Although the installation of the Eta Xi Chapter of Sigma Chi occurred on April 28, 1973, a Greek tradition had been established at Austin Peay State University many years before. In the 1880’s, at Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, the predecessor of Austin Peay State University, there were several national fraternities on campus, however, they failed to succeed. After Southwestern moved to Memphis, and Austin Peay State Normal School was founded in 1927, only Greek honor societies and professional associations were to be found on campus. An attempt to establish a Kappa Sigma Fraternity chapter at Austin Peay (in honor of Governor Austin Peay, a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity) was attempted in the late 1950’s, but the effort failed to materialize.

On campus in the 1960’s, there were few Greek societies, mostly honor and professional organizations. In Fall 1967, a group of men met in Ellington Hall to discuss organization of a men’s social fraternity at Austin Peay. This group, led by Harold Robert Henthorne, organized Kappa Sigma Phi Fraternity, the first social fraternity at the university. Henthorne had previously attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and had pledged Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity but had resigned pledgeship before initiation. Consequently, the new group at APSU, Kappa Sigma Phi, was named for that national fraternity, simply the letters were rearranged.

This new organization petitioned for recognition from the university administration, and was initially met with resistance from the Office of the University President, Dr. Joe Morgan. However, university administrators realized the positive aspects of a Greek system at the college and formally recognized Kappa Sigma Phi in 1968. The university offered the new fraternity housing at 205 Castle Heights, which became the official residence of the local group as well as the future chapter of Sigma Chi. The popularity of the new fraternity spawned the creation of several fraternities at APSU, including Pi Kappa Alpha, Alpha Tau Omega and an early colony of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Many sororities were also started at this time, led by Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity, Kappa Delta Chi, the local group which petitioned Kappa Delta Sorority, and Theta Phi Epsilon, who petitioned Alpha Phi International Fraternity. After recognition from the university, Kappa Sigma Phi had indeed initiated the Greek-letter system at Austin Peay which remains to this day.

Kappa Sigma Phi flourished in the late 1960’s at Austin Peay. It was the largest men’s Greek social fraternity on campus, having maintained successful rush programs and scholarship throughout this period. However, local fraternities do not have the benefit of guidance from a national organization, and the decision was made by members to petition national fraternities for a charter. The local members had decided to petition the two largest men’s Greek organizations in the U.S. - Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Chi. Both organizations had a large alumni base in the Clarksville-Fort Campbell area. At first, the decision was to petition SAE, and for a time, the group modeled their pledge program after that of SAE. However, things did not work with their relationship with Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and the local group petitioned Sigma Chi Fraternity. It must be stated at this time that Kappa Sigma Phi did not choose favorites between the two national fraternities. Both were highly respected and admired. Sigma Chi was the better choice, as its’ ideals better suited those of the membership of Kappa Sigma Phi in Clarksville.

Kappa Sigma Phi formally petitioned Sigma Chi Fraternity in 1970. Sigma Chi was strictest in its’ standards for new chapters and the chartering process was laborious. The local group was visited by many General Fraternity Headquarters personnel during the chartering period. Following acceptance as a petitioning local in Sigma Chi, members of Kappa Sigma Phi began modeling their pledge program and chapter operating rules under guidance from the General Fraternity. The local group staged their version of Sigma Chi’s “Derby Days,” called “Chapeau Jour,” in 1972. Dr. Peter Minetos was asked to serve as Chapter Advisor for the fraternity; Dr. Minetos was Professor of Psychology at Austin Peay. Dr. Floyd Carpenter, Professor of Accounting and an alumni member of Sigma Chi, served as Faculty Advisor for the chapter.

In 1972, former Federal Judge Norman C. Brewer, a former Grand Consul of Sigma Chi, visited Austin Peay State University as Chief Investigating Officer to assess the petitioning local’s application for charter with the Fraternity, and reported to Sigma Chi Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois with high regard for the local group and approval of their chartering effort. He reported in part: “I had conferences with Dr. Doytt Redmond, Dean of Men; and Dr. Charles Boehms, Dean of Students. Both were enthusiastic about the prospect of a fraternity system on campus, and are highly desirous of securing the highest type of fraternities and sororities. The only sorority on campus at the present time is Chi Omega. However, there are plans for the installation of several additional sororities in the near future. Both Dean Redmond and Dean Boehms assured me that the climate at Austin Peay State University for fraternities and sororities was excellent, and that they would do everything within their power to nurture and foster a strong fraternity and sorority system. I have every reason to believe that we are getting in on the ground floor of the fraternity system at Austin Peay State University.”

A formal vote among Sigma Chi active and alumni chapters on the petitioning local was held, and the vote was unanimous. Clarksville-area Sigma Chi alumni administered the pledge examination to the petitioning members on March 23, 1973. Arrangements were made for the formal installation of the future chapter. Representatives of the International Headquarters staff - Jeff Tuckey, Rushing & Pledging Administrator, Michael G. Ford and J. Bruce Harreld - Assistant Executive Secretaries, arrived in Clarksville to oversee the formal indoctrination week. The Epsilon Tau Chapter at Murray State University performed the formal pledging ceremonies for the local fraternity and supervised the Indoctrination Week. On April 28, 1973, the Ceremonies of Initiation were conducted on fifty-one charter members of the Eta Xi Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. The Ritual and Ceremonies of Initiation were administered by Eta Delta Chapter of Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville.

Later that evening, the installation banquet was held at Hachland Hills in Clarksville. Grand Consul John W. Graham presented the formal charter to Brother Larry Carl Sheppard. Also in attendance were Grand Tribune Gardner B. Allen, former Grand Consul and Chief Investigating Officer Norman C. Brewer and Grand Praetor Clark M. Roberts, Tennessee Province. Also, in attendance were many Sigma Chi brothers from throughout the region.

Sigma Chi had arrived in Clarksville and Austin Peay State University, and has thrived to this day.