In the years that followed World War I, a movement
developed among college and university bands, searching for
some motivating force that would create a greater interest
in band music. This movement sought expression in an effort
to develop good will, fellowship and understanding among
bands and their members, and to recognize the value of
dedicated leadership. Seizing upon this idea, ten members
of the Oklahoma A & M College (later to be known as the
Oklahoma State University) Band, led by William A. Scroggs
and their director, Bohumil Makovsky, drew up a plan for a
national honorary society for college bandsmen.
Director Makovsky selected nine men to work with Scroggs to
organize the first local club. These ten charter members
were: A. Frank Martin, Raymond D Shannon, Clyde Haston,
Clayton Soule, Carl Stevens, William Coppedge, Dick Hurst,
Asher Hendrickson, and Iron H Nelson. Officers for the
local club were elected and William Scroggs was selected as
president.
With the local organization complete, a corporation was
formed which petitioned the Oklahoma Corporation Commission
for a charter. The charter was granted November 27, 1919,
and "Kappa Kappa Psi, Honorary Fraternity for College
Bandsmen," was established on the Oklahoma State University
campus with the local group being known as the "Alpha
Chapter."
During the first year of operation as an honorary society
the members were kept busy working out and adopting a
national constitution, creating and developing the Ritual
ceremony, designing the jewelry needed to provide
distinctive recognition for the organization, and setting
up plans for the expansion of the Fraternity. The Greek
name and symbols, "Kappa Kappa Psi," were furnished by Dr.
Hilton Ira Jones of the OSU Chemistry faculty, and
assistance in the final organization was furnished by Col.
F.D. Wickham of the OSU Military Department.
