History of Alpha Eta Rho
(History of Sigma Phi Below)
Alpha Eta Rho is a collegiate fraternity founded to bring together those students having a common interest in the field of commercial aviation. Alpha Eta Rho, the Greek letters which stand for “air,” came into being to fulfill a definite need of the time. Enrollment in aviation courses on the campus of the University of Southern California in the spring semester of 1928-29 was surprisingly large; faculty members and students were voicing the need for an extracurricular activity for promoting and organizing this interest in aviation.
Alpha Eta Rho was organized on April 10, 1929 by Professor Earl W. Hill (who was teaching aviation at USC), with the assistance of the others on the faculty. After receiving official recognition by the university, the first election of officers was held May 23, 1929. Under the leadership of Hill, founder and national president for 21 year, Alpha Eta Rho continued to grow in size and in stature within the college and the aviation industry. Professor Hill remained in office as president until his death in 1950.
Marshall Benedict, an employee of United Airlines, became the second national president of the fraternity in 1950. In June, 1951, Benedict was recalled to active duty in the Air Force; John Goodwin took over the presidency for a sixteen month period, until Benedict was able to return, in October, 1952. Benedict, now in association with the FAA, served as president until 1963.
Ray Mertes, a great supporter of aviation education, replaced Benedict in 1963. Mertes, who worked for United Airlines, died unexpectedly in 1965.
Gene Kropf, a public affairs officer for the Western Region of the FAA, served as national president until 1981. Kropf, also known as the Red Baron, resigned in order to accept the position of Chairman of the Board of Alpha Eta Rho. At that time, Harold Wood, who has been the National Secretary-Treasurer for almost 20 years at Parks College, accepted the position of president.
Harold Wood served as president for seven years, until July 1, 1988, when he too resigned as national president to accept the position of Chairman of the Board of Alpha Eta Rho. It was at this time that Wayne E. White retired from Boise State University and accepted the position of national president. Through the leadership of these six dedicated men, Alpha Eta Rho has grown internationally. The alumni membership of the fraternity is large, and is distributed throughout the aviation industry both in the United States and abroad. Currently there are over seventy active chapters of Alpha Eta Rho. Approximately 1,100 new members are being initiated every year.
On November 8, 1970, under the authority of the board of directors of Alpha Eta
Rho Inc., a charter was granted to Metropolitan State College of Denver; the new
chapter became known as Sigma Phi. The Sigma Phi Chapter exists for the serious
aerospace student and gives the student the opportunities to apply knowledge,
perfect skills, and gain new experiences in their chosen profession. The members
of Sigma Phi can better prepare themselves to meet the challenges that are known
to exist within the aerospace industry.
The Sigma Phi chapter of Alpha Eta Rho had many activities that appeal to students. These activities are both professional and social in nature. Professional events include the annual aviation Career's Day, aviation Safety Symposiums and seminars, the presentation of aviation related programs to Denver area High School students, conducting tours of MSCD and the aviation department, as well as a variety of community service work (including the annual Easter Food Lift). The social events sponsored by Alpha Eta Rho include: an annual ski trip, fly-ins to local airports, banquets, theme parties, and a summer trip to Lake Powell. Although they are separate entities, the Sigma Phi chapter of Alpha Eta Rho and the Metropolitan State College Flight Team enjoy a close relationship. Many of the members on Flight Team are also members of Alpha Eta Rho. Members of Flight Team are encouraged to participate in fraternity activities, while members of the fraternity are encouraged to support Flight Team at their Regional and National competitions