Local History

An excerpt from the 1960 book Dress Her in White in Gold by Robert B. Wallace, Jr., a rich telling of the history of Georgia Tech, describes the origins of the Alpha Eta Circle:

In 1930, a new national honorary society, Omicron Delta Kappa, made its appearance on the campus. Instrumental in bringing this top national honorary to Tech along with Dean Field were Dean Skiles, Professors Frank Reader and Phil Narmore and students Dutch Faisst, Jimmy Frink, Sid Goldin, Ward Grantham, Ed Hamm, Hobby Law, Vic Little, Kent Mack, Warner Mizell, Red Terrell, Jimmie Thompson, and Charlie Witmer.

Randy Whitfield, then a senior in mechanical engineering an now an executive with Georgia Power Company, was elected president of this important student organization at its first meeting in 1931. A year later the membership elected Professor Fred Wenn, one of the school's best-known faculty members, to membership and from that day on Wenn became the guiding force behind the progress of ODK.

Wenn - who retired in 1958 after teaching economics, finance, and investments for 35 years - spearheaded the ODK drive that resulted in the addition of the ODK room to the Brittain Dining Hall; pushed ODK into organizing the highly successful, campus-wide Tech President's Club (an organization made up of the presidents of all Tech clubs and societies); helped OD inaugurate the annual spring football game as a fund-raising activity; and midwifed the birth of the Yellow Jacket (later Ramblin' Reck) Club and the Ramblin' Reck parade.

After his retirement, he worked for ODK and Georgia Tech on a project to finalize the planning for the Student Activities Building, a building which didn't materialize until 1967. ODK and ANAK are still considered the top honoraries at Tech and elections to either one is the most-sought-after honor on the campus.

The 1931 Blueprint reports that Ed Hamm was actually the first president of ODK. Ed Hamm had a distinguished record of service to Georgia Tech, simulatenously the president of ODK and ANAK, while serving as captain of the track team for two ears and as a member of the Student Council. Randy Whitfield was the treasurer for 1930-1931, and became president for 1931-2 as the only returning member of ODK.

By the completion of its first year, ODK has assembled its first class of nine campus leaders:

• Ed Hamm, President, Class of 1931
• Earl Dunlap, Vice-President, Class of 1931
• Ed Davis, Secretary, Class of 1931
• Randy Whitfield, Treasurer, Class of 1932
• Fred Stephenson, Class of 1931
• Paul Dorn, Class of 1931
• Jim Brooke, Class of 1931
• Tom Jones, Class of 1931
• Hobby Law, Class of 1930

The arrival of ODK was widely recognized and honored by the campus, including the Technique. In the first issue of the 1930-31 school year:

Membership of O.D.K. For Ensuing Year Made Public
Omicron Delta Kappa, new senior honorary which was installed last year, chose during the past commencement four members of the class of 1931. Those who were initiated at that time were Earle (sic) Dunlap, Tom Jones, Randolph Whitfield, and Ed Davis. These men together with Ed Hamm, Hobby Law, and Red Terrell, who were elected earlier in the year compose the student membership in the fraternity. Dean W. V. Skiles, Dean Floyd Field, Dr. Frank Reade, and Professor Phil Narmore are the faculty members.

A long description of ODK's first years on campus was given in the 1933 Blueprint:

In three years of existence on the Georgia Tech campus, Omicron Delta Kappa, or O. D. K., as it is more commonly termed, has attained the position of the leading democratic honor organization. This is only natural in that O. D. K. is a leadership fraternity, composed of leaders in the varying campus activities and is the only organization requiring both a definite scholastic standing and a fixed activity rating of the candidates as well as certain requirements of leadership as approved by the National Officers.

The following statement is taken from the National Constitution of the fraternity:

First, to recognize men who have attained a high standard of efficiency in collegiate activities, and to inspire others to strive for conscious attainments along similar lines.

Second, to bring together the most representative men in all phases of collegiate life and thus to create an organization which will help to mould the sentiment of the institution of local and collegiate interest.

Third, to bring together members of the faculty and student body of the institution on a basis of mutual interest and understanding.

The Alpha Eta Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, which is the official designation given the Georgia Tech Circle, is the thirty-first of thirty-three circles representing the most outstanding institutions of higher learning over the entire United States. The organization was originally conceived at Washington and Lee University and was accordingly founded at that university in 1914. So great was its success at that institution, and such was the clamor for similar chapters in other schools that Omicron Delta Kappa has now come to its present position of esteem.

Omicron Delta Kappa is a member of the National Council of Honor Societies which includes in its eight members organizations such as Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Zi, each being the most outstanding national in its field.

At Georgia Tech, the Alpha Eta Circle has fostered campus activities, planned and handled the dedication of the Aeronautical building, started a movement for construction of a school auditorium, sponsored the plan of school aid for graduates in obtaining employment, and has undertaken the record keeping of the extra-curricula activities of Georgia Tech students, and has made various recommendations to the Inter-fraternity Council and the Student Council concerning school problems.

Omicron Delta Kappa at Tech is proud of its faculty membership, including Dr. Brittain, Dean Skiles, Dean Field, Dr. Reade, Dr. Armstrong, Prof. Narmore, Prof. Wenn, Coach Alexander, and Dean George C. Griffin. It is particularly proud of its honorary membership including the king of golfers, Bobby Jones; Mr. Howard Coffin, President of the Hudson Motor Company and foremost developer of the State of Georgia; Mr. George Crawford, who is the President of the Jones-Laughlin Steel Corporation; and George Marchmont, President of Graybar Electric Co.

In the years to follow the Alpha Eta Circle would continue to play an active role in campus affairs; many of the circle's accomplishments can be found in the Timeline.