Clyde Bailey Takes Hold
Clyde Parks Bailey, 29 President of the fraternity in 1927 28, was a major force in the Chapter's early development. In 1979 he was honored for 50 years of service to the fraternity.
In Clyde's last year, two students, each in the class of 32 were pledged, Lloyd S. Hoffman, better known as "Biff", and J. Lamar Davis, known to his friends as "Jake". Each was to play an important role in the later development of the fraternity. "Jake" Davis became a major donor to the "House on the Hill" fund drive, in part because Phi Lambda Theta had offered membership to a poor boy from the coal regions. The common man was not fashionable at Bucknell in that era. Later he became a prominent physician in Ashland. "Biff" Hoffman served as secretary of the fraternity for 29 years and devoted most of his life to extending the bonds of brotherhood through a member' s lifetime.
With the crash of 1929, the fraternity's fortunes began to decline. Concomitant with the financial depression, a strong anti Catholic and anti Jewish feeling developed; these feelings were expressed within the fraternity.
The Gamma Chapters charter stated that fraternity was non-sectarian; in earlier practice this had been the case. However, in the early 30s very few Jews or Catholics were extended the privilege of pledge or membership. One member resigned from the fraternity when his brother was rejected on religious grounds. Since two negative votes could keep the charter from entertaining an application, little could be done to prevent such exclusions.
In addition to the dissension and strife generated as a result of these discriminatory practices, the fraternity suffered a severe setback just prior to rushing in September 1931, when one of its pledges died of infantile paralysis. The repercussion on the campus was so great that the fraternity obtained only five new pledges.
Finally starting in 1934, severe financial pressures undermined the fraternity organization. Some members were unable to pay room and board. Others were forced to leave school to look for jobs during the depression. For a short period of time, other members continued to make mortgage payments, but finally they stopped, unable to support the entire group. As a result, the Chapter home was lost in 1934. Although it was reclaimed in the Fall of 1935, it was lost for good in the Spring of 1938. These reverses, and the fact that students were forced to leave school for financial reasons, resulted in a complete breakdown of house operations.