In 1963 Frostburg State College admitted the largest freshman class in its history.  In fact, so many that all freshmen had to find places to live in town since there were only three residence halls, Frost and Simpson for women and Allen for men.  For the first time, Frostburg had more freshmen from the Washington and Baltimore areas than from Western Maryland.
    When we arrived for freshman week, many of us saw familiar faces from our home towns and high schools and began to eat together in the dining hall in old Gunter Hall.  Rush Week for the two existing fraternities, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Tau Gamma was held that fall.  Afterwards, in the dining hall, a small group talked about our impressions of these two groups and came to the conclusion that we could do better.  It was Roy Melvin Lantz who said, “Why don’t we form our own fraternity?”
    From that innocent statement, we began to search out potential members for our new fraternity.  Four core groups emerged, graduates of Wheaton High School in Montgomery County, several from the Baltimore City and County area, a few freshman members of the wrestling & football teams and the best of the graduates of Fort Hill and Allegheny High schools in Cumberland.  Along the way, a few others were invited including 3 upperclassmen, George Lee Johnson, Michael Klishis, and Oliver Breitenbach.  As the fall semester ended, we had assembled 26 young men who were committed to become the charter members of this new organization and would later become the Founding Fathers of ADX.
    Brother Joseph Cletus Noone was charged with the task of writing the first constitution and By-Laws and was assisted by a number of members of other campus organizations who thought Frostburg needed a fraternity of “good guys.”  Thus, the ADX brand was born; we were the fraternity for decent guys who respected women and didn’t embarrass themselves or the College.
    Over the semester break of 1963-64, many of the group got together to continue to talk about how we would build this new fraternity.  We needed a great many things, but first we needed an organization with structure; a constitution, by-laws, officers, rules of conduct, rituals for both informal and formal occasions, crest, colors and most importantly, some gear to wear around campus proclaiming the new “Green” fraternity.
    By March 1964, we were ready to meet and elect officers.  We needed a place to meet but since we were not an official campus organization, the College would not allow us to gather in a campus facility. We had to find a place off-campus that would hold our group.  The brothers of Sigma Tau Gamma graciously allowed us to meet in their clubhouse, which was basically a secret room behind the old Diamond Restaurant on Main Street than was allegedly used for illegal gambling and drinking called, The State Room.
    Our first meeting was held on March 18, 1964. Officers were elected and dues were set at $15.00 a year. Wayne Allen Paul was elected the first president, Paul Clinton Ober as vice-president, Joseph Cletus Noone as secretary and John Frederick Martin as treasurer. At subsequent meetings on April 1 and April 8 a great deal of organizational matters were discussed and ratified. On April 8, the name Alpha Delta Chi was selected. It was understood to mean “First of the Loyal Brotherhood.” 
Recently discovered in the papers of Brother Noone, the “27th  Founding Father” was identified. Ironically, Mr. William Wright, chair of the naming committee chose not to become a member, did not attend the meeting on April 14 and therefore, never became a Founding Father of ADX. The charter membership of Alpha Delta Chi was then established at twenty-six.
    The meeting date for ratification was set – April 14, 1964.  Twenty-six members arrived at 7:00 pm, listened to Joe read the constitution and with very little discussion ratified it unanimously – we were now officially Alpha Delta Chi.
The colors of the fraternity were selected, Green and Gold. The following was also proposed and ratified unanimously: “No pledge shall be forced to perform any duties which conflict with his religious or moral beliefs; or may cause him physical injury.”  Ronald Felton Cardwell offered the motion that since the constitution was ratified on this date that in future years April 14, 1964 be known as Founders Day.
    Little did we know when we left the Diamond that night what we had created. Neither did we know that we had just finished the easy part.  What happened over the next few months was even more momentous and more critical to the survival of the fraternity and helped forge our first bonds of brotherhood.
    The day after the meeting on April 14, we decided we needed to proclaim our new fraternity to the college by ordering clothing with our new crest and fraternity name.  So, John Martin put together an order for 26 tee shirts and sweatshirts with Alpha Delta Chi emblazoned on the front.  Unfortunately, he asked the gear to be sent in care of Alpha Delta Chi Fraternity, Freshman Class, Frostburg State College Frostburg, Maryland.  The boxes were dutifully delivered to Lowndes Hall, the home of the Dean of Students, Alice R. Manicur.
Dr. Manicur had never heard of this group but was aware there was a group of freshmen who were starting something. She wasn’t sure what it was they were up to but she was determined to put a stop to it. Now she had the evidence and Wayne Paul was called in. She threatened to confiscate our shirts.
    Wayne reported back to the brotherhood that we were in big trouble.  We had failed to consider one very important step in the process of creating our organization. We had not asked the Student Union and Student Government Association (ruled by Dr. Manicur), permission to operate as an officially recognized group.  We were now renegades.  The drums began to beat and the brotherhood assembled in Gunter to plot our next move.  We decided to march en mass to Alice’s office and demand our property.  Twenty-six men took the short walk to Lowndes and knocked on the Dean’s door.  We all crowded in and asked for our shirts.  She proceeded to explain to us the severity of our offense.  She then uttered the words that will live in infamy as long as there is Alpha Delta Chi, “You boys don’t have a fraternity, what you have is just a FIGMENT OF YOUR IMAGINATION!”
    We were incensed and many brothers were restrained from arguing with her once we realized we were all on the verge of expulsion.  But the negotiating skills of Wayne and Joe came to our rescue.  A compromise was finally reached.  We could have our shirts as long as we did not wear them on campus.  From that time until we gained full recognition in 1965, at least 10 brothers wore ADX gear inside-out to class each day.  Also, from that date the official nickname of ADX (for intramural teams) was the “Figments”.
The final application for official campus recognition was presented to the Student Association and Dean Manicur on October 7, 1964.  Our charter from the Frostburg State College Student Union was received in March 1965.  ADX was now an official campus organization.  In early March we quickly assembled our first rush event and selected our first pledge class of 6 (James Seibert, Glen DeHaven, C. Russell Douglas, Ronald Forbes, Craig Huller and Ronald McFarland).  We were now on our way.  In very short order, we re-designed the original crest into the current version with the representative heraldry, finalized our colors, ordered jackets and fraternity pins, developed pledge manuals, designed the informal and formal initiation rituals and managed to attend a few classes when we could find the time.
    The yellow carnation was officially named the fraternity flower on April 28, 1965. The first ADX Dinner Dance was held at the Ali Ghan Shrine club on May 14, 1965. The ADX Sweetheart Song was composed by Stephen Paul Warner in April 1966. The first Alpha Delta Chi sweetheart was announced at the 1966 Yellow Carnation Ball.
    Through our years at Frostburg, Alice Manicur continued to be a worthy adversary.  Never a big fan of Greek organizations, she did all she could to thwart our efforts at building a brotherhood. We now all agree she was just what we needed, a foe to rally against.  Every time she told us we were worthless or inconsequential it just strengthened our resolve.  In trying to destroy us, she actually had the opposite effect.  Who knows what we would have become had we received her support?  In the meantime, our two competitors warned potential pledges that ADX was just a passing fad that would quickly fade once the original members graduated.  However, when we returned for the first founding reunion in 1974, the “Big Green Weekend,” ADX boasted 80 active members and held nearly every student office on campus.  So much for ADX fading away.
    By the time all the original Founding Fathers graduated or left Frostburg, another 52 young men had joined the ranks.  All of the original 26 Founding Fathers and the 52 that pledged under a Founding Father are known today as the “Founders of ADX.” Twenty-two Founding Fathers and forty-seven original pledges are still with us.  We continue to be amazed at the resiliency of the brotherhood to have survived all these years.

    It’s fair to ask what has become of the original Founders.  If you asked them individually, they would be most proud that they are good fathers, husbands, grandfathers and responsible, productive citizens.  If you asked their spouses and significant others, they would simply say they have become good men.
    But beyond these essential strengths of character and commitment, there is a common thread of service to their fellow man and extraordinary achievement.  What follows is the incomplete record of just some of accomplishments of the original 78 Founders.
•    At least fifteen served in military including:
Six in the Air Force and three decorated combat Marines who served in Vietnam including two helicopter pilots who served two tours – all returned safely. Others served honorably in the regular Army, Reserves or National Guard
•    Two became police officers
•    Five earned PhD’s
•    Six become college professors or administrators
•    4 are published authors
•    One served for 15 years as mayor of a major city in West Virginia
•    11 became school principals, vice-principals or other public school administrators
•    One became a Maryland District Court Judge
•    One Hall of Fame wrestling coach took a wrestler to the NCAA Div I finals
•    Four own and operate their own successful businesses
•    One became assistant superintendent of schools of one of the largest counties in Maryland
•    6 became high school soccer coaches in Maryland
•    Two became high school football coaches
•    32 were educators for at least 30 years, 4 have surpassed 40 years, one went more than 47 years
•    One is a music producer in Los Angeles
•    One is a professional photographer
•    One has his own cable television show
•    One is a pharmacist
•    One is a major developer of high-end commercial and residential real estate in Northern Virginia
•    One is a retired high ranking official in Maryland State Government
•    One is a renowned artist
•    Two are financial planners
•    One is an administrator of a senior living community

(This is just a sample of the career accomplishments of some of the Founders, not a complete compilation. The lifetime achievements of the Founders are far too lengthy for this summary) Not bad for a bunch of guys, 98% of whom were the first in their families to go to college.
    The Founders of Alpha Delta Chi send their best wishes to the brotherhood of ADX and hope the bonds we share continue to provide the basis for a life of “brotherhood, character, social justice, scholarship and leadership,” just like it says on the first page of our original charter request.  We hope we have lived up to that charge and hope that our legacy lives on among the brothers today.

Yours in the bonds,
James Milton Holton, Founding Father
Alpha Delta Chi