Today, the Gamma Beta chapter at Florida State University is one of only three active chapters (the other two are Alpha Omega at Georgia Tech, and Gamma Delta at the College of Charleston) in the Southeastern District of Alpha Chi Sigma, but this chapter has a history that includes a Grand Master Alchemist, two now inactive chapters, and a connection to the element Mendelevium.
The first time Alpha Chi Sigma came to Florida State was in 1970. Originally, we were a colony of the Beta Iota Chapter from the Univerisity of Florida. While Gamma Beta was being colonized, Warner Herz was the Colony Advisor during this time. Gary Anderson (Alpha Eta 1962) held the office of Master Alchemist, and he would eventually become omaur version of National Fraternity President Grand Master Alchemist, and is now in the Order of Altotus. (The Order of Altotus includes all of the past Grand Master Alchemists.) In 1973, the Beta Iota Chapter silently passed into darkness, and has been inactive ever since.This leaves us with a colony that no longer has a colonizer. Which could have been a tragedy, but this story does have a happy ending.
Dr. DeLos DeTar organized an effort to bring back to Florida State University in 1977. Louisiana State Univerity restarted our colonization under direction of the Psi chapter. On February 10, 1977, the colony held its first meeting. Just over a year later, on April 15th, 1978, Gamma Beta was founded. The active faculty members at the time of the chapter's foundation were Gregory Choppin (BI,1970), DeLos DeTar (Z, 1946), Ralph Dougherty (Gamma Beta,1977), Werner Herz (Beta Iota,1970), Jack Leffler (Omnicron, 1940), George Levy (Pi, 1964), Charles Mann (Alpha Pi, 1949), Edward Mellon (Beta Theta), and David McGlothlin (Alpha Rho,1973). DeLos DeTar ensured the success of the Gamma Beta Chapter for whom he served as Chapter Advisor. Edwin Hilinski, the current Chapter Advisor, later succeeded him.