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Tau Omega
ΤΩ
FoundedDecember 1927
University of Oklahoma
TypeProfessional
AffiliationIndependent
StatusMerged
SuccessorSigma Gamma Tau
EmphasisAeronautical engineering
ScopeNational
MottoQuid Pro Quo
Member badge
PublicationThe Contact
Chapters9
Members1,000+ lifetime
HeadquartersNorman, Oklahoma
United States

Tau Omega (ΤΩ) was an American professional fraternity for aeronautical engineering. It was established at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma in 1927. Tau Omega was the first professional fraternity for aviation. In 1953, it merged with Gamma Alpha Rho to form Sigma Gamma Tau, a national aeronautical engineering society.

History

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Tau Omega was established as a professional fraternity in December 1927 by students who were interested in flying instruction at the University of Oklahoma.[1][2][3][4] Its founders were Warren E. Daniel, Orville Gulker, James E. "Jimmie" Haizlip, J. Court Hayes, and Earl O. Weining.[1]

Tau Omega was the first professional fraternity for aeronautics.[3] Haizlip was its first president.[3] Its purpose was promoting an interest in aviation amongst college men.[4][5] Membership was open to students studying aviation.[6]

By January 1928, students at three other universities had petitioned to form a chapter of Tau Omega.[3] In February 1928, the fraternity was chartered as a "National Honorary Aeronautical Engineering Fraternity".[1] In 1932, Beta chapter was established at the University of Wichita.[6][7]

The fraternity expanded to include nine chapters and more than 1,000 alumni.[1] On February 28, 1953, it merged with Gamma Alpha Rho, a similar organization, to form Sigma Gamma Tau.[8]

Symbols and traditions

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The fraternity's insignia was a key shaped like a Maltese cross, with a superimposed airplane engine and propellor.[1] On the horizontal arms of the cross were the Greek letters Τ and Ω. One the vertical arms of the cross were a covered wagon and lamp of learning on the cross, symbolizing the pioneering spirit and knowledge required for the field of aeronautics.[1]

Tau Omega's motto was Quid Pro Quo.[1] Its magazine was The Contact.[9]

Its pledges were required to wear goggles and a white flying helmet the day before being initiated as members.[5] Its initiation traditions included a daybreak airplane ride.[10]

Activities

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As early in as 1927, Tau Omega started the first flying school in Norman, Oklahoma; the school was not connected to the University of Oklahoma which started its own flying school in 1940.[11]

Tau Omega members built and tested airplanes. In March 1928, members of the Alpha chapter rebuilt an airplane that belonged to the Oklahoma Air Transport Company.[12] In December 1929, the fraternity began constructing a glider with hopes of setting a new endurance record.[13] The glider was featured at an aerial display at the University of Oklahoma in March 1930.[14] In April 1931, the fraternity began designing and building a monoplane to be completed in December.[15]

In October 1931, the fraternity built a wind tunnel to be used by University of Oklahoma students for testing miniature airplane models.[16] Members also studied engines, including a Curtis D-12 airplane engine that was loaned to the fraternity by the United States Navy in May 1933.[17]

Chapters

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Following are the chapters of Tau Omega.[1]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha December 1927 – February 28, 1953 University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma Merged (ΣΓΤ) [4][a]
Beta 1932 – February 28, 1953 University of Wichita Wichita, Kansas Merged (ΣΓΤ) [6][a]
Gamma 1935 – February 28, 1953 University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Merged (ΣΓΤ) [a]
Delta April 12, 1943 – 194x ? Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, Illinois Inactive [18][19][b]
Epsilon April 25, 1943 – 1944;
October 16, 1945 – February 28, 1953 		University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Merged (ΣΓΤ) [20][21][a][c]
Zeta 1943–before February 1953 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Disbanded [d]
Eta 1949 – February 28, 1953 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Merged (ΣΓΤ) [22][e]
Iota ? 1951 ? – February 28, 1953 Carnegie Institute of Technology Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Merged (ΣΓΤ) [a]
Theta May 18, 1952 – February 28, 1953 Georgia Tech Atlanta, Georgia Merged (ΣΓΤ) [23][a]
  1. ^ a b c d e f With the national merger with Gamma Alpha Rho, this became a chapter of Sigma Gamma Tau.
  2. ^ Chapter did not reopen after World War II.
  3. ^ Chapter went inactive during World War II.
  4. ^ Chapter went inactive before the February 1953 merger convention.
  5. ^ With the national merger of the two fraternities, this chapter merged with the Zeta chapter of Gamma Alpha Rho to form a chapter of Sigma Gamma Tau.

Notable members

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "History of Sigma Gamma Tau" (PDF). Sigma Gamma Tau National Honor Society in Aerospace Engineering: 3–8. July 1979.
  2. ^ "Purdue Sigma Gamma Tau". Purdue University. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  3. ^ a b c d "New Aviation Fraternity Has University Up in the Air". The Oklahoma News. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 1928-01-28. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Woods Made President". The Welch Watchman. Welch, Oklahoma. 1928-11-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Tau Omega Accepts Ten Members". The Oklahoma Daily. Norman, Oklahoma. 1928-12-20. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c "Tau Omega". College Life. Emporia, Kansas. 1932-03-18. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Wichita Members Will Be Tau Omega Guests". The Oklahoma Daily. Norman, Oklahoma. 1933-01-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Purdue Sigma Gamma Tau". Purdue University. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  9. ^ "Tau Omega to Issue Magazine Next Week". The Oklahoma Daily. Norman, Oklahoma. 1933-03-22. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Joe Durham is Initiated into Engineering Fraternity". Okeene Record. 1932-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "The History of Max Westheimer". Max Westheimer Airport. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
  12. ^ "University Men Rebuild Waco Model Airplane". The Oklahoma Daily. Norman, Oklahoma ·. 1928-03-10. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Glider Record Will Be Sought by Tau Omega". The Oklahoma Daily. Norman, Oklahoma. 1929-12-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Aerial Display Closes Annual St. Pat Fete". The Oklahoma Daily. Norman, Oklahoma. 1930-03-15. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Construction of New Two-Place Monoplane Begun by Tau Omega". The Oklahoma Daily. Norman, Oklahoma. 1931-04-21. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Aeronautics Students Experiment with Plane Models in Wind Tunnel". Drumright Weekly Derrick. 1931-10-27. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Fraternity Will Use Engine for Research". The Oklahoma Daily. Norman, Oklahoma. 1933-05-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Local Mention". The Berwyn News. 1943-04-23. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Honor Socities Elect Students at Illinois Tech". Chicago Tribune. 1943-05-09. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-01-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ The Gopher, Volume 57. University of Minnesota, 1944. p. 83. via University of Minnesota Libraries.
  21. ^ The Gopher, Volume 59. University of Minnesota, 1946. p. 334. via University of Minnesota Libraries
  22. ^ "Home". Sigma Gamma Tau – Iowa State University Chapter. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  23. ^ Blue Print (yearbook). Atlanta: Georgia Tech, 1953. p. 316. via Georgia Tech Library
  24. ^ Marker, George (October 1954). "Able Airman". The Air Reservist. 6 (10): 11 – via Internet Archive.
  25. ^ "Major General Herbert A. Lyon". United States Air Force. May 15, 1974. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  26. ^ "Forever Young: A Life of Adventure in Air and Space 0813049334, 9780813049335". dokumen.pub. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
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