In 1981, the Carrier Dome was only a year old and Dome Dogs
were still a honest-to goodness novelty. Early that year,
Syracuse University ushered in a new era by hiring Head
Coach Dick McPherson to bring the struggling Syracuse
University football program back to its former glory.
Coincidentally that same year, Syracuse University Bands
also hired new leadership: Director of Bands Dr. Robert
"Dr. Bob" Spradling (formerly of Florida State University)
and Assistant Director at David "Dave" McCullough (formerly
of West Virginia) to lead the Pride of The Orange Marching
Band.
With the unlikely odd couple of Dr. Bob, who possessed the
skills of a well seasoned politician, and his opposite
Dave, a gifted music arranger who was refreshingly blunt
about everything, the Pride entered into a new era in
growth and professionalism. While both differed extremely
in their managerial approaches to the Syracuse University
Marching Band, they jointly recognized the need for a
strong service organization to support the growing band
program, as each had been associated with Kappa Kappa Psi
and Tau Beta Sigma at Florida State and West Virginia
Universities.
Accordingly, through the efforts of Assistant Director and
Kappa brother McCullough, a group of weary members from
West Virginia's Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters
drove through the night to address a group of enthusiastic
Syracuse University band members in September of 1981 to
start what would eventually become the Eta Phi and Eta
Alpha chapters, respectively.
While met with some resistance from the Pride's
upperclassmen during the 1981 and 1982 fall seasons, seven
young, brave (and sometimes crazy) members of the band, led
by freshmen Joseph "Joe" Morano and Keith McLaughlin,
persisted to form a Kappa Kappa Psi colony, under the
auspices of West Virginia's Omicron Chapter. These seven
founding fathers were Joe Morano, Keith McLaughlin, Bruce
H. Churchill, Robert Fett, Steven E. Moore, O'Brien and
James Tyler.
In October of 1982, the colony took its' first degree,
followed by a November 19 second degree at West Virginia
before the 1982 Syracuse University-West Virginia joint
half-time show. Finally, on December 4, 1982, the Eta Phi
chapter of Syracuse University was officially installed as
a chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Founding father Joe Morano
was installed and elected as the First Eta Phi President.
Keith McLaughlin was elected as Vice President and the
first pledge trainer.
Over 20 years have passed since this small but dedicated
band of founding fathers first listened to members of the
Omicron Chapter and thought that service and membership in
the Kappa Kappa Psi family might be a worthy, noble (and
quite possibly fun) effort. Time has indeed proven that to
be true, as the Eta Phi chapter has developed a rich
history all its own and has grown beyond the wildest dreams
of its founders to become one of the top Kappa Kappa Psi
chapters in the East!
Joseph R. Morano, Founding Father
1st President, Eta Phi Chapter
Syracuse University Class of 1985
