Chapter History
Gamma Xi Chapter - Texas Tech University
The Texas Technological College opened its doors to 910 students in the fall of 1925. Delta Gamma Fraternity had already been established for 50 years. In 1953/1954 Delta Gamma was invited along with Alpha Chi Omega to colonize. Five other NPC groups were already established on campus. The installation of the Gamma Xi chapter was held on March 6th 1954. 17 collegians and 36 patronesses were initiated with a beautiful ceremony provided by the members of Alpha Iota – Oklahoma chapter. Delta Gamma became the 6th NPC group on campus and the 6th chapter in the state of Texas.
Gamma Xi’s first Lodge on campus was a storefront building on College Avenue, then shortly to a leased house on 2424 19th Street. In 1958, 20 sororities and fraternities formed a housing Corporation and purchased 25 acres of land that had once belonged to the parents of Carrie Bell Turner of Gamma XI. named Greek Circle the odd number Lots were given to the sororities in the even number lots to the fraternities Delta Gamma drew number five and in 1972 construction of a new lodge began. The lodge cost $93,000 to build and was dedicated on March 16th 1974.
41 years later in 2015, Gamma Xi started from the ground up on a new lodge. Throughout the next year building the chapter still held a variety of events and was able to hold recruitment on site in tents so that the potential new members could see what it would become. The new lodge that was dedicated in 2016 cost $2 million dollars to build and is 10,000 square feet that is used almost every day by collegians in a variety of ways.
The first honor received by Gamma Xi colony was at the annual Panhellenic luncheon in which they were presented a trophy for the best skit. Women of the original member class decided at the 25th anniversary of Gamma Xi that if they were to have a stereotype, they preferred to be known as the "friendly sorority."
Since 1954, Gamma Xi chapter has received numerous accolades over the years including best chapter in Texas in 1980, and the prestigious Patricia Peterson Danielson Fraternity Award over 15 times, most recently in 2022. Our chapter's lifetime giving exceeds over $266,667.00, these proceeds go to our national phialtrophy Service for Site and other entities that support the blind and visually impaired. 24 Alumnae have been awarded the Cable Award, 4 the Oxford Award, and one the Shield and Loyalty Awards. 3 of our members have served on the Council for Delta Gamma.
Today the chapter has 200 plus members, a long way from the original 17 chapter members. Our members continue the work and vision of those young women who would go into the world and serve as role models to others.
The original founders of Delta Gamma Fraternity Anna Boyd Ellington, Mary Comfort Leonard, and Eva Webb Dodd would be very proud of our women who have upheld our motto of “Do Good” at Gamma Xi for 70 years.
