The Theta-Psi Chapter’s beginning started as a vision of a group of alumni from Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma during the summer of 1966. Brother Gordon Hart, an alumni from OSU and the public information officer for OCU worked closely with other alumni to establish a Star and Crescent Colony at OCU. The first meetings were held during the summer where interested OCU students and Kappa Sigma alumni met to explore the possibility of establishing a chapter. Brother Hart worked with the OCU administration to obtain use of a university owned house located at the corner of 26th and Florida. Four OCU students, Joe Case, Carl Emmons, David Johnson and Paul Derby agreed to live in the house during the 1966-67 school year. The house was used as a meeting place for alumni and interested students to gather and form the vision of a new fraternity at OCU that emphasized scholarship and community amongst outstanding students and de-emphasized hazing. David Johnson, an OCU senior, chaired the organizational and colony meetings. The colony was officially established on February 13, 1967, by a joint team of actives from OU and OSU.
On May 13, 1967, the Chapter installation occurred at the First National Bank Building in downtown Oklahoma City in the private rooms of The Beacon Club. Eleven OCU undergraduates, one distinguished community member, Mr. John Kirkpatrick, and two faculty advisers, Mr. John Murphy and Mr. Don Rice, were initiated and Theta-Psi was officially established. Eleven actives were initiated in order of class and grade point average: (enter the names from the initiation log book…..). At the first chapter meeting the first officers were elected: Paul Derby – GM, Ray Lessley Price – GP, James Gondles – GMC, Richard Lynn – GS, George Bohannan – GT. An early indication of the energy and bonding that occurred with the early members was winning OCU’s Spring Sing, beating the long established and much larger fraternities. Winning this event brought visibility to the chapter and showed the energy that has lasted still attracts men to the brotherhood.
The two bedroom house on Florida had a basement that was collapsing and limited space. The university made a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 kitchen house available at the current location, 2412 N. Virginia. This move occurred in August, 1967. This “new house” became the focal point for the establishment of the fraternity.