected of us.

1986
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We applied to nationals [in January 27, 1986] for our Colony Status. This also involved more letters to Sue Saunders and Phyllis Mable. We obtained our colonization on February 8th, 1986.

The Teke Colony at Longwood College

The Colony Charter

Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity

Be it known in that, reposing fraternal confidence, the Grand Council of Tau Kappa Epsilon does hereby grant their Charter to:
TKE COLONY
Longwood College
as an affiliate of the Fraternity with all the rights and privileges thereto appertaining.
In Witness whereof the, undersigned have affixed the great seal of the Fraternity this 8th day of February A.D. 1986

We the undersigned hereby pledge our Loyalty to Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, its principles and ideals, and promise to conduct ourselves as faithful members of Tau Kappa Epsilon and to endeavor to fit ourselves for membership in a permanent chapter of the fraternity.

There were 4 original groups of the Alpha Class. We then applied for a fraternity hall. "Academics and Leadership in Greek Life" and secured Curry Fourth floor for the following semester.

National's Doug Knapp visited us again for a retreat from March 22-23. And the founding fathers were initiated to the status of Associate Members of TKE. The Beta Class was started on 25 September 1986 and was later initiated at Snowden. The Gamma class was started in early February 1987. John Pastino, PK 002.

1987
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The Charter Members

The Chartered Chapter of Rho-Kappa

We then got a hall and chapter room.

An the 25th Day of April 1987, 442 days of associate membership for the Founding Fathers of Alpha class came to an end.

Note this is not the original charter (stolen in 1996). See wrong date.

GREEK WEEK Fall 1987

Chris Ozard, Shamblen, Moo, Chris Warriner, Mighty Paul, Clater?, Jabba

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Flyers by Ricky Stanfield
The "ole" Farmville University Party and T-Shirt the Brain Child of Stuart Hallett, John Schlesinger, Jett Driver, Sebastian Völcker and may be some others. This proved an excellent fundraiser as everybody on campus wanted a shirt. Sue Saunders thought so highly of us Tekes that it never occurred to her that this was all tongue in cheek and she approved flyer and shirt. Not until Joe McGill pointed it out to her what it could really mean had Sue Saunders thought ill of us (Thanks a lot Joe). Some high school kid even got sent home for wearing the FU shirt. Thank you Paul Dembowski for saving that poster all these years.

Chapter Award(s): Oozeball 1987 1st and 2nd place.

1988
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Rho-Kappa Sweetheart Fall 1988 Donna Andes (Alpha Sigma Alpha)

Chapter Award(s): Greek Highest GPA (1988), Atkinson Region Scholastic Achievement Award (1988)

1989

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First Annual Safe Sex Party

Message on a Paddle

Before his graduation from Longwood Ellery Bradley presented a paddle to the Chapter with the following text: "We the Founding Fathers of Tau Kappa Epsilon at Longwood College present this paddle as a representation of 442 days of work to bring something better to this campus. We hope and pray that the goals set by us will not be left behind once we leave. We have worked hard, but it is not all that must be done. The quest for excellence is a journey which never ends. We hope that you the future members of this fraternity will remember how hard we have worked for this. we also hope that you will work just as hard, while you are involved with this Fraternity during your College years, and that you will always remember Above All Else... Teke is Men." W. Ellery Bradley, Jr., Scroll #1

The Death of David Buchanan On the 6th of July 1989 Second Lieutenant David Buchanan, PK 22, died while on duty with the Army Reserves at Fort Pickett. We were told that he died in his sleep subsequent to a heart failure due to a congenital defect which had never been detected. That one of us should die at a time when "life in the real world" was just beginning was utterly shocking. David had so much living to do and his premature passing was and remains to this day unsettling. We attended his funeral in numbers and I remember Joe McGill (PK 32) being of great support to us in what was, for many, the first time a friend had passed away. In later years Joe McGill wrote this about David Buchanan (Joe McGill, Ph D. was a Longwood administrator, is an Honorary member and a charter member of Rho-Kappa, and an all around beautiful human being). "Once upon a time, there was a man straight out of TKE lore. This great man lived a very long time ago and his name was Dave Buchanan, and he was a TKE. He was a man you should count lucky to have known. He is a man who is still alive in many hearts and minds. He is the sort of man whom you still can be proud of today. If you know him only through TKE lore, then you could be among the proudest of him still -- because you should be. The descriptions of "friend" and "great " are tossed about lightly nowadays, though when used to describe Dave Buchanan, he was really a great man and a true friend to those he knew well (and slight). His last days were as good as his best -- he is still in my daily memory -- I refuse to remember him in any other way than by his excellence as a Frater. TKE of Rho-Kappa. ... Dave remembered best of all the things you had done that you were most embarrassed of -- wished he didn't know about and would soon forget. He'd sit next to you at the Sunday night meetings and point it out to you somewhat loudly (usually to influence your vote on something). The best you could hope for in those situations was that he might not mention any of it in mixed company. He could regularly tease you with the best of your own stories, but he never did embarrass you in front of anyone, though he usually had plenty of chances to -- that was the CHI in him. I remember loudest though his laugh and smile. When I think of Dave, which is often actually, I recall most easily his brilliant ability to remember stuff. Now it's our turn, Rho-Kappa, to remember him most brilliantly. ... then, please, pass the gavel for Dave -- because he did not get to last time." Mr. and Mrs. C. Neal Buchanan, David's parents, started the David K. Buchanan scholarship at Longwood College to honor his memory. It was our privilege that Michael Sheffield (PK19) was asked to represent TKE and co-sign the document establishing the scholarship. Over the years as a group and as individuals Tekes have helped David's parents fund the scholarship. Serendipity made it that the first recipient of the David K. Buchanan Scholarship was Jenny Devaney, the little sister of John Devaney (PK60). No one ever wanted to be a Teke more than David.

The Alumni Association Charter

The Tau Kappa Epsilon Colony came to life in January 1986. The Colony fulfilled the requirements necessary to become a Chartered Chapter in record time. The Charter for a Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon known as Rho-Kappa was granted on 25th day of April 1987 (not the 29th of April as written on the replacement Charter). The same energy dedicated to obtaining the Rho-Kappa Charter was applied to establishing an Alumni Association and as soon as enough Fraters had graduated, we applied for an Alumni Charter from Tau Kappa Epsilon which was granted the 1st day of December 1989.

The Charter Members Were:

Chapter Award(s): Greek Leadership (1988-1989) Greek Service Award (1989-1990)

1990

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Red Carnation Ball

Alumni Officers:
Stuart Hallett III, PK 009, President
Michael Clements, PK 003, Vice-President
Sebastian Völcker, PK 015, Secretary
Michael Estes, PK 007, Treasurer

Chapter Award(s): Greek Service Award (1989-1990)
In Back Bo Johnson , Jeff Elmore, Marcus Paxton, John Benton, C.J. Maurice, Warren Hicks
Front: Kevin Wassinger, Dave Boyd, James Whitetree, Terry "Squeeky" Higgins, Scott Kasper, Shawn Marshall, John Fox, Rob Overstreet, Andrew Smallwood.

1991

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Alumni Officers:
Robert Essington, PK 36 President
Mike Estes, PK 007, Treasurer

Adopt a Highway Program (Pict T. Higgins)

Tri Sigma Ball April 1991
Top Row: Marcus Paxton, Terry "Squeeky" Higgins
Bottom Row: Robert "Rooster" Essington, John Fox, David Meadows

(Pict T. Higgins)

Farmville Herald 1991

Chapter Award(s): Greek Service Award (1990-1991), Greek Brotherhood Award (1990-1991)

1992

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Alumni Officers:
Robert Essington, PK 36 President
Mike Estes, PK 007, Treasurer

The Brother Suite in 92 or 93 and other Teke moments (Picts by T. Higgins)

Chapter Award(s): Greek Leadership (1992) Greek Service Award (1991-1992), SOAR, Certificate of Excellence in Academics (1992)

1993
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Alumni Officers:
Robert Essington, PK036 Prytanis
Kevin Doley, PK074, Epi-Prytanis
Ricky Stanfield, PK013 Grammateus
Mike Estes, PK007, Crysophylos
Mike Clements, PK003, Editor
C.J. Maurice, PK084, Social Chair

Summer Teke Fling.... Food, Fun and Fraters
by frater Jason Blount

The 1993 Rho Kappa summer fling on July 17th was yet another memorable occasion. We had a good turn out with the pleasant of Frater Pastino showing up, who in the past could only call the party location and talk to everyone on the phone.
The event is becoming very family oriented, with the attendance of many married couples and even some children. We played volleyball, went swiming, and cooked on the grill. There was also alot of BS flying around while reliving the good ole days at Longwood. Joe McGill, Jabba and myself were in charge of the BS if you can imagine that!
There is talk of moving the party to NOVA [Northern Virginia] . No matter where it is though, July 16th 1994 should be marked in your calendars as "BUSY" already. There are 104 weekend days in a year, so one day to spend with the fraters having fun should be easy to schedule. We hope even more brohers and their families turn out for the occasion because we miss you and we want to kno what is happenng in everyone's lives. Until next time have fun and drop Jabba a line for the newsletter. Also I want to say thanks to Rooster and everyone who helped make part a great success. (From R. Kappan, Sr. End of Summer & Holiday Issue 1993)

Chapter Award(s): Greek Highest GPA (1993), Greek Service Award (1992-1993), Order of Omega, Chapter Excellence Award (1993), March of Dimes (1993)

1994
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Alumni Officers:
Robert Essington, PK 36 President
John Devaney, PK 60, Secretary
Mike Estes, PK 007, Treasurer

Fourth Fling Fantastic Fun
Annual Reunion a Great Success!

No More Dues!

The 1994 Rho Kappa Alumni Association Annual Reunion was a great success! Over fifty Fraters and friends were in attendance at Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling, Virginia on July 23, 1994. The weather was great, there was plenty to eat and drink and the company couldn't have been better!

The Association no longer has annual dues. Any Rho Kappa Frater in good standing who is not currently enrolled at Longwood as an undergraduate is automatically a member of the Rho Kappa Alumni Association.

This did cause some financial headaches for the Alumni Officers.

The Buchanan Room

Having lost the Brother Suite to the politics of housing, the Chapter wished to refurbish the pool room adjoining the chapter room to house the composites, trophies etc. and rededicate that space as the Buchanan Room. Sacrificing the pool table to an auction the actives asked for Alumni contributions. Thirteen answered the call, Stuart Hallett III, PK 009, Sebastian Völcker, PK 015, Joseph McGill, PK 032, Greg McMahon PK 059, John James Devaney PK 060, Kevin J. Brower PK 082, Patrick S. Wright PK 112, Christopher Brian Herting PK 121, Mark Brandon Cole PK 129, Russell T. Hancock PK 135, Zach T. Fisher PK 136, Michael Walter Miller PK 137, Trevayne Friend Smith PK 138.

Chapter Award(s): Greek Service Award (1993-1994), 2 x March of Dimes (1994)

1995
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Alumni Officers:
Robert Essington, PK 36 President
Mike Estes, PK 007, Treasurer

Chapter Award(s): Greek Service Award (1994-1995)

1996

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Alumni Officers:
David Warren Hicks, Jr., PK 077, President
Mike Estes, PK 007, Treasurer

Indelicate hands filched Rho-Kappa's Charter!

Chapter Award(s): Greek Service Award (1996), March of Dimes (1996)

1997

Ten Year Anniversary or the Power of One

The ten year anniversary of Rho-Kappa Chapter would probably not have been the same without Frater Stefan Geppert Harris, PK 148. Stefan was determined that every frater of Rho-Kappa Chapter should be present at Rho-Kappa's Ten year Anniversary. In 1996, with dogged resolution and unfaltering enthusiasm Stefan started to contact fraters by mail and telephone, Scott A. Kasper, PK 055 joined Stefan's effort to reach the Alumni and together they succeeded in gathering the largest group of Rho-Kappa Tekes ever assembled. The success and magnitude of the gathering breathed new life in the Alumni Association.

Picture Credit: Mike Clements (for a large picture click here)

Chapter Award(s): Greek Service Award (1997-1998), March of Dimes (1997)

1998
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Alumni on the Web

On the 4th day of August 1998 Frater Völcker puts up the Alumni Association on the Web to better stay in touch with its membership.

The Rho-Kappa Charter is Replaced!

This momentous event was held October Fest Weekend, Saturday October 3, 1998 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapter room (South Cunningham). Two years ago indelicate hands filched Rho-Kappa's Charter. The investigation revealed nothing and the Chapter was left Charter-less. This deplorable state of affairs had to be remedied. At Jabba's bachelor party in the summer of 1997, concerned brothers decided that funds should be raised to acquire a new charter. A loose committee was formed with Mike Estes PK 007, Scott Kasper PK 055 and Sebastian Völcker PK 015. Jason Blount PK 021 was the first to contribute, and after a mass mailing, many brothers responded with generosity.

By Christmas the funds were secured. Joe Straughan was contacted at the International Headquarters. Straughan was able to find a charter that had been signed by the men who were on Grand Council at the time Rho-Kappa was chartered! Getting an artist to Calligraphy all 43 names on the Charter was apparently a big deal for it took over six months for the Charter to be completed. At long last Rho-Kappa had a Charter again.

Leave to Stefan Harris PK 148 to immediately note that the date on the new charter was wrong! The 25th of April 1987 had become the 29th on the New Charter. Oh NO. The journey to reacquire a charter had been rich in obstacles, between the fund-raising, the calligrapher and the horrendous ordeal with the stupidest, most inept framer shop in all of Midlothian (Charter not properly centered in the frame, and after correction it still was not perfect). Were we to redo it all over again? Harris seeing the horror on Völcker's face swiftly offered to make the wrong date a quiz question for new members, turning the misprint in an opportunity for learning. It is our hope that the original charter will be returned one day to hang next to the Imperfect Charter.

Alumni Association is Back to stay

During the October Fest meeting the Alumni present elected Ricky Stanfield as Alumni Prytanis, Stuart Hallett offered to head the fundraising committee, Sebastian Völcker would continue as acting Histor publish the newsletter, maintain the new Website, and serve as the guardian of the newly opened account of the Alumni Association. Steve Mahr assisted by Mark Cole took the responsibility to organize Teke Fling 1999, to be held in the Spring. The Alumni also embraced the Chapter's idea to have our very own Centennial Celebration for the 100 hundred years of TKE. As a large gathering was expected for the Centennial party a full election was postponed until then.

Chapter Award(s): March of Dimes (1998), Oozeball (1998) 1st Place

1999
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The 10th day of January 1999, the Alumni meeting was held in the Chapter Room. With a large quorum in attendance we held our meeting the officers elected were:

Ricky Stanfield, PK 013, Prytanis
Jason Blount, PK 021, Epi-Prytanis
Stuart Hallett, PK 009, Chrysophylos
Sebastian Völcker, PK 015, Histor
Steve Mahr, PK 070 Teke Fling Coordinator

Centennial Party

Picture credit: John Benton

Fraters in attendance in addition to our most gracious host Will Birdsong, PK 062 were (in alphabetical order for once): Benton, John; Blount, Jason; Clements, Jeff; Clements, Mike; Cole, Mark; Dembowski, Paul; Devaney, John; Dooley , Conway; Douglas, Scott; Driver, Jett; Essington, Robert; Flanagan, Bill; Fox, John; Franklin, Steve; Goddin, Jon; Hallett, Stuart; Harris, Stefan; Harrison, Dan; Hayes, Grant; Herting, Chris; Hicks, Andy; Higgins, Terry; Howel, Damon; Hughes, Clay; Johnson, Bo; Kasper, Scott; Lipford, Grayson; Mahr, Steve; Marshall, Shawn; McCauley, Darren ; McMahan, Greg; Meadows, David; Mills, John; Pastino, John; Riddock, Neil; Schlesinger, John; Shamblen, Doug; Shay, Brian; Stanfield, Ricky; Straughn, Kenny; Sullivan, Brian; Thompson, Jim; Völcker, Sebastian; Wertz, Steve. More attended but these were the fraters I had written down. PK15

A Leap in Communication: Rob Johnston's List Serve

In January of 1999, Frater Rob Johnston, PK 111 greatly facilitated e-mail communications by offering the Rho-Kappa Tekes their very own List Serve. When a frater wishes to communicate with the members of the Alumni Association and the Chapter he needs to remember but a single e-mail address. If you are a frater not yet on the List Serve get in touch with Rob Johnston.This is such an effective tool of communication that it nearly made the Website obsolete!

For more on this year go to 1999 News

Chapter Award(s): Greek Brotherhood Award (1999), IFC Lyp-Sync 1st Place 1999

2000
Summer Teke Fling

Picture Credit: Mike Estes

For more on the year go to the 2000 news

Chapter Award(s): March of Dimes 2000

2001
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Spring Week-end meeting Saturday April 7, 2001 at Macadoos

Alumni Officers:
Prytanis - Michael Clements PK-3
Epiprytanis - Steve Mahr PK-70
Crysophylos - Michael Estes PK-7
Grammateus - Ricky Stanfield PK-13
Histor - Sebastian Völcker PK-15
Pylortes - Gray Lipford - PK-113

Alumni Association Becomes Official Again

The members assembled at the Spring Weekend meeting voted to re-establish ourselves as an official Alumni Association. Later that month Histor, Sebastian Völcker, filed the required paperwork and fee with TKE international in Indianapolis. One of the goals of Prytanis, Michael Clements is "positioning ourselves for competition as a Outstanding TKE Alumni Association Award for Conclave 2003."

Summer Teke Fling 2001

For More on this year go to 2001 news

Chapter Award(s): Greek Highest GPA (2001) Greek Service Award (2001), Greek Most Improved GPA, IFC Lyp-Sync 1st Place (2001), Chili Cook-Off (Spring Weekend 2001) 1st place.

2002
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Fifteen Year Anniversary

For More on this Year go to 2002 news

2003, 2004 , 2005 go to News

Histor/Webmaster: Sebastian@SnowdenHill.com