Thread: # of Founders?
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Old 03-14-2002, 12:24 PM
Kevin Kevin is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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Sigma Nu has three founders below are bios I pulled from the history lesson of our new member program.


James Frank Hopkins, Alpha number 1, was born in Ripley, Mississippi, December 30th, 1845, to Colonel John W. Hopkins and Elizabeth Craig. Hopkins family remained in Mississippi until Colonel Hopkins moved the family to Memphis in 1855 to provide better educational opportunities for his children. At the outbreak of teh Civil War, the family again moved to Arkansaas Post near Little Rock.
The younger Hopkins, thena boy of fifteen was denied immediate enlistment in the Confederate Army due to his age. Finally, in 1864 he was accepted as a private in a cavalry troop attached to Anderson's Battalion of Fagan's Division. He was an expert horseman, and his skill was put to use when he was assigned to courier duty in several battles in the final years of the war.
In 1866, after the end of the war, Hopkins entered VMI in Lexington at the age of 21. 1866 marks the year the fraternity had its spiritual beginning, when Frank Hopkins rebelled against the injustice of hazing being practiced at the Institute. Hopkins is the principal Founder who conceived the idea of a brotherhood of honor, and he served as Lieutenant Commander (VP) of the original Alpha Chapter. He was the designer of the original badge as well.
After graduating from VMI, Hopkins pursued his career as a civil engineer back in Arkansas. He went on to serve as County Surveyor, Justice of the Peace, and Director of Schools. His dedication to the principles of Love, Truth and Honor held steadfast throughout his life as he served the Fraternity as its first Vice-Regent and attended Grand Chapters in 1902, 1908 and 1910.
On December 15, 1913, Alpha number 1 was laid to rest in the village cemetary at Mablevale, Arkansas.


Greenfield Quarles, Alpha number 2, was born in Christian County, Kentucky, April 1, 1847. His father, John M. Quarles, moved the family from Kentucky in 1851, and settled near Helena, Arkansas, where the father became a large planter.
Greenfield Quarles entered the Confederate service at sixteen years of age, acting as aide on the staff of his uncle, General William A Quarles. He served with distinction until he was captured in the battle of Franklin (Tennessee) November 30, 1864, after which he was taken to Camp Douglass, near Chicago. He remained there until May 1865, when he was echanged and returned to the South. After his release from prison, young Quarles entered a preparatory school in Toronto, Canada, studying there for a year.
In Auguest of 1866, Quarles matriculated to VMI , and soon became a constructive force in the development of the new society envisioned by Frank Hopkins. Quarles having been a prisonor of war, was mature well beyond his years when he entered VMI. In this regard he was looked upon other cadets as a resourceful advisor, and eventually rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Hi dedication to Sigma Nu remained constant throughout his life, as he became a prime mover in early expansion, notably in granting a charter to Gamma Upsilon Chapter (Arkansas) and attending Grand Chapters in 1902, 1908 and 1919. On January 14, 1921, Alpha number 2 was buried in his hometown of Helena, Arkansas.

James McIlvaine Riley, Alpha number 3, was born in St. Louis , MO. Born as the son of a whlesale merchant, the family had a comfortable competence. James "Mac" Riley attended St. Louis University School, then entered VMI in the fall of 1866.
From the day he arrived in Leington, Riley was a favorite among cadets of all classes. He possessed charming manners and had an affable disposition. He was a good public speaker and a gifted athlete. He was a member of VMI's first baseball team, which was organized in the fall of 1866, and played 23 games during the year. Riley played second base and served as captain of the team that only lost one game.
With Hopkins and Quarles coming from Arkansas, and Riley from the nearby metropolis of the Southwest, the three men became close friends. Riley was elected the first Commander of Alpha Chapter. On May 6, 1911, in St. Louis MO, Founder James McIlvaine Riley was laid to rest. Fraternity members cariied his remains for burial to a plot purchased in Bellefontaine Cemetery by the St. Louis Alumni Chapter in fraternal affection for the founder.


LHT
Kevin
MT 5
University of Central Oklahoma
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