Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity was founded in 1925 by Frank R. Horton at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. Originally, the fraternity was to serve as an opportunity for the continuation of ideals set forth by the Boy Scouts of America and to this day the fraternity is recognized in the Boy Scout Handbook. In order for the fraternity to gain full acceptance by the Boy Scouts of America's National Office, Horton was to further develop and expand Alpha Phi Omega. He traveled to the University of Pittsburgh near his hometown of Sewickley to create the fraternity's Beta chapter, which was installed January 11th, 1927, making Alpha Phi Omega a national fraternity. Ten University of Pittsburgh students served as chartering members of the Beta chapter including Grand Master (President) A.A. Booth, Gilbert L. Welch, and A.A. Cutler of the football team, T.M. Rutter, J.K. Mierly, and Howard Linn of the track team, C.R. Wilson and J.T. McMahan of the basketball team, W.J. McGill of the cross country team, and H.C. McKown. The chapter remained a strong force on campus until the United States entered World War II. Many Alpha Phi Omega brothers throughout the nation served their country during the World War II and many chapters, including Beta, became inactive until the end of the war. In 1976, due to Alpha Phi Omega's open membership policy and compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the fraternity became a co-ed organization and the Beta chapter began to accept female brothers. By the mid 1980s, chapter membership numbers dropped and Beta fell to inactive status for a second time, laying dormant until its rechartering in 1990. In 1993, the Alpha chapter at Lafayette College became inactive, making Beta the oldest active chapter of Alpha Phi Omega. The Beta Chapter has organized and participated in a variety of service projects since its founding in 1927. Prior to its inactivity in the 1980s, the chapter was responsible for campus elections, book exchanges, ushering at graduation, publishing student directories, and chartering buses to transport students home during breaks in the school year. After the chapter's rechartering in 1990, its primary project was clowning. For this project, brothers would create a clown character for themselves and learn skits to perform at children's hospitals throughout the Pittsburgh area. The longest running service project of the Beta chapter is the annual Run to Pitt. Created in 1970 by Myron Cope and Daniel Torisky, both founding members of the Autism Society of Pittsburgh, this project involves not only the Beta Chapter, but also brothers from the Lambda Omicron chapter at West Virginia University, relaying a football while running the 73 miles between the schools to raise money for the Autism Society.
From the description of Records of Alpha Phi Omega, Beta Chapter, 1927-2007, bulk 1977-2006. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 166253549
