Chapter History

Before Affiliation with Kappa Alpha Order, Gamma Iota was a local fraternity called Omega Xi. This local fraternity was founded at San Diego Teachers College in 1927. Omega Xi steadily grew in both membership and prestige until it was recognized as the leader of fraternities on campus. To substantiate their prominence, here’s what happened in 1931: the college athletes were predominately Omega Xi, so much that when the student council decided to change the school colors from purple and gold, it was fitting that they adopt the colors of Omega Xi, which were red and black. Today, these colors or red and black still represent San Diego State University.

On October 6, 1950, the members of Omega Xi were initiated by the Beta Sigma Chapter at University of California into the mysteries of Kappa Alpha Order as the newly founded Gamma Iota Chapter.

In 1961, Gamma Iota closed its doors in part due to the war.

On April 23rd, 1993, after almost two years of recruitment efforts, Knight Commander Julian A. Pardini reactivated the dormant Gamma Iota Chapter at San Diego State University. These thirty men, who were initiated into the Order, are now recognized as Founding Fathers. Today Gamma Iota is celebrating its eleventh year back at San Diego State University.

KA History

Shortly after the end of the Civil War, Kappa Alpha Order was founded at Washington college in Lexington, Virginia in 1865. Robert E. Lee, then president of the college, was an inspiration to the founders of KA because of his honor, chivalry, and gentility. These qualities form the basis of the Kappa Alpha philosophy today. Because of this, KAs are knows as the gentlemen of the fraternity world. It is this philosophy which separates Kappa Alpha, as an order, apart from other fraternities.

Defining The Gentlemen

Kappa Alphas are revered as the gentlemen of the fraternity world. Although some of our precepts are derived from Southern tradition and custom, KA is not sectional. In Fact, Kappa Alpha gentlemen are common to all areas of the country in all walks of life, but a KA, through his gentility, should always be distinguished by his modern chivalric characteristics. The founders of Kappa Alpha sought to preserve the ideals of the courtly gentleman of their time. Stress is laid upon the fact that Kappa Alpha is an order, religious in feeling and rooted in the tenet of high personal achievement. There is no Kappa Alpha Fraternity. An order is a society of persons united by possession of a mutual distinction, the recognition of something previously acquired. It is a group of men aspiring to the qualities of the true gentleman. Only those who possess those qualities, and those who care to develop them, can fully enjoy Kappa Alpha and grow in character in its membership.


Robert E. Lee as Our Spiritual Founder

Former Knight Commander John Temple Graves, a famous orator of his time, took the floor of the 1923 Convention to make one of his highly romanticized banquet toasts. In a few moments, his eloquence had not only raised the glass of every man in the room, but also captured the attention of the entire Order.
Graves' Convention toast heralded Robert E. Lee, and first designated him "spiritual founder" of Kappa Alpha Order. Since then, KAs have referred to Lee as such.
The designation Graves coined in 1923 expressed the feeling KAs had held for Lee for almost six decades. The four students who founded KA, and a fifth who wrote the Ritual, were profoundly influenced by Lee. He exemplified for them the highest standards, the most chivalrous conduct and the finest traits of manliness. Today, portraits of Lee are proudly displayed in KA chapter houses, and annually, on the anniversary of Lee's birthday, active and alumni chapters gather for Convivium, a celebration commemorating the founding of KA and Lee's spiritual ties to the Order.

In the summer of 1865, the Board of Trustees of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, voted unanimously to offer the college presidency to Lee. The College was in a precarious position with a very small enrollment and its buildings and facilities were seriously damaged from a war-time raid. Although he could have filled any of a number of honorable and lucrative positions available to him, the college presidency most appealed to Lee. The offer combined the opportunity to serve others, to guide young men in rebuilding the shattered South, and to educate them for the purpose, as he said, of being "good Americans." Accepting the trustees' offer, Lee moved to Lexington in October. Thus, the final phase of his career began--that of a gifted and innovative educator and inspirational leader of youth.
Lee's acceptance of the presidency was the salvation of the College. The mere word that Lee was heading the institution caused enrollment to triple, from almost 50 to 146 in the first year. Enrollment more than doubled the following year. His name attracted funds to rebuild the College and expand programs and curriculum.
Lee preserved traditional education, but added technical subjects such as agriculture, commerce and mechanical and civil engineering. But. most important of all was Lee's ability to inspire his faculty and students to excel. "Excellence" applied not only to academics, but also to general conduct, as illustrated by Lee's statement, "We have but one rule here and that is that every student must be a gentleman." One of the hallmarks of his administration was his personal interest in every student, and students returned his interest with the same affection, devotion, and respect.
Among the students at Washington College in 1865 were James Ward Wood, William Nelson Scott, Stanhope McClelland Scott, and William Archibald Walsh--all attracted by the presence of Robert E. Lee. These four united to found Kappa Alpha Order, which was originally called Phi Kappa Chi. In 1866, Samuel Zenas Ammen joined the chapter and transformed KA into an Order of Knights by rewriting the Constitution and Ritual. To Ammen and other brothers, Lee was the ultimate inspiration, and they wished to perpetuate his values. He personified the heroic knights of the past, representing their noblest ideals and traditions of chivalrous behavior. Indeed, even before his death, Lee was referred to as the "Knight of America "and "The Last Gentle Knight." It is this legacy which was adopted as the moving force of Kappa Alpha Order.
Lee died in the President's House at Washington College on October 12, 1870, and his body was entombed in the campus chapel building. Later, the grave was covered by a magnificent marble recumbent statue of Lee, lying as if asleep, carved larger than life.