The first documented attempt to establish a chapter of Kappa Sigma at the University of Mississippi campus was in 1908.A man by the name of Robert Craig made this attempt.He was raised in Vicksburg and eventually became a Rhodes Scholar.In 1905, the Kappa Alpha Order and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternities were kicked off campus, and this made Craig unsure.However, he finally made up his mind and wrote a letter to nationals to try to get permission to establish a chapter.His attempt was unsuccessful.
In 1926, the Mississippi state legislature passed a law saying that fraternities were legal.With this, on October 8, the Delta Xi chapter was established.Our first chapter house was built thanks to John Kirkendall of Jackson, MS.He funded the project by selling bonds.The house was built where the present SAE house now stands and was burned down in 1959.Our present house was built in 1963 with a large addition in 1993.
With our new house, Myers McDougle, a Rhodes Scholar, became the first Grand Master.While at the University, he served as student body president and editor of the Daily Mississippian.After graduation, he became the dean of students at Yale and later went to become a world authority on law in outer space and underwater.The first alumni advisor of our chapter was Alexander Lee Bondurant.He went to Sydney College in Virginia and taught Greek and Latin.The fist initiate was Baxter Elliot.In 1981, John M. Allin became the first Kappa Sigma Man of the Year from our chapter.He was the Bishop of the Episcopal Church.The following year, 1982, Larry M. Speakes, also from our chapter, was elected Man of the Year.He was deputy press secretary to the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.In 2003, General Paul V. Hester was named Kappa Sigma Man of the Year.He is the U.S. Commander of the Pacific Fleet for the United States Air Force and is stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.
In 1959 at the Sugar Bowl, a Kappa Sigma named Tommy Stone acquired a Colonel Rebel outfit from shop in Memphis.He ran on the field at halftime waving a rebel flag, thus establishing the Colonel Rebel tradition.
Many Kappa Sigmas have also served as President of the Inter-Fraternal Council (IFC) at the University of Mississippi.Most recently, in 2008, Dustin Wade Holeman presided over the IFC.
