HISTORY OF ALPHA BETA CHAPTER

DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL

            Alpha Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma came into existence at a unique time. Xi State (Tennessee) had just completed their organization of local chapters from Alpha to Omega, quickly followed by Alpha Alpha Chapter. Alpha Beta soon followed by organizing on May 12, 1951.

           Eleven state members from Franklin and Grundy counties met in the lounge at the new “Million Dollar” Franklin County High School in Winchester for the purpose of organizing a new chapter. Miss Mary Hall, Xi State Founder, and Miss Tommie Reynolds, Past President of Xi State, both teachers at Middle Tennessee State Teachers College, came from Murfreesboro to serve as chapter founders.

           The charter members of the Alpha Beta Chapter, all of whom were already members of Xi State, were Miss Ruth Arnold, Franklin County, Mrs. Cassie McGill Cole, Franklin County, Mrs. Ethel Colston, Grundy County, Miss Grace Eichenberger, Franklin County, Mrs. Lou Hill Foster, Grundy County, Miss Martha Hampton, Grundy County, Mrs. Mary Myers Henniger, Grundy County, Mrs. Catherine Fite Moore, Franklin County, Mrs. Eleanor Barnes Murray, Franklin County, Miss Lucy Bell Robertson, Franklin County, Miss Jean Rutledge, Franklin County, and Miss Lacy Yarber, Grundy County.

        Elected to membership at the first meeting in 1951 and initiated at the Xi State meeting in Monteagle were Mrs. Mary James Nicholson, Franklin County, Mrs. Treva Forgy Smith, Franklin County, Miss Jewell Hamby (later Mrs. Goodman), Grundy County, and Mrs. Henrietta Ray, Grundy County.    

        Founders Miss Hall and Miss Reynolds installed the first officers. These were Lucy Belle Robertson, President, Miss Martha Hampton, 1^st Vice President, Miss Grace Eichenberger, 2^nd Vice President, Miss Ruth Arnold, Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Mary Myers Henniger, Recording Secretary, Miss Jean Rutledge, Treasurer, and Mrs. Ethel Colston, Parliamentarian.

            After the first two years, under the leadership of Lucy Belle Robertson, another county, Moore County, was added. Elected to membership from Moore County were Mrs. Nell Laws Tipps and Mrs. Kathleen Tipps Smith.

Past Chapter Presidents