The History of Sigma Delta Phi
On February 28th 1919, five men who had met at Otterbein and became friends held a meeting. Paul Sprout, Herman Lehman, Lowell Gibson, David W. Bartlebaugh, and Leslie Dano (not an Otterbein student) were all active members of the various athletic and literary societies that dominated Otterbein at that time. This meeting, however, didn’t concern the school’s latest basketball victory or the deeper meaning of classic literature of the day. At this meeting, five young men established a secret society; a new bond that linked them together as brothers, not just as friends.
The new group chose the letters Delta Sigma Phi to represent their underground fraternity. Delta Sigma Phi was the third male Greek organization on campus, preceded only by Pi Beta Sigma and Pi Kappa Phi, both founded in 1908. All Greek organizations were strictly forbidden by the Otterbein administration, so all activities, meetings, and even rushing new students, had to be discreet.
As the years passed, the administration grew increasingly lenient, and in 1922, Otterbein College finally welcomed Greek honorary societies on campus. Just one year later, social Greek organizations were recognized, but with a catch; no Greek letters were permitted! In 1923, Delta Sigma Phi became a legitimate Otterbein Social group under its English nickname, Sphinx. The new Sphinx Club elected Wilbur Franklin as their first semester president, and Lowell Gibson as the second.
Sphinx quickly garnered a name for itself by attracting the leaders of campus into its ranks. Class presidents, editors or the school’s publications, athletes and other campus figures made Sphinx synonymous with excellence. Even the fraternity’s first advisor, Professor Glenn Grant Grabill was destined to leave a distinctive mark at Otterbein as composer of the “Otterbein Love Song” and “Cardinal Fite.”
Another trademark of Sphinx became the fraternity’s social events. From country themes to glamorous dances held in downtown Columbus, Sphinx threw some of the most unique parties on campus. This distinction led to several of the fraternity’s parties being highlighted in College Humor, a national magazine. Unfortunately, the notoriety of widespread recognition came with a price. In 1930, a national Greek organization also known as Delta Sigma Phi contacted the local chapter with a clear message: “Join, or cease using the letters.”
Naturally, there was some resistance both to tampering with the letters chosen by the founders, and assimilation with a national group with a completely different background than Sphinx. The group quickly decided that changing the letters would be a better alternative than completely changing the ideals of which their brotherhood was based. So, on April 1st, 1930, Sphinx changed its letters to Sigma Delta Phi. At the time, Otterbein had eight recognized fraternities. Another group, Alpha Beta Sigma (Alps), was in a different situation than Sphinx, but one that was just as serious. The Alps were losing members faster than they could recruit. Instead of watching their fraternity slowly die off, the members approached Sphinx.
A series of meetings took place between the two groups and it was decided that any advantage that may be garnered by joining the national Delta Sigma Phi would overshadow the traditions and history that Sphinx and Alps had established. In 1933, Alpha Beta Sigma deactivated its chapter and merged with Sphinx.
Sigma Delta Phi continued to enjoy a vigorous active chapter until 1939, when many groups experienced low membership due to the looming threat of war. During World War II, most college-age men were fighting, and Otterbein men were no exception. The entire fraternity’s membership was called into service in 1943. In 1946, the fraternity was re-founded by seven men; President Jerry Stockdale, Ed Ardnt, Waren Bale, Dean DeLong, Bob Wilcox, Max Phillians, and Dean Kuhn. Since G.I.s were returning home, every fraternity on campus was full. In the fall of 1948, Sphinx had a record 72 prospective pledges attend their rush party, and was hailed as one of the most active fraternities on campus once again.
In the Sigma Delta Phi oath that each member takes, we vow to hold the fraternity above everything, save God, Country, and Otterbein. In 1951, the country called its men to fight, this time in Korea. All but six members of the fraternity were called into duty by the 38th Infantry Division, and Sphinx was not able to survive the membership crisis. In 1954, the fraternity finally disbanded.
The fraternity remained silent for nine years, until seven men reactivated Sphinx in 1963. William Bennett, Bill Hankison, Perry Doran, Larry Ishida, Mace Ishida, Bob Kintigh, and Ed Henn re-founded Sphinx for a second time. Led by President Henn, the men revitalized the fraternity crest and also changed the fraternity colors from Blue and Red to Kelly Green and White. The late ’60s and early ’70s were landmark years for Sigma Delta Phi. In 1968, the fraternity moved into 70 West Home Street, which would serve as the chapter house for the next twenty-five years. That year also began the eight-year term of housemother, Gertrude Specker, whom many members thought of as a second mother; or, at the very least, a special friend.
In 1970, Sigma Delta Phi accepted thirty-seven men into the chapter as pledges, a fraternity record that remains unbroken. From that optimistic beginning, Sphinx established several records. In 1971, Sphinx garnered first place in the Harmony Night competition during Greek Week, and has won that competition more than any other Greek organization, nineteen times in all! Another record held by Sphinx is receiving first place for the Homecoming Float competition. Since 1963, Sphinx has placed first more than twenty-two times, and has failed to place only three years. The intramural sports records of this time were also impressive.
There is more to Sphinx, however, than trophies, ribbons, and accolades. In 1977 and 1978, record blizzards covered Columbus and surrounding areas, forcing many businesses and schools to close and cancel activities. The annual Razzmatazz rush party was cancelled, and the members of Sphinx helped feed emergency crews and evacuees at the Westerville Armory during the bitter cold. Emphasis on service continued in the early 1980s when Sigma Delta Phi lost member Darrin Barnett to cancer on Thanksgiving of 1984.
Following the loss, Sphinx organized the first of many successful Run For Life campaigns under current president Jerry Thaman that benefited the American Cancer Society. Sphinx also branched out to help residents of the Mann Nursing Home and the Westerville Senior Center. Other charitable causes included Auction 34 and working with Church of the Master. As the fraternity developed a strong identification with service, it didn’t neglect the social side of things. 1984 marked the first “Long Island Iced Tea Party, an event that gathered attention and a fallout for four weeks after it was concluded abruptly by the arrival of college official, Robert Gatti.
1984 also marked another “first” in Sphinx history. Since the merging of Delta Sigma Phi and Alpha Beta Sigma created Sigma Delta Phi, it is only appropriate that they were responsible for the reactivation of another. Mike Maxwell, a Sphinxman, decided to de-activate in order to reintroduce the Lambda Gamma Epsilon (Kings) fraternity to campus.
This period also marked many of the most successful Razzmatazz parties the fraternity has ever held. With Casino Nights, a Live Auction, and the one and only experience known as the “Razz Band”, Sigma Delta Phi has had one of the most distinctive rush parties on campus.
The late 1980’s introduced many challenges for the fraternity. Although the fraternity was strong internally, the house at 70 West Home was literally falling apart. Even as Sphinx captured the Greek Week title in 1989, the looming threat from the college to demolish the house was growing stronger.
In 1990, Sigma Delta Phi lost Dwight “Smokey” Ballenger, a prominent alumni member, to cancer. Within weeks, the chapter mobilized and renamed the annual pledge walk in Mr. Ballenger’s honor. In addition, a new tradition was created. Each year as pledges began their trek toward activation, they also were required to collect money for the American Cancer Society in his name. In honor of Mr. Ballenger, Otterbein dedicated its new football stadium in his name, and in the fall of 2007, a black metal fence was built around the stadium. The fence was dedicated to Sphinxman Kenneth Paul ’42 by his wife.
The house situation, as serious as it was, also produced a positive reaction from the chapter. A group of alumni members began to meet on a regular basis to study the housing problem. Their dedication renewed enthusiasm within the chapter, which started to rebuild the active-alumni relationship. Tom and Mary Andrian, parents of Sphinxman David Andrian ’93, also expressed strong interest in helping the members begin a fund for the purpose of building a new house.
In 1992, the rumors became official: the lease at 70 West Home Street would not be renewed. The Alumni Council had received a number of pledges and was on its way to establishing a viable house fund, but one year was simply not enough time to amass the funds needed in order to buy or build a new house. Otterbein offered a solution in the form of 166 West Main Street. With most other options out of reach, the chapter and alumni agreed the house on Main Street would be the next home of the fraternity.
Even as the living and social quarters grew smaller, Sphinx continued to grow, accepting thirteen pledges in 1993. They redefined themselves as campus leaders by hosting the All Campus Wing-Ding and Campus Unity Day, and a successful street fair that brought students and faculty together with the Westerville business community. The fraternity also continued an on-going service project called Adopt-a-Highway, which required chapter members to clean a two-mile stretch of State Street four times a year.
For years, as is evident in its history, Sigma Delta Phi has given its resources to the community and has asked for nothing in return. In the fall of 1993, however, the fraternity received a gift. Tom and Mary Andrian purchased a house at 76 West Main Street for the sole purpose of allowing the fraternity to occupy and take care of the property. The Alumni council shifted its focus from building a new house on the Home Street site to buying the house from the Andrians and making it the permanent home of Sigma Delta Phi.
In the fall of 1994, Sphinx moved into the new home at 76 West Main Street. The first official event in the new house was an Open House celebration on September 17. During the festivities, Sigma Delta Phi gave monetary donations to the American Cancer Society, the Columbus Open Shelter, and Amnesty International. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Andrian joined Otterbein College President C. Brent DeVore, former faculty advisor Dr. George Phinney, and the late Dwight Ballenger as Honorary Alumni members of the fraternity.
As time went on rushing did not provide the number pledges needed to maintain the quantity or quality synonymous with Sigma Delta Phi so the difficult decision was made by the remaining actives to close the chapter. The Main Street house was sold and Kappa Phi Omega moved in.
For two years, Sigma Delta Phi was only a memory on campus. But in the Fall of 1999 nine young men discovered the dormant fraternity and decided to revive it. Nate Jones, Dave Green, Ryan “Red” Davis, Joe Dallacqua, Ryan “Blue” Parrish, Jared Trubee, Dave Kline, Scott Von Almen, and Mark Harvey took it upon themselves to reintroduce Sphinx to Otterbein College. On Super Bowl Sunday, January 30, 2000, these young men along with Eric Gladden and Josh Grim boldly declared on greek preference signing day for the defunct Sigma Delta Phi with a plan to resurrect the once-mighty fraternity. The men contacted a number of alumni, including Scott Martin and Jim Ziogas. They spent the next several moths working with Scott and Jim learning about Sigma Delta Phi.
In the fall Jim Ziogas put out a call for local Alumni, with the help of Dean of Students, Bob Gatti, to come help these new Sphinxmen. Scott “Humpy” Humphrey responded to their message and began mentoring the fraternity as Alumni Adviser, in part to help recreate Sphinx’s former glory. Early in January of 2001 the local Alumni put the new Sphinxmen through a very intense, one-week pledging process and Land. They were now truly Sphinxmen in the eyes of the alumni.
For two years, Sigma Delta Phi remained a memory on campus. During the 2000 rush season, nine young men discovered the dormant fraternity and decided to revitalize it. Nate Jones, Dave Green, Ryan “Red” Davis, Joe Dallacqua, Ryan “Blue” Parrish, Jared Trubee, Dave Kline, Scott Von Almen, and Mark Harvey took it upon themselves to reintroduce Sphinx to the Otterbein community. Following were Eric Gladden and Josh Grimm, who pledged alongside them. The men contacted a number of alumni members, and heard back from one person. Scott “Humpy” Humphrey responded to their message and put the entire group through the pledging process, as well as helped retain some of Sphinx’s former glory. Scott Humphrey was appointed the official fraternity advisor, and has held the position ever since.
Sigma Delta Phi elected Nate Jones as their president, and began a new chapter in history. With its membership on the rise, Sigma Delta Phi earned the title of being one of Otterbein’s “Interest groups.” Finally, persistence and hard work paid off during the winter quarter of 2001 when Sphinx was awarded Associate Membership with the Interfraternal Council and became an active fraternity once again.
Despite Sigma Delta Phi’s late addition to Otterbein’s fraternity roster, the members braved uncertainty and threw a luau rush party, “The Big Kahuna”, in Roush Hall. Worries slowly dissipated as a number of quality perspectives attended. Less than two months later, the fraternity added many new members to the fraternity. A spring pledge class was taken in the spring of 2001, and with momentum on its side, the fraternity plowed ahead.
With a solid foundation in place, the 2002 winter quarter rolled around and Sphinx was looking to continue to build upon its chapter numbers, but also attract young men who would be able to uphold Sigma Delta Phi’s principles. In 2002, a winter pledge class came and went, and the fraternity found itself doubled in size! In the spring, four more active members were added, making Sphinx the second largest fraternity on campus. The following year, Sphinx recruited eleven men and was the only chapter to retain 100% of its pledge class. Spring quarter brought on Greek Week, where Sphinx took first place in both Harmony Night and Lip Sync. Sigma Delta Phi also continued to participate in various community service projects such as serving food at the Faith Mission Men’s Shelter, volunteering and participating in the Columbus AIDS Walk, and ushering at various fine arts events on campus.
For eighty-eight years, Sigma Delta Phi has given members the opportunity to develop leadership skills and self-confidence. Sphinx had also provided a social outlet and a means to get involved in community service for its members during their years at Otterbein College. The passage of time has produced many changes on campus, but one thing is clear, Sigma Delta Phi continues to thrive because we define ourselves by the principles on which the fraternity was founded: Brotherhood, Scholarship, Self-Control, Devotion, Fidelity, and Service.