Tryon Coterie
Encyclopedia
The Tryon Coterie, founded in 1947, was the oldest of Baylor University
’s men’s social clubs. Try-C affiliated with Phi Delta Theta
in 1977 it is now the Texas Lambda chapter of Phi Delta Theta
. The chapter models itself as Phi Delta Theta - The Tryon Coterie. The Try-C’s started Sing!, Chili Cook-off, and off campus "illegal" dances among other things. The fraternity founded the Great Gloomy Gathering tradition of members wearing basic tuxedos, and dates wearing black gowns to a formal ball held in New Orleans at the Le Pavillon Hotel, and Houmas House Plantation
, to "mourn" the start of finals. The fraternity also regularly hosts its "Spring Fling" at Horseshoe Bay, Texas
Country Club.
The current chapter of Phi Delta Theta
- the Tryon Coterie is the only on campus chapter to have its own endowed scholarship fund for its own members.
Not much is known about the traditions or secrets of the Tryon Coterie but they are supposedly still practiced within the current Baylor
Chapter of Phi Delta Theta
.
The fraternity is also reported to have a large endowment trust fund, very strong alumni backing, and a secret hunting lodge for former and current member retreats.
's three founders, Reverend William Milton Tryon. A minister in the Southern Baptist Convention
, and Confederate
chaplain. The word Coterie was chosen as it represents a "Gathering of Friends".
Try-C started the "Great Gloomy Gathering"- so-named because it was held the weekend before Fall finals began. Formal black was worn and black flowers given. Tryon Coterie made banners & run throughs for the BU football team. Tryon Coterie also hosted the annual freshman tea each fall.
In 1974-75 Try-C won the Class C division with their float when BU played Texas A&M University
at Homecoming
. In '75-'76, Try-C captured 1st place with their float in the Class A division. They participated in All-University Sing, a Baylor tradition, and received 4th place that year. Try-C also won the University Championship in tennis
& softball
that year.
In '76-'77 Try-C converted to Phi Delta Theta
, as many of the fraternities began to transfer from Local to National names. That year their float received the Honor Award in Class A division. Tryon Coterie, now also called Phi Delta Theta, continued to make the run throughs for the Football team.
In '77-'78 Phi Delta Theta won 1st place in football intramurals and with their Class A float. In spring they won 2nd place in softball intramurals and placed 8th in Sing. They held several mixers that year with Alpha Omega (now Pi Beta Phi
) and Athenians (now Kappa Kappa Gamma
).
The fraternity chapter to this day models itself as Phi Delta Theta
- The Tryon Coterie , making it unique among Phi Delt chapters nationwide.
Texas Lambda Alumni have donated extensively to Baylor. Many landmark buildings are named after the clubs alumni, including Clifton Robinson Tower, Turner Athletic Complex, and the Ferrell Center. The following are Tryon Coterie's alums.
Jim Turner '69 CEO of Dr Pepper
and current Chair of the Baylor Board of Regents
Mark Hurd '77 Former CEO and Chairman of Hewlett Packard
Governor Mark White
'56 Texas
Governor
Clifton Robinson '54 CEO of National Insurance
Trey Wingo
'85 ESPN
Anchor
Max Sandlin
'75 Congressman
representing Texas's 1st congressional district
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
’s men’s social clubs. Try-C affiliated with 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...
in 1977 it is now the Texas Lambda chapter of 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...
. The chapter models itself as Phi Delta Theta - The Tryon Coterie. The Try-C’s started Sing!, Chili Cook-off, and off campus "illegal" dances among other things. The fraternity founded the Great Gloomy Gathering tradition of members wearing basic tuxedos, and dates wearing black gowns to a formal ball held in New Orleans at the Le Pavillon Hotel, and Houmas House Plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
, to "mourn" the start of finals. The fraternity also regularly hosts its "Spring Fling" at Horseshoe Bay, Texas
Horseshoe Bay, Texas
Horseshoe Bay is a city in Burnet and Llano Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. Prior to its incorporation in September 2005, it was a census-designated place . The CDP population was 3,337 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
Country Club.
The current chapter of 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...
- the Tryon Coterie is the only on campus chapter to have its own endowed scholarship fund for its own members.
Not much is known about the traditions or secrets of the Tryon Coterie but they are supposedly still practiced within the current Baylor
Baylor
Baylor is a surname and the name of several places and institutions. They include:Institutions:*Baylor University in Waco, Texas*Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas*Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas...
Chapter of 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...
.
The fraternity is also reported to have a large endowment trust fund, very strong alumni backing, and a secret hunting lodge for former and current member retreats.
History
The Tryon Coterie was named after one of Baylor UniversityBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
's three founders, Reverend William Milton Tryon. A minister in the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
, and Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
chaplain. The word Coterie was chosen as it represents a "Gathering of Friends".
Try-C started the "Great Gloomy Gathering"- so-named because it was held the weekend before Fall finals began. Formal black was worn and black flowers given. Tryon Coterie made banners & run throughs for the BU football team. Tryon Coterie also hosted the annual freshman tea each fall.
In 1974-75 Try-C won the Class C division with their float when BU played Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
at Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
. In '75-'76, Try-C captured 1st place with their float in the Class A division. They participated in All-University Sing, a Baylor tradition, and received 4th place that year. Try-C also won the University Championship in tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
& softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
that year.
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...
, as many of the fraternities began to transfer from Local to National names. That year their float received the Honor Award in Class A division. Tryon Coterie, now also called Phi Delta Theta, continued to make the run throughs for the Football team.
In '77-'78 Phi Delta Theta won 1st place in football intramurals and with their Class A float. In spring they won 2nd place in softball intramurals and placed 8th in Sing. They held several mixers that year with Alpha Omega (now Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 134 active chapters and over 330 alumnae organizations across the United States and...
) and Athenians (now Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no...
).
The fraternity chapter to this day models itself as 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...
- The Tryon Coterie , making it unique among Phi Delt chapters nationwide.
Famous Baylor TRY-C/Phi Delt Alumni
Jim Turner '69 CEO of Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper is a soft drink, marketed as having a unique flavor. The drink was created in the 1880s by Charles Alderton of Waco, Texas and first served around 1885. Dr Pepper was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904 and is now also sold in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Australia ...
and current Chair of the Baylor Board of Regents
Mark Hurd '77 Former CEO and Chairman of Hewlett Packard
Governor Mark White
Mark White
Mark Wells White is an American lawyer, who served as the 43rd Governor of Texas from January 18,1983-January 20,1987.-Biography:...
'56 Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Clifton Robinson '54 CEO of National Insurance
National Insurance
National Insurance in the United Kingdom was initially a contributory system of insurance against illness and unemployment, and later also provided retirement pensions and other benefits...
Trey Wingo
Trey Wingo
Hal Chapman Wingo III or Trey Wingo is the co-host of ESPN's SportsCenter from time to time but is best known as host of NFL Live alongside football analysts Mark Schlereth, Merrill Hoge, Mike Golic, and Tom Jackson, among others...
'85 ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
Anchor
Anchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, that is used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the vessel from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα .Anchors can either be temporary or permanent...
Max Sandlin
Max Sandlin
Max Sandlin , is a lawyer, lobbyist, American politician, and former Democratic Congressman who served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Texas District 1....
'75 Congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
representing Texas's 1st congressional district
Texas's 1st congressional district
Texas's First congressional district in the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves the northeastern portion of the state of Texas. As of the 2000 Census, the First District represents 651,619 people...