Alpha Sigma Phi - Missouri Valley

Chapter History:
Missouri Valley College was founded at the culmination of a 15 year fund drive and opened with a faculty of seven and enrollment of 91 in Fall 1889. The Tri C-Club formed as a local fraternity at Missouri Valley College in 1927. In 1932 the name was changed to Alpha Delta Kappa Fraternity. Under the leadership of Dr. Charles Gerkhe, who joined the MVC faculty in 1943, the group petitioned Alpha Sigma Phi. The petition was granted and Alpha Delta Kappa was chartered as Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi in 1945. The chapter designation had been assigned for Omicron of Phi Pi Phi at University of Mississippi. The Mississippi Phi Pi Phi chapter did not meet installation requirements, and closed during World War II. Additions of a chapter room and club room were made in 1950 and of a front lounge in 1954, expanded "the big white house" at Black Hall. Dr. Charles Gehrke, Missouri Valley '45, was first President of the Alpha Omicron Chapter. A chapter house on college land was constructed in 1962. The new chapter house was named the Dr. John L. Blackburn Alpha Sigma Phi House in 1970.

The college enrollment at Missouri Valley College has been small, and the chapter has at times faced periods of limited recruitment success. At other times Alpha Sigma Phi has been a leading organization on the campus, and a strong chapter. In 2010-11 the chapter emerged from a time of lean operations with a recruitment class of 13 men and organization of a chapter council.

The Chapter won the Grand Senior President's Awards for 1968-70, 1970-72, and 1960-62. Alpha Omicron Chapter also won the Alpha Gamma Upsilon Award for 1996, the Service Awards for 1970-72, and 1954-56, and the National Province Leadership Award for 1968 '70. The chapter won Tomahawk Awards for 1971 and 1960. The chapter issued a newsletter titled "The Spirit of Alpha Sig" which won the Chapter Newsletter Award for 1970-72 and 1954-56. Alpha Omicron Chapter won the Summa Cum Laude Award for 1961-62, and 1960-61. Tom Leuther, Missouri Valley '78, won the 1980 Frank F. Hargear Award. Bob Guzman, Alpha Omicron, was student body president in 1976-77. Gary Forney, Alpha Omicron '68, and Tom Oliva, Missouri '80, have served on the Fraternity Staff. Dr. John L. Blackburn, Alpha Omicron '49, past Grand Senior President, played a leading role in the development of the chapter, served as Dean of Students at the University of Alabama, and received the Gold Medal Award of the National Inter-fraternity Conference in 1990. Brother Blackburn also served as a trustee on the Alpha Sigma Phi Educational Foundation, and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1995. Richard Sanders, Alpha Omicron '62, also served on the Grand Council of Alpha Sigma Phi. Eleven alumni of the chapter have received the Delta Beta Xi Award.