History of Upsilon Zeta

1910

-Dec. 10 - Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity was started at Louisiana State University as the YYO (Wise Owls) Club.
-Clarence Huntley Christman and Colonel Monot Lanier were the officers of the YYO Club who had met with Warren A Cole (the first Grand High Alpha) to influence petitioning Lambda Chi Alpha.

1914

-Nov. 2 - A Charter wa secured from Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and Upsilon Zeta became teh seventeenth Chapter (the first below the Mason-Dixon Line).
-Brother Christman became teh first initiate of Upsilon Zeta.

1917

-Lambda Chi Alpha had become the largest fraternity on LSU's campus.
-Members at the time included Raymond Parker (for whom the Memorial Tower was later named) and Clarence "Fatty" Ives, Jr. (who earned sixteen letters in four sports).

1918

-By the summer, there were only five members of the chapter left on campus (due to WWI).
-Upsilon Zeta had more commissioned officers in WWI than any other fraternity in the country.

1921

-May 6 - Lafayette S. Beale became the 100th initiate

1939

-Fall - Lambda Chi Alpha house was dedicated (dedicatory address given by Judge Carlos G. Spaght).

1944

-Thanksgiving - Govenor (and Brother) Sam H. Jones joined the fraternity members for Thanksgiving Dinner.

1949

-Lilah B. Brown became the chapter's housemother. She began teh first organization of the Ladies of Lambda Chi and was recognized by the National Fraternity Conference as housemother of the year (1952).

1961

- Upsilon Zeta became the first chapter to initiate 1,000 members. John D. Martin of New Orleans became U1000.

1987

-Aug 21 (5:45 am) - A tragic fire destroyed the Lambda Chi Alpha house at 10 West Fraternity Lane.

1988

-Oct 29 (Homecoming Day) - Formal ground breaking ceremony held for teh ne house.

1989

-Homecoming - Judge Carlos Spaght gave a keynote address at the official dedication of the new fraternity house. Bishop Stanley J. Ott (whose father was a member of the original YYO Club) blessed the house.

1990s

-Upsilon Zeta became the second chapter to initiate 2,000 members (only behind Auburn), Andrew Jacobs of Ruston is U2000.

1997

-Fall - Charlie Wood introduced Upsilon Zeta's 1st Annual Watermelon Bust.