Theta Kappa Omega

This article is about the defunct high school fraternity. For the national fraternity with a similar nickname, see Tau Kappa Epsilon.
Theta Kappa Omega
ΘΚΩ
Founded1872 (1872)
California Military Academy
TypeSocial
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
Defunct datec. 2000
EmphasisHigh school
ScopeNational
Member badge
Colors  Black and   Old gold
SymbolGriffin
FlowerWhite rose
PublicationTeke Echoes
Chapters65+
NicknameTKO, Teke
Headquarters
United States

Theta Kappa Omega (ΘΚΩ), also known by its nicknames TKO or "Teke", was a social secondary fraternity for high school–aged men founded in 1872 at California Military Academy in Mayfield, California. The fraternity established local chapters in towns and cities across the United States. The chapters were run by a chapter president, known as the Grand Master, and other elected officers. The national fraternity was governed by an elected body of alumni known as the Grand Council. National conventions were held annually. Most chapters were defunct by the end of the 1960s.

History

Founding

Theta Kappa Omega began in late 1872 at the California Military Academy in Mayfield, California.[1] On November 13, 1872, three cadets met to discuss the problem of one of their comrades. This friend was of high moral character and intelligence, but planned to discontinue his education since he could no longer pay all of his school expenses. The three students pledged to pay their friend's expenses so that he could continue his education.

In 1875, their friend graduated from California Military Academy, after having received help from his three companions for the past three years. To show his gratitude and to extend help to all deserving students, he organized an undergraduate group into the Theta Kappa Omega fraternity. This first chapter, Alpha, was located at the California Military Academy.

The history of Theta Kappa Omega Fraternity between 1872 and 1926 is very vague. During that period, the national headquarters were in the hands of the Alpha chapter. In 1899, all records were destroyed by a fire at the California Military Academy.

Peaks and valleys

Additional chapters were added to Theta Kappa Omega between 1885 and 1905. All history concerning Beta and a subsequent chapter, Gamma, was lost. From 1915 through 1924, the lack of organization, poor leadership, and strict rules prevented the organization from expanding. When the California Military Academy ruled against fraternities, the Alpha chapter was dissolved, and the Beta chapter took over the national leadership.

The Delta chapter was established on September 28, 1906, by Charles Shamotulski and Carl T. McPheeters at Columbia Military Academy. Gamma ceased to exist before 1911. A school ruling against fraternities forced the closure of Beta, and finally Delta chapter of Columbia Military Academy became the official national headquarters.

In 1911, William H. Riley was Grand Master of Delta and, therefore, the fraternity's national president. The following year, he transferred to Gulf Coast Military Academy, where he installed the Zeta chapter in October, the first fraternity in that school. Delta was also responsible for the installation of Chi and Epsilon chapters at Atlanta, Georgia and also Alpha Beta at Memphis, Tennessee. These chapters were formed in a city rather than a school, an innovation for T.K.O., selecting outstanding boys of a town rather than the usual military boarding school.

Chi chapter was formerly Delta Tau Sigma Fraternity, a local which was organized on February 24, 1923. Immediately following their petition to the Delta chapter, H. Grayson Lambert Jr., Delta chapter Grand Master, and G. O. Melchor installed them into T.K.O. Chi, which was admitted into the Pan Hellenic Council of Boy's High School soon after it became a chapter. Shortly after Chi was installed in Atlanta, Georgia, the Epsilon chapter was also founded there. This was the first time there existed two chapters of T.K.O in the same city.

In September 1925, Warfield Rogers, H. Grayson Lambert, Jr., Harry Rogers, Grattan Brown, Herman Jorgenson, and Julian James met in Memphis, Tennessee and decided that in the best interest of their fraternity, the national headquarters should be moved from Delta chapter to Memphis, Tennessee, and that the national work of the fraternity should be carried on by a body of alumni from three or more chapters. This body of men is to be known as the Grand Council.

Expansion

Between 1925 and 1930, 37 chapters were installed. By May 1926, the fraternity was international with chapters located in Canada and London, England.[2] In June 1931, the fraternity had 7,500 members and 41 chapters; all but three chapters were location in the Southern United States.[1] It held a national convention in Birmingham, Alabama, from June 22 to 25, 1931.[1]

In January 1928, the ritual and black book were printed and distributed by the Grand Council. In the same year, the official song of T.K.O. was written by Oscar Hurt and Julian James. The Endowment Fund of T.K.O. was established at the Biloxi Convention in 1933. Eight hundred dollars left from the administration of John Singreen was used to start the Endowment Fund, and Singreen served as its trustee. J.B. Hermon was instrumental in building the fund during the years of 1934 to 1940 to about $3,000. Singreen revised the blackbook and the new edition was issued in February 1935. Singreen also compiled the National Directory in 1932.

1940s and 1950s

The late 1940s were marked by some twenty active chapters, with the best-attended conventions in its history. Some two hundred brothers gathered in Atlanta, Memphis, or New Orleans. Following this period, the early 1950s saw an increase in anti-fraternity activity, and subsequently, a reduction in the active chapters, with a low of eight in 1957. However, this period was certainly not without bright spots - the Teke Echoes became firmly established under the supervision of Jack Francis as the leading secondary fraternity publication; Tekes assumed leadership positions in the Inter-Fraternity Congress; and conventions were held in such places as New Orleans, Mobile, and Biloxi.

The installation of Theta Gamma in 1959 signaled new success in the expansion efforts of the fraternity. The reactivation of Zeta Nu and Delta Epsilon and the installation of Theta Zeta, Theta Eta, and Theta Mu revived the fraternity, and an era of greater acceptance of the role of fraternities began.

1960s

1963 saw the fraternity's endowment fund reach the long-sought objective of $10,000. Because of financial inflation occurring in the nation, in 1967, the fraternity raised its national dues from the original $40 per chapter, which had been established in 1925, to $60 per chapter. A second expansion wave started in 1968 with the installation of Theta Kappa, Theta Lambda, and Theta Nu.

Symbols

The fraternity's original coat-of-arms showed a griffin standing rampant, or, in full standing position, with a smaller shield, and the paw grasping the sword at a salute. In September 1925, the Grand Council adopted an updated coat of arms. The shield displays a Maltese cross, a sword, and a plumed knight’s helmet. From the top of the shield extends a griffin’s head. On one side, the griffin’s talon emerges from behind the shield, while on the other side, the griffin’s tail. Beneath the shield is a scroll bearing the Greek letters ΘΚΩ. Above all is a crown surrounded by rays of glory.

The fraternity's badge was in the shape of a diamond, enameled in black. At the top of the badge is a Maltese Cross, across the center are the Greek letters "ΘΚΩ", and, at the base, a plumed knight's helmet in profile; all in gold. Until the 1940s, the bottom of the badge displayed the Greek letters of the member's chapter in place of the knight's helmet. During that period, Theta Kappa Omega was the only secondary fraternity that displayed a member's chapter letters on the face of its badge.

The pledge pin was in the shape of an equilateral triangle with the Greek letters ΘΚΩ displayed across the bottom. The pin was enameled in black with the Greek letters in gold.

The fraternity's flower was the white rose. Its colors were black, white, and gold.[3][4] Its publication was Teke Echoes.[5] The official song was "Sweetheart of T.K.O."; the words were written by Oscar Hurt and Julian James, and the music by Rupert Biggadike. The song was recorded by the Columbia Phonograph Co. in 1928, with music provided by Oscar Celestin and his original Tuxedo Band of New Orleans.

Chapters

Following is an incomplete list of Theta Kappa Omega chapters, with inactive chapters and institutions indicated in italics.

Chapter Chapter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha 1872–19xx ? California Military Academy Mayfield, California Inactive [6][a]
Beta 18xx ?–19xx ? Inactive [a]
Gamma xxxx ?– before 1911 Inactive
Delta September 28, 1906 – 19xx ? Columbia Military Academy Columbia, Tennessee Inactive [7]
Zeta October 1912 – 19xx ? Gulf Coast Military Academy Gulfport, Mississippi Inactive [6][8]
Chi (see Chi Epsilon) 1923–1929 Technological High School (now Midtown High School) Atlanta, Georgia Inactive [9][10][b]
Epsilon (see Chi Epsilon) 1924–1929 University School for Boys Atlanta, Georgia Inactive [9][11][10][c]
Alpha Beta July 1924–19xx ? Memphis, Tennessee Inactive [6]
192x ?–19xx ? Texas Military College Terrell, Texas Inactive [12]
Delta Eta 192x ?–19xx ? Texarkana, Arkansas Inactive
Delta Psi 1925–19xx ? Baton Rouge, Louisiana Inactive
Delta Beta 1925–19xx ? Jackson, Mississippi Inactive
Delta Gamma May 1926–19xx ? Shreveport, Louisiana Inactive [2]
Delta Epsilon October 1926–19xx ? Hattiesburg, Mississippi Inactive [13][14][d]
Delta Kappa December 4, 1926 – 19xx ? Little Rock, Arkansas Inactive
Delta Zeta 192x ?–19xx ? Jacksonville, Florida Inactive
Delta Eta 192x ?–19xx ? Texarkana, Arkansas Inactive
Delta Iota January 1927–19xx ? Dallas, Texas Inactive
Delta Mu February 2, 1927 – 19xx ? Jackson, Tennessee Inactive [15]
Delta Nu February 6, 1927 – 19xx ? El Dorado, Arkansas Inactive
Delta Lambda February 14, 1927 – 193x ? Knoxville High School Knoxville, Tennessee Inactive [16]
Delta Omicron March 1927–19xx ? Biloxi, Mississippi Inactive [4]
Delta Xi April 14, 1927 – 19xx ? Clarksdale, Mississippi Inactive
Delta Theta April, 1927 – 19xx ? Mobile, Alabama Inactive [17]
Delta Rho April 21, 1927 – 19xx ? Birmingham, Alabama Inactive [3][1]
Delta Pi May 13, 1927 – 19xx ? New Orleans, Louisiana Inactive
Delta Tau 192x ?–19xx ? New Mexico Military Institute Roswell, New Mexico Inactive
Delta Phi June 4, 1927 – 19xx ? Nashville, Tennessee Inactive
Delta Omega March 1928–19xx ? Chattanooga, Tennessee Inactive
Zeta Alpha April 1928–19xx ? Kansas City, Missouri Inactive
Zeta Beta 192x ?–19xx ? Chamberlain Hunt Academy Port Gibson, Mississippi Inactive
Zeta Gamma September 1, 1928 – 19xx ? Paris, Texas Inactive
Zeta Delta 1928–19xx ? Lubbock, Texas Inactive
Zeta Epsilon November 24, 1928 – 19xx ? Mamaroneck School Larchmont, New York Inactive
Chi Epsilon (see Chi and Epsilon) 1929–19xx ? Atlanta, Georgia Inactive
Zeta Eta December 21, 1928 –19xx ? Houston, Texas Inactive [18]
c. 1929–19xx ? Lakeland, Florida Inactive
Zeta Theta January 1, 1929 – 19xx ? Ardmore, Oklahoma Inactive
Zeta Kappa February 1929–19xx ? Stillwater, Oklahoma Inactive
Zeta Lambda April 5, 1929 – mid-1960s West Palm Beach, Florida Inactive [19]
Zeta Nu April 21, 1929 – 19xx ? Jonesboro, Arkansas Inactive [20]
Zeta Mu May 4, 1929 – 19xx ? Tulsa, Oklahoma Inactive
Zeta Pi June 10, 1929 – 19xx ? Meridian, Mississippi Inactive
Zeta Tau February 1931–19xx ? Amarillo, Texas Inactive
Zeta Sigma 1932–19xx ? Pelham, New York Inactive
Zeta Upsilon 1934–19xx ? Riverside Military Academy Gainesville, Georgia Inactive
Zeta Phi February 22, 1935 – 19xx ? Corpus Christi, Texas Inactive
Zeta Chi November 1935–19xx ? New Rochelle, New York Inactive
Zeta Psi December 1935–19xx ? Columbus, Mississippi Inactive
Zeta Omega (see Theta Eta) 1936–19xx ? Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Inactive
Sigma Alpha 1938–19xx ? Laurel, Mississippi Inactive
Sigma Beta July 10, 1938 – 19xx ? Amarillo, Texas Inactive
Sigma Delta August 4, 1940 – 19xx ? Marshall, Texas Inactive [21][e]
Kappa Phi November 27, 1941 – 19xx ? Camden, Arkansas Inactive
Sigma Epsilon 194x ?–19xx ? Magnolia, Arkansas Inactive
Sigma Zeta 194x ?–19xx ? Starkville, Mississippi Inactive
Sigma Nu August 2, 1944 – 19xx ? Lexington, Tennessee Inactive
1956–19xx ? Dyersburg, Tennessee Inactive
Theta Beta May 1957–19xx ? Bogalusa, Louisiana Inactive [22]
Theta Gamma 1958–19xx ? Union City, Tennessee Inactive
Theta Zeta March 17, 1962 – 19xx ? Springfield, Missouri Inactive
Theta Eta (see Zeta Omega) August 17, 1963 – 19xx ? Casady School Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Inactive
Classen High School
Northwest Classen High School
Theta Iota 1968–19xx ? Pensacola, Florida Inactive
Theta Kappa 1968–19xx ? Inactive
Theta Lambda 1968 –19xx ? Inactive
Theta Mu 196x?–19xx ? East Jefferson High School Metairie, Louisiana Inactive
Theta Nu 1968–19xx ? Inactive
  1. ^ a b Chapter closed because of institutional policies against fraternities.
  2. ^ The Chi chapter was formed from Delta Tau Sigma, a local fraternity that had been organized on February 24, 1923. In 1929, Atlanta's Chi and Epsilon chapters merged to become the Chi Epsilon chapter.
  3. ^ In 1929, Atlanta's Chi and Epsilon chapters merged to become the Chi Epsilon chapter.
  4. ^ Chapter formed from the Chi Lambda Chi Club (local), established in 1926.
  5. ^ Chapter formed from the Kappa Alpha chapter of Theta Gamma Sigma fraternity, established in 1934.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Theta Kappa Omega Welcomed to City". The Birmingham News. 1931-06-22. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "'Prep' School Frat Forms Chapter Here". The Shreveport Journal. 1926-05-21. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-11-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Theta Kappa Omegas to Give Christmas Dance Dec. 21". Birmingham Post-Herald. 1928-12-16. p. 58. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "TKO Celebrates 16th Anniversary". Sun Herald. Biloxi, Mississippi. 1943-03-01. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Theta Kappa Omega". The Sun. Jonesboro, Arkansas. 1933-12-23. p. 18. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c "T.K.O. Entertains With Big Anniversary Banquet". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. 1925-11-22. p. 39. Retrieved 2023-11-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Dance at C.M.A." The Herald and Mail. Columbia, Tennessee. 1915-05-07. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-11-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "G.M.C.A. Fraternity Dines at Buena Vista". Sun Herald. Biloxi, Mississippi. 1926-03-27. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-11-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Theta Kappa Omega Fraternity Gives Smoker Wednesday Evening". The Atlanta Journal. 1924-05-01. p. 26. Retrieved 2023-11-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Fraternity of Boys' and Tech High to Give Dance". The Atlanta Journal. 1925-01-25. p. 44. Retrieved 2023-11-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "University School Theta Kappa Omega to Give Smoker". The Atlanta Journal. 1924-12-03. p. 21. Retrieved 2023-11-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Honor Graduate". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 1926-05-30. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-11-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Home From T.K.O. Convention in Nashville". Hattiesburg American. 1930-06-16. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Local Club Becomes Chapter of Theta Kappa Omega Fraternity". Hattiesburg American. 1926-09-29. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "The Delta Mu Chapter Reviews Past History". The Jackson Sun. 1944-02-13. p. 11. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Charge K.H.S. Frat is Active". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. 1934-03-11. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Theta Kappa Omega". The Mobile Press. 1971-02-13. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Theta Kappa Omega is Organized". The Houston Post. 1928-12-23. p. 36. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Theta Kappa Omega Fraternity Entertains at Annual Invitation Dance Honoring Sponsors". The Palm Beach Post. 1934-12-25. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "T. K. O. High School Frat Organized Here". The Sun. Jonesboro, Arkansas. 1929-04-22. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Theta Gamma Sigma Fraternity to Become Chapter of National Theta Kappa Omega this Week". The Marshall News Messenger. 1940-07-28. p. 10. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "'Teke Echos' Wins Award". Daily News. Bogalusa, Louisiana. 1957-12-05. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-06-30 – via Newspapers.com.
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