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On September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College, (now Morgan State University), 12 students founded what is now the nation's fifth largest, predominantely African-American social service fraternity Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated. The founders of Iota Phi Theta were: Albert Hicks, Lonnie Spruill, Jr., Charles Briscoe, Frank Coakley, John Slade, Baron Willis, Webster Lewis, Charles Brown, Louis Hudnell, Charles Gregory, Elias Dorsey, Jr., and Michael Williams. This group of men was unique for several reasons. First of all, many were long time friends. Spriull, Coakley, Dorsey, and Gregory had known one another since grade school, and Spruill and Coakley's friendship extended to when the two were pre-schoolers. Even more unniquely, many or these men were are now referred to as "Non-Traditional Students" and were 3-5 years older than the average college student. Gregory, Willis, and Briscoe were all service veterans, and Brown, Hicks, and Briscoe were married with small children. Of this group of 12, several were also working full-time jobs and all were full-time students. Based upon their ages, heightened responsibilities, and increased level of maturity, this group had a sllightly different perspective than the norm for college students. It was this persspective from which they established the Fraternity's purpose, "The development and perpetuation of Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Fidelity, and Brotherhood among Men." Additionally, they conceived the Fraternity's motto, "Building a Tradition, Not Resting Upon One!!" The humble beginnings of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated "Crumped Up" Central Missouri State University Colony started with six distinguished men on April 1, 1995. Our founding fathers, Kirk L. Rhodes and Orlando T. Mathews from the Upisilon Chapter, "Mother of the Midwest," and Cord Harris from Colorado University Grad Chapter, showed the first meaning of brotherhood. The Central Missouri State University Colony has seen a tremendous growth in numbers over the past few semesters. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated has become an extremely influential member on Central Missouri State University campus. Founded on April 1, 1995 but had troubles becoming recognized as a registered organization on campus the next few years were struggle, but through the perseverance of the first "Centaurs" on the Central Missouri State University (CMSU) Campus; Iota Phi Theta has become the second largest traditionally African-American fraternity on campus. |
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