Xi Chapter, Kappa Alpha Order

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. This is the story of the Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order, right there in Williamson County. Now settle in, because this one starts further back than you might expect.

Way back in 1865, in Lexington, Virginia, at Washington College. Former Confederate soldiers founded this fraternity, and they did it during the administration of Robert E. Lee himself.

That is not a small footnote. That is the origin point. From those beginnings in Lexington, the order spread.

And eventually it came to Texas. November 28, 1883. That's the date Xi Chapter arrived at Southwestern University, brought to life by two men: Alexander S.

Walker and Frederick C. Procter, both of the Kappa Alpha Chapter at the University of Texas. Now here's where the story gets interesting.

The faculty had laws against fraternities. So what did Xi Chapter do? They met in secret.

For years, they kept the whole thing quiet, holding their meetings out of sight, until 1887, when those faculty anti-fraternity laws were finally rescinded. Just like that, they could step into the open. And they did.

By 1895, they had built themselves the first fraternity house. From secret meetings to their own front door. Throughout all of it, Xi Chapter kept producing what the marker calls numerous distinguished alumni.

The marker was placed in 1983, a hundred years on from that founding November. Some chapters close. This one just kept going.

What the marker says

This fraternity was founded in 1865 by former Confederate soldiers at Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, during the administration of Robert E. Lee. XI Chapter was founded at Southwestern University on November 28, 1883, by Alexander S. Walker and Frederick C. Procter of the Kappa Alpha Chapter at the University of Texas. XI Chapter met secretly until 1887 when faculty anti-fraternity laws were rescinded. The first fraternity house was built in 1895. Throughout its history XI Chapter has produced numerous distinguished alumni. (1983)