Founding Date

Nov 4th, 1972

In the 1960’s, local businessman and college officials wanted to expand the local two-year college in downtown Joplin into a four year institution. After purchasing a plot of 230 acres, the citizens of Joplin authorized the sale of bonds for construction of the new campus. The final step occurred in 1965 when House Bill No. 210 passed through the Missouri House and Senate, creating the four-year institution known as Missouri Southern College. On July 22, 1965 Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes made it official by signing the bill in Joplin. On January 27, 1972, Winkie Wolfe, Alpha Sigma-UCLA, visited Missouri Southern State College and a local sorority Beta Sigma Chi who was interested in becoming a Delta Gamma chapter. The President and Deans of the University were very interested in inviting national organizations to campus. Mrs. Wolfe was favorably impressed and asked the Fraternity’s Expansion team to make a visit. On February 17, 1972 Beta Sigma Chi officially petitioned the Fraternity for a charter. […] On March 24, 1974 the Delta Tau Colony was established on the campus in Joplin. Thirty-three women pledged to Delta Gamma at a ceremony in the Student Union by the officers of Mu-Missouri. Following the pledging an informal reception was held in the Union attended by Eleanor Slaughter, Fraternity Expansion Chairman, and area alumnae. The alumnae presented each pledge of the colony with a sterling silver charm engraved with the Greek letters as a remembrance of the special occasion. On November 4, 1972 Delta Tau Chapter of Delta Gamma was formally installed as the Fraternity’s 101st chapter. On Saturday afternoon, 21 pledges and eight Patronesses were initiated by women of Mu-Missouri. Collegians from neighboring chapter were present as well. That evening the Installation Banquet took place in the Spanish Room of the Holiday Inn. Delta Tau president, Nancy Howerton, received the charter from the Fraternity’s NPC Delegate Eleanor Smith Slaughter, Alpha Psi-Mississippi. VP: Collegians, Mary Ann Lummis Bowyer, Beta Zeta-Denison presented membership certificates to each woman. Delta Tau collegians were active in the Joplin community. In 1975 three Delta Tau chapter members were recognized for volunteering for the Big Brother-Big Sister program directed by the Jasper County division of family services. In 1978 one of the highlights of the year was the “Watermelon Feed” where chapter members treated the college football team to 22 watermelons piled on a bed of crushed ice in the back of a borrowed pick-up truck to promote friendships between the team and student body. 1979 saw the chapter’s receipt of many awards at Founders Day. They participated in a Dance-A-Thon which raised more than $19,000 for muscular dystrophy. In 1983 Delta Tau chapter held its 10th anniversary celebration on November 5-6. Festivities began on Friday night with a Casino party hosted by the local alumnae and at the end of the evening a white elephant auction was held. Saturday morning a collegian and alumnae brunch was held follow by a formal meeting. That evening a birthday dinner was held at Twin Hill Country Club complete with a birthday cake and the singing of Happy Birthday. To commemorate the anniversary, a Wichita blue juniper tree was present to the college to be planted near the entrance of the Billingsley Student Union. In 1991 the Delta Tau Chapter’s charter was suspended. Mrs. Connie Godwin of Joplin was named Trustee.