- - Our History - -

THE START OF EDUCATION IN DAYTON

The Dayton Campus was established as a branch campus of Ohio State University and Miami university in the fall of 1964.  From there, its popularity expanded exponentially.  The many changes of '60's brought some increasingly to realize the importance of the Greek fraternal system and the camaraderie and lasting relationships created through male bonding.  From there, the Dayton campus became Wright State University in 1967 and with that change brought the minds a few good men to create the fraternity of choice along with WSU.

A FEW GOOD MEN

The following men are attributed to being the founding fathers: Bob Ayersman, Forest Barr, Robert Beecroft, David Blasius, Richard Boss, James Crawford, Edward Crum, Richard Greenwald, Milt Johnson, Terry Lewis, Ed Mosner, Gary Pope, Daniel Quinn, Gene Quintanilla, Richard Roy, and Jim Sillery. Word was spreading these men wanted to create the first fraternity on WSU Campus and decided that on September 21, 1967 it would be official.  The name was chosen as Beta Phi Omega and the fraternal colors, gold and maroon, were chosen.  The first pledge of the fraternity was Pat Moran who came about when the fraternity football team was one man short, so they asked him to play and then he asked to pledge.  From the beginning, Beta Phi Omega had involvement in literally all campus activities.

THE CONTINUATION OF A LEGACY

In the beginning Row-A-Thon was to be used as a promotional idea for rushing new men into the fraternity, as it was started in 1968.  Row-A-Thon came about when the brothers committed to WSU that they would repair the moat surrounding Allyn Hall, in turn being the exclusive users of the moat for Row-A-Thon.  24 hours of grueling work paid off to increase the members of Beta Phi Omega and then it was later decided to use this event as a charity donation event.  Bruce Lyons, the first Dean of Students designated Beta Phi Omega the "Masters of the Moat."

In the summer of 1968, Beta Phi Omega  along with Theta Delta Phi, Kappa Delta Chi, and Sigma Tau Epsilon carved Achilles Hill out of the wilderness.  This became a hot spot for WSU students and is now the location of WSU's Nutter Center.  The first Greek week was held in 1968 and Beta Phi Omega rolled out with the win in almost all the events.

BIRTH OF A NICKNAME AND THE EVENT OF THE YEAR

The fall of 1968 saw the founders at a local tavern named Bookstore, where they held their meetings (since there was no student union or place for them to meet at the time).  They sat at the same table every time and there was a picture of a "barfly" hanging behind their table.  The bartender called them "the guys over by the barfly."  That fall also saw the beginnings of the greatest tradition within the fraternity, "The Great Pumpkin Hunt."  Held on the last Friday of October, this Halloween celebration has been successful every year since it's beginning. Today, still, this party is seen as one of the best of the year.

THE '80'S AND '90'S...

Interest hit rock bottom in the 80's and early 90's bringing Brother Mark Cooper to be troubled by this.  He along with alumni David Krueger single-handedly led the fight save the fraternity with no support from WSU.  The school tried to force the fraternity to join a national or cease to resist.  The fraternity resisted and stayed alive.  In 1993, a second annual celebration was established, St. Valentine's Day Massacre held in February to help kill the Winter Quarter "blues."  The celebration has ceased to be annually held, but the fraternity in recent years has been trying to re-establish it.

TODAY AND THE FUTURE

Beta Phi Omega continues to live up its tradition of excellence on WSU campus.  It is still today the only local fraternity left on campus that has not merged with a national or died off.  This leaves a huge weight on the shoulders of the current active brothers of Beta Phi Omega to live up to a standard unheard of at most universities in the nation who are mostly filled with national fraternity chapters.  There is nothing to worry, however because the brothers of the past have the same standards and values that the brothers of today and the brothers of the future will have.  Living the out the Barfly Motto of Fraternity, Family and School, we will prevail as the same great citizens of this university, community, and the world of the past....today, tomorrow, and well into the future.