Alpha Gamma Rho
Encyclopedia
Alpha Gamma Rho is a social-professional fraternity in the United States
, with 75 university
chapters including chapter in Mindanao State University
, Philippines
. Though primarily a social organization, its members pride themselves on their affiliations to the life sciences and agricultural sciences.
in 1862, it provided land and other financial supports to establish one institution of higher learning in the agricultural and mechanical sciences within each state.
Alpha Gamma Rho, referred to as "AGR", was founded when two local fraternities from Ohio State University
(Alpha Gamma Rho, founded 1904) and the University of Illinois
(Delta Rho Sigma, founded in 1906) met at aAn International Livestock Competition in Chicago
. Sixteen men originally signed the Fraternity's charter at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis
on April 4, 1908. Expansion increased dramatically over the next 3 decades to almost all land-grant universities in the country. The first chapter at a non-land-grant university was chartered in 1958 at Arizona State University
. The National Fraternity has expanded to many smaller agricultural colleges and departments in the last 45 years as a measure to increase its membership and influence in agricultural communities. Its members typically pursue agricultural careers upon completion of college, but many have gone on to have careers in other natural sciences, education, economics, law, medicine, business administration and politics. Five easily recognizable alumni from Alpha Gamma Rho are Orville Redenbacher
, Norman Borlaug
, J. C. Penney, Earl Butz
and Sam Brownback
.
Minor committees and offices
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with 75 university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
chapters including chapter in Mindanao State University
Mindanao State University
Mindanao State University is a public coeducational institution of higher education located in the Islamic City of Marawi, Philippines...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Though primarily a social organization, its members pride themselves on their affiliations to the life sciences and agricultural sciences.
Founding
The Fraternity considers the Morrill Act of 1862 to be the instrument of its inception. Having been signed by President Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
in 1862, it provided land and other financial supports to establish one institution of higher learning in the agricultural and mechanical sciences within each state.
Alpha Gamma Rho, referred to as "AGR", was founded when two local fraternities from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
(Alpha Gamma Rho, founded 1904) and the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
(Delta Rho Sigma, founded in 1906) met at aAn International Livestock Competition in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Sixteen men originally signed the Fraternity's charter at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
on April 4, 1908. Expansion increased dramatically over the next 3 decades to almost all land-grant universities in the country. The first chapter at a non-land-grant university was chartered in 1958 at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
. The National Fraternity has expanded to many smaller agricultural colleges and departments in the last 45 years as a measure to increase its membership and influence in agricultural communities. Its members typically pursue agricultural careers upon completion of college, but many have gone on to have careers in other natural sciences, education, economics, law, medicine, business administration and politics. Five easily recognizable alumni from Alpha Gamma Rho are Orville Redenbacher
Orville Redenbacher
Orville Clarence Redenbacher was an American businessman most often associated with the brand of popcorn that bears his name.-Early life:...
, Norman Borlaug
Norman Borlaug
Norman Ernest Borlaug was an American agronomist, humanitarian, and Nobel laureate who has been called "the father of the Green Revolution". Borlaug was one of only six people to have won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal...
, J. C. Penney, Earl Butz
Earl Butz
Earl Lauer "Rusty" Butz was a United States government official who served as Secretary of Agriculture under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.- Background :...
and Sam Brownback
Sam Brownback
Samuel Dale "Sam" Brownback is the 46th and current Governor of Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011, and as a U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 1996...
.
Purpose
Executive board
There are at least 9 officers for every chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho on the Executive Board. The hierarchy results in a shape similar to many corporations. The board leaders are the Alumni President, Noble Ruler, and Chapter Advisor or Advisors. Several "vice noble rulers" head subdivisions of responsibility, under which are members in charge of specific areas of responsibilities.Minor committees and offices
- Philanthropy
- Chaplain
- Public Relations
- Interfraternity Council or North-American Interfraternity Conference Representative
- Risk Management
- Group Sex Committee
Chapters
They also have some chapters in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Popular culture
- Stephen King'sStephen KingStephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
novel Gerald's GameGerald's GameGerald's Game is a psychological horror novel by Stephen King. The story is about a woman who accidentally kills her husband while she is handcuffed to the bed as part of a bondage game, and, following the subsequent realisation that she is trapped with little hope of rescue, begins to let the...
references the main character's husband as belonging to an Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. King attended the University of MaineUniversity of MaineThe University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
, OronoOrono, MaineOrono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
, which hosts the Psi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho. - The former Alpha Pi Chapter house at the University of ArizonaUniversity of ArizonaThe University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
was used as the location of the Alpha Beta house in the movie Revenge of the Nerds (1984)Revenge of the NerdsRevenge of the Nerds is a 1984 comedy film satirizing social life on a college campus. The film stars Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards, with Curtis Armstrong, Ted McGinley, Julia Montgomery, Brian Tochi, Larry B. Scott, John Goodman, and Donald Gibb...
. The house was also used in the 1998 issue of Playboy's Girls of the Pac-10.http://imdb.com/title/tt0088000/http://ag.arizona.edu/agr/house.htm - The current Gamma Chapter house at the Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
was used in the 2004 issue of Playboy's Girls of the Big Ten. - In Major League II, as Vaughn is walking out onto the field during the last game of the movie in the 9th Inning, they show shots of the crowd. There are two people in the crowd wearing ΑΓΡ letters.