QEBH
Encyclopedia
QEBH is a senior honor society at the University of Missouri
. Founded in 1897, it is the oldest of six recognized secret honor societies on campus.
The introduction of class societies to the Missouri campus is generally attributed to Luther DeFoe, an 1881 graduate and then junior member of the faculty. Defoe was a primary organizer and inspiration for a chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon
at Missouri in 1895, and he played an advisory role to the founders of QEBH as well.
QEBH's workings, purposes and affairs are known only to its members. The underlying idea of the society is to bring together a few men of recognized standing among their fellows, men who have been long enough on the campus to be in sympathy with the whole body of students, and sufficiently broad and advanced in spirit to take the viewpoint of Alma Mater in their university interests; and through these few men and concerted example to instill in the undergraduates a real affection for their University, a sentimental loyalty, enduring in adversity and defeat as in prosperity and victory. Membership in the society comes only after significant accomplishment.
Throughout its history, QEBH has maintained a rivalry with MU's Mystical Seven society. This rivalry has often involved the two societies playing pranks on each other. In one instance in 1985, members of QEBH disguised themselves as members of Mystical Seven and surprised Mystical Seven's yet to be initiated candidates at 4:30am one morning. The new candidates were convinced the activity was part of their initiation process, and they were taken to Jefferson City, Missouri
where they were dropped off and abandoned by the disguised QEBH members.
. The wings broke from the top of the dome when a patriotic student scaled the dome one night around the time of World War I
and fastened the staff of a large American flag to the structure. The flag caught enough wind to tear the wings from the dome, leaving only the golden sphere, which is still in place. The original winged sphere has direct symbolism to the meaning of "QEBH". The destruction of the wings from the dome was foreshadowed in the 1901 Savitar where mention is made of QEBH's secret meetings at the top of the dome, but followed later by stating that "QEBH didn't take the wings off the dome." The hundreds of names carved into the inner walls of the Jesse Hall dome are well known to be those belonging to the members of QEBH; however, those affiliated with the society will not give out any information regarding the mystery of what takes place inside the dome.
by Phi Delta Theta
and Delta Tau Delta
in 1892. The two fraternities shared housing at the time, but when the groups later acquired their own individual houses they began an annual tradition of awarding the bell as a trophy to the winner of a specified athletic or academic contest. When then Missouri athletic director Chester Brewer suggested a trophy be established for the winner of the annual Missouri–Nebraska Rivalry football game, the bell was chosen to fill the role. An "M" was then engraved on one side of the bell and an "N" was engraved on the opposite side. QEBH is the caretaker of the bell at Missouri, and the Innocents Society is the caretaker of the bell at Nebraska.
Chapter of 1898
Chapter of 1899
Chapter of 1900
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. Founded in 1897, it is the oldest of six recognized secret honor societies on campus.
History
The society was founded in November 1897 by eight men. They were Royall Hill Switzer, Thomas Benton Marbut, Gurry Ellsworth Huggins, William Frank Wilson, Clarence Martin Jackson, Horace Beckley Williams, Antoine Edward Russell, and Galius Lawton Zwick. Royall Hill Switzer organized the first class of the society, and he is therefore credited as being the founder of the QEBH.The introduction of class societies to the Missouri campus is generally attributed to Luther DeFoe, an 1881 graduate and then junior member of the faculty. Defoe was a primary organizer and inspiration for a chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon
Theta Nu Epsilon
Founded at Wesleyan University in 1870 as a chapter of Skull and Bones, Theta Nu Epsilon is a sophomore class society that accepts members regardless of their fraternity status.-Early history:...
at Missouri in 1895, and he played an advisory role to the founders of QEBH as well.
QEBH's workings, purposes and affairs are known only to its members. The underlying idea of the society is to bring together a few men of recognized standing among their fellows, men who have been long enough on the campus to be in sympathy with the whole body of students, and sufficiently broad and advanced in spirit to take the viewpoint of Alma Mater in their university interests; and through these few men and concerted example to instill in the undergraduates a real affection for their University, a sentimental loyalty, enduring in adversity and defeat as in prosperity and victory. Membership in the society comes only after significant accomplishment.
Throughout its history, QEBH has maintained a rivalry with MU's Mystical Seven society. This rivalry has often involved the two societies playing pranks on each other. In one instance in 1985, members of QEBH disguised themselves as members of Mystical Seven and surprised Mystical Seven's yet to be initiated candidates at 4:30am one morning. The new candidates were convinced the activity was part of their initiation process, and they were taken to Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
where they were dropped off and abandoned by the disguised QEBH members.
Symbolism
The primary symbol of QEBH is winged sphere. The symbol's origin is that of the winged sphere that was once the distinctive mark of Jesse HallJesse Hall
Jesse Hall is the main administration building for the University of Missouri. Built in 1893 after Academic Hall burned to the ground, the building is one of the major symbols of the University. It is located at the south end of the David R...
. The wings broke from the top of the dome when a patriotic student scaled the dome one night around the time of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and fastened the staff of a large American flag to the structure. The flag caught enough wind to tear the wings from the dome, leaving only the golden sphere, which is still in place. The original winged sphere has direct symbolism to the meaning of "QEBH". The destruction of the wings from the dome was foreshadowed in the 1901 Savitar where mention is made of QEBH's secret meetings at the top of the dome, but followed later by stating that "QEBH didn't take the wings off the dome." The hundreds of names carved into the inner walls of the Jesse Hall dome are well known to be those belonging to the members of QEBH; however, those affiliated with the society will not give out any information regarding the mystery of what takes place inside the dome.
Victory Bell
The tradition of the Victory Bell originated in 1927. The bell was originally stolen from a church in Seward, NebraskaSeward, Nebraska
Seward is a city in Seward County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,133 at the 2000 census...
by Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
and Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
in 1892. The two fraternities shared housing at the time, but when the groups later acquired their own individual houses they began an annual tradition of awarding the bell as a trophy to the winner of a specified athletic or academic contest. When then Missouri athletic director Chester Brewer suggested a trophy be established for the winner of the annual Missouri–Nebraska Rivalry football game, the bell was chosen to fill the role. An "M" was then engraved on one side of the bell and an "N" was engraved on the opposite side. QEBH is the caretaker of the bell at Missouri, and the Innocents Society is the caretaker of the bell at Nebraska.
Early chapters
- Royall Hill Switzler (ΦΔΘ, ΦΒΚ)
- Thomas Benton Marbut
- Antoine Edward Russell (ΒΘΠ, ΦΔΦ)
- William Frank Wilson (KA, ΘΝΕ, ΦΔΦ)
- Clarence Martin Jackson (ΦΒΚ, ΣΞ)
- Gurry Ellsworth Huggins
- Horace Beckley Williams (ΦΔΘ, MU Football)
- Galius Lawton Zwick (ΣΑΕ, ΘΝΕ, ΦΔΦ, MU Baseball)
Chapter of 1899
- George Harrison English (ΦΔΘ, ΘΝΕ, ΦΔΦ)
- Raymond Saufley Edmonds (ΦΔΘ, ΘΝΕ, ΦΔΦ)
- George Gordon Robertson (MU Tennis)
- Irvin Victor Barth (ΘΝΕ, ΦΒΚ, ΦΔΦ)
- Don Carlos Guffey (KΣ)
- Libsom Elwood Durham
- Joe Shelby McIntyre (ΘΝΕ, ΦΔΦ)
- Frank Young Gladney
- Richmond Laurin Hawkins (MU Baseball)
- Merritt Kimbrough Salmon (ΣΑΕ)
Chapter of 1900
- John Louis Deister (ΦΒΚ)
- Elmer C. Peper (ΦΔΘ, ΘΝΕ)
- Charles Shumway Ruffner (ΦΔΘ, ΘΝΕ, TBΠ)
- Forest Shepard Lyman (KΣ, TBΠ)
- Arthur Graham Ficklin
- Lee Utley (KA, ΘΝΕ)
- William F. Switzler (ΦΔΘ)
- William Cardwell Lucas (ΣΑΕ, ΘΝΕ, ΦΔΦ)
- Gilbert Barlow (ΒΘΠ)
- Francis Marvin Motter
Notable student members
- Ben AskrenBen AskrenBen Askren is an American former amateur wrestler for the University of Missouri and U.S. Olympic team. He is now a mixed martial artist and the current Bellator Welterweight Champion.-Wrestling:...
, 2006 NCAA individual national wrestling champion and Sports Illustrated Collegiate Wrestler of the Year - Forrest C. DonnellForrest C. DonnellForrest C. Donnell was a United States Senator and the 40th Governor of Missouri. He was a Republican.-Early life:Donnell was born in Quitman, Missouri....
(Chapter of 1904), former Missouri governor - Harvey P. Eisen (Chapter of 1964), Chairman of Bedford Oak Advisors
- Martin Frost (Chapter of 1964), Democratic representative to the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas's 24th congressional district from 1979 to 2005
- John R. GibsonJohn R. GibsonJohn R. Gibson is a senior circuit judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.- Early life and education :...
(Chapter of 1950), Senior Federal Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit - Kenny HulshofKenny HulshofKenneth C. "Kenny" Hulshof is a politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, and represented in the United States House of Representatives. He was the unsuccessful nominee of the Republican Party for Governor of Missouri in the 2008 election.- Biography :...
, U.S. Congressman - Richard D. KinderRichard KinderRichard Kinder is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, an energy and pipeline corporation.-Biography:...
(Chapter of 1966), CEO of Kinder MorganKinder MorganKinder Morgan, Inc. is an American energy company. It is also, through a subsidiary, the general partner of and owner of many of the interests in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, a publicly traded pipeline and terminal limited partnership....
, former president of EnronEnronEnron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
, currently ranked #130 on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans. Kinder's net worth is more than $2.9 billion. - Derrick Peterson (Chapter of 1999), US Olympic Track and Field Athlete in 2004
- Ike SkeltonIke SkeltonIsaac Newton "Ike" Skelton IV is the former U.S. Representative for . During his tenure, he has served as the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a member for the Democratic Party...
, U.S. Congressman - Sam M. Walton (Chapter of 1940), founder of Wal-Mart
- Kellen WinslowKellen WinslowKellen Boswell Winslow is a former American football tight end with the Missouri Tigers and the San Diego Chargers. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. He is currently the athletic director at Central State University.Winslow did not play high...
, NFL Hall of Fame Tight End
Notable honor taps
- Christopher S. "Kit" BondKit BondChristopher Samuel "Kit" Bond is a former United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, he defeated Democrat Harriett Woods by a margin of 53%-47%. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004...
, U.S. Senator - August Busch, Jr., American brewing magnate and former owner of the St. Louis Cardinals (Chapter of 1969)
- Thomas F. Eagleton (Chapter of 1964), former U.S. Senator
- Chuck GrahamChuck GrahamChuck Graham is a Democratic politician who formerly represented the 19th Senate District in the Missouri General Assembly, which includes the city of Columbia, Missouri, where he lives. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1987 with a B.S...
(Chapter of 2006), Missouri State Senator - Warren E. HearnesWarren E. HearnesWarren Eastman Hearnes was an American politician and the 46th Governor of Missouri from 1965 to 1973. He was the first Missouri Governor eligible to serve two consecutive four year terms, and a lifelong Democrat...
(Chapter of 1966), former Missouri governor - Pinkney Walker (Chapter of 1962), former MU economics professor who was appointed to the Federal Power CommissionFederal Power CommissionThe Federal Power Commission was an independent commission of the United States government, originally organized on June 23, 1930, with five members nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate...
by President Nixon. Walker brought his former student Ken Lay to Washington and mentored him in the energy industry.