Delt Creed
This is the guide for the Good Delt. One cannot hope to become a Good Delt unless you strive to know, understand, and apply The Delt Creed in your daily life. It is traditional that all Delts memorize The Delt Creed as a pledge, but also seek out its true meaning in relations with their new brothers.
I BELIEVE in Delta Tau Delta for the education of youth and the inspiration of maturity, so that I may better learn and live the truth.
I BELIEVE in Delta Tau Delta as a shrine of international brotherhood: her cornerstone friendship, her foundation conscience, her columns aspiration, her girders self-restraint, her doorway opportunity, her windows understanding, her buttresses loyalty, her strength the Everlasting Arms.
I BELIEVE in Delta Tau Delta as an abiding influence to help me do my work, fulfill my obligations, maintain my self-respect, and bring about that happy life wherein I may more truly love my fellow men, serve my country, and obey my God.
~Stuart MacLean, Sewanee 1897
I BELIEVE in Delta Tau Delta for the education of youth and the inspiration of maturity, so that I may better learn and live the truth.
I BELIEVE in Delta Tau Delta as a shrine of international brotherhood: her cornerstone friendship, her foundation conscience, her columns aspiration, her girders self-restraint, her doorway opportunity, her windows understanding, her buttresses loyalty, her strength the Everlasting Arms.
I BELIEVE in Delta Tau Delta as an abiding influence to help me do my work, fulfill my obligations, maintain my self-respect, and bring about that happy life wherein I may more truly love my fellow men, serve my country, and obey my God.
~Stuart MacLean, Sewanee 1897
Notable delts
Distinguished Mu Delts
Business
Education
Entertainment
Government & Law
Print and Broadcast Journalism
Sports
*Denotes Chapter Eternal
- Branch Barrett Rickey 1967 - Minor League Baseball Executive
- Wesley Branch Rickey 1904 - Baseball Hall of Fame
- Wesley Branch Rickey, Jr. 1935 - Major League Baseball Executive
- William Eells 1946 - National Council of the Arts appointee under Presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan; Ford Motor Company Executive under Henry Ford II
- Edwin L. Heminger 1948 - Chairman of the board of Findlay Publishing Co. and former publisher of The Courier
- George “Rusty” McClure 1972 - New York Times Bestselling author
- William Lancaster McLaughlin - Hero of the Chicago Iroquois Theater fire of 1903
- Richard North Patterson 1968 - Prizewinning Author
- F. Sherwood Rowland 1948 - 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Business
- Tim Boyle (University of Oregon, 1971) - President, Columbia Sportswear Company
- Richard Farmer (Miami University, 1956) - Chairman, Cintas
- Jack Laughery (University of Iowa, 1957) - Chairman, Hardee’s Restaurants
- Ronald McDougall (University of Wisconsin, 1964) - President, Chili’s, Inc.
- Jerry Riedel - Vice Chairman, Anheuser Busch
- Myron Ullman (University of Cincinnati, 1969) - Chairman, Macy’s
- Richard Wagner (Duke University, 1975) - CEO of General Motors
Education
- William Kirwan (University of Kentucky, 1960) - Chancellor, University of Maryland System; Former President, The Ohio State University
- Duane Cummins (Bethany College, 1957) - Dean, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University; Former President, Bethany College
- Ralph Cicerone (MIT, 1965) - Chancellor, University of California at Irvine
Entertainment
- Duane Allen (Texas A & M at Commerce) - Vocalist with The Oak Ridge Boys
- Peter Buck (Emory University, 1979) - Lead guitarist with R.E.M.
- Drew Carey (Kent State University, 1979) - TV star & Producer, host of The Price is Right
- Will Ferrell (University of Southern California, 1990) - TV and film actor
- Matthew McConaughey (University of Texas, 1992) - Film actor
- Pat O’Brien (University of South Dakota, 1970) - Host of TV’s “The Insider;” Olympics TV host
- Ed O'Neil (Ohio University) - TV actor; "Married... With Children" and "Modern Family"
- David Schwimmer (Northwestern University, 1988) - TV and film actor
Government & Law
- *Alben Barkley (Emory University, 1900) - Vice President of the United States (1949-53); U.S. House of Representatives; U.S. Senator
- *William Brennan (University of Pennsylvania, 1928) - Supreme Court Justice (1956-90)
- Marlin Fitzwater (Kansas State University, 1964) - Press secretary for Presidents Reagan (1987-89) and Bush (1989-93); spokesman for Environmental Protection Agency (1972-80)
- Bill Richardson (Tufts University, 1970) - U.S. Secretary of Energy (1998-2000); Ambassador to United Nations (2001); U.S. House of Representatives; former Clinton Cabinet Secretary; Governor of New Mexico
- Paul Ryan (Miami University, 1992) - U.S. House of Representatives
- John Snow (Kenyon College, 1961) - U.S. Secretary of Treasury
- *Henry Wallace (Iowa State University, 1910) - Vice President of the United States (1941-45); U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (1933-40); U.S. Secretary of Commerce (1945-46)
Print and Broadcast Journalism
- Joseph Campbell (Dartmouth College, 1925) - America’s best known writer on mythology; his theories were featured on the popular PBS series “The Power of Myth”
- Winston Groom (University of Alabama, 1965) - Author of FORREST GUMP and other novels
- *Willie Morris (University of Texas, 1956) - Former editor of Harper’s; author of such books as My Dog Skip
- Richard North Patterson (Ohio Wesleyan, 1968) - Prizewinning Author
Sports
- John Elway (Stanford University, 1983) - Pro Football Hall of Fame; 16-year NFL quarterback; Super Bowl MVP; Heisman Trophy runner-up
- Shawn Green (Stanford University, 1996) - Outfielder
- *Les Horvath (Ohio State University, 1943) - Heisman Trophy winner, 1944; four-year pro player
- Dante Lavelli (Ohio State University, 1945) - Pro Football Hall of Fame; ten-year pro player
- Bob Leonard (Indiana University, 1954) - Ten year NBA guard; coach; broadcast color commentator
- Todd Martin (Northwestern University, 1992) - Pro tennis player and Davis Cup team member
- *Charles "Stretch" Murphy (Purdue University, 1930) - Basketball Hall of Fame player
- Mike Mussina (Stanford University, 1991) - Pitcher
- Jim Plunkett (Stanford University, 1970) - Heisman Trophy winner, 1970; Super Bowl MVP; 13 year NFL quarterback
- *Branch Rickey (Ohio Wesleyan University, 1904) - Baseball Hall of Fame
- Mark Rypien (Washington State University, 1985) - Super Bowl MVP; 12-year NFL quarterback
- Ed Sprague (Stanford University, 1989) - Infielder; Olympic Gold Medal winner
*Denotes Chapter Eternal
Delt Tradition
Symbols
Our Fraternity has a number of symbols, each with special meaning. Each Delt pledge and member has the responsibility to know the proper use of our Fraternity's insignia.
The Four Fundamental Principles of Deltism
The four fundamental principles of Deltism serve as guiding ideals for our Fraternity. The significance of these ideals is explained at the Initiation into the Fraternity.
Truth, Courage, Faith, Power
"Delta Shelter"
The Fraternity's best loved and universally used song sprang from the prolific pen of Stuart MacLean Sewanee 1897 late one night while he was an undergraduate. It expresses with beauty the feeling of brotherhood shared by all Delts. The words and music have been learned by almost every pledge over the years. It is used to close most gatherings of Delta Tau Delta, including the Karnea Banquet.
Delta Tau Delta, Delta,
You are my safest Shelter,
Sing we to dear old Delta,
Oh, how I love her!
Dear Delta Tau.
Karnea
The Karnea is in itself a great Delt tradition within which many traditions are observed. The Leadership Luncheon, the Alumni Achievement Awards, and true International Brotherhood are just a few of the special parts of this greatest gathering of our Fraternity. The word comes to us from the Greek and means a "festival in honor of Apollo."
The Delt Yell
Some of the Fraternity's older Songbooks record a variety of cheers and yells, including the "Choctaw Cheer" and the "Delt Whistle." This is the Delt Yell that is now most widely used.
Rah! Rah!
Delta Delta Tau Delta!
Rah! Rah! Delta Tau!
Delta Tau Delta!
The Delt Invocation
Used as grace before evening meals or more formal Delt gatherings, this invocation has become traditional in the Fraternity.
Creator, we bow our heads,
Grateful for life and this daily bread.
Help us to contribute to all human good
Out of our Delta Brotherhood.
Amen.
The Rainbow
The Fraternity's official magazine first appeared in September, 1877, under the name of Crescent, but since 1886 it has been published under the name The Rainbow. In 2000 the name was changed to 1858 to reflect our foundation and heritage. The name was changed back to The Rainbow at Karnea 2000. Issued quarterly, it contains Delta Tau Delta news, articles of general interest to Fraternity members, undergraduate chapter news, alumni notes and special features.
Our Fraternity has a number of symbols, each with special meaning. Each Delt pledge and member has the responsibility to know the proper use of our Fraternity's insignia.
The Four Fundamental Principles of Deltism
The four fundamental principles of Deltism serve as guiding ideals for our Fraternity. The significance of these ideals is explained at the Initiation into the Fraternity.
Truth, Courage, Faith, Power
"Delta Shelter"
The Fraternity's best loved and universally used song sprang from the prolific pen of Stuart MacLean Sewanee 1897 late one night while he was an undergraduate. It expresses with beauty the feeling of brotherhood shared by all Delts. The words and music have been learned by almost every pledge over the years. It is used to close most gatherings of Delta Tau Delta, including the Karnea Banquet.
Delta Tau Delta, Delta,
You are my safest Shelter,
Sing we to dear old Delta,
Oh, how I love her!
Dear Delta Tau.
Karnea
The Karnea is in itself a great Delt tradition within which many traditions are observed. The Leadership Luncheon, the Alumni Achievement Awards, and true International Brotherhood are just a few of the special parts of this greatest gathering of our Fraternity. The word comes to us from the Greek and means a "festival in honor of Apollo."
The Delt Yell
Some of the Fraternity's older Songbooks record a variety of cheers and yells, including the "Choctaw Cheer" and the "Delt Whistle." This is the Delt Yell that is now most widely used.
Rah! Rah!
Delta Delta Tau Delta!
Rah! Rah! Delta Tau!
Delta Tau Delta!
The Delt Invocation
Used as grace before evening meals or more formal Delt gatherings, this invocation has become traditional in the Fraternity.
Creator, we bow our heads,
Grateful for life and this daily bread.
Help us to contribute to all human good
Out of our Delta Brotherhood.
Amen.
The Rainbow
The Fraternity's official magazine first appeared in September, 1877, under the name of Crescent, but since 1886 it has been published under the name The Rainbow. In 2000 the name was changed to 1858 to reflect our foundation and heritage. The name was changed back to The Rainbow at Karnea 2000. Issued quarterly, it contains Delta Tau Delta news, articles of general interest to Fraternity members, undergraduate chapter news, alumni notes and special features.
