[Erik P Conard]

It was in the spring of 1958 that I got the okay from Dean Carey
March to start a TKE colony at Lock Haven. The KDRs had a small
group, about 25 or so, and they allowed me to stay in their house, an old white framer. I held a few meetings and had 70
men in no time. The strong TKE house at nearby Penn State was
in favor as within the group were several jock pals. The Tekes
at Penn State had jocks and scholars. When the Lock Haven guys were a week old they swept the spring olympics and won the IM trophy. They were well mannered, good looking, good grades, the best colony (of 17) I had, named Sigma Beta Iota for
"So be it." I started six colonies in PA in '58-59.
Over the years I kept in touch. Uncontrolled drinking and other
unsupervised antics eventually took 'em down.
Perhaps they will come back. I hope so. Tonight I shed a tear
for the group I started. It is a lose-lose case. Sniff, sniff.