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History of Lambda Phi Delta(ΛΦΔ) In the Fall Semester of 1947, discussion began about starting a new fraternity at Lycoming. On April 3, 1948, the 13 original members take part in Initiation ritual written by Bruce Crissy. The 13 members were Donald Balentine, Bruce Benson, Bruce Crissy, Warren Grover, William Hanna, Robert Hartman, Edward Higgins, Milton Johnson, Alan Oehrig, Thomas Shahnazarian, Charles Schultz, John Skoog, and Wilson Wheeler. The first officers were Bruce Crissy as President, Don Balentine as Vice President, Edward Higgins as Secretary, Alan Oehrig as Treasurer and Wilson Wheeler as Chaplain. Original intentions were to become the first national fraternity on Lycoming campus, but none showed any interest. Lambda Phi Delta had no affiliation with Lambda Chi Alpha, all the similarities were coincidental but some member told a National Representative of Lambda Chi Alpha that the letters were chosen to become ΛXA even though they really stood for (Λ) Loyalty and (ΦΔ) Fidelity which are two worthy ideals. In September of 1949, Willsom S. Hoffman was appointed Academic Dean of Lycoming College Campus. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha at Penn State University. He previously held a national office, so he held close ties to the Grand High Zeta. In 1950 or 1951, a brother of Lambda Chi Alpha, named Ralph Weaver, from Penn State transferred to Lycoming and became involved with Lambda Phi Delta. Hoffman and Weaver were critical for Lambda Phi Delta getting colony status of Lambda Chi Alpha on November 3, 1951. After much hard work became installed as Iota-Beta Zeta on May 16, 1953. |