1971, 1994, 2021 Eta Omicron (Louisiana-Monroe) The colony acquired a 1928 Seagrave for approximately $500 when Founding Father Earl Denning discovered the truck in a eld in Win eld, LA. Colony members worked weekends to get the truck running, and Founding Father Bill Tassin is considered the rst re truck driver. Escort cars led the re truck with the bells ringing and siren blaring for the 60-mile drive to Monroe. In 1994, the re truck, chapter house and Eta Omicron Pikes were prominently featured in Tim McGraw’s (Eta Omicron, Louisiana-Monroe ‘86) music video for his hit song Down on the Farm. An estimated $10,000 restoration effort in 2021 ballooned to $35,000, but the alumni association unveiled the restored truck at the chapter’s 50th anniversary Founders Day celebration in 2022. Founding Father Charlie Schaeffer said, “This truck was very instrumental in the initial days of the chapter and will remain forever in the memories of all who rode her.”
“T e eas e ane o owni a fire enie are enoou . In u g t e e is o etter icebeae; at pates, o ivelie ea s o t a so taton. We heat recome that l cater o i K la ook ito the o i lt o owni a enie.” D. ee wrote in t e 2015 editon o The Oak , “In 1954, Deta P Chate (San Jose State) ha cq e a 1928 Seagve, whic was e or a es a tan otaton to cam event.” He conti e, “… movin t ucs were a ets to flyi eet, lea to accdet, roe le, an aw ts. An awer eachi or ee e pocet, even i na tor, oun colee , chate avso, aton aterites, an o, to nae in aw ts. What bea mi ‘ra oun’ became viewed with ca ton, the i p oval, an fia l a s
1954 Delta Pi (San Jose State) from Shield & Diamond
1959 Beta Upsilon, Colorado
Chapter Fire Truck Highlights
Gamma Eta (Southern California) Traded a 1923 Ahrens- Fox fire truck for an American LaFrance fire engine. It was a six-cyl- inder vehicle with wooden-spoked wheels. It had no generator and its battery could be charged only at a ser- vice station. It averaged eight miles per gallon. 1957 & 1958 Gamma Mu (New Hampshire) Their 1919 American
the proud owners of a 1920 Stutz fire engine on Memorial Day weekend after the Indianapolis Fire Department accepted the chapter’s offer. It was a major ordeal to get the truck to Cincinnati, but smart minds prevailed, and the truck arrived at the house at 6:00 a.m. Beta Nu (Oregon State) Began the year with a new fire truck, a 1931 Chevrolet pumper with a 350 gallon tank. It was a rural firefighter, operating where city equipment couldn’t go.
LaFrance was registered in New Hampshire as an antique auto. They drove it 90 miles to a football game against Dartmouth. They later sold the truck to a fraternity at Dartmouth and replaced it with a 1916 Roberts; however, it was totaled when parked on the side of the road and hit by a tractor trailer. 1959 Alpha Xi (Cincinnati) After months of talk, the chapter decided to get a fire truck. They became
1950 Delta Delta (Florida Southern)
Brothers headed for the National Convention in Cincinnati were pictured with their fire truck on the cover of the June 1950 Shield and Diamond. The truck, a 1916 American LaFrance, was nicknamed “Crimson Chariot.”
1960 Wofford College, Nu Chapter acquired a 1922 Seagrave forty-
two foot long ladder truck.
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