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In 1966, with the departure of Dr. Ron Rathbun, the Angelo State College Band was in need of a new director. The college soon hired Edward W. Pace to fill this position. Mr. Pace received both his Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mr. Pace felt that there should be some kind of leadership organization in the band. At that time he wrote a letter to the Kappa Kappa Psi National Office located at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, requesting information on forming both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma colonies on the ASC campus.

The band that semester had 53 members, and Mr. Pace felt that the band program was sufficiently sizable to support a colony of each organization. Edward Pace himself was an alumni member of the Alpha Tau Chapter of the University of Texas at Austin.

In mid-October, Mr. Pace received his letter from the Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma National Office. It requested that he assemble a group of at least twelve men and twelve women, then to start a colony with each group. These groups were to write a constitution, elect officers, choose a name for their colony, and then submit the information back to the National Office.

With all of this completed, the Ram Men’s Band Club (RAMBAC) was formed. The future of the organization and its hopes to become a chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi rested in the hands of these twelve charter members:

Along with their sister colony, “the Bandaides”, they were to help the band whenever necessary.

The Fall ’66 semester soon ended, but at the beginning of the following semester the members sent half of the colony charter fee to the National Office to insure their colony status. The spring ’67 semester also contained the first pledge class of RAMBAC. These members were: Charles Abel, Frank Welch, Joe Jacobo, John Cobb, and Larry Logan. Near the end of the semester RAMBAC sponsored a Band Banquet and a pre-graduation dance. Both events were successful, but the Band Banquet became an annual event for many years to come. This was a relatively fast start to the new organization. At the end of this semester, six of the original charter members either transferred or left SAC to pursue their careers, leaving only six of the original charter members of RAMBAC.
The Fall ’67 semester potentially threatened to end the group’s chance of colonization when they failed to correspond with the National Office. Despite this, RAMBAC made itself busy helping the Ram Band. The second pledge class was started, adding Johnny Collier and Ted Caffey to the roster.

The next semester, Spring ’68, RAMBAC saw its third pledge class which brought in two new members: Jimmy Clarke and Homer Stewart. In February the members resumed correspondence with the National Office in hopes of returning to an active colony status. They were relieved to learn that they didn’t have to repeat the preceding three semesters to become an active chapter.

At the same time, the women of the BANDAIDES officially became a new colony of the sister sorority, Tau Beta Sigma, having received their charter as the Alpha Gamma colony.

The National Office recommended to RAMBAC that in it visit and observe Kappa Kappa Psi chapters in work and play in order to gain the fullest insight into the national scene. As a result, RAMBAC sent members to visit the Alpha Tau Chapter at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Alpha Omicron Chapter at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. After these visits the club voted on the chapter that they wished to represent them as a Big-Brother Chapter. Alpha Omicron was chosen for this honor, making what would be the Epsilon Kappa Chapter their 8th Little-Brother Chapter. RAMBAC arranged for several of the brothers from Alpha Omicron to visit and speak at that year’s Band Banquet. The topic was “Kappa Kappa Psi and the Band Program.”

After a four week pledge process there were a total of ten active members of RAMBAC who received a colony charter into Kappa Kappa Psi. This was one more crucial step towards the final goal.

In the Fall ’68 semester the club members were kept busy with projects designed to help send the band to away games and on the spring tour. These fundraisers included a car wash, a clothing sale at a local store, and a hayride. This semester also witnessed the fourth pledge class of RAMBAC, which brought in nine new members. This class carried out many useful projects, such as painting signs for Ram Football games, and constructing a bulletin board for the annual band Upperclassmen-Freshmen sports events.

Perhaps the most exciting project was the ASU Band Day. At the request of Eddie Pace, the chapter sponsored a marching band contest. Brothers were involved in working the event as well, including during the presentation of awards. This contest became an annual event for several years.

The pledges presented their Big Brothers with a pledge paddle during the Big Brother – Little Brother Breakfast. This is the first such documented event, and it would eventually evolve into the Big Brother Dinner that continues to be a staple of the Epsilon Kappa Chapter’s Membership Education Program.

In early December the club members sponsored a Christmas Caroling party for the band students. This was their final project as RAMBAC.

On December 6th, 1968, the Ram Men’s Band Club was installed as Kappa Kappa Psi’s one hundred and thirtieth chapter, and given its official chapter designation of Epsilon Kappa. The members of Alpha Omicron were on hand to administer the installation of Epsilon Kappa’s nineteen members. Ten of these members were listed as our Charter Members:

 
Of the above charter members, only three were charter members of RAMBAC: Rusler, King, and Menchaca. These three witnessed and carried out the entire process of colonization from beginning to end, and Kenneth Rusler would soon be elected as the first Epsilon Kappa Chapter President.

The nine non-charter members were designated as the final pledge class of RAMBAC, and they are:

Immediately following Epsilon Kappa’s installation, the 19 brothers of EK and the 22 brothers of Alpha Omicron went to a steak dinner. Special guests at this dinner included: Edward Pace (Alpha Tau), Dr. John E. Ericson (Kappa) from the Biology Department, and several college administrators. Such a grand gala event was truly befitting this momentous event – the founding of The Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.

The Epsilon Kappa Chapter became part of District VI, which included Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. Because it included the founding chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, and as the largest district in the nation, District VI was considered the central core and the leading district of the fraternity.

The founders of EK returned from Christmas Break and resumed their work. The semester began with the Alpha pledge class. The rituals were held at the Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, and the brothers used robes they had rented from the National Office. This was a different pledge process than what was required for RAMBAC. The brothers felt that pledges should have to prove themselves to become a brother, whereas previously a pledge was pushed through the process until they became an active member.

During this semester, Eddie Pace was named the first Honorary Member of the chapter in recognition of his important role in helping to get the organization off the ground.

The brothers worked to help fund the spring tour, and once again sponsored the annual Band Banquet. This banquet was when chapter awards first appeared. At that time the chapter gave awards for Outstanding Active, Outstanding Pledge, Outstanding Bandsmen, and Kappa Kappa Psi Sweetheart.

Over the summer EK sent two brothers to the 1969 “Big-Fifty” National Convention. The chapter also published a summer newsletter for the band, called “The Sheepsheet”.

When the brothers returned for the 69-70 academic year, the sponsor, Eddie Pace, set the goal of increasing the size of the band from its forty members. The effort had already begun in the form of the Second Annual ASU Band Day, which hosted approximately 800 high school students in early November.

During the semester the chapter hosted two “get acquainted” parties in addition to an ambush party where brothers got to meet potential members. They also helped move band equipment into the new Fine Arts Building in December. In December the brothers, in cooperation with the sisters of the Alpha Gamma Colony of Tau Beta Sigma, hosted a Christmas Party for the band.

Among the numerous exciting happenings of this semester, Eddie Pace was featured on the cover of Fall 1969 edition of “The Podium”.

The spring semester witnessed the Beta pledge class, which brought in five new members. This class experienced an eight week process, which was considered to be a long program. Three brothers attended the District VI Convention in Austin, hosted by the Alpha Tau Chapter. The brothers again sponsored the band’s spring tour, which visited schools in south central Texas during the month of April.

In May the Epsilon Kappa Chapter was selected as the Big Brother Chapter of a new Kappa Kappa Psi Colony at Howard Payne College in Brownwood, Tx. The brothers at Howard Payne have said that EK replaced a different chapter as the Big Brother Chapter when they were unable to fulfill their responsibilities.  Known then as EN CORP, these brothers were later installed as the Zeta Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.

Other projects during this semester included work on another edition of “The Sheepsheet”, a car wash, aluminum can drives, and blood sales. Additionally, in cooperation with the sisters of the Alpha Gamma Colony, they sponsored the Annual Band Banquet and hosted a Band BBQ for members of the ASU Band and high school seniors around the area. The latter was a recruiting event, which was another step in the direction established by Eddie Pace.

The chapter stayed busy during the summer of 1970. Monthly meetings were held, which was a first for the chapter. Additionally, with a debt from the spring tour lingering over their heads, the brothers worked on aluminum can and bottle recycling drives.

The 1970-1971 academic year was very busy for the young chapter. The organization was now more involved in improving the band’s regular operations. For example, the chapter was responsible for producing the Freshman Handbook. Chapter members drew band recruiting posters and placed them around campus in an effort to attract new band members. The chapter was again involved in the Annual ASU Band Day. However, after experiencing the frustration of paying the band’s tour debt each year, the chapter decided the they would no longer be responsible for paying the band’s debts, and that it should be the responsibility of the band council.

The chapter also started developing inter-chapter relations for the first time. During the marching season, the chapter hosted a party for members of the ASU Band and members of the A + I Band.

Although the chapter worked together with the Alpha Gamma Colony of Tau Beta Sigma on a regular basis, including that semester on a Watermelon Party for the band, a new movement began to strengthen the bonds with the sisters of this colony, especially considering that they were very close to achieving installation as an active chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.

The tradition of always being a chapter in good standing with the national organization started this year as well. Epsilon Kappa was recognized with its first Service Certificate, which reads as follows:

“In appreciation for the efforts involved in the early collection, verification and payment to the National Office of chapter and membership dues, thereby increasing the efficiency of Fraternity operations and rendering great service to the national organization, the Grand Council of Kappa Kappa Psi hereby authorizes the Executive Secretary to issue this Service Certificate on this, the First day of December, 1970.”

The certificate was for 1971, and was signed by the Grand President and National Executive Secretary of Kappa Kappa Psi.

On January 26th, 1971, the sisters were officially installed as the Delta Tau Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.

EK also witnessed its third class, the Gamma pledge class, which initiated seven new members. During this semester the chapter became involved with the San Angelo Rodeo for the first time. A group performed in the Rodeo Parade, and formed a Rodeo Band to play at the performances. The chapter was paid for their talents, and these performances became an annual fundraiser for several years. The chapter has remained involved with the Rodeo since.

The chapter again helped sponsor the Band Banquet, the guest speaker of which was the Kappa Kappa Psi National Executive Secretary, Robert Rubin. The joint chapters hosted their second annual Band BBQ in May. The brothers also fought to get the chapter and the band more space in the annual yearbook, The Ramboillet. They also fundraised throughout the semester in order to send delegates to National Convention. These events included curb painting in addition to the regulars of recycling drives and blood sales.

Chapter meetings took place in the University Center during the 1972-72 school year. This fall semester was busy for the chapter. This was the first time the brothers ordered chapter jerseys. The annual mum sale was a success, and it was during this semester that the chapter finally felt it necessary to open bank accounts. The first checking account was with San Angelo National Bank. The chapter also had a savings account with City Savings.

There were many parties this semester. The chapter at Sam Houston hosted a party for the Ram Band, and then EK hosted a party for the band at Howard Payne. By this point EK had developed a strong bond to the chapter at Sam Houston. Next, the chapter at A + I hosted a party for the Ram Band. These were opportunities for band members to hang out in addition to the brothers at each chapter. All of these happened in the month of October, and were additional to the usual ambush party that the chapter hosted for men in the band.

Robert Rubin visited the chapter once again. The semester ended when the brothers celebrated the founding of the chapter for the first time on December 6th, 1971 at Zetner’s Steak House. Anniversary Banquets became an annual tradition for several years.

The spring semester witnessed Delta pledge class, which experienced a twelve week process. The chapter hosted another ambush party for the band in addition to a separate party in honor of thirteen visiting brothers from the Alpha Omicron Chapter. Two brothers went to the District VI Convention hosted at Baylor, and took a display with them, which was a new feature to these conventions. The semester ended with the chapter sponsoring the annual Band Banquet.

The fall 72 semester was typical with a couple of exceptions. The Executive Council started meeting on the first Tuesday of each month. The brothers helped to sponsor multiple away game trips as a major service project to the band. The semester ended with the 4th Anniversary Banquet, which was held at El Patio.

The spring 73 semester brought with it the Epsilon pledge class, which initiated five brothers. The program saw a few changes by this point. This class had the first known Big Brother/Little Brother Breakfast. This tradition evolved over time to become the Big Brother Dinner featured in today’s chapter MEP. This class also experienced the first known “Hell Week”. Although the “blackball” system of voting may already have been established, this was the first class to have a pledge removed from the program, and it’s the first appearance of the term “blackball” in our chapter’s documented history.

The brothers made it a point to hang out after meetings, and this became a regular occurrence. In addition to the rodeo parade and performances, the chapter formed a “Jug Band” which performed at the English Department’s FOLK FESTIVAL and again at McDonald’s. These were in addition to the usual recycling drive effort. The chapter also hosted a Freshmen v. Upperclassmen basketball game, a party with the sisters, and sent two brother to National Convention in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The 73-74 year saw a few firsts for the chapter in what was Eddie Pace’s final year as the Director of Bands. For example, this was the first known use of formally printed bids. The ambush party was replaced with a “Smoker”, though this event was not continued. The Zeta pledge class initiated two new members, and a “Pledge Walk” was added to the program for the first time. The chapter hosted its first Founder’s Day Party on November 27th, which featured cookies and cokes. The Delta Tau Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was invited to the 5th Anniversary Banquet, also a first. There were two major projects this semester: EK stenciled and etched stands and percussion equipment, and the joint chapters were given permission by Eddie Pace to organize the annual ASU Band Day for mid-October. The chapter also received its second Service Certificate from the national fraternity.

The Heta pledge class crossed in the spring with eleven new members! The rodeo parade and band were again successful, and the chapter sponsored the Band Banquet at the end of the year.

It was still normal for the brothers to relax during the summer. However, the chapter knew a new Director of Bands was on the way needed to do everything to help prepare for this.

1973-1974 was an exciting year. The biggest change was the arrival of the new band director, Mr. Harris Brinson. Mr. Brinson earned his bachelor and masters in Music Education from West Texas State University (now West Texas A & M), and is an alumni of the Alpha Psi Chapter. He was initiated into the fraternity at Texas Christian University in 1957. After receiving his degrees from WTSU he served as the band director at Pampa High School, where he ran a very successful program. In addition to his new role as band director, he also became the second sponsor of the Epsilon Kappa Chapter. The semester turned out to be very busy indeed.

Both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma were instrumental in aiding in the systematic reorganization of the band. Among other things, Mr. Brinson asked the chapter to find a viable source of publicity for the band to help with recruiting. Another service project was the creation of a plume box for the marching band.

EK hosted a party for the Sam Houston State University Band and passed the Traveling Flag to their cha pter. It is unknown when EK received this flag.

Some things didn’t change. The chapter still held its mum sale and ambush parties. The chapter initiated a new class for the third consecutive semester – the Theta pledge class, which brought two new members. EK hosted a 6th Anniversary Banquet, and later hosted a Christmas Party for the band in cooperation with Tau Beta Sigma.

Things seemed to slow down in the spring. The chapter made it a goal to smooth out the pledge system in time for their fourth consecutive class, the Iota pledge class, which initiated four new members. The first known scrapbook was created. Brothers served as the loading crew during the spring tour, and also sold cokes to thirty band members for a small price. The joint chapters again sponsored the Band Banquet at the end of the year, and EK sent brothers to National Convention in Houston.

The 1975-76 academic year was equally exciting for the chapter, starting with the arrival of the band’s first assistant director, Dr. David Fenell. Dr. Fenell was the assistant band director of Pampa High School under Harris Brinson. He was a member of the Alpha Psi Chapter at West Texas State University, where he served as their President and pledge trainer.
The major project that semester was the new mega-phone box for the marching tower, which greatly aided in the facilitation of instruction. However, this was also the semester when the chapter began “Band Hall Clean Up”, where members would meet once a week to clean up the band hall and restore it to its proper condition. This ongoing project lasted for decades, and was not discontinued until the 07-08 academic year. Founder’s Day was again celebrated.

EK ordered new chapter shirts this semester. For fundraising they sold “Rams Reign” bumper stickers in addition to the usual mum sale. They again hosted an ambush party, which lead to their fifth consecutive class, the Kappa pledge class, which initiated two new members. The 7th Anniversary Banquet was held immediately following their initiation.

The brothers also received the “Traveling Bass Drum” from the chapter at Sam Houston State University. This drum became known as the District VI Spirit Drum, and is today competitively awarded as the Southwest District Spirit Drum.

Spring was also a busy semester as EK became more involved on the district level. Four brothers attended the very first Precinct V meeting at Texas Tech, and returned with a new outlook on inter-chapter relations. Additionally they secured ASU as the host for the following year’s precinct convention. Later in the semester a brother was sent to Baton Rouge for the Distric t VI Convention.

The sixth consecutive pledge class, Lambda, initiated five new members. The brothers again worked as the loading crew on the spring tour and sold cokes to the band.

The most interesting happening was the events surrounding a movement to combine Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma on the national level. Discussion among joint members began when both chapters received letters from the chapters at Arizona State, which explained that they had already merged their chapters into one. The National Office refused to take a stand on the issue at the time, but instructed chapters to send delegates to the 1977 National Convention, where the subject would be discussed.

During that summer the chapter rebooted the summer band newsletter.

Upon returning to San Angelo in the fall of ‘76, the chapter busied itself with its first service project of moving all the major equipment into the new Ram Band home – the $4.5 million dollar Robert and Nona Carr Education Fine Arts Building. This wasn’t the only exciting development of the semester.

At the beginning of the semester, regular joint meetings were held. The joint chapters discussed the Marine Band Tour and the possible contracting of a concert in San Angelo. Due to University policy, the chapter could not sponsor the Marine Band, so the Downtown Lions Club volunteered to sponsor it for EK. The concert happened, but it left the chapter $450.00 despite selling $1,150.00 worth of tickets to the event. A valuable lesson was learned in this, and the concert itself was a great success. The chapter managed to pay off the debt by working extra hard at the mum sale, where they collected $1,200.00.

The chapter held a rush early in the semester, with Mr. Brinson as the speaker. This lead to the seventh consecutive pledge class, Mu, which initiated seven new members despite losing four during the course of the program.

Founder’s Day was again celebrated, along with the hosting of another Christmas Party. The chapter also began preparing for the Precinct V convention in the spring. The 8th Anniversary Banquet was held at the Way-Back Inn with about fifty brothers and sisters in attendance. Mr. Brinson was the speaker.

The spring witnessed the joint chapters hosting their first district event. The Precinct V Convention was a success. The evening portion included a reading band, conducted by Harris Brinson, followed by a socializing party.

The eighth consecutive pledge class was named Nu. They are noteworthy for two reasons: members of Alpha Psi and Alpha Omicron witnessed the beginning of the class, and more importantly, their class project was the 1st Annual Radio Day. The Nu pledge class brought six new members into the chapter.

Tau Beta Sigma’s National Vice President, Nadine Dorshler, visited the chapters to discuss her concern about the two organizations merging. As an alumni of the chapter at Arizona State, she was unhappy with their recent merge, and during her conversation with the brothers and sisters she effectively destroyed all of the stated reasons of the Arizona chapters for merging.

The semester ended, as usual, with the annual Band Banquet. The summer newsletter continued on thanks to the brothers. Also, the chapter sent four members to attend the 1977 National Convention at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles (UCLA). The national organizations ultimately decided against merging.

The 77-78 academic year started with dr. Charles Robinson, head of the Department of Art and Music, asking the brothers if they wished to sell tickets for the San Angelo Symphony to students who wished to attend. The chapter accepted and was allowed to sell tickets for $10 apiece, with a small profit going back to EK. Then, on October 15th, after being the chapter’s sponsor for four years, Mr. Harris Brinson became EK’s second honorary member.

In October, the brothers of EK and Gamma Phi spent time together after the ASU-SFA game and shared thoughts and ideas in a time of brotherhood. The mum sale was again a huge success. The chapter executed a new fundraiser by selling a record of the marching band, produced by Phillips Recording of Lubbock. The chapters of ASU and A + I attended a listening party after their football game, and the records were sold at $6.00 a piece.

For the 9th Anniversary Banquet, Mr. Edward Surface, the new low brass instructor and Jazz Band director, accepted the offer to be the guest speaker at the formal event. Mr. Surface is an alumni member of the Epsilon Epsilon chapter at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. The banquet was held at John Zentner’s Daughter’s Steakhouse, and approximately sixty-five people were in attendance.

Having not had a class during the fall, the chapter organized a “Get Acquainted” party for interested band members, at which Dr. Fenell was the guest speaker. The Xi pledge class initiated five members, and were responsible for the 8’ plywood letters that are still used at the football games today. Upon their initiation, the chapter reached its largest numbers in ten years, now having twenty-two active members.

This semester witnessed the first impeachment of an officer, the Treasurer, due to his uncertainty about exactly how much money the chapter had in its bank account. The successive treasurer promised to watch his books more closely. In other bad news, no brothers or sisters attended that year’s Precinct V Convention or District VI Convention.

Radio Day was again a success. The Band Banquet again ended the semester. Over the summer the brothers sold buttons at the 4th Annual Band Camp and produced another newsletter.

The fall 1968 semester began with preparations being made for the 10th Anniversary Banquet, and with Dr. David Fenell being initiated as the chapter’s third honorary member. The mum sale was not secured in time, but it resumed the following year. The chapter responded by selling buttons each Friday before games, and by selling mums to band members, the combination of which proved sufficient. The chapter again held a Founder’s Day Celebration, and received its third Service Certificate from the National Office. At the 10th Anniversary Banquet the chapter presented an in-depth national, district and chapter history book to all in attendance. The first decade of Epsilon Kappa was officially in the books.

Unfortunately, historical records of the chapter after this banquet are rare.

Dr. David Fenell became the third sponsor of the Epsilon Kappa Chapter. This may have taken place as early as his arrival, but it is unknown for sure.

As of 1982 the chapter was still doing mum sales and recycling drives. By this time they had started “Project Move In” to help Freshman band members get moved into their dorms. EK also hosted a Christmas party for underprivileged children, which was an annual event for almost two decades, and still hosted regular anniversary banquets. In the spring the brothers operated a booth at Pikefest. In April of that year the chapter attended the District VI Convention at Baylor.

During the ’83-’84 school year the chapter was 23 brothers strong. In the fall semester they visited the Alpha Psi Chapter, sold mums for homecoming, put on a “slave sale”, hosted a Halloween Party for the band, again hosted a Christmas Party for underprivileged children, and another Anniversary Banquet. In the spring/summer, EK attended both the District VI Convention in Oklahoma and the National Convention at Texas Tech. It was also during this year that EK received its fourth Service Certificate.

By 1984-85 academic year the chapter had its Kappa Kappa Psi banner which still hangs proudly in the band hall to this day. EK received its fifth Service Certificate during this year.

Although it is not currently known for sure, it is said that during this decade the brothers of EK began cleaning up after San Angelo Rodeo performances. Regardless of when it actually started, “Rodeo Clean Up” is still the largest annual fundraiser for the chapter to this day. It is also said that in 1985, ZEGRET, The God of Brotherhood, became the Epsilon Kappa Chapter’s official mascot.

At the 1987 National Convention, the districts were realigned and renamed based on their geographical region. Similar to the numbered districts, each of these new districts were further divided into Areas, also named by geographical region. Accordingly, EK became part of the West Texas/New Mexico Area of the Southwest District. Area Workshops and District Conventions carried on soon after the change.

During the spring of 1990, the chapter was placed on suspension for hazing. The chapter was allowed to conduct regular business meetings, but they could hold no special projects. They were allowed to resume their activities in the fall, but it was required by state regulations that a notice stating the organization’s suspension be printed in the school newspaper during the first three weeks of every semester for the next three years.

Despite this major setback, the brothers rebounded with strength with, in the spring of 1991, the joint chapters won the bid to host the 1992 Southwest District Convention at Angelo State University.

1995 was a tragic year for the chapter. Dr. David Fenell passed away after a hard fought battle with AIDS, which he contracted due to complications during a blood transfusion. In his memory, EK responded by starting an annual Celebrity Charity Auction which benefited the AIDS Foundation of San Angelo, and the newly created Dr. David Fenell Memorial Scholarship. The Celebrity Charity Auction continued with success until 2002. Additionally, EK commissioned its first work for band in his honor, titled “A Gathering of Angels” by Jared Spears.

Dr. Christopher M. Neal was hired as the Assistant Director of Bands in 1995. Dr. Neal earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Oklahoma, his Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin, and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Oklahoma.

In 1997, Harris Brinson retired and was named Director of Bands Emeritus. Dr. Neal was named the Interim-Director of Bands for the following school year while a search was conducted to find a new director of bands. Accordingly, Mr. Neal became EK’s fourth sponsor.

In the spring of 1996, David O’Neal was elected to the office of SWD Co-Member at Large, thus beginning a legacy of EK taking on an active leadership role within the District. At the 1997 District Convention, he was elected to the office of District President. This same year, the joint chapters at Angelo State won their second bid to host District Convention, which took place in the spring semester of 1998.

In 1998, Dr. David Scott was hired as the new Director of Bands. He earned his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Baylor University. He earned his Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees at Ohio State University. Dr. Scott is himself an alumnus and Life Member of the Beta Alpha Chapter at Baylor University. With Dr. Neal, the two shared the responsibility as the Epsilon Kappa Chapter Sponsor, until the following year when Dr. Scott became the sole sponsor of the Epsilon Kappa Chapter.

At the 2000 Southwest District Convention, Courtney Ratliff was elected as a District Co-Member at Large. During this spring semester, the joint chapters hosted their first Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma Solo & Ensemble Contest. This is a major service project for middle school band students, as well as an important fundraiser. With the exception of its cancellation in the spring of 2008, it has continued to be a successful event each year.

After the tragic attack on September 11th, 2001, the brothers of Epsilon Kappa Chapter and the sisters of the Delta Tau Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma jointly commissioned a new work for band. The work was titled, “Cloudless Day, Bitter Sky” and composed by Dr. Grantham in honor of the heroes and enduring spirit of that day.

In the spring of 2001, Courtney Ratliff was elected to serve in the office of District Vice President, which he served in until February of 2002.

During the 2002-2003 academic year, David Martinez was chosen to fill the vacated office of Co-Member at Large. At the 2003 District Convention he was elected to the office and served for the duration of the 2003-2004 school year. Also during the 2003 spring semester, the chapter celebrated with a 35th Anniversary Banquet held at the San Angelo Fine Arts Museum, with approximately one-hundred-fifty people in attendance.

This moment was also the peak of the joint relations between the Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the Delta Tau Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma. The joint chapters were very close, and shared in a family atmosphere. This was a major part of the identity associated with both chapters. Other schools looked forward to Area Workshops hosted by these chapters, as the joint chapters as ASU were looked to as the innovators of joint relations, and a beacon for all others to follow. Despite the gradual decline in the closeness between the chapters, the joint chapters at ASU continue to work closely together on several projects throughout each year.

In 2005, Dr. David Scott was chosen as the new Southwest District Co-Governor. He is still serving the fraternity in this capacity.

In 2006, Kappa Kappa Psi declared November, the month of the fraternity’s founding, as the National Month of Musicianship, and instructed chapters to celebrate locally. EK jumped on board from the beginning, and has remained at the forefront of this new annual celebration. During November of 2006, EK performed a surprise service project by repairing and repainting the music stands. It resumed the lost tradition of having a Founder’s Day Celebration, which now happens in the EFA. The brothers provide cake and punch along with festive decorations in the spine of the EFA for whomever passes by. The first Reading Band, which concluded the celebration, was a great success.

Unfortunately, it was also in 2006 that Dr. Eldon Black, a tenured vocal instructor at Angelo State University for over fifty years, passed away. Kappa Kappa Psi commissioned a work for band in his memory. The piece is titled “Variations on How Firm a Foundation” by Dr. Stephen Emmons.

In the spring of 2007, Dr. Scott announced that he would step down from the podium. The person hired to take his place was Dr. Reginald Houze. He received his degrees in Music from The University of Southern Mississippi and the Steinhardt School at New York University. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting from the University of South Carolina, and was the first African-American to achieve this distinction. He was also inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Hall of Fame. By the end of the fall 2007 semester, Dr. Houze assumed the position as the sponsor of the EK chapter.

At the same time that Dr. Houze was hired as the new Director of Bands, Dr. Daniel McCloud was hired to replace Daniel Smithiger as the Assistant Director of Bands. He received his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He earned his Master of Music degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Instrumental Conducting, and is finishing his work on his Doctor of Arts degree in Percussion Performance from Ball State. Professor McCloud is an active composer, having had over 20 compositions published by Dutch Music Partners.

In the summer of 2008, cited as being for personal reasons, Dr. Houze resigned as the Director of Bands. Dr. McCloud was offered the position, and after much consideration, he decided to accept. When asked by the chapter to be their new sponsor, despite his lack of experience with the fraternity, he accepted without hesitation, and has proved to be a very supportive and dedicated chapter sponsor.

The fall of 2008 proved to be a turning point for the chapter. Work was done over the summer to develop a documented Recruiting Strategy, the implementation of which resulted in the Beta Beta Candidate Class of nine candidates during the spring semester. The chapter also implemented, for the first time, a documented Continuing Membership Education Program, which helps brothers to develop their personal and professional skills, as well as increase their fraternal knowledge.

The National Month of Musicianship celebration expanded to include the annual Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma Night of Music recital, and a Conducting Lab was added to the Reading Band to give music majors an opportunity to conduct a full band before they become professionals. Dr. McCloud conducted this reading band, and gave the selected music major tips on his conducting technique.

In February of 2009, EK was honored to be asked to advise a new colony at the University of Texas at Panamerica. The brothers gladly accepted, and look forward to helping bring another new chapter into this great fraternity.