Color Day & the Founders Day Banquet

Rho Sigma became Ouachita's first fraternity when it was recognized by the college as an official student organization on Wednesday, March 6, 1935. The Charter Date has been celebrated ever since as Founders Day or Red Shirts Day. The Red Shirts made their first public appearance on Thursday, March 7, 1935 in red shirts, white ties, white trousers and white shoes. This was soon simplified to red shirts and white ties, worn with dress trousers and shoes. Two events are sponsored by Rho Sigma to commemorate the Founding. Since Rho Sigma was chartered on a Wednesday, the Red Shirts designated that day as Color Day. In imitation, each Ouachita fraternity and sorority adopted a different day of the week. Soon, however, Wednesday was accepted as Color Day or Club Day for all of the social clubs. Red Shirts also recognize the Founding by sponsoring a banquet or celebration on or near March 6 each year. The Founders' Day Banquet has been celebrated since March 1935. The first banquet was probably in the old Caddo Hotel in Arkadelphia. Early banquets often included a reading of the year's history, music and skits by both members and pledges (such as the blackface singing of the Arkadelphia Ink Spats in imitation of the famous Ink Spots vocal group), speeches and awards, dining and dancing, and formal dress. At the 1946 Founders Day Banquet, an arms design, probably created by Red Shirt Otis Turner, was introduced by Rho Sigma President Robert "Red" Nelson. Locations included: Caddo Hotel, Arkadelphia (1945); Colonial Tavern, Arkadelphia (1946, 1949); Arkadelphia Country Club (1951); Jack Tarr's Restaurant, Hot Springs (1955); Hot Springs Country Club (1960); Morrison's Restaurant, Little Rock (1961); Top of the Rock Club, Little Rock(1962, 1963); The Aristocrat Hotel, Hot Springs (1964); Velda Rose Hotel, Hot Springs (1965); Ranch Steakhouse, Hot Springs (1966); Coachman's Inn, Little Rock (1967); and Downtowner Hotel, Memphis, Tenn. The Founders Day Banquet, sometimes known as the Spring Banquet, was merged with the May alumni reunion and picnic into the Spring Outing in 1965. It is the oldest continuous social club event at Ouachita.

MANY RED SHIRT EVENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE AT HOT SPRINGS' ARLINGTON HOTEL.