CHAPTER HISTORY

Alpha Epsilon, the Honor Society of Agricultural Engineering, was founded at the University of of Missouri on May 14, 1959. The National Constitution was adopted on december 11, 1963, at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The charter chapters were Missouri Alpha, Minnesota Gamma, Illinois Delta, Arkansas Epsilon, Indiana Zeta and Virginia Eta.

In a letter to the national secretary-treasurer, Maurice Gebhardt, dated January 25, 1978, Dr. Allen Smajstrla initiated the formation of the Florida Chapter. Mr. Gebhardt responded to Dr. Smajstrla on February 9, 1978 with instructions on forming a chapter. The organizational meeting was held April 18, 1978. On October 13, 1978, ten students (W. J. Campbell, Jr., H. A. Carter, M. Elfino, A. Jimenez, P. H. Jones, B. R. McMahon, L. Phelps, W. R. Pinkepank, S. K. Sastry and E. A. Tomlinson) petitioned national for the formation of a Florida chapter. Mr. Gebhardt sent notice that the Florida Gamma Beta Chapter had been approved as the 24th. recognized chapter of Alpha Epsilon. On August 2, Dr. Don Ridell presided over the installation ceremony, were fourteen graduate and undergraduate student were inducted as charter members (P. B. Burke, W. J. Campbell, Jr., H. A. Carter, G. A. Clark, M. Elfino, N. M. Elfino, P. E. Faeth, A. Jimenez, P. H. Jones, K. D. Konyha, B. R. McMahon, W. R. Pinkepank, S. K. Sastry, S. D. Schuler and E. A. Tomlinson).