2018 Annual Convention - Las Vegas: 

-5 Alumnus Brothers (Marvin McConaghy, Kirby Montgomery, Mike Mann, Wes Wicker, Toby Roth) and 5 Undergraduate Brothers in attendance.

-Brother Toby Roth '90 elected to Grand Chapter

-Brother Kirby Montgomery '75 receives Distinguished Service Award 

-Brother Pete Mackey '78 elected Secretary of Norwich Housing Corporation 

-Brother Wes Wicker '79 elected Vice President of Norwich Housing Corporation

 Brother Pete Derzis '75 named Distinguished Sportsman 2017 by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame has announced that ESPN senior vice president Pete Derzis and facial plastic surgeon Gaylon McCollough will be recognized as Distinguished Sportsmen at the 49th Annual State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on Saturday, May 13, 2017.

Derzis will be the 2017 Distinguished American Sportsman for his work in creating numerous sporting events in the state of Alabama, the most notable being two ESPN owned and operated post season bowl games (the Birmingham Bowl and the Raycom Camelia Bowl in Montgomery).

He also served as the associate athletic director at UAB from 1977-1990, where he managed various areas of the athletic department, including all sports administration, broadcasting and fundraising, as well as game day management. His present work with ESPN includes oversight of college football, men's and women's college basketball, NCAA Championships, Olympic sports and rights acquisitions.  By Cheryl Wray | [email protected]

McConaghy Receives Distinguished Service Award

Brother Marvin McConaghy received the National Fraternity’s Highest Award at the 160^th Anniversary Convention. The Distinguished Service Award is presented by the National President. It is selected by a secret committee of former DSA recipients and awarded by the National President.

The unique thing about this award is that it is only awarded at a National Convention, and there will never be more recipients than years in the history of the fraternity. Only 134 have been awarded in the 160-year history of Theta Chi.

The DSA recognizes alumni for their service to their local chapter and the national fraternity. Only two other chapters have as many DSA recipients as Alpha Phi. Brother McConaghy is the fifth Alpha Phi alumnus to receive the award. The other recipients include: Harry Lackey ’27, Dale Taylor ’69, Fulton Hamilton ’72 and Wesley Wicker ’79.

Chapter Reaps National Awards

The undergraduate chapter won the Phillip S. Randall Award as one of the top rush programs in Theta Chi National Fraternity at the 160^th Anniversary Convention in Atlanta.

 Alpha Phi also won “Fraternity of the Year” Award, elected by their peer fraternity chapters at the University of Alabama.

Gibson Wins Awards

Alumnus Marcus Gibson was recognized by the National Interfraternity Council as the “Greek Man of the Year” in the United States. Brother Gibson also won the “Outstanding Junior of the Year” by ODK in 2014 and “Outstanding Greek Man” in 2015 by the Alabama Interfraternity Council.

Brothers Duane Lamb ‘76 & Barry Krauss ‘79
Alpha Phis Keynote at National Convention

Two Alpha Phis served as keynote speakers at the 160^th Anniversary Convention. Retired Colonel Duane Lamb and Alumnus Initiate Barry Krauss both spoke in front of 600+ fraternity members in Atlanta last week. Wes Wicker had the honor of introducing Brother Lamb, and Toby Roth had the honor to introduce Brother Krauss.

Earlier News

The Alpha Phi chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity is proud to be the recipients of the 2016 Outstanding Fraternity Award at this week's Order of Omega Awards Banquet. Citing a commitment to campus involvement, GPA, and community service, Theta Chi was chosen as the award winner out of 31 other fraternities. Additionally, Alpha Phi initiated one of the largest pledge classes in chapter history, and for a second year out raised other Greek organizations for the annual Out of Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk. 

Alpha Phi's Vice President of Health and Safety, Tyler Portanova, was this years recipient of the Most Outstanding Sophomore Award.  Alpha Phi is honored and excited to receive such recognition, and looks forward to continuing its tradition of excellence in the years to come. 

Left to Right: Theta Chi Fraternity Executive Director, Mike Mayer, Brother Marcus Gibson with the Reginald E.F. Colley Award, University of Alabama President Dr. Stuart R. Bell, Theta Chi Fraternity National President, Dick Elder. 

On Sept 20, 2015, Brother Marcus Gibson was recognized as the Most Outstanding Undergraduate Brother among all Theta Chi Chapters, and was presented with the Reginald E.F. Colley Award. Brother Gibson is the seventh member of Alpha Phi to receive this prestigious award, and Alpha Phi has more recipients than any other Theta Chi Chapter.

Additionally, Alpha Phi Chapter received the following national awards: The Lewis Award for the best philanthropy event, the Randall Award for the top chapter in recruitment, and the Chapter Excellence Award.

October 4th, 2015, the University of Alabama and the Tuscaloosa community participated in the 2nd annual "Out of the Darkness" Walk in support of Suicide Awareness. The brothers of Theta Chi walked in memory of Parker Jordan who passed away last fall. The philanthropic goal for the event was to raise $15,000 to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), but after seeing the positive ripple effect that the event had last year, the various participating groups raised over $58,000. Leading all organizations for the second year, Theta Chi raised nearly $17,000 alone. Over 1,400 people arrived at the Ferguson Student Center and listened to passionate stories of depression, and the triumph of conquering it, before heading out on a proud walk through the university quad. The money provided to AFSP will help to spread the knowledge to help those who struggle with depression, through support meetings, mental assistance, and events just like this one.

In a ceremony held in the new chapter house, Dr. Robert E. Witt, Chancellor of the University of Alabama System, received Theta Chi's Colonel Carleton K. Butler Award. This is a Student Affairs Hall of Fame Award given annually. It is presented to the faculty or staff member of the University of Alabama who has had the greatest positive impact on the quality of student life here at the Capstone. Colonel Carlton K. Butler was the director of the Million Dollar Band for 34 years, from 1935 to 1969. Under his leadership the band earned its national reputation it maintains today. The band grew from an 80 all-male ensemble to a 130 coed unit by the time of his retirement. During his time the band played in a total of 14 bowl games, three state of Alabama Governor’s inaugurations and for President Truman’s inauguration as well. Dr. Robert E. Witt served as the President of the University of Alabama from 2003 to 2012. His support of the Greek System has had a lasting impact on the Capstone and her students.

Some of our brothers with Dr. Robert Witt, Chancellor of The University of Alabama System, following the 2015 Theta Chi Scholarship Dinner. Alpha Phi Chapter had grade point average of 3.2, which ranked 5th out of the 29 IFC fraternities for the Spring 2015 semester.

Theta Chi Brothers in the Jasons Society: (Left to Right) Marcus Gibson, Zach Stander, Clayton Williams, Colton Hill, David Harris, John Anderson

Brothers Clayton Williams, Colton Hill, and Zach Stander are Alpha Phi Chapter's newest members of The Jasons Society. "Jasons" is the senior mens' honor society of the University of Alabama. The Jasons Society represents the highest caliber of men at the University of Alabama. It is a society reserved for men who actively pursue outstanding qualities of academics, responsibility, and leadership. Founded in 1914, the Jasons have honored outstanding students at the Capstone for over 100 years.

On September 6, 2014, Alpha Phi Chapter dedicated the new chapter house on University Boulevard. Over 500 people were estimated to be in attendance at the cocktail reception, buffet dinner and ceremony following the football game vs. Florida Atlantic. Guest speakers included University President, Dr. Judy Bonner, Theta Chi National President, Dick Elder, Theta Chi Executive Director, Michael Mayer, Past Chapter President and President of the University of Alabama, Dr. Richard A. Thigpen and Past Executive Director and three term National President, Dale Taylor. Post-ceremony music was provided by Theta Chi alumni bands Instant Karma and Pure & Simple.