Alpha Gamma Sigma (fraternity)

Alpha Gamma Sigma
Alpha Gamma Sigma
ΑΓΣ
Founded	January 28, 1923; 98 years ago; University of Missouri
Type	Professional, Social
Affiliation	NIC
Emphasis	Agricultural
Scope	National
Motto	Preparing Men for Life by: Coming together as Scholars, Living as Brothers, and Becoming Leaders of Tomorrow
Colors	Royal Blue; Silver
Symbol	Plow
Flag
Flower	American Red Rose
Chapters	8
Headquarters	Columbus, OH; United States
Website	http://www.alphagammasigma.net/

Alpha Gamma Sigma (ΑΓΣ), commonly known as Ag Sig or AGS is a national social and professional agricultural fraternity that exists on eight campuses. The mission statement of Alpha Gamma Sigma is "Preparing men for life by: coming together as scholars, living as brothers, becoming leaders of tomorrow."

History[]

1923[]

The agricultural fraternity, Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS), was first organized as a local fraternity at University of Missouri, on January 28, 1923. It was the outgrowth of a feeling among certain men that the other agricultural fraternities were disregarding the type of men essential to the proper forwarding of agriculture.^[1]^[2]

During the organization and growing period of Alpha Gamma Sigma, a similar organization was going through a period of development at Ohio State University. This organization was known as the . It was established October 23, 1922. During its first year its name was changed to Tau Gamma Phi fraternity.^[1]

Tau Gamma Phi rapidly grew into prominence in Ohio State campus affairs, and ranked high in scholarship. It maintained as its ideals the advancement of agriculture, scholarship, athletics and the social development of its members.

1931[]

Unknown to each other, Alpha Gamma Sigma at Columbia, Missouri, and Tau Gamma Phi at Columbus, Ohio, grew to be among the strongest fraternities on their respective campuses. Each had opportunities to affiliate with national fraternities but the members of these two chapters believed that their ideals were high enough to form the foundation of a new and unique organization. In March, 1931, members and alumni of Tau Gamma Phi met with members of Alpha Gamma Sigma at Columbia, and worked out a plan for joining the two groups in what now constitutes the National Chapter. A constitution was drawn up and officers consisted of the following: Clair E. Jones, president; Wayne Johnson, vice president; Don Rush, treasurer, O. E. Allen, secretary; and Delmer Glenn, historian, the Ohio chapter was designated as the Alpha chapter and the Missouri chapter as the Beta chapter.

The second General Convention was held in Columbus, Ohio, November 28 and 29, 1931. The constitution and by-laws were revised and adopted. The fraternity pin and pledge pin were also adopted. A new was designated and put into use. The ritual, secret grip, password, raps, and motto were adopted. Royal blue and silver were selected as the fraternity colors and the red rose as the fraternity flower. A committee was appointed to have a composer write a fraternity, sweetheart, and pledge song.

1951[]

At the Tenth National Convention in November 1951, procedures were approved for expansion of the fraternity. Possibilities for new chapters at recognized Land-Grant Colleges were reviewed.^[1]

1953[]

November 7, 1953, marked another memorable occasion in the history of AGS with the initiation of the charter members of Gamma chapter. The first step in the organization of Gamma chapter was taken when Assistant Dan Hixon of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, College of Agriculture was contacted by members of Beta chapter. Dean Hixon in turn approached the members of the Ag. Men's Club, an independent group of agriculture students at the University of Nebraska. The members of the Ag. Men's Club then asked Professor Donald R. Warner, an alumnus of the Beta chapter for additional information and advice. Professor Warner served as an advisor during the entire period of colonization. On March 14, 1953, a delegation from the Beta chapter met with the interested men at Nebraska to discuss plans for colonization. The Gamma Club of AGS was established on April 20, 1953. On November 7, 1953, the Gamma Club became an active chapter, The Gamma Chapter of AGS.

1961[]

The year 1961 was marked as another growth year for AGS. On Saturday, May 20 a delegation of eight men from Alpha chapter, and six men from Beta chapter plus Grand President Emil Malinovsky and Grand Vice President Alfred Lehmkuhi, initiated 19 charter members into Delta chapter of Alpha Gamma Sigma, located on the campus of Tennessee Technological University at Cookeville, Tennessee. Dr. E. B. Knight served as advisor during the period of colonization and is now an active member of AGS. The founding of Delta chapter was the first chapter below the Mason–Dixon line.^[1]

1970[]

Sixteen men were initiated into the Epsilon chapter of Alpha Gamma Sigma on February 16, 1970. Through the work of two Beta alumni, Colin Collins and Van Ricketts, men at Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, were contacted and colonized by September 15, 1969. Ricketts remained in the capacity of advisor.

The Zeta chapter of AGS was colonized officially October 1, 1970, at Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois. On April 3, 1971, during an off-year conclave, members of the other chapters met at Macomb to formally initiate 21 men into active membership as Zeta chapter. Also initiated was Gerry Posler, faculty member who served with Jack Riley, a Beta alumnus, as advisor to the new chapter.

1971[]

Shortly after the initiation of Zeta chapter, Alpha Gamma Sigma was unanimously accepted as a member of the National Interfraternity Conference on June 19, 1971.

1981[]

In January, 1981 all present members of the IlliDell Cooperative Fraternity at the University of Illinois voted to become a member of ΑΓΣ. The decision to join a national organization came after the membership was assured that its place in the Fraternity would not hide the previous hard work and cooperation by the local chapter that preceded it and that it would be known as the IlliDell chapter.^[1]

1999[]

The colony at Arkansas Tech University was the result of more than two years of coordinated effort between the national officers and staff members, other ΑΓΣ chapters and students of Arkansas Tech to ensure the success of the chapter. On November 20, 1999, 17 men were initiated as the charter class of the Iota chapter.

2016[]

Beta chapter completed construction of their new house at the University of Missouri.

2021[]

Gamma chapter at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln completed their new 32,000 sq/ft house at 3445 Holdrege St. Thanks to over 2.8 million dollars in fundraising from generous Alumni, this house is now the largest Fraternity at the University.

General information[]

National Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio

Membership:

Active chapters: 8.
Total number of initiates: 4,350.

Chapter roll:

1922 Alpha, Ohio State University
1923 Beta, University of Missouri
1953 Gamma, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
1961 Delta, Tennessee Technological University
1970 Epsilon, Missouri State University
1971 Zeta, Western Illinois University
1981 IlliDell, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
1999 Iota, Arkansas Tech University

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. III-14–15. ISBN 978-0963715906.
^ William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 25 Mar 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.

[Baird's-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. III-14–15. ISBN 978-0963715906.

[Baird's_Manual_Online-2] William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 25 Mar 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.

[1]

[2]

show v t North American Interfraternity Conference
Currently active members of the NIC	Acacia ΑΓΡ ΑΓΣ ΑΔΓ ΑΔΦ ΑΕΠ ΑΚΛ ΑΣΦ ΑΤΩ ΑΦΑ ΑΦΔ ΑΧΡ ΒΣΨ ΒΘΠ ΒΧΘ ΒΥΧ ΔΚΕ ΔΛΦ ΔΣΦ ΔΤΔ ΔΥ ΔΦ ΔΧ FarmHouse ΖΒΤ ΖΨ ΘΔΧ ΘΞ ΙΝΔ ΙΦΘ ΚΑ Society ΚΑΨ ΚΔΡ ΚΔΦ ΛΘΦ ΛΣΥ ΛΦΕ ΝΑΚ ΠΚΑ ΠΚΦ ΠΛΦ ΣΑΕ ΣΑΜ ΣΒΡ ΣΛΒ ΣΝ ΣΠ ΣΤΓ ΣΦ ΣΧ ΤΔΦ ΤΕΦ ΤΦΣ Triangle ΦΒΣ ΦΓΔ(FIJI) ΦΙΑ ΦΚΘ ΦΚΣ ΦΚΤ ΦΚΨ ΦΛΧ ΦΜΔ ΦΣΚ ΦΣΦ ΧΦ ΧΨ ΨΥ ΩΔΦ
Active former members of the NIC	ΔΕΨ ΔΨ ΚΑ Order ΚΣ ΛΧΑ ΦΔΘ ΣΦΔ ΣΦΕ ΤΚΕ ΘΧ
Defunct former members of the NIC	ΑΚΠ ΑΛΤ ΒΚ ΒΣΡ ΔΑΠ ΔΣΛ ΘΚΝ ΘΚΦ ΘΥΩ ΚΝ ΟΑΤ ΣΔΡ ΣΛΠ ΣΜΣ ΣΤΦ ΦΑ ΦΒΔ ΦΕΠ ΦΚ ΦΛΘ ΦΠΦ ΦΣΔ ΦΣΕ

show v t Fraternities and sororities
Academic fraternities originating from North America
General	Colony North American fraternity and sorority housing Stepping U.S. racism Hazing in Greek letter organizations U.S. deaths Philippines deaths Mother of Fraternities
History	Fraternities and sororities North America High school Professional Service Canada Lists by country/territory France Philippines Puerto Rico
Historically African-American	ΑΚΑ ΑΦΑ ΔΣΘ ΖΦΒ ΙΦΘ ΚΑΨ ΣΓΡ ΦΒΣ ΦΡΗ ΩΨΦ
Historically Asian/Pacific Islander-American	αΚΔΦ ΑΦΓ ΒΧΘ ΔΕΨ ΔΚΔ ΔΦΩ ΙΝΔ ΚΦΛ ΛΦΕ ΠΑΦ ΠΔΨ ΣΒΡ ΣΟΠ ΣΨΖ ΣΦΩ
Christian fraternities and sororities	ΑΔΓ ΑΔΧ ΑΓΩ ΑΛΩ ΑΝΩ ΒΕΓΓΑΡΣ ΒΣΨ ΒΥΧ ΓΦΔ ΔΨE ΣΑΩ ΣΘΕ ΣΦΛ ΦΒΧ ΧΑΩ
Historically Jewish	ΑΕΠ ΑΕΦ ΖΒΤ ΣΑΕΠ ΣΑΜ ΣΔΤ ΤΔΦ ΤΕΦ
Multicultural	ΔΞΝ ΔΞΦ ΓΗ ΖΣΧ ΖΦΡ ΖΧΦ ΘΝΞ ΛΤΩ ΛΨΔ ΜΣΥ ΣΛΓ ΤΦΣ ΨΣΦ ΩΔΦ ΩΦΧ Delphic
Historically Scout-affiliated	AΦΩ ETΠ ΩΦA
LGBTQ	ΑΛΖ ΑΠΔ ΔΛΦ ΓΡΛ ΘΠΣ ΚΑΛ ΚΘΕ ΟΕΠ ΣΦΒ
Native American	ΑΠΩ ΦΣΝ ΣΟΕ
Latino and Puerto Rican	ΑΨΛ ΔΤΛ ΓΑΩ ΓΖΑ ΗΓΔ ΚΔΧ ΛΑΥ ΛΠΥ ΛΠΧ ΛΣΥ ΛΘΑ ΛΘΝ ΛΘΦ ΛΥΛ ΜΑΦ ΝΑΚ ΝΣΒ ΣΔΑ ΣΙΑ ΣΛΑ ΣΛΒ ΣΛΥ ΣΠΑ ΦΔΓ ΦΗΜ ΦΙΑ ΦΣΑ ΧΥΣ ΩΦΒ
Major specific	ΑΓΡ ΑΓΣ ΑΚΨ ΑΣΚ ΑΩΕ ΔΣΠ ΚΚΨ ΣΑΙ ΤΒΣ ΦΣΓ ΦΣΡ Ceres FarmHouse Triangle
Social sororities	ΑΓΔ ΑΔΠ ΑΕΦ ΑΞΔ ΑΟΠ ΑΣΑ ΑΣΤ ΑΦ ΑΧΩ ΓΦΒ ΔΔΔ ΔΓ ΔΖ ΔΦΕ ΖΤΑ ΘΦΑ ΚΑΘ ΚΒΓ ΚΔ ΚΚΓ ΠΒΦ ΣΔΤ ΣΚ ΣΣΣ ΣΨ ΦΜ ΦΣΣ ΧΩ
Social fraternities	ΑΔΦ ΑΚΛ ΑΣΦ ΑΤΩ ΑΦΔ ΑΧΑ ΑΧΡ ΒΘΠ ΔΚΕ ΔΣΦ ΔΤΔ ΔΥ ΔΦ ΔΧ ΔΩΕ ΖΨ ΘΔΧ ΘΞ ΘΧ ΚΑ Order ΚΑ Society ΚΔΡ ΚΔΦ ΚΛΨ ΚΣ ΛΧΑ ΠΚΑ ΠΚΦ ΠΛΦ ΣΑΕ ΣΔΑ ΣΘΠ ΣΝ ΣΠ ΣΤΓ ΣΦ ΣΦΔ ΣΦΕ ΣΧ ΤΚΕ ΦΓΔ ΦΔΘ ΦΔΨ ΦΚΘ ΦΚΣ ΦΚΤ ΦΚΨ ΦΛΧ ΦΜΑ Sinfonia ΦΜΔ ΦΣΚ ΦΣΦ ΧΓΕ ΧΦ ΧΨ ΨΥ Acacia
See also	Freemasonry Odd Fellows Gentlemen's club Secret society

show v t Professional fraternities and sororities organizations and members
Currently active members of the Professional Fraternity Association	Alpha Zeta Alpha Kappa Psi Alpha Rho Chi Alpha Phi Omega Alpha Chi Sigma Alpha Omega Epsilon Delta Epsilon Mu Delta Theta Phi Delta Kappa Alpha Delta Omicron Delta Sigma Pi Delta Sigma Chi Epsilon Nu Tau Theta Tau Kappa Epsilon Kappa Epsilon Psi Kappa Eta Kappa Kappa Kappa Psi Kappa Lambda Chi Kappa Psi Lambda Kappa Sigma Mu Beta Phi Mu Phi Epsilon Pi Sigma Epsilon Rho Pi Phi Sigma Alpha Sigma Alpha Iota Tau Beta Sigma Phi Alpha Delta Phi Beta Phi Gamma Nu Phi Delta Epsilon Phi Delta Chi Phi Sigma Pi Phi Chi Theta
Former and formerly active members of the Professional Fraternity Association or its predecessors: Professional Panhellenic Association or Professional Interfraternity Conference	Alpha Delta Theta Alpha Delta Sigma Alpha Kappa Kappa Alpha Sigma Alpha Alpha Tau Delta Alpha Omega Beta Alpha Psi Gamma Eta Gamma Gamma Iota Sigma Delta Epsilon Iota Delta Sigma Delta Delta Psi Kappa Epsilon Eta Phi Zeta Phi Eta Theta Kappa Psi Theta Sigma Upsilon Theta Sigma Phi Iota Sigma Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Beta Pi Kappa Delta Epsilon Kappa Phi Kappa Nu Sigma Nu Xi Psi Phi Omicron Delta Kappa Omicron Nu Pi Lambda Theta Sigma Delta Chi Sigma Nu Phi Sigma Sigma Sigma Sigma Phi Delta (now social) Phi Beta Gamma Phi Beta Pi Phi Delta Delta Phi Delta Gamma Phi Delta Kappa Phi Delta Pi Phi Delta Phi (now honor society) Phi Epsilon Kappa Phi Lambda Kappa Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (now social) Phi Rho Sigma Phi Upsilon Omicron Phi Chi Chi Beta Phi Psi Omega Omega Tau Sigma Omega Upsilon Phi Pershing Rifles Scabbard and Blade Scarab
North American Interfraternity Conference	Alpha Gamma Rho Alpha Gamma Sigma
Active independent professional fraternities	Alpha Gamma Kappa Alpha Zeta Omega Alpha Eta Rho Alpha Iota Alpha Psi Gamma Epsilon Tau Delta Sigma Theta Delta Theta Sigma Delta Kappa Phi Delta Phi Epsilon Kappa Gamma Psi Kappa Pi Phi Sigma Gamma Chi Eta Phi
Inactive independent professional fraternities	Alpha Epsilon Iota Alpha Tau Sigma Pi Delta Nu

Alpha Gamma Sigma
ΑΓΣ

Founded	January 28, 1923; 98 years ago (1923-01-28) University of Missouri
Type	Professional, Social
Affiliation	NIC
Emphasis	Agricultural
Scope	National
Motto	Preparing Men for Life by: Coming together as Scholars, Living as Brothers, and Becoming Leaders of Tomorrow
Colors	Royal Blue Silver
Symbol	Plow
Flag
Flower	American Red Rose
Chapters	8
Headquarters	Columbus, OH United States
Website	http://www.alphagammasigma.net/