The Founding Fathers of Rho Sigma

The Charter Members of Rho Sigma were almost exclusively drawn from Ouachita's state champion football team of Fall 1934. Twenty-two of the 28 players on that team became Red Shirts. Rho Sigma also dominated other sports. Eight of the 17 basketball players were future Red Shirts and 6 of the 15 track and field men were Red Shirts. Although Ouachita had temporarily discontinued baseball, many of the Charter Members had played on the 1931-34 teams. Not only were Red Shirts varsity athletes -- they were among the best in the state. At least half of the Red Shirt varsity athletes were All-State honorees, often in multiple sports. At least two of the Charter Members -- John Floyd and Joe Strickland -- were recruited by professional sports teams. Floyd played for the Boston Redskins, forerunner of the Washington Redskins, and Strickland went to the Cleveland Indians. It is also interesting to note the success of the various Tiger athletic teams of 1934-35. The football team, despite the injuries of several key players, went 7-2 and outscored their opponents 123-15. The climactic victory over arch-rival Henderson in a rainy, muddy battle ended the season with a Tiger win which clinched the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference for the Tigers. The basketball team contended for the AIC title throughout the season but faded at the end. Winning one more game would have given them a share of the championship. The track team tied for first place in the state track and field meet with State Teachers (now UCA) and won the Sweepstakes Trophy on the coin toss. All in all, an amazing year for Tiger athletics -- and all the athletic standouts were Red Shirts. Although most of the Charter Members were varsity athletes, Rho Sigma was primarily a fraternity of leaders, including men from just about every activity on campus. Red Shirts were active in such organizations as: Pi Kappa Tau Scholastic Society, Ouachitonian staff, The Signal staff, Pre-Med Club, Ministerial Association, Little Rock Club, Cheerleaders, Ouachita Band (including the drum major), Ouachita Players, Life Service Band and Keyboard Clickers. Two of the three male cheerleaders were Red Shirts, and the Charters were also active in student government and leaders of the campus military department (Reserve Officers Training Corps). Four of the 18 members of Ouachita's Rifle Team were Red Shirts. To demonstrate the popularity of Rho Sigma on campus, look at this list of Red Shirts selected by the student body for The Signal-Ouachitonian Who's Who contest, January 1935: Most popular boy: Billy Mankin Most popular boy (4th place): Albert Moseley Best athlete: John Floyd (2nd year) Best athlete (2nd place): Ralph Mann Best athlete (3rd place): Dolly Winburn Best all-around boy (2nd place by only 7 votes): Dolly Winburn Best all-around boy (3rd place): Ralph Mann Best all-around boy (4th place): Billy Mankin Most handsome boy (2nd place): Harry Hardage Most handsome boy (3rd place): Hubert Cone Most handsome boy (4th place): Ray Woodell The first article about Rho Sigma appeared in the March 19, 1935 edition of "The Signal." According to the article, there were 25 Red Shirts when Rho Sigma was chartered. However, the 1935 "Ouachitonian" yearbook shows 28 Red Shirts. Who are the other three? One of them is probably Charles Hagins. We know that Hagins, a member of Sigma Alpha Sigma, depledged SAS to join the Red Shirts when it was formed. The other two are probably men who joined after Rho Sigma was formally announced -- possibly Chester Henderson and Russell Barnett. These three are among the few Charter Members who did not play varsity football, so it seems likely that they were invited to join later. Since we do not know for sure, all 28 men shown as Red Shirts in 1935 are revered as the Founding Fathers. In alphabetical order, they are as follows: AUGUSTUS G. ALBRIGHT JR. Gus Albright of Hoxie was a red-haired sociology major who graduated from Ouachita College in 1938 with a degree in sociology. He was a junior when he joined Rho Sigma. He is known to have been active from 1935-1938, and was sergeant at arms in both 1937 and 1938. Gus played both football and basketball in 1935 and 1936, although he was sidelined for injuries much of the 1934-35 season. This could easily be the idea for the name "Red Shirts," since football players who are on the injured list often practice with the team in red jersies so that other players will not hit them too hard. Gus Albright became one of Arkansas' legendary outdoorsmen and was a frequent contributor to the Arkansas Gazette sports pages. In 1995, he made an appearance at the 60th Anniversary Reunion in Hot Springs. At the reunion he said he was the first president of Rho Sigma. This is probably not so, since Charles Varnell is shown in the yearbook as Spring 1935 president. As of this writing, he is likely living in Little Rock, Ark. RUSSELL BARNETT of Waverly, Louisiana joined Rho Sigma as a sophomore. He may have been one of the men who joined after the Chartering. He became a doctor, but we have no other information about him. DEWEY BLACKWOOD was a sophomore biology major from Pottsville who graduated from Ouachita in 1937. He was active in Rho Sigma from 1935-1937. As of 2000, it was reported that he and wife Christine (Chaney) celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in El Dorado, Ark, on Dec. 24, 1999. WILLIAM CLYDE BURKETT, "Caveman Willie-Clyde," was a sophomore from Searcy when he joined Rho Sigma. Clyde Burkett was active in Ouachita athletics, particularly football. Burkett apparently left Ouachita in 1936. He is deceased. ROBERT ELMO CHANEY of Brinkley joined Rho Sigma as a sophomore. In fact, he was the Sophomore Class president. He graduated in 1937 with an English major and a history minor. "Modie" was active from 1935-37, serving as secretary in 1937. He was an outstanding athlete on the football, baseball and track teams. He was an All-State halfback in 1935 and 1936, and an All-State fullback and team captain in 1937. In World War II, he briefly commanded the famous Spearhead Division of 3rd Armored. Tank commander Maj. Chaney was killed in action just 10 days before the division was removed from the line. He later had an athletic scholarship named after him at Ouachita. HUBERT L. CONE of Wilmot joined as a senior. He was an active Red Shirt in 1935 and 1936. He was Rho Sigma secretary-treasurer in Spring 1936, and was on the football, tennis and track teams. He left Ouachita in 1936. He was living in Shreveport, La. at last report. DAVID S. (D.S.) FLOYD of Nashville was the younger brother of John Floyd. Dave Floyd joined Rho Sigma as a sophomore and was active from 1935-37. He was president in Fall 1936. He played football from 1933-36 and was assistant coach in 1938. A senior in 1937, Dave graduated in 1938. He is deceased. C.W. (JOHN) FLOYD of Nashville is thought to be one of the two Founders of Rho Sigma. He joined Rho Sigma as a senior and was the dominant figure on the varsity football team. He was president of the O Association in 1934 and 1935, captain of the football team and the Arkansas All-State Football Team in 1935. "Big Shot" played football from 1932-35 and was named to the All-State Team each year. A math major, Floyd also was on the track team from 1932-35. He was voted Best Athlete in the Campus Who's Who in 1934 and 1935. He briefly taught math and worked as an assistant coach of the football team at Ouachita. After a brief period playing professional football for the NFL champion Boston Redskins (forerunner of the Washington Redskins), he moved back home to Nashville, Ark. where he worked in the peach orchards and later opened a service station. He died in 1991. CHARLES B. HAGINS of Fordyce depledged Sigma Alpha Sigma to join Rho Sigma after it made its debut. His defection prompted the SAS to reorganize as a fraternity. It had been a sort of drinking club, founded in 1932. Hagins, a popular student and male cheerleader, was a senior in 1937. Hagins entered the U.S. Army Infantry May 18, 1941 and soon qualified as a company commander. He served in the Aleutian Islands campaign and was awarded the Asiastic-Pacific Ribbon with one Battle Star for meritorious service. He was discharged December 30, 1945 as a captain. At last report, he was living in North Little Rock. HARRY ADDISON HARDAGE was a popular student athlete from Arkadelphia who joined Rho Sigma as a senior. He was on the Ouachitonian Staff as advertising manager in 1935. His father was a local judge who had been one of the founding members of the Hermesian Literary Society, a spiritual forerunner of Rho Sigma. Hardage became the first Red Shirt to die when he was killed in an automobile accident in Hot Springs, Ark. in May 1935. After his death it was revealed that he had been secretly married a few months before. Red Shirts were his pallbearers. Ouachita president Dr. J.R. Grant spoke at his funeral, and classes were dismissed. Hardage is bured in Arkadelphia's Rose Hill Cemetary. CHESTER HENDERSON. Nothing is known about him. He may have been one of the men who joined Rho Sigma after it was chartered. HAROLD B. LEETON of Overton, Texas joined Rho Sigma as a junior. He was active in 1935 and 1936. In 1936, he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and mathematics. He is deceased. CLELL (MAC) MCCLURE of Nashville, Ark. was yet another varsity football player. He had left Ouachita by 1936. He is deceased. RALPH C. MANN of Judsonia was sometimes called "Rabbit" because he was a small and fast football and basketball player. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was killed in action during World War II. Lt. Mann was in charge of the Marine rearguard defense of the Phillippines. Ordered to surrender by his commanding general, Mann and his men were captured and forced to endure the infamous 90-mile Bataan Death March and imprisonment in a Japanese concentration camp. Mann died in that camp. ALBERT MOSELEY of Fordyce was a junior when he joined Rho Sigma. He was active in athletics as a starting guard and center for the football team -- elected team captain for 1935-36 -- and a sprinter on the track and field team. He was voted fourth Most Popular Boy by the student body for the 1935 Who's Who. WILLIAM N. (BILLY) NICHOLS of Parkdale was a junior when he joined Rho Sigma. He was active in Rho Sigma in 1935 and 1936. He received his degree from Ouachita in 1945. He is deceased. WILLIAM HENRY PATTERSON of Searcy was a junior when he joined Rho Sigma. Billy was an active member in 1935 and 1936. He was a cheerleader. JAMES CLAUDE PERRY of Dermott joined Rho Sigma as a junior. Zebe Perry was an outstanding quarterback on the football team and a field athlete on the track and field team. He was vice president of Rho Sigma in Spring 1936. He received a bachelor of arts degree in social studies in 1942. He is deceased. MORTON RANKIN of Pottsville/Russellville was a freshman when he joined Rho Sigma. He was an active member from 1935-38 and president in 1938. He played football from 1934-37, playing halfback. He was also a sprinter on the track and field team. RAYMOND (RICH) RICHARDS of Benton was an English and mathematics major who was an active Red Shirt from 1935-39. He was sergeant at arms in 1937. He was active in athletics and was on the football, baseball and track teams. At last report, he is living in Delhi, Louisiana. WILLIAM ROSS (BILL) SHUFFIELD SR. of Nashville was one of the men believed to be one of the two Founders of Rho Sigma. His older brother, Cecil Shuffield, was a member of Psi Sigma Phi, which may have influenced Bill Shuffield to form Rho Sigma. Bill was a junior when Rho Sigma was formed. He was active from 1934-36 and president in 1936. Bill was a receiver on the football team. Injuries may have sidelined him. He was also listed as team manager. He was voted Most Handsome in the 1934 and 1935 Campus Who's Who. He is deceased. FRED E. (STRICK) STRICKLAND JR. of Thornton was half of Ouachita's so-called "Gold Dust Twins" who helped Ouachita dominate Arkansas college basketball. He was All-State from 1934-37 and team captain from 1933-37. He also played football from 1934-38 and was All-State Second Team center in 1938. He played baseball in 1933 and 1934. Fred was a sophomore when he joined Rho Sigma. He was active from 1934-38 and vice president in 1938. Fred received pilot training during World War II. JOE (STRYCHININE) STRICKLAND of Thornton was the other half of the Gold Dust Twins. He joined Rho Sigma as a sophomore. He played basketball from 1932-35 and was All-State many of those years. He was team captain in 1935. He played baseball as an outfielder from 1932-34, hitting .255 his last season as a Tiger. He was a member of the O Association and active in Rho Sigma in 1935. He left Ouachita in March 1935 to try out for the Cleveland Indians professional baseball team. He is deceased. ELMER STUART. This is probably Luther Steuart of Murfreesboro, Ark., who was a freshman when Rho Sigma was formed. Stuart was a tackle on the football team. CHARLES (CHARLIE) VARNELL of Lonoke joined Rho Sigma as a senior. He almost certainly was the first president, in Spring 1935. He was a member in 1935 and 1936. Charlie, who was a couple of years older than most of his classmates, was a tackle on the football team. In 1935-36, he was an assistant coach. He is deceased. GERALD (ACE) VARNELL of Lonoke was a sophomore when he joined Rho Sigma. The brother of Charles Varnell, he was an offensive and defensive halfback on the football team and a field athlete on the track and field team. He left Ouachita in 1936. He is deceased. JAMES (JIM or JIMMIE) WATKINS of Searcy was a redhaired sophomore when he joined Rho Sigma. "Booger Red" played end on the football team, and pole vaulted and ran in the mile relay for the track and field team. He left Ouachita in 1935. W. R. (RAY) WOODELL of Camden joined Rho Sigma as a sophomore and was active from 1935-38. He played football, 1933-36, and basketball, 1933 and 1934. He was an All-State center on the basketball team in 1934, All-State end on the football team in 1935, and sub-captain of the football team in 1936. He became a minister. He is deceased.