Founding Fathers
Civil War
ATO Today
Tomorrow's Leaders
Who
knew that over 130 years after three young, brave soldiers dedicated their
lives to the betterment of men, their endeavor would still remain in the minds
and hearts of so many great men of this nation? Alpha Tau Omega has withstood
the test of time to become one of America's foremost fraternities. We can
only hope that our lives can be as prosperous and valued as our three founders,
Otis Allen Glazebrook, Erskine Mayo Ross and Alfred Marshall.
The
year was 1865 and the United States was in a time of desperation. The Civil
War had destroyed most of the South and severely depleted the fraternity system.
Only 5 months after the end, one man, Otis Allen Glazebrook, invited two of
his friends, Erskine Mayo Ross, and Alfred Marshall, to join what would become
one of the largest fraternities in the United States. All three men were cadets
of the Virginia Military Institute and had participated in the Civil War.
Due to the deplorable conditions between the North and the South following
the war, these three men founded Alpha Tau Omega to "rekindle a spirit
of brotherly love." So on September 11, 1865 at 114 East Clay Street
in Richmond Virginia, Glazebrook, Ross and Marshall pledged their eternal
love to the newly born Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
Since
the founding 132 years ago Alpha Tau Omega has come to the forefront of the
American Greek System. Though we have experienced periods of low enrollment
and problems, our brotherhood has always been there to continue our rich history
and move us towards the future. Today Alpha Tau Omega has over 175,000 members
and more than 6,000 undergraduate members. Alpha Tau Omega has 258 active
and inactive chapters and annually ranks in the top 10 of national fraternities
and members. Hopefully there will be a continuance of good members and more
chapters in the future so that we may expand our brotherhood. We look to the
future with open eyes and are looking for our future's brightest young men
to join the fraternity.
The
future looks bright for the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Alpha Tau Omega has
several distinguished Alumni, such as Greg Kinnear, Joe Girardi, Jack Kemp,
and many more. These are examples of Tau's that have gone on to become leaders
on the screen, field, and political scene. Alpha Tau Omega believes that the
fraternity should be dedicated to the development of tomorrow's leaders, today.
We are dedicated to this development by the implementation of guidelines,
awards and interest in what we do every day. These were the ideals set forth
by our founders. With the brotherhood that has blessed the past century of
the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, it is very possible to reach the goal set
long ago. As Otis Allen Glazebrook once said, "Alpha Tau Omega holds
before the young men of the country an ideal and something greater than a
mere intellectual ideal. Alpha Tau Omega stands for heart as well as head.
It has given men a true ideal of life."
