1998 Volume 121 No 1–4 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Silver and Golden Legionnaires were honored with full Fraternity
pomp and ceremony. A video presentation of historic convention footage
and greetings from three famous Phis awed those in attendance.
Hall of Fame sportswriter Ritter Collett, Ohio '42, then unveiled the
new Fraternity history and recounted his two years of research.
Frank Wright, Florida '26, a Florida Alpha founding father and 73
year membet^of Phi Deka Theta, read the sesquicentennial greeting
originally given by Robert Morrison at the Semi-centennial Convention
in 1898. Brother Wright was in attendance at the 1948 Centennial
Convention and was entrusted with Morrison's greeting originally read
by Dr. John Edwin Brown, Ohio Wesleyan 1884.
"We are happy to have been privileged
to be a founding part of Phi
Delta Theta which has so far played a
worthy part in American college life,"
said Morrison in 1898, later recalled by
Dr. Brown and Wright.
Brother Wright, the 1998 Phi of the
Year, then issued the following challenge:
"I now charge someone here today
who will be at the Bicentennial of
2048 to relay Father Morrison's message
to that convocation."
Continuing in the Immortal Six
theme was a visit from Robert C.
Morrison, Westminster '48, the grandson
of Father Morrison. Brother
Morrison wore his grandfather's badge
as he addressed the Convention. The badge is on display in the David
D. Banta Memorial Library located at General Headquarters.
The evening concluded with a special light show, complemented by
bursts of confetti from overhead cannons in sync with music from the
brass band.
A trip to space
F. Story Musgrave, Syracuse '58, veteran of eight space shutde missions,
was the featured speaker on Friday morning. He took the entire Convention
to outer space during his discussion. He even described some
of his own unofficial science experiments including his discovery that
Coca Cola breaks down into separate components in zero gravity.
Spectacular slides from outer space gave the Convention amazing
front seat views of the Earth from aboard the Shuttle, and Brother
Musgrave also shared his own personal photos of himself enjoying the
amenities of weightiess space.
Pilgrimage to Oxford
Later on Friday, the Convention traveled to Oxford to celebrate the
birthplace of Phi Deka Theta at Miami University. The caravan of chartered
buses first arrived at Miami's Hall Auditorium, where they were
met by former Miami president Philip Shriver. Dr. Shriver greeted his
guests with anecdotal tales of campus life during the founding days of
the Miami Triad.
An Oxford acting troupe then recreated the 1848 founding of Phi
Delta Theta within the chilly dorm room on the second floor of Old
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SUMMER 1998 • THE SCROLL 17