The Beginning…

The California Lambda Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) was founded November 5th, 1955 at Long Beach State College (now known as the California State University, Long Beach).

The chapter actually began its origins the first year Long Beach State opened its doors in 1949 as a local fraternity on campus, Sigma Epsilon Chi (SEX). The fraternity excelled not only scholastically, but also athletically and came to be a strong and dominate force on campus.

During the 1952-53 school year, 4 of 6 fraternity men on the Long Beach State basketball team were members
of Sigma Epsilon Chi and during the 1953-54 school year, 6 of 9 fraternity men on the team were members of
Sigma Epsilon Chi, including both Co-Captains. During 8 of the 10 major intramural sports between 1952-54 the Sigma Epsilon Chi fraternity finished either 1st or tied for 1st.

In the Spring of 1954, Sigma Epsilon Chi members held all seven Student Council positions held by male students. Almost 70% of all major student body offices were held by members of Sigma Epsilon Chi.

California Lambda's Stain Glass Window (National Fraternity Headquarters)

Sigma Epsilon Chi became aware of the outstanding national status of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and as a result representatives of Sigma Epsilon Chi discussed with representatives from SAE and the Long Beach Alumni Association for two years the possibility of securing an SAE chapter at Long Beach State. At that time Long Beach State College had a student body of almost 3,500 students and their existed only two national fraternities and two national sororities on the campus. Sigma Epsilon Chi declined affiliation with four other national fraternities and chose to zealously pursue SAE.

During the summer of 1955, 15 active members of Sigma Epsilon Chi traveled to Chicago to attend the 99th National Convention of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. These men were Vic Davis, Tim Henney, Gene Reilly, Bob DeWeese, Lynden Rader, Frank Johnson, Art Doornbos, Don McClain, Tom Beck, Paul Honey, Jim Cockrill, Harold Caveness, John Willett, Fred Mack and Larry Donnell. Don M. Muchmore, adviser, represented the Long Beach Alumni Association and George A. Powell (GAP) represented the Los Angeles alumni.

On September 4th, the Convention body ratified that Long Beach State would be home to the 164th chapter of SAE, California Lambda.

On November 5, 1955 the 110 members of Sigma Epsilon Chi were initiated into the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, thus creating the California Lambda Chapter.

Installation Program (November 1955)