History

The Beginning of Greatness The Ohio State University agriculture campus was located entirely on the East Side of the Olentangy River in 1904. At this time there was only one agricultural fraternity on the campus, the Alpha Zeta fraternity. The men of Alpha Zeta were very active in the agricultural activities, holding the chairmanships and major offices in the agricultural college. There was a certain group of young men who were opposed to the Alpha Zeta's domination and decided to do something about it. These men first met in an old wooden-framed house, on property near the present day University Hospital, at the intersection of Eleventh Avenue. The men who numbered seven were: Francis Lorne Allen, Rudo Lorenzo Fromme, William Americus Martin, Glenn T. Snyder, Burton Louis West, Emerson Scott Poston, and Robert C. Wallace. Martin, Allen, and Wallace were acquainted through participation in The Ohio State University Livestock Judging Team. Fromme and Poston were both connected with musical organization and knew each other very well. Snyder and West were roommates and West was on The Ohio State University Baseball Team. With the aid of Hooler Slate and the agricultural independents, the founders managed to acquire a majority of the chairmanships and presidencies in the agricultural activities. It was then decided that the AZ's could be successfully opposed. Realizing that an organization was needed in order to work effectively, the founders met in a building on South High for such a purpose. At this organizational meeting Fromme was installed as President. Fromme gave Alpha Gamma Rho the name to the organization at this time. The idea behind this was that the Greek letters form the abbreviation for the word agriculture. The National Fraternity of Alpha Gamma Rho became a reality on April 4, 1908, when to local fraternities combined. These were Alpha Gamma Rho founded at Ohio State University on October 10, 1904, and Delta Rho Sigma founded at University of Illinois on February 6, 1906. Members of these two groups happened to meet in 1906 at he International Livestock Exposition at Chicago. After finding that their individual interests and purpose were similiar, and after considerable correspondence and several trips back and forth, the two groups decided to incorporate and set up a National Fraternity. Delegates from both local fraternities met at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis on April 4, 1908 and drew up and signed a constitution for the Fraternity. The compromise effected at that meeting is noteworthy. The older local, Alpha Gamma Rho of Ohio State, gave its name to the organization but allowed the Illinois group to be the Alpha Chapter. The distinctive badge of Delta Rho Sigma was adopted- one that is practically identical to our official badge today. The charter members from Ohio State were: Brothers Francis Lorne Allen, Rudo Lorenzo Fromme, William Americus Martin, Glen T. Snyder, Burton Louis West, Emerson Scott Poston, and Robert C. Wallace. The charter members from the University of Illinois Chapter were: Brothers John H. Craig, Frank H. McKelvey, John L. Martin, Moses Greenleaf, R.E. Chambers, Roy E. Taylor, E.E. Stults, J.J. Mackay and E.E. Chester, Jr. These two groups are responsible for forming a Fraternity that has grown far beyond what many may have expected. But as Brother Poston stated, "From the start, it was our ambition that the name of AGR in every agriculture college would stand for all that is honorable and just." Yes, our Fraternity has grown into something that has not only elevated the social status of its members, but the physical, spiritual, academic, and professional status of thousands of young men. The National Officers were elected in 1908- the minutes penned on hotel stationery, only two pages approximately six inches square. The first issue of the SICKLE & SHEAF was published in 1910; a coat of arms, shingle, and a seal were adopted. Much pf the present Ritual traces to Beta's original ritual, but there have been may changes. The motto was adopted at the 1916 convention; and at the 1917 convention, the official esoteric AGR whistle was approved. Expansion began at the 1910 fall convention with the acceptance of the petitions from the locals at Penn State and Purdue. The Fraternity had begun its essential growth. At the turn of the twenty-first century, Alpha Gamma Rho consisted of 67 chapters and one colony. Each collegiate Chapter has a corresponding alumni corporation and in addition there exists several alumni Chapters across the nation. Further facts about the origin and development of Alpha Gamma Rho can be found in the published History of Alpha Gamma Rho.