Oklahoma Archives | Beta Theta Pi Fraternity

Handcrafted Iranian Server Finds Permanent Home at Oklahoma

Beta Theta Pi — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:55:44 +0000

Betas in Norman received quite an archival surprise last October when House Corporation President Zach Allen, Oklahoma ’85, received a gift from the family of Doug Banks ’53, containing a brilliant, 23-inch brass server emblazoned with the Beta coat of arms.

As detailed by Doug’s son, Trent, his father “served in the U.S. Army and was assigned to Iran in the early 1960s when it was still our ally. He commissioned the hand-crafted tray while he was stationed there and proudly displayed it in our home his entire life.”

Upon graduation from the University of Oklahoma, Doug was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In June 1960, he was assigned as the assistant headquarters commandant of the Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing Flight School in Iran. There, he helped train Iranian military officers to fly helicopters and planes.

Naturally, being in a foreign country, Brother Banks wanted to take souvenirs back home to the United States. He purchased several hand-crafted brass trays of various shapes and sizes with exotic Persian designs carved into them from a small local shop. One of these trays was approximately five-feet in diameter, which his family used as a coffee table.

Realizing the brass tray shop did all the hand-crafting on site, he asked if they could carve Beta Theta Pi coat of arms onto a tray. The shop owner said he could and Doug commissioned the work to be done. Doug proudly displayed this 23-inch Pi brass tray in his home for his entire life.

Incidentally, Doug Banks met Sara Lynn Groves, another American living in Iran, and married her shortly after returning to the United States.

Over the course of his military career, he became a Master Aviator. He was called to serve in Vietnam, too, and was Airborne and Ranger. After 24 years of service, Doug retired from his post in 1977 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Doug carried on the Beta and military legacy from his father, Hugh L. Banks, Oklahoma State 1921. Shortly into his studies, Hugh’s college experience was interrupted by the onset of World War I. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with the 13th Aero Squadron in France. Brother Hugh unfortunately passed away in 1944 when Doug was just a teenager. However, Doug received a college scholarship for World War I orphans, and without this scholarship, he could not afford to go to college.

Lt. Col. Doug Banks, Oklahoma ’53, was son to World War I veteran Hugh Banks, Oklahoma State 1921.

Finding himself settled in Indialantic, Florida, he became a realtor and was heavily involved in the community, including Rotary Club. He passed away in 2004 at age 73.

As the Oklahoma chapter’s original dining room was converted into a stunning Beta museum when the house was expanded and renovated in 2015, the Banks server adds to Gamma Phi’s vast collection of treasures — symbolic of the chapter’s storied 118-year legacy at OU.

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10 Join General Fraternity Boards

Beta Theta Pi — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 17:38:06 +0000

Beta Theta Pi is led by some of the most talented and committed volunteers in the fraternal world, and this year, 10 alumni were elected or appointed to roles within one of Beta’s three boards: the Fraternity Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board of Directors and the General Fraternity House Corporation.

Board of Trustees

John Stebbins, Emory ’92, was elected by the 183rd General Convention delegates to serve Beta Theta Pi as General Secretary, following in the footsteps of long-time Beta volunteer, Wayne Kay, Virginia Tech ’73. For the last three years, Stebbins served as chairman of the General Fraternity House Corporation. Prior, he volunteered as district chief, Fraternity vice president, General Treasurer and Foundation treasurer.

“I hear your voices,” John said in his remarks to the Convention delegates in the legislation hall. “And I hear your voice of confidence in me.”

Joining him as a new face on the board in the trustee transition is Willie Romero, UNLV ’95, as Fraternity Vice President. In addition, Brothers Bill Haywood, Miami ’74, and Robert Beall, Oklahoma ’80, will join them as vice presidents having been elected to serve second three-year terms.

John Stebbins, Emory ’92
General Secretary

Robert Beall, Oklahoma ’80
Vice President

Bill Haywood, Miami ’74
Vice President

Willie Romero, UNLV ’95
Vice President

Foundation Board

Rick Banks, Cornell ’72, has stepped up to a new role as chairman of the Foundation Board of Directors, with big shoes to fill left by dedicated Beta Brother Mike Feinstein, MIT ’82. In addition, the board welcomes two new faces: Bruce Wenger, Lawrence ’89, and John Torget, Cornell ’93.

Rick Banks, Cornell ’72
Foundation Chairman

John Torget, Cornell ’93
Director

Bruce Wenger, Lawrence ’89
Director

General Fraternity House Corporation

Last but not least, we recognize a trio of brothers who have transitioned onto the General Fraternity House Corporation: Vince Mikolay, Bethany ’00; Dan Farmer, Cincinnati ’75; and Daen Ekpa, Loyola Marymount ’10.

Daen Ekpa, Loyola Marymount ’10

Dan Farmer, Cincinnati ’75

Vince Mikolay, Bethany ’00

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1,600+ Men “Go Beta” This Fall

Beta Theta Pi — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 14:11:07 +0000

Some 50 chapters are still in the thick of recruitment season, yet more than 1,600 young men from 78 chapters have already been recruited and chosen to “Go Beta” this fall. Curious to see some of their results? This month, the Fraternity checks in with chapters at Arkansas, Chapman, High Point, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wabash for a recruitment update.

Arkansas

Big recruitment news from Beta’s chapter at Arkansas: 63 new members have joined the Eta Mu Chapter. It’s the largest recruitment class since the chapter established on campus in 2012. The chapter now impressively stands at 184-men strong. Welcome to the Fraternity!

Chapman

Record-breaking numbers is the result of top-notch recruitment at Chapman. The Eta Theta Chapter welcomed 34 new members into our Beta brotherhood, the largest recruitment class since establishing in fall 2011. Great work on recruiting men of principle, brothers.

High Point

It’s a five-year high for High Point. The men of the Eta Xi Chapter recruited 20 new members this fall and they couldn’t be more excited for their new brothers. Welcome to the brotherhood!

Miami (Fla.)

Checking in on recruitment at the Fraternity’s southernmost chapter and these new members already have the first mark of a Beta. Miami (Fla.) has 21 young men joining the ranks, one of its largest fall classes in recent history. Welcome to the Beta family!

Mississippi

Beta’s chapter at Ole Miss sure knows how to go big with recruitment. For the third time since 2015, the chapter surpassed an 80-man new member class, with 86 joining the Beta Beta Chapter this fall. Congrats to the Fraternity’s new members joining a one-of-a-kind brotherhood.

Oklahoma

Beta’s chapters in the Sooner State put in some hard work during recruitment this year. The Oklahoma chapter recruited 62 new members, consistent with their year-to-year averages for the fall term. Oklahoma State, one of the first chapters to announce its newest recruitment class, reported 52 young men back in June. Welcome to the brotherhood!

Wabash

At Wabash College, 15 new members donned Beta-lettered hats to signify their fraternity decision. It would be hard not to choose one of the greatest college fraternities in North America. Already, more than 1,300 young men have been recruited and chosen Beta this academic term across the Broad Domain.

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