Alpha Phi Omega

History of APO

During the first World War, Frank Reed Horton served as an ensign in the United States Navy aboard a minesweeper in the North Sea. His ship and its partner exploded more than 1000 magnetic mines. His law school background at Boston University led to his appointment to try court-martial cases in his Division. When they reached ports, some of the sailors ran wild. Many court martial cases resulted. He saw young boys in their teens getting into trouble.

Because of these experiences, Frank Reed Horton made a firm resolution within himself that if he returned alive, he would try to do two things and do them with all his power: first, he would do his best to help young people get the right start in life by holding up before them a "standard of manhood" that would withstand the test of time; second, and just as important, he would try to help the nations of the world settle their disputes in a more sensible and legal manner than by war.

After the war, Frank Reed Horton became a student at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. One evening, while attending an American Legion banquet during his sophomore year, Frank Reed Horton sat next to an inspiring man named Herbert G. Horton. They were not related, but they became fast friends. Herbert G. Horton, too, had been a naval officer but was now serving as the local Scout Executive. Herbert G. Horton helped Frank Reed Horton to become a Deputy Scout Commissioner. One of the troops needed a leader, so Frank Reed Horton became a Scoutmaster as well.

Through these experiences, Frank Reed Horton found that the Scout Oath and Law were what he had been seeking - a standard of manhood that would withstand the test of time and a code of ideals created and accepted by some of the greatest leaders the world has ever known.

The summer of Frank Reed Horton's junior year was spent as an Associate Camp Director at the Easton Scout Reservation. Here, he was impressed with the religious tolerance in the hearts of the boys. This was something Frank Reed Horton had not found so easily among older people. Scouts of the Catholic, Jewish and Protestant faiths worked together in everything at camp, and everyone had an opportunity to worship on his Sabbath in his own way.

Frank Reed Horton's Brothers in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity house, where he lived, known for outstanding for high ideals and clean living, were all former Scouts. He felt a college organization should be formed that would strengthen men in these ideals and give them an opportunity for Leadership experience and for Service to others.

As a senior at Lafayette College, Frank Reed Horton talked to some of the men with a Scouting background, and the response was good. These men would join an organization based on the ideals of Scouting. He created the name Alpha Phi Omega, the motto and the Greek words and their meaning and wrote the Ritual. Everett W. Probst designed the pin and drew the Coat-of-Arms. Thane S. Cooley suggested the hand clasp. Ellsworth S. Dobson and Gordon M. Looney helped write the Constitution and Bylaws.

Fourteen undergraduates signed as charter Members. Scouting advisors were Dr. Ray O. Wyland and Herbert G. Horton.

The Lafayette College Faculty approved the petition for recognition. On December 16, 1925, Frank Reed Horton conducted the Ritual Initiation at Brainerd Hall, second floor, and Alpha Phi Omega was born.

Frank Reed Horton's purpose was to make Alpha Phi Omega an organization for college men who cooperated with all youth movements, especially Scouting. He also anticipated that our Service program would expand to help people in need everywhere and to do service on the campus of each Chapter.

As Scouting is worldwide, so should Alpha Phi Omega be worldwide, gradually in the colleges and universities of all the nations. Alpha Phi Omega can help bring about, through the future statesmen of the world, that standard of manhood and international understanding and friendship that will lead to a better, more peaceful world in which to live and in which to make a living and a life.

Our Delaware Valley College Chapter, Sigma Nu, was founded in 1967. Women were allowed to join the fraternity in 1976, and the Chapter was re-chartered in 1992.